Cheap Time "Fantastic Explanations (and Similar Situations)"

(In the Red) I've heard of darker, heavier second albums, but this is the proverbial "whole 'nother level." Their first album had these Tennessee titans sounding like teen brats singing about having fun and going to the zoo. On the follow up everything is all serious and important and dynamic. The only two things that are consistent are the weirdly flat/off-kilter nasal vocals and the love of the 60s. Except this time the nasality is disturbing and the 60s-ocity has left the high school gymnasium dance and hit a weird Kinks-zone. So basically this is the Kongested Kinks. Kool.

Al Scorch and his Country Soul Ensemble "On the Straight and Low"

(www.orangetwin.com) Banjo spelled backwards is Ojnab, which sideways spells something like "Oh! Jam!" Which isn't to say this big bad trad banjo slab sounds anything like some DeadheadPhishReggae jam band mess, but rather that it's as sweet as fruit preserves!

The Bama Lamas/The Bone Machine split 7"

(Dirty Ugly Records) Two bands, one Italian and scary and likely unintentionally named after a Tom Waits album, and one American and goofy and certainly intentionally named after an Otis Redding song, reanimate the one corpse that was begging to be reanimated even pre-death: Lux Interior lives on in spirit...and in some rocking bodies as well!

Dan Susnara "Vent Grin and Conquer," Dan Susnara & Micky Saunders "Riding the Moonbeams Analog Slim in Luddite Land"

(7806 S. Kilpatrick Chicago IL 60652) "Vent" is Susnara's darkest, weirdest, closest to psychedelia recording yet. It would be depressing if it wasn't so inspiring how much better he keeps getting. His latest colabo with young protege Saunders is a much lighter affair, as acoustic instrumental explorations and Saunders' youth and energy seem to make this CD float around like a balloon. Note: the luddite-ness may be why this wouldn't play in my computer, just on a 25 year old CD player.

Tommy and the High Pilots"American Riviera"

(www.thehighpilots.com) Should be called the Low Pekids because this gave me a sour stomach.

The Sovereign

(www.thesovnews.com) You gotta give credit to these would be revolutionaries...in an age where tea partiers, Klansmen, Murdochian broadcasters, and hack comedians have come up with every anti-Obama visual you can think of these cats never fail to take it to another level with a Pharoah Obama or a Terminator Obama or a False Jesus Obama or a Monster Obama, etc. But best yet is the near random use of 80s hardcore and deathmetal record covers and comic books as illustrations. Bus absolute best yet (and unexpected considering the extreme music usually championed) is an xerox of a Will Oldham album cover making it appear that el hermano Palace is in fact "Slinky," a columnist accusing the Obama administration of covering up an HIV infection of St. Louis veterans. Not Will!

Charlie Louvin "The Battle Rages On"

(www.truenorthrecords.com) Let me preface this review by first saying we have lost one of the true greats with Louvin's passing, and also that I wrote this before he moved on to great beyond, so my opinions were colored more by his pre-death immortality than his post-death immortality. What is absolutely perfect and magical about this theme album of songs about soldiers and war is that it does not fall into the Johnny Cash "American Songs"/Jack White revives the greats/moderned-up old legend genre. This is a genuine old time record, a collection of patriotic, sentimental, sometimes corny, always sincere, often maudlin, never hip, perfectly real tunes of dead young men, evil foreign villains, sad widows, Red, White & Blue, bravery, fear, and unwavering love of country. "Dear God keep America free" is a lyric that will never again be sung with the sincerity of Louvin's fragile, beautiful voice. Rage on forever Mr, Louvin!

Corinne Chapman "Dirty Pretty Things"

(www.corinnechapman.com) This is a #1 hit country album if I ever heard it: perfect Nashville production, great songs, lovely voice, pretty face, good values, and timeless vibe. If only a few hundred thousand more folks heard it this CC would be a rider...up the charts!

Tim Mahoney "Live From the Sky"

(www.timmahoney.com) It was a great idea for Mahoney to release a live album, because there's few things as persuasive as hearing a crowd freak out as each song title is announced, sing along with choruses, and generally be pretty convincing that each and every song is their favorite. There are some specific female hoots and hollers that keep popping up at every lull, but if Mahoney was planting a wife in the audience to move the crowd than he must be a polygamist because it's at least three chicks who keep losing it. And you can see why the fans dig Tim: he has the kind of chops that would have made him  a giant on the college circuit in the days when the Hooties and Dave Matthewses were making millions. The Sky is not the limit!

Charlie and the Skunks "Take an Ice Cream Scoop Out of My Brain" ep

(eradicator) These garage trash wallowing skunks smell like teen spray-glands! If Pepe LePew could rock like this he wouldn't need to rape those kittens...they would be more than willing!