The Next Big Thing

Been contemplating this best of the year/alleged decade and what have you and decided to stick with what I compiled for the Monorail Music roundup. Perhaps there are other things that could be in there, all the Moon Duo releases for starters but let’s maybe keep that for the album that will undoubtedly collect much of the amazing music they make. Such contemplation brings up recollections and all kinds of why’s, wherefore’s and WTF’s. I'm simply not entertaining the "decade" thing but if I was then "Introducing Hello Saferide" would likely be the clear numero uno.

So here’s a bunch of things you can seek out, check out and acquire. Of course there could have been more but you’re sick of lists by now, right? And these things require some semblance of recall and I seem to have left my ability to do that someplace. It’ll hopefully turn up in due course but I’m not counting on it? So here we go with 10 – in alphabetical order – number order is for bean counters.

Monorail requested albums/reissue and track so that’s how there are presented.

Amy Allison – Sheffield Streets (Urban Myth)

Bruce Anderson – The Inherent Beauty of Hopelessness (Self release)

Ironville – Welcome To Ironville (Hare Tracks)

Matt and Kim – Grand (Fader label/Nettwerk)

Reigning Sound – Love and Curses (In The Red)

The Riverdales – Invasion USA (Asian Man)

The Tripwires – House to House (Spark and Shine)

Two White Horses – s/t (Stand By Your Band)

Wooden Shjips – Dos (Holy Mountain)

Young Fresh Fellows – I Don’t Think This Is (R&R Inc)


Reissue / retrospective

The Yum Yums – Sweetest Candy (Kid-Tested)

Souvenirs (Little Gems of Pop) - Various Artists (Sound Asleep/Wall of Noise)

Single / track

The A-Bones – Shallow Grave (Norton)


Dean and Britta’s “13 Most Beautiful” in Dunfermline was the show of the year hands down with the version of “I’ll Keep It With Mine” being the very pinnacle. I still get a little overwhelmed when I think of that evening. Evan deserves a special commendation for making that happen.

Equally momentous was the Spanish adventure with The Quattros/Yum Yums/YFF Inc/Munsters in October. I didn’t know I still had it in me...

... and I still harbour a hope that Matt & Kim’s “Lessons Learned” will sweep the world in a late display of good taste on the part of the music buying public.

Of course, I’m not daft enough to be holding my breath... because there should be a new Bambi Molesters set coming our way. A little optimism never hurt, right? And right as I pressed publish, I notice that "blogger" had crashed so that resulted in much gnashing of teeth and swearing. That commodity and I have never gotten along so what did I expect...