Happy February. The year got off to a good start with some strong releases in January. The best album I heard last month was the self-titled debut by Viet Cong, a band that includes two members from the now defunct but always great group Women. Compared to Women, which had a much more experimental feel, Viet Cong’s album is straight-up post-punk/new wave. Also check out the band’s 2014 EP Cassette.
Other notable January releases included the reunited Sleater-Kinney’s No Cities to Love, which is a real ripper and also recommended. Noah Lennox’s Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper was a strong follow to his 2011 release Tomboy.
I also really liked Ratworld, the debut album from U.K. pop band Menace Beach. Chicago’s Meat Wave released a high-energy EP, Brother, which makes me look forward to future releases from these guys. Another Chicago act, Disappears, released its fifth album, Irreal. (More on this album later.)
Ty Segall put out a pair of releases, the EP Mr. Face and an excellent edition to the Live in San Francisco series from (Thee Oh Sees) John Dwyer’s Castle Face Records. If you like Ty Segall Band Live in San Francisco (and I can’t imagine anyone not liking this album) check out last year’s Live in San Francisco contribution from OBN III’s. It’s another killer live set.
If you’re taste is much more tranquil (let’s say ’60s female folk), then Jessica Pratt’s On Your Own Love Again, is your album. And speaking of interesting folk, Indiana singer-songwriter Elephant Micah’s Where in Our Woods is worth checking out.
All the Young Punks 