LOCAL RELEASES
They Shootin Films
Nacho Picasso's "death-rap" album For the Glory is out now.
Isabel Blue
Dude York.
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I Ate a Vegan, Afraid of Figs (out now, self-released, afraidoffigs.com): Jokey band that go for a Barenaked Ladies–kinda thing, taking shots at the obvious targets: Facebook, vegans, fakes. They do, however, have a saxophonist, so that's cool. DAVE LAKE
The Sebring, Aunt Jamamas Big Band Vigilantes (out now, self-released, ajbbv.com): Bass-and-drum grooves, electric piano, and squalls of guitar noise all contribute to the spaced-out mood of this 37-minute EP, which straddles free jazz, trip-hop, and ambient music. It's heady stuff, and definitely not easy listening. ANDREW GOSPE
Blue Marvel, Blue Marvel (out now, self-released, facebook.com/bluemarvelproject): Showcasing teen angst channeled through aggressive metal experimentation, Blue Marvel's members are young enough to count the Kirkland Police Department as an influence. A demo with good intentions made by a band still figuring out their sound. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR
Cobras, Cobras (10/4, self-released, cobras1.bandcamp.com): This Viper Creek Club side project's anonymous early promo and self-assigned "slowwave/r&b" tag follows Weeknd's lead but ends up like an adult- contempo version of Owl City's bloodless laptop emo-pop. ERIC GRANDY
"China, My China" 7", The Diving Bell (out now, Fin Records, finrecords.com): The A-side of this seven-inch strikes the right balance between folk-inspired songwriting (singer Andy Davenhall sounds more than a little like Bill Callahan) and power-pop guitars. The B-side sounds like a Pink Floyd cover band. Which one's more enjoyable is a matter of taste. AG
New Great Lakes, Downpilot (10/11, Tapete Records, downpilot.com): Paul Hiraga banished himself to Vashon Island to record his fourth album. The result is an isolated, more-intimate Downpilot, and a record filled with 10 acoustic Americana songs that brim with sadness. DL
*Satanic Vs. EP, Dude York (out now, self-released, facebook.com/dudeyorkamerica) The four-song Satanic Vs. continues along the same rowdy and rambling path on which Dude York—the local trio of Peter Richards, Andrew Hall, and Alex Cassidy—first set forth on their full-length, Gangs of Dude York. "David," the EP's joyful opener and best track, bursts forward with a deliciously squealing guitar line; "Isabel" keeps things rushing along via an insistently fast tempo, Richards' hoarse vocals, and some sweet but naughty lyrics; "Bryan" sounds like the sonic equivalent of a pummeling hangover headache; and the shambling "Kerry" only barely dares to slow things down and bring the EP to a close. The entirety of Satanic Vs. clocks in at a headlong 9 minutes, 6 seconds, but you might still feel the need for a breather after it's all over. ERIN K. THOMPSON
"Beach Cruisers and Lemonade," Fice (out now, self-released, ficemusic.com): Tacoma's Fice and DJ Semaj ride a groovy summertime vibe all the way to the bank on this one. With classy production and honest verses, these two artists are on the up-and-up. TODD HAMM
*Anthologies Vol. 1, Fictitious (out now, self-released, fictitiousmusic.com): Spitting lyrics based in poetry and stories, the Fictitious collective are a Seattle force to be reckoned with—emotionally raw and tediously perfect in rhyme and beat, there's no doubt the group will rise higher and higher. JOE WILLIAMS
Heavy Boots & Underwoods, Ben Fisher (out now, self-released, benfisher.bandcamp.com): Just when Ben Fisher seems to be showing his cards, he whips out another unexpected and riveting melody—and a tad more cello. This LP is lush with bluegrass folk and lots of heart. JW
"Back to You" remix, Fly Moon Royalty feat. Spac3man (out now, Sportn' Life Records, sportnlife.net): FMR usually finds its sweet spot on songs like the original version of "Back to You," where the feel is more neo-soul than hip-hop, but fellow Sportn' Life artist Spac3man is able to fit a quality, albeit short, verse into the mix and make the song work. TH
*To the Stars on the Wings of a Pig, The Foghorns (out now, Beefy Beef Records, facebook.com/thefoghorns): The Foghorns' absurdly titled LP opens with an ominous thud on the piano, a desperate strum on the guitar, and the repeated moaning of "Please, don't you leave me now." The drums, faintly rustling and stirring in the background, are intended to be felt more than heard. Halfway through opener "Please Don't Leave," an accordion enters the gentle country melee. For 45 minutes, Pig scarcely rises above a simmer. Songs run together, and there are only faint textural and tempo distinctions among the album's 10 tracks. The Foghorns aren't reaching for new ground, but are comfortable being themselves, well within the plucky intersection of saloon-ready twang and urban folk. This should be blasé, repetitive, and numbingly obnoxious. But it's not. Its effortless, cool demeanor blunts any hint of redundancy. Pig is one of the most satisfyingly listenable local albums of the year; easy to access and hard to put down. It's soothing and comforting in the right ways, without being excessive or cheap. Its subtleties—hints of organ and accordion—are smooth but smart. Easy listening doesn't have to mean easily forgotten. CHRIS KORNELIS
Fun Forest, The Fuzz (Out now, Dubious Records, myspace.com/thefuzz): If the Aquabats had grown up listening to Crazy Town, this tongue-in-cheek, clap-along dirty pop with two helpings of punk would almost make sense. Instead, Fun Forest exists to fill a niche in dive bars nationwide. JW
