The Rural Alberta Advantage -- Hometowns

  All I can think of, of this debut modernized Mountain Goats meets Neutral Milk Hotel album, is the terrible tractor accident I was recently in, which had delightfully taken place in Alberta.  The story goes ... we were innocently making a hay delivery, so I jumped in for the ride to get a scope of the local landscape.  On our way back home, my ex-girlfriend's brother and I were slammed from behind by a truck, right in the flatbed, the tractor jumped from 16 mph to 50 in a matter of seconds.  The tractor jackknifed, and we started to go over ... the rest was a shock and adrenaline driven blur of being belligerent to the ambulance technicians, getting my face sewn back together and my ex's traumatized look at the very sight of my face.  All in all it wasn't the Rural Alberta Advantage I was hoping to find, luckily the first part of the trip was normal.

A Motown Christmas

  Who isn't sick to sh*t of crappy ass Christmas music, and every year, when it's too late, I order a Christmas album in hopes it'll get here fast, too save myself of the bad holiday tunes.  This year's Christmas record is a double album set, A Motown Christmas, pretty much a best of from Soul-city's holiday sounds.  Now I haven't received it yet so it's hard to describe how good or bad it is, but my guess is that it's mostly good with a couple of cheeseball stinkers.  I'm sure I'll get it in the new year and annoy everyone with one last bolt of Christmas songs.

Slowdive -- Souvlaki

  Dreamgaze masterpiece Souvlaki by Slowdive.  These guys are so good that they even caught the attention of luminary Ambient noisemaker Brian Eno, which for a young band must have been a huge honor.  This album predates music that is still being copy-catted today.  Thank God for the scene that celebrated itself!

Modern English -- After The Snow

  Don't let the Melt With You pop cascade fool you, this sophomore release has dark Joy Division-esque undertones.  I half expected typical 80's garbage when I picked this record up, but Melt With You is definitely the weakest number!

Fleet Foxes -- Helplessness Blues

  What do you get when you modernize dark 60's folk music?  Answer ... the Fleet Foxes!

The Feelies -- The Good Earth

  Recorded six years after their influential debut LP.  The Good Earth is a perfect mixture of jammy Velvet Underground and early REM, which coincidentally Peter Buck helped produce this album.  Personally I find that The Feelies, on this record, achieved the sound REM sought after in their early days!  

Crosby, Stills & Nash -- S/T

  The first release from the Folk Rockin' trio.  I am surprised to say that this record is one of the only releases where I actually respect Stephen Stills song writing skills, usually I find his style corny and somewhat pathetic, but on this self-titled album his numbers are knocked right outta the park ... Crosby stays true to his usual form ... unfortunately Nash drops the ball, big time, with the worst most out of place tracks you could find.  All in all, as a whole I'd say it's ok ... pretty good.