Misfits and Mistakes

The UPS guy Andy, came into my work Thursday and said he had something for me, but couldn't find it so he said he would drop it at my house(he usually gives it to me at work). I didn't remember ordering anything but apparently I ordered a few records from Insound. I got home and was excited as usual to open my package. The records included "Los Campesinos!": Romance is Boring, "Robert Pollard": We all got out of the Army, "Superchunk": Leaves in the Gutter EP and "Beach House": Teen Dream. The Beach House record wasn't on my invoice, but I'll never turn down a free record.

The Los Campesinos! record is good, it's a solid indie pop record that does not disappoint. This is LCs second full length record and was released by Canadian label Arts and Crafts(Stars,Broken Social Scene, American Analog set) Having seven people in the band often ruins some bands, but LC does not let this happen. It seems everyone is playing something different but it all fits somehow. No one is stepping on each others parts. They have very good harmonies and melodies throughout the record. I really like the boy/girl vocal trade offs as well.

First was Guided by Voices, and when they broke up in 2004 Robert Pollard didn't stop writing music. I can't even count how many side projects he has had in the past, but he has over 1,200 songs registered with BMI, so I guess that says something there. I don't have all his solo records, or all his side projects records. I'm for the most part a completest of an artists discography, but I just can't keep up with BP. That being said I bought his new record because I haven't bought one in a year or so, and this guy probably puts out 3-6 records a year. I picked a good place to pick up where I left off. Not every song on every record is amazing, or even good. Sometimes I feel like giving up on him, nothing is going to be as amazing as GBV's Bee Thousand, but on every record there is at least one great song. Anyhow, this new record "We All Got Out of the Army" is good, it brings me back to a Bob Pollard I love. Simple songs, that keep you singing the song long after it's over.

Ahh, Superchunk. I tend to forget how much I like Superchunk until I hear a song on my Ipod when its on shuffle, then I usually have to listen to that whole record. I not only love Superchunk, but am inspired by what Mac McCaughan made Merge records into. He started the label to put his friends and his own music out, now Merge records is a label any band would be lucky to be on. This new EP "Leaves in the Gutter" came out in 2009 and it still sounds like the Superchunk of the early 90's. Up beat and catchy. This CD is the first Superchunk new music in quite some time, and it does not disappoint.