Dispatches From The CD Mines

Along with the basic patriotic duties I took part in over Memorial Day weekend (Fleet Week sailor wooing, beer, tube meats), I made a point to listen to the haphazardly piled promo CDs stacked on my stereo. Some won't be released for a month, others have been hovering there since January; all got a fair listen (OK, maybe not all. I've got a dozen or so records left to go through). While I don't plan on reviewing them in detail, I jotted down some notes below.

Up next: the horde of digitally delivered promos currently clogging my iPod (Eminem, Virus, Oceano). I do it so you don't have to.

Good:

Iron Age's The Sleeping Eye of the Watcher — A little more sophistication than I expected from these TXHC Cro-Mags worshippers.

John Doe and the Sadies' Country Club — Who knew the famed X vocalist had a yearning for honky tonk crooning? With an all-star band behind him, John Doe takes on several country classics to great success.

Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection — So perfect for a relaxing Sunday.

Amesoeurs' s/t — I have no idea how this record came into my possession, but this shit rules. Part ethereal female vocals with shoegaze guitars, part blast beats and black metal, Amesoeurs do it all, and in French. Apparently they've been around for a minute, but this was my first encounter with them. Get familiar.

Not-So-Bad:

Dinosaur Jr.'s Farm — Though I'm still forming a final opinion on this one, I'm proud to announce that J Mascis & the original band in no way f'd up on Farm.

Los Straitjackets' The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets — Salsa-flavored instrumental surfer rock. Plus I finally got to hear the band whose name I'd seen so often.

Riverboat Gamblers' Underneath The Owl — My 18-year-old cousin—and countless Warped Tour fans—would probably love this.

Meh:

The Number Twelve Looks Like You's Worse Than Alone — This one just hopped too many Hot Topic trends to leave any kind of impression of what they're about.

Tom Morello/Boots Riley's Street Sweeper Social Club — If you think the formula of skinny RATM riffs + Saul Williams' Niggy Tardust persona works, then you might just like this.

Twangy:

Justin Townes Earle's Midnight at the Movies — Not bad by any means, just a little too folksy for my taste.

The Bottle Rockets' Lean Forward — Akin to pop country from Margaritaville. Not my steez at all.

Awful:

Dirtfedd's The American Nightmare — Bad spelling, even worse meathead metal.