This isn’t really in any order, except almost reverse alphabetical. Samples of most of these bands can be found at either Amazon or Allmusic.com. For extra snobby reviews, please see Pitchfork.

Tender Forever - The Soft and The Hardcore (K) For fans of: Mirah, Stereo Total, The Blow

Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (Sub Pop) Album of the year, enough said.

The Skygreen Leopards - Life and Love In Sparrow’s Meadow (Jagjaguwar) For fans of: Iron & Wine, Devandra Banhart, Black Mountain

Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (Jagjaguwar) For fans of: Magnolia Electric Co, The Good Life, Neutral Milk Hotel,

Numbers - We’re Animals (Kill Rock Stars) For fans of: Erase Errata, Stereolab, The New Pornographers.

Nedelle - From The Lion’s Mouth (Kill Rock Stars) For fans of: Lois, Elliott Smith, Iron and Wine, Dear Nora, Rebecca Gates

Matt Pond PA - Several Arrows Later (Altitude) For fans of: The New Amsterdams, Pedro the Lion, Ida, Belle & Sebastian

M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us (Mute) For fans of: My Bloody Valentine, Air, Boards of Canada

Laura Veirs - Year Of Meteors (Nonesuch) For fans of: Nina Nanstasia, (old) Liz Phair, Mirah.

Ladytron - Witching Hour (Rykodisc) For fans of: Stereolab, Adult., Chicks on Speed, My Bloody Valentine,

The Kills - No Wow (Rough Trade) For fans of: X, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pj Harvey

Goldfrapp - Supernature (Mute) For fans of: Siouxie and the Banshees, Pj Harvey

Electrelane - Axes (Too Pure) For fans of: Clinic, Broadcast

Des_Ark - Loose Lips Sink Ships (Bifocal Media) For fans of: The Need, Two Ton Boa, Fiery Furnaces, Antietam, 31Knots

The Decemberists - Picaresque (Kill Rock Stars) For fans of: Belle & Sebastian, Neutral Milk Hotel

The Concretes - Layourbattleaxedown (Astralwerks) For fans of: Velvet Underground, Mazzy Star

Coco Rosie - Noah’s Ark (Touch & Go) For fans of: Devandra Banhart, Cat Power.

Blood On the Wall - Awesomer (Social Registry) For fans of: Black Mountain, Sonic Youth, Sonic Youth, Sonic Youth.

Black Mountain - Black Mountain (Jagjaguwar) For fans of: Velvet Underground, Fiery Furnaces, The Dirtbombs, Dead Meadow,

Bell Orchestre - Recording A Tape the Colour of the Light (Rough Trade) For fans of: Rachels, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Sigur Ros, The Arcade Fire.

The Bats - At the National Grid (Magic Marker) For fans of: Yo La Tengo, American Analog Set, Blake Babies, Beat Happening.

Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die (Bar/None) For fans of: Fiery Furnaces, Starlight Mints, Mates of State.

Akron/Family - Akron/Family. (Young Gods) For fans of: Microphones.

Adult. - Gimme Trouble (Thrill Jockey) For fans of: Throbbing Gristle, Fad Gadget, Devo, X-Ray Spex.

31Knots - Talk Like Blood (Polyvinyl) For fans of: The Need.

Growing - His Return (Troubleman Unlimited) For fans of: Sunn O))), Godspeed You Black Emperor!

Dead Meadow - Feathers (Matador) For fans of: Comets on Fire, Led Zeppelin, Sleater-Kinney

You might not have heard:

Dawn Smithson - Safer Here (Kranky) For fans of: Lisa Germano, Cat Power, Julie Doiron.

Coralie Clément - Bye Bye Beauté (Netwerk) For fans of: Jane Birkin, Francois Hardy, April March

Freakwater - Thinking of You (Thrill Jockey) For fans of: Neko Case, Loretta Lynn, Giant Sand.

Latterman - No Matter Where We Go (Deep Elm) For fans of: Hot Water Music, (old) Against Me!

Thursday, December 29th, 2005 at 3:44 pm | Leave A Comment | Comments Feed
Filed under: Music