60 Watt Kid's first full-length, released in 2007, is an eclectic mix, blending psychedelic pop, garage stomp, keyboard fuckery and Holy Ghost Power. Channeling their sci-fi fascinations into finger-plucked pulsating rhythms and effect-laden vocals, 60 Watt Kid takes their listeners on a truly psychedelic ride.

It's a Los Angeles underground rumble between tweaked psych poppers 60 Watt Kid and thundering skronkers Foot Village. 60WK offers "2012" while FV gives us "Kim ILL."

The latest Sparrow album, entitled The Early Years, captures Jason in full stride, successfully blending the gentler sound of his current band's debut with the upbeat pop rush of his previous band's work. There is a newfound confidence in his voice as he sings in a higher register, adding a wonderfully vibrant dynamic to the work. The album's title track alone is clearly the work of a master craftsman and Jason Zumpano's finest work to date. The Early Years makes it abundantly clear that Zumpano was as much Jason's creation as anyone's. (AK051)

The second album from Craig Gurwich. Waaaaaaaaay more stripped down than the self-titled debut. On Badman.

A self-released tour album from the artist praised by Magnet & Pitchfork both. From the cover: "I figured that since my live show is so different from my record, that I would do a live record like Peter Frampton. Kiss and Jimmy Buffett did. So here it is, Semi-Live. Hopefully it will go platinum like those other records." Completely stripped down versions of five songs off the record plus one new song, the absolutely sublime "All the Answers." Think Mark Hollis (of Talk Talk), Low and Roy Harper and you're coming close.

Five overwhelmingly beautiful, daydream-inducing songs from Summer at Shatter Creek in the form of Sink or Swim, a limited-edition, piano-based CDEP! On Redder.

The heartwarming debut full length by Los Angeles' (by way of Kalamazoo, MI) Summer At Shatter Creek aka Craig Michael Gurwich. Turning heads from the moment you press play. He's blessed with a voice that soars to the heavens and nearly shimmers into the astral plane. His superbly fresh compositional instincts put him firmly in the company of such pop innovators like Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips and Dave Fridmann of Mercury Rev. Gorgeous stuff. (AK024)

The "what was I thinking when I ignored this when it was released" debut from Montreal's Spencer Krug, also of Frog Eyes and Wolf Parade. Rough and uncompromising, but gorgeous. Hell, it got our attention. On Global Symphonic.

EP released in January 2006 by Global Symphonic, the last of the lo-fi recordings, at least for the time being, but proof that Spencer Krug can astound even in his bedroom with a 4-track (or his living room or wherever). On Global Symphonic.

The widely acclaimed second album from this astonishing Montreal combo. Originally the lo-fi solo work of Wolf Parade vocalist/keyboardist Spence Krug, Sunset Rubdown has evolved into a full fledged band and a force to be reckoned with on Shut Up I Am Dreaming. This is stunning stuff. (AK060)

Frog Eyes' Carey Mercer, Susnet Rubdown's Spencer Krug & Destroyer's Dan Bejar team-up and destroy the earth. On Jagjaguwar.

Portland, OR's seven-piece dynamo make the sounds of heaven's gates opening on their four song, 28-minute debut. Orchestral but not pompous, warm and yet very, very hot. An incredible start for a band that will surely turn heads. (AK013)

The first ever solo outing from Armistead Burwell Smith IV of Pinback and Three Mile Pilot. Five songs of all killer, no filler contemplative, textured and intense pop for which Zach has become known. On Ace Fu.

