Silver Jews - Dime Map of the Reef (1992)

Here is something for the hard listening fans of our favorite band. I normally don't post noisy lo-fi records, because I generally don't have the patience to sift through the feedback to discover the sedimentary layers of of quality. Since this is an offering that is out of print and hard to purchase, I will offer it up for those who are interested to hear the evolution from early Berman/Malkmus efforts to the highly produced and veteran styles they've established. For any Jews or Pavement fan, this will be a great educational listen. The lyrical brilliance is there, but it is clouded in the dank of a juvenile basement party laiden with shitty beer and a handheld tape recorder. It is the kind of party that an elderly neighbor may curse because of the confusion it causes. You can almost hear the utterly stupefied grumblings of disbelief: "What happened to the world?" or "When I was young...", "Damn kids these days...". Though, to a fan "Dime Map..." emotes a longing to be part of that moment; to wish that upon emerging from that basement your shoes would make the sticky sound as you walked across the kitchen linoleum to back door and out into the cool mosquito world of summer Virginia 1992, and then, home to fall asleep on your pillow- filthy, beat and satisfied. Dig it.

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Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (2008)

This is real American Hip Hop. The Midwest has neurosis and they aren't granted the traditional suppression that allows so many to live in denial. The themes display Slug's (Atmosphere MC) conscious observations of an increasingly polarizing culture; one which has lost confidence in its own goals and meaning. Slug is a notorious storyteller. The emotive and passionate delivery mixed with compelling intellect and rhyme scheme requires the listener be involved immediately. It is true Slug wears his emotion on the sleeve, though "When Life Gives You Lemons..." (Atmosphere's fifth LP) is less aggressively delivered than on other releases. The lyrics are more prescriptive and investigative rather than attacking. The beats are well constructed, and we even hear a guitar ballad? on one track- "Guarantee". The stories told on the record are analytical and telling of a culture lost trying to discover its own identity. Educate and relate.

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Electrelane - No Shouts, No Calls (2007)

When it's dreary, or when it seems that the morning isn't leading to a bright-sunshining-day, I put this rock record on and start to dance in my undies. The neighbors don't mind that Electrelane is rattling the 9:00am walls, because the grooves are sexy and the vocals have that British aristocracy. These ladies have been posted before on BobbyFive, and it is no coincidence that they've made another showing. Electrelane makes albums that are full antique rock sounds (showcasing a vintage organ) smoothed out by modern production. The result is dusty delight that gets you moving while never ceasing to brighten your day. Good Morning Rock.

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