LOCAL RELEASES
Sarah Cass
Olympia fuzz-rockers the Maxines.
Genevieve Pierson
Sweet Secrets.
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The Acoustic Reign Project, Arc(out now, Sol Disk, soldisk.com): Do you like free jazz? If so, you'll probably dig Arc, notable both for the inclusion of former Heart guitarist Roger Fisher in its lineup and for lending credibility to the notion that Seattle has a viable jazz scene. If you're not familiar with the genre, smoke some opium, replace your regular lightbulbs with red ones, and start drinking chartreuse. It will liven things up considerably. MIKE SEELY
Blak Mic, "Hearts & Soul" (out now, self-released, blakmic.bandcamp.com): Beats and rhymes from Tacoma's Blak Mic and his friends that roll off the playlist with a soulful ease. A fun free-time release that's worth at least a quick spin. TODD HAMM
* Havi Blaze, "I'm a Murderer" (out now, self-released, haviblazemusic.com): Somber storytelling from Tacoma over a lonely piano and bass rhythm. He treads on tired subject matter here, but his line is twisted, and neither his singing nor his rap flow have ever sounded so smooth. TH
Chris Mess, Chris Mess (out now, self-released, reverbnation.com/chrismess): Despite the name, this isn't holiday music for dysfunctional families but rather guitar-driven, glammy power pop from a quartet of Seattle scene veterans. It's a bit predictable at times, but makes up for it by not taking itself too seriously. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR (Fri., Jan. 20, 2 Bit Saloon)
Kaylee Cole, Into the Woods (out now, self-released, kayleecole.bandcamp.com): Cole has undergone a transformation of late. These older songs, staples of her live performances of the past few years, showcase only piano and her resonant, smoky voice. A full-length expected in 2012 will display the goth side of her newer work. JULIA MULLEN GORDON (Sat., Jan. 14, Columbia City Theater)
Thaddeus David, "By Any Means" (out now, Members Only, membersonly206. bandcamp.com): The beat is dark and echoey, and Grayskul's Onry Ozzborn drops some twisted imagery to match, but Thad's verses aren't as strong as they've been in the past, and Parker's chorus is too faux–Dirty South. TH
* Demon Hunter, The World Is a Thorn (Deluxe Edition) (out now, Solid State, demonhunter.net): Gorgeous, unrelenting, and excellently crafted, this re-release boasts a new string mix of "Driving Nails" and a few acoustic hits, including "Down in a Hole." JOE WILLIAMS
Dub Lounge International, 2011 Live Compilation (out now, self-released, dubloungeintl.com): Funky and fun, DLI's live album boasts recordings from KEXP, Winston's Beach Club in San Diego, and Long Beach. The smooth grooves are a bass-heavy grab bag of experimental roots music with a warm, soulful message ingrained in each song. JW
Dyme Def, Yuk the World (out now, Yuk Records, dymedef.com): A large collection of solid DD material that charts the progress the group has made as artists and, perhaps, people. TH
GravelRoad, Psychedelta (1/26, Knick Knack Records, knickknackrecords.com): GravelRoad manages to put its own stamp on psychedelic blues, a clichéd genre defined by recitation. On this promising LP, the band insists the genre's not worn out. CHRIS KORNELIS (Thurs., Jan. 26, Tractor Tavern)
Groove for Thought, Inspired, (out now, self-released, grooveforthought.com): Featuring soulful, swinging a cappella harmonies, Inspired is a funky, bopping record that pays homage to pop classics like "How Sweet It Is." The Seattle group, which appeared on NBC's The Sing-Off, is incredibly cohesive and fun, and their voices explode on each track. JW (Sat., Jan. 7, Theatre at Meydenbauer, Bellevue)
Hi-Life Soundsystem, Langston Hugh Hefner: Love, Weed & Other Vices (out now, Members Only, membersonly206.bandcamp.com): Mixing their patented self-aware party-rap with some cooled-out later-night scenarios, this interlude-heavy follow-up to their self-titled debut can stand up to a front-to-back listen while you indulge your vices. TH
* The Hoot Hoots, Appetite for Distraction (out now, self-released, thehoothoots.com): The Hoot Hoots pick up where the Shins and the Unicorns left off with tight pop arrangements, expressive, lush harmonies, and sound effects across the board: spacey blips, synth landscapes, cartoony-sounding refrains in the key of Futurama's Zoidberg. Wrapped up in lyrics about ghosts and Pac-Man, the Hoots damn near define goof-pop. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT (Sat., Jan. 7, High Dive)
How to Operate Your Brain, self-titled (out now, self-released, howtooperateyourbrain.bandcamp.com): As band names go? Terrible. Thankfully, the songs on this debut EP are better—a tiny bit early-2000s emo throwback, but otherwise clean and tight guitar rock replete with interesting riffage and a lot of obvious heart. ERIN K.THOMPSON (Wed., Jan. 11, Funhouse)
iji, Yerself (out now, self-released, ijiiji.bandcamp.com): Yerself finds a compatible context for Zach Burba, iji's alternately bewitching and affectedly cutesy frontman. Burba has a near-sexless voice fit for a prepubescent, but Yerself coaxes stunning warmth from track after track of mid-tempo, hand-woven funk. M.T. RICHARDS
Into the Storm, Captains (out now, self-released, intothestorm.bandcamp.com): The recording (especially on the drum tracks) could be more even, and screamer Oliver Reeves could stand to go easy on the vocal-cord shredding, but the music beneath it all is a delightful punch in the face. TH (Wed., Jan. 4, Comet Tavern)
JVigil, self-titled (1/10, self-released, j-vigil.com): JVigil's voice bears a passing resemblance to Usher's, and his debut album has some outwardly slick-sounding production, but those two facts can't mask the songs' uninspired dullness. R&B for amateurs. EKT (Thurs., Jan. 12, Sole Repair)
