Buzz “King Buzzo” Osborne, This Machine Kills Artists (out now, Ipecac Recordings ipecac.com) In their 31-year career, the Melvins never played it straight. If things ever got too predictable, they would change it up and head down a path different from the one you might expect—one that either left you in the dust or took happily along for the wild ride. Singer/guitarist Buzz “King Buzzo” Osborne’s first solo record sounds exactly what you might expect it to. That’s not a bad thing—in fact, it’s a refreshing surprise. On the acoustic This Machine Kills Artists (a parody of the famous message “This machine kills fascists” scrawled upon Woody Guthrie’s guitar), Buzz showcases his ability to create riff after riff with ease. Keeping things within the realm of his band’s work, Buzzo bypasses the notion of someone notorious for “heavy” music going “folk” or showcasing a sensitive side. Since a majority of the Melvins’ songs were constructed on acoustic guitar, it’s a charming glimpse into the process of developing the megariffs the band is known for—which, as its founder, had always been Buzzo’s role. He’ll perform an acoustic set at Neumos on June 20, sure to include plenty of songs off his solo record and a mix of Melvins songs too. JAMES BALLINGER

My Goodness, Shiver + Shake (June 24, Votiv, mygoodnessmusic.com) Listening to My Goodness, it’s easy to compare it to the Black Keys. Both bands have two primary members (for My Goodness, they’re guitarist/vocalist Joel Schneider and Andy Lum on drums); both are no strangers to writing about the highs and lows of love—“I could be your man/But, baby, I don’t know where you’re at/I could be your man/Why do I keep hangin’ on?” sings Schneider on “Hangin’ On”—and both rock a mix of bluesy guitar riffs, thundering beats, and vocals that can be both rugged and warm. What sets My Goodness apart, though, is its ability to add different dimensions to its blues-rock sound. On the duo’s latest album, produced by Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains), the band bounces from the blistering title track to the slightly twangy “Sweet Tooth.” My Goodness also channels folk-rock quartet the Avett Brothers on the sweet and slow “Bottle,” then jumps into garage-rock territory on “Say You’re Gone.” And just when you think the pair have pulled every card from their sleeves, Schneider and Lum play “Lost in the Soul,” a solid indie-rock track full of acoustic guitar and orchestral features, before ending on the raucous “Hot Sweat.” While Shiver has an overall blues-rock feel, thoughtfully incorporated elements make it a fresh take on the genre. (Fri., June 20, The Crocodile) AZARIA C. PODPLESKY

Scarves, Empty Houses (June 20, self-released, scarvesmusic.bandcamp.com) Coming-of-age stories have become modern mythology (you know the gods: The Catcher in the Rye, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, John Hughes). With its debut full-length album Empty Houses,

Seattle indie-rock group Scarves adds to the lore. “Icarus With a Rattle Can” explores the idea of impulsively getting matching tattoos, one of Icarus and one of the sun—an apt summation of the epic, hyperemotional messiness that comes with youth (teenage years are a time of flying too close to the sun, you see). Vocalist/guitarist Nikolas Stathakopoulos plays up the gravitas with lines like, “Thou shalt not swim in man-made lakes/Thou shalt not eat on paper plates.” The riffs and wordplay are further enhanced by the perfectly muddy and chaotic rhythm section of bassist David Price and drummer Marcus Verdoes. The trio makes the precision of math rock rough and relatable. The opening of “A ‘Pop’ Song” showcases Stathakopoulos’ guitar virtuosity before pummeling with dissonant and harsh guitar chords; it’s indicative of those sleepless high-school nights and moments of serenity among the hijinks; of a teenage world in which everything is like the Smashing Pumpkins’ “1979” video. As Stathakopoulos bellows on the chorus, full of the uncertainty of tomorrow, “When they say be brave/They mean brace for impact.” (Sat., June 21, The Vera Project) DUSTY HENRY

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