Here’s a quick list of what I have been listening to lately:

The Foals – Holy Fire. This is one of my favorite records of the year so far. It did come out this year, right? Anyway, the April show at the Goat Farm (with Surfer Blood) should not be missed.

Johnny Marr – The Messenger. Let me just say that Marr is far and away the most interesting member of his old band (and I’m not talking about Modest Mouse). This first solo record was well worth waiting for. It may sound “old” to younger ears but it strikes just the right tone for me.

Unnatural Helpers – Land Grab. What’s not to like about 11 raucous tracks that clock in under two and half minutes (and one long one at the end)? I don’t think these guys tour much but the record on Hardly Art is well worth your time.

In other old guy music news, David Bowie has released his first record worth multiple spins in 30 years. You might like The Next Day, I do.

The turntable has been lending mechanical support for the following power pop musical diversions lately:
Cheap Trick – All Shook Up (I wish I was the High Priest of Rhythmic Noise)
The soundtrack to Teachers. (.38 Special is an unqualified guilty pleasure for this gun control advocate)
Night Ranger – Midnight Madness (Sister Christian is not the only worthwhile song here).

Some other things that have spun on an old-fashioned media called the Compact Disc lately:
The Replacements – Let It Be
Swingset – Like Teeth EP
John K. Samson – Provincial
Red City Radio – To The Sons and Daughers of Woodie Guthrie
Drive-By Truckers – The Dirty South

The book club will meet on March 25 to discuss Tinkers by Paul Harding. We will meet at 7:30 pm at Eddie’s Attic.

I have listened to these records more than once lately – some old, some new.  You might be interested (then again, maybe not).

Toro Y Moi, Anything in Return – Not what some might expect of me but I really enjoy it.  Have always felt that Chaz has been in a different category than the movement he was credited with a hand in founding.

Ride, Nowhere – This one is so easy to go back to.  A must spin if you want to understand what preceded nu gaze or neo gaze.

The Joy Formidable, Wolf’s Law – I loved their early work – largely collected in Balloon Called Moaning.  This is a bit of a departure but in a great direction in my view.  If you can find the tour EP, Bootleg Vol. 1 the versions of “Popinjay” and “Austere” on there are fantastic.

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Meat + Bone.  His best work in a long time.  Got to check him out on the current tour in Charlottesville at a rather cool venue called the Jefferson Theater.  Still bringing it after all these years.

I’ve been through these albums once lately but expect to go back to them soon.  In other words, they seemed to warrant another spin or two:

• the new Free Energy record (unlike Pitchfork reviewers I find comparisons to Cheap Trick favorable);
• the goofy but charming EP of originals from Yacht Rock Revue
• the new Foxygen
• John K. Sansom, Provincial

Here are two things that I am not sure if I will listen to again (a conclusion that sort of disappointed me)

• Yo La Tengo, Fade
• the new Local Natives – I know it sounds shallow and dreadfully old of me to ask but where is the new “Sun Hands”? This seems a pretty ordinary record to me without it.

Here are some records (yes, of the petroleum variety) that have been on the turntable lately. Lots of old stuff in here:

• Dire Straits, Making Movies
• Elmore James, Screamin’ Blues
• Misfits Collection I
• Red City Radio, The Dangers of Standing Still
• Fruits De Mer, The White EP

Last minute notice for the quick reader…Book Club will meet at Eddie’s Attic on Monday, January 28th to discuss The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. 7:30pm.

Get shaken, not stirred this Wednesday evening with Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Also on the bill, Adam Arcuragi and The Sunset District.

Bring what you will from the Q Branch but leave your smoking jacket at home, it will be a non-smoking event. $7

Please join us for our book club in November. We will be reading Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. We will meet on November 26th at 7:30pm at Eddie’s Attic.