This beautiful record fell into our eager and waiting laps after the late, great Cleveland label Happy Go Lucky closed its doors. The duo of Bob Massey on electric guitar and Amy Dominguez on amplified cello, augmented by the occasional drumming of Devin Ocampo (Smart Went Crazy), took an unusual approach to experimental classical and instrumental rock and fused the results together. The results were lazily compared to the Rachels and the Dirty Three due to the use of stringed instruments, but Telegraph Melts (named after a Jandek record) refused to rest on the oh-so-somber element that is supposedly intrinsic to bowed strings. The band broke-up before a planned remix 12" could be released (though an excellent remix by Mu-ziq will wind-up somewhere as soon as we can pay the guy). Five songs, thirty-five minutes, nothing else like it. (AK004)

Cory McCulloch and Jamie Stewart were in this little Palo Alto combo before they formed Xiu Xiu. A few of the songs on here would later pop up on some Xiu Xiu records like "Sad Pony Guerilla Girl" and "I Love the Valley, Oh!" On Asian Man.

Limited double 7".

Rob Crow teams with Zak Hill of Hella to form the Ladies. This sounds like what you'd expect it to with these two guys - awesome! On Temporary Residence.

The first full length. 24 songs in all including the greatest song ever written about tiny magical creatures "Cottingley Fairies," "Cutest Baby" and "Drugs." This one is very popular among the ladies. On Headhunter/Cargo.

The second full length from the fires of San Diego. Ex-Heavy Vegetables Rob Crow and Elea Tenuta are joined here by Jason Soares (Physics) on bass and Mario Rubalcaba (Blackheart Procession, Clikitat Ikatowi) on drums. Lay down your weapons for the war is over but forgive us if we'd like the battles to continue. Pop music goes astray but you can still hear its homing beacon. Now-defunct website Gigmania heard it too on "Mayday," the first song on the album, and gave the band $40,000 in tour support. A lot of good that did them. 19 songs that show Crow at his best since "Frisbie." Includes "O.B.1," "Plenty," "Ketchup Sandwich" and "Rope Swing." (AK003)

Finally available through us! 1998's self-titled CDEP courtesy of Gravity Records, just about the last release of new material we've seen by this incredbile San Diego band whose halves went on to Pinback and the Black Heart Procession.

All Music Guide says, "Na Vucca Do Lupu is a semi-remarkable release for 1992 � the band's guitar-less lineup keeps it from falling into any of the sounds that were quickly becoming cliches in the early '90s, using robust bass work to fill the gaps instead." On Headhunter/Cargo.

Artist Direct says, "Three Mile Pilot have recorded an overwhelming clarion call to the next generation of music beyond "alternative" -- cautionary yet hopeful, discordant yet inviting, powerful and hypnotic." Chapter two in an enthralling and compelling saga. This is not the major label version. On Headhunter/Cargo.

Ryan Craven of the Jim Yoshii Pile-Up swears that this is one of the greatest albums ever. He says that it's fantastic on the first listen and after the 25th or so listen, it becomes godlike. I am, admittedly, a more recent convert, but I am inclined to give his claim creedence. It's clear here how both Pinback and Black Heart Procession came to be, but there's an urgency here, a potent yet tragic sexuality that makes this record unique. Great stuff. On Headhunter/Cargo.

on Cargo/Headhunter.

Awesomely shaped picture disc record with the a-side single (from Chief Assassin...) with "Nussun" (also on An Old Town) on the flip. Time to take down that Stryper picture disc and throw this one on the wall...or on the record player, of course. On Headhunter/Cargo

Double-CD set lovingly anthologizes B-sides, oddities, out of print 7" tracks, and unreleased rarities. Worth it's weight in gold or even truffles. On Headhunter/Cargo.

Ex-Pinback/Thingy/Physics guy (and true guitar prodigy) Cameron Jones and his brother Ryan have arrived! Bare-bones instrumentation (baritone guitar, drums & vocals) discharge herky-jerky rhythmic structures & tight melodies (comparable to Thingy or Heavy Vegetable) all surrounding a tender lyricism unique to Two Guys. Songs run the gamut from melancholy sweet serenades ("Victoria") to seething anthems of sexual frustration ("Ode to Masturbation"), all with a humbling sense of humor. (AK027)