LOCAL RELEASES
Angel Ceballos
Brite Futures' Dark Past is out now on Turnout Records.
Natasha Kroll
Pony Time.
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Boxcar, An Invitation to Love (out now, self-released, aninvitationtolove.com): This grunge-inspired, riff-heavy alt-rock trio is named for the show-within-a-show soap opera on David Lynch's Twin Peaks. And all but one of the five songs on the EP share their name with a Peaks character: "Bob," "Leo," "Laura," "Ronette." But where's Diane? DAVE LAKE (Upcoming show: Sat., Nov. 12, The Josephine)
Attack With Care, Attack With Care (out now, self-released, attackwithcare.com): This decidedly '90s-sounding alt-rock trio has released a well-produced debut that features some muscular riffs, nice harmonies, and even bass slapping. It's proficient radio-rock, even if the hooks are a bit lacking in places. DL (Fri., Nov. 18, Mars Bar)
Never Out of Time, Camille Bloom & The Recovery (11/8, self-released, camillebloom.com): A common crutch for a underdeveloped melody is for a songwriter to overcompensate with wordiness. Camille Bloom, a pop singer with a choral delivery, could stand to spend less time writing lyrics and more writing songs. chris kornelis (Sat., Nov. 12, Columbia City Theater)
"Coogars," Sonny Bonoho (out now, self-released, bonoho.com): This track is a funny little jam about screwing your buddy's mom, and the instrumental is some extra-smooth funk-hop, but the plot loses its novelty after the first minute or so. Silly, but not a bad execution of a classic "motherfucking" trope. TODD HAMM
*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Dark Past, Brite Futures (out now, Turnout, britefuturesforever.com): The band formerly known as Natalie Portman's Shaved Head is aging nicely, offering 10 dancy synth-pop party jams which won't change your life but might make it sunnier. It's not all fun, though. "Black Wedding" tackles the band's departure from Warner Bros. Records. "You're wasting my time," Claire England sings, "All on your dime." DL
Die on Sunday, By Proxy (out now, Car Crash Set, myspace.com/wearebyproxy): By Proxy's music is somehow both warm and chill. These bicoastal kids make smart, glossy electro-pop with strong female vocals and quality production. Each of this EP's tracks are easy on the ears, and would be right at home on KEXP. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR
Saphire, Cedaa (11/15, Car Crash Set, carcrashset.com): Four sharp remixes by Bellingham bass-pusher Cedaa, ranging from the snare stutter and vocal updrafts of "Hello Kitty (Ill Cosby Remix)" to the burial filters of "Palomino (HxdB Remix)" to two takes on the title track, one footwork-frantic and the other chopped and screwed syrupy. ERIC GRANDY
* Gold, Ill Cosby (11/15, Car Crash Set, carcrashset.com): The founder of this "future bass specialists" label demonstrates the diversity of his low end—from the jazzy, sweat-dripping swing of "Swisha" to the contemplative piano and vocal warps of the title track to the Timbaland bonus beats of "Trap Riddim (Offshore Remix)." EG
Green Pajama Country!, the Green Pajamas (out now, Green Monkey Records, thegreen pajamas.net): Formed in 1984, the Green PJs have been around since Reagan was president and the Macintosh was new. On their 26th release, the band heads west, tackling 16 original country numbers that somehow leave their unique psychedelic spin intact. JULIA MULLEN GORDON (Fri., Nov. 18, Darrell's Tavern, Shoreline)
"Elegy" 7-inch, Hey Marseilles (11/15, Onto Entertainment, heymarseilles.com): That pretty cello lick you hear in the middle of "Elegy" (at least they acknowledge it) is a quotation of (or hommage to, if you prefer) Gabriel Fauré's 1883 Élégie. No one who doesn't want listeners to think immediately of the Amélie soundtrack should be writing waltzes with accordion accompaniment. Gavin Borchert (Sat., Nov. 12, Neptune)
*"Lynch the Swan" b/w "Dub the Swan," Hive Dwellers/Selector Dub Narcotic (11/15, K Records, krecs.com): K boss Calvin Johnson's latest finds him setting youth and beauty to hang over a mellow bass-and-drum groove. His long-standing studio-based dub alias hollows the song out for the reverse. EG
Goodbye, Paraguay!,Hondo II (out now, Hot Stack Records, reverbnation.com/ hondoii): With producer Graig Markel (Band of Horses, Nada Surf, Brent Amaker) at the helm, the newly reformed former Memphis Radio Kings have reined in a tighter sound with these five up-tempo pop-rock anthems full of resonant guitar and light-handed synth. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT
"No More Tears (for Me)," The Jesus Rehab (11/3, self-released, thejesusrehab.com): This single is genuine, 1999 End Music, an earnest, irony-free Weezer homage. It's mosh-pit light, and The Jesus Rehab's owning every ounce of it. ck (Thurs., Nov. 3, High Dive)
"Welcome Home," Justis (out now, self-released, reverbnation.com/justismusic): The Lamont Dozier ("Shine") flip by producer Marcus D is clever, but considering the sample's already received heavy rotation via producers Lee Stone (for Pharoahe Monch's exquisite "Mayor") and 6 July (on Ghostface Killah's "Saturday Nite"), it lacks imagination. Justis' verses are equally derivative: His voice and cadence are nice, but his subject matter is tired and his "make noise" call-and-response is horribly played out. TH
* Liberation of the Monster, Khingz (out now, Wandering Worx, wanderingworx.com): Khingz delivers some of his best verses here, with Vancouver, B.C.'s Rel!g!on laying down some clean, grade-A production for his part. A surprisingly good, emotion-driven full-length that shouldn't go underappreciated. TH
"Alright," Kin to Stars (out now, self-released, kintostars.bandcamp.com): Solo musicians Scott Andrew and Jerin Falkner team up as Kin to Stars to release an earnest but bland acoustic pop song that sounds ready for radio—and a Jason Mraz cover version. AG
