The singing, plot twists, arrangements and wistfulness of this wonderfully inventive five-song revelation prove that Sam McGarrigle, the one-man band behind the project, could go in any direction he wants. And in fact, some of these songs do evoke the Pixies, Flaming Lips, Suede, Ween, even John Lennon. But there is no DOUBT that Barry Blue’s “Hot Shot” and the hits of the Velvet Tinmine soundtrack loom even larger in McGarrigle’s consciousness, and the title track alone could out-glitter anything thrown at a Republican during this rough primary season.

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The sonorous voice coming out of that tiny noggin with the bushy bushy blonde hairdo knocks the stuffing out of the competition, with flavors of Belinda Carlyle, Ronnie Spector, Skeeter Davis, and even the Andrews Sisters filling out the aural bouquet, with just a hint of Dusty Springfield’s smile as an aftertaste.

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On the way from his old band, Verbena, to playing solo under his birth name, A.A. Bondy watched a lot of movies and a few meteor showers in between watching movies, and finally in 2007 he recorded his first album in a barn near his house. His newest, When the Devil’s Loose, is out now on Fat Possum. This interview by Dan Collins.

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Thank You Rock Insider! HOLY F**K SPRING ’09 US TOUR: THUR 5/21 BOSTON, MA Middle East FRI 5/22 BROOKLYN, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg SAT 5/23 NEW YORK, NY Bowery Ballroom SUN 5/24 BALTIMORE, MD Ottobar MON 5/25 PHILADELPHIA, PA First Unitarian Church WED 5/27 WASHINGTON, DC Rock N Roll Hotel THUR 5/28 CLEVELAND, OH [...]

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Wavves is Nathan Williams with recent reinforcement from drummer Ryan Ulish. They will play a special early show on Wednesday at the Echo, but they spoke even earlier with L.A. RECORD‘s Daniel Clodfelter. And don’t miss Dan Collins’ review of Wavvves on this run-up to Wavves Weddnesday.

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Some reviewers seem to be approaching Nathan Williams’ band Wavves with caution because of his similarities to more successful noise bands, when what this dude really needs is a high-five and some nurturing love to help him move into the more original style he hints at—and sometimes really nails—with Wavvves. Some songs on here are repeats of what we’ve seen before—even repeats of each other. But the album still really rocks and shines, and could shine more if Williams could be encouraged to dive head first into his own headspace.

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Download: Crocodiles “I Wanna Kill” [Audio clip: view full post to listen] (from Summer of Hate out April 28 on Fat Possum) Crocodiles are very familiar to anyone who has spent time at the Smell, L’KEG or Pehrspace, and they will be releasing their winningly titled Summer of Hate album next month on Fat Possum, [...]

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