GIMME TINNITUS

And now it’s time to reacquaint yourself with a classic… No Pocky For Kitty by Superchunk recently got the reissue treatment. While not credited, Steve Albini produced the band’s sophomore effort (note, the liner notes read “[p]roduced with eyes closed by Laura, who sat in the right chair.”). It was recorded April 21-23, 1991 and later released on the venerable Matador label. Listen.

Downloadable: Skip Steps 1 & 3 (merge mp3)

This is a straight remaster, no special bonus discs of some tape that fell behind Mac’s bookshelf or anything (though if you want something like that maybe you should check out the Clambakes).

You can purchase the reissue direct from Merge in a variety of formats… here.

For more 90’s nostalgia with Superchunk, head over to Captain’s Dead for a soundboard recording from 1997 (the Precision Auto finale is killer).

Superchunk is on the internet
Superchunk is on Myspace
Superchunk is on Twitter
Superchunk is on elbo.ws
Superchunk is on Hype Machine
Superchunk is on Merge Records
Superchunk is on Matador
Superchunk is on Other Music
Superchunk is on Insound
Superchunk is on Amazon MP3
Superchunk is on eMusic

Do you remember the postrock outfit named Somme? They sounded like this.

Downloadable: Massless (mp3)

Well, they have expanded their lineup and changed their name to Other Animals. Their eponymous new album was recorded mainly live in 4 days at Steve Albini’s Electrical Studios in Chicago and was mastered by Mr. Robert Spurr Weston IV (of Shellac and Volcano Suns fame). The album sounds like this.

Downloadable: Boxcar Blue (mp3)

The song above takes a little while to get going, but once it does it’s pretty awesome, no?

And did I mention that the band is presently giving the album away for free on their website. Go grab it.

Downloadable: Other Animals (zip)

If you live in the Chi-town area be sure to check them out live.

Myspace page is here.
Other Animals wordpress is here.

>> Perhaps my favorite album by Mr. Beck Hanson is getting a deluxe reissue, One Foot In The Grave. Check out the deets… here.

Streamable Embed:

NOTE: Be sure to stream “Teenage Wastebasket”

>> There is an awesomely free Slumberland Records Spring 2009 Sampler over @ Amazon… here.

Downloadable: Prismatic Room (mp3) by Crystal Stilts

>> Check out the Mika Miko Sex Jazz A-Side over at Passion Of The Weiss… here. Check out the B-Side at the GT blogspot… here.

>> PTST reminds us that the (FUCKING AWESOME) Power Move by Screaming Females is finally had its official release… here.

The Females also got a write up the Village Voice… here.

Also officially released as of yesterday, is the Like Bells eponymous album, and the Steve Albini-produced A Tempo! A Tempo! by Austrian math[SKINNG GRRR]rockers Valina.

Downloadables:
Buried In The Nude (mp3) (order) by Screaming Females
Atlas (exit stencil mp3) (order) by Like Bells
Phantom Of My Longest Day (joyful noise mp3) (order) by Valina

>> The latest Contrast Podcast looks at the best of 2009. Track listing and deets are… here.

Downloadable: The best of 2009 so far (part 1) (mp3)
My Submission: So Bored by Wavves

>> Now I rarely post links to whole albums, but when it’s a new wave masterpiece that has never ever been released on CD I just can’t resist. Download the I.R.S. GREATEST HITS VOLS. 2 & 3 over at Sound Bites… here. And yes, it’s tax day and I am linking to something I.R.S.-related, ugggh.

I have a treat for you today from the Merge [quote] vaults [unquote]. Like It Or Not is a collection of all the “rare and out-of-print” Duck Kee Studios recordings from Wwax who were Mac McCaughan’s band before Superchunk. The tracks were recorded between 1987 and 1988. Also in the band were Brian Walsby and Wayne Taylor. Dig the posthardcorepop of Wwax.

Like It Or Not Tracklisting:
1. Pumpkin
2. Inn Town
3. Seven
4. Like It Or Not
5. Straw Man (mp3)
6. Corduoroy
7. Grows On Trees
8. Price of Gas
9. Counting Thoughts
10. Beachworld
11. All Begins Again
12. Just Like
13. Misinvite
14. I Am Right (Saccharine Trust cover) (live)
15 Seven (demo)

Check out a few more tracks over at Pop Tarts Suck Toasted… here.

Stream the whole album (for now)… here.
Buy the whole digital album… here.

In Superchunk news, the band have a new EP coming out soon. Leaves in the Gutter (a very Superchunk title) will be released on CD and digital on April 7. The album is “a collection of songs written while Superchunk prepared for live shows over the past few years.” It is their first release since since 2001.

Download a Superchunk oldie recorded by Mr. Steve Albini: Tie A Rope To The Back Of The Bus (mp3)

- I ask you… Why not download a song named “J Mascis Is God”? Personally, I can’t think of one (especially since it was recorded by one Steve Albini). Head over to Swan Fungus and check out the The Brown Suit by Diaper… here. Plus, check out the The Brown Suit coverart below. It’s an artichoke — artichokes are cool.

- Get some live old Thermals @ Tullycraft blog… here.

- Cali-indiepop band Princeton does Daytrotter… here.

- Check out the new release from the postpunk “slop rock” outfit named Gary at Built On A Weak Spot… here.

- RANDOM REPOST: LGNO by El Jesus De Magico