A Carnival Of Soul: Wishes Volume One

Even though Barbara Brown is urging you to "Forget Him" because she wants her man back, you can't feel bad about having stolen him because this collection from one of soul's main stables, Kent Records, feels so good. Highlights include: "My Love Is Yours Tonight" by The Turner Brothers, two standouts from Lee Williams & The Cymbals "I Love You More" & "It's Everything About You", and "'Til You Come Back To Me" by The Manhattans.
There are some burners on this collection but it's the ballads that really shine. Volume One of this 3-part series cuts a wide swath through Northern Soul, Doo-Wop, and Deep Soul. I'll probably review the other 2 collections here soon, but you should check them all out regardless.

Buy this record when you need to make sweet love to that person who is giving you the make sweet love to me vibe.

www.acerecords.co.uk/content.php?page_id=59&release=969

Apache Dropout- Apache Dropout

Vintage garage rock from modern day Bloomington, IN trio. Feels a little too calculated in its approach, which I find counter-intuitive to the whole garage rock aesthetic, but it hits all its marks. There seems to be some buzz around this band now so go catch them before they get signed to a big and start making music for Honda commercials.

Buy this record for your next naked twister party.

www.myspace.com/apachedropout

Neil Young International Harvesters- A Treasure

It's probably not fashionable to be writing reviews about Neil Young but I don't give a shit. He's a true music icon. He's written some beautiful songs, he's made some noisy songs, and he's taken a lot of detours. This is one of those detours. Culled from live performances between 1984-1985, A Treasure documents Young's country/blues exploration while backed by some of country music's greatest session players. There are 5 unreleased tracks included on this record that will satisfy hardcore fans. This is not a good starting point for the Neil Young catalog. For that I'd suggest Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Harvest, or After the Gold Rush.

Buy this record if you wanna take some time to smell the flowers.

www.neilyoung.com

FYF Fest Announced

These guys have come a long way from the run-down buildings and small street festivals they began throwing a few years back. The line-up is very impressive also. If you're in SmellA in early September or need an excuse to visit then check this thing out. Who knows, you may end up staying, become the star of a reality TV show, or at least have a short-term relationship with Jennifer Aniston.

www.fyffest.com

Bombe & Mr. Caribbean- James Blake Mixtape

Producers produce a collaboration between super-hyped British electronic dub performer James Blake and super-hyped Canadian hip-hop artist Drake. Sounds like Bon Iver making dub music on heroin for an episode of Basketball Wives. Blake's music is atmospheric to a fault but Drake pumps some energy into the mix. Scenesters will be name-throwing this around like glow sticks at a rave party.

Buy this record if you got home from the club and the ecstasy is wearing off.

www.jamesblakemusic.com
www.drizzydrake.org

Ty Segall- Goodbye Bread

Bay Area guitarist/drummer with a DIY aesthetic whose affinity for playing music is palpable. His fourth solo record is reverb soaked and drenched in fuzztones, easily comparable to material from 60's Nuggets box sets. The record peters out toward the end and lacks real authenticity, but Segall complements a Bay Area roster with, arguably, the most active music scene in the country right now.

Buy this record if want a Reese's Nutrageous but only have Tootsie Rolls in the cabinet.

www.ty-segall.com

Queen- Sheer Heart Attack

They teetered on the edge of self-indulgence, they wrote some goofy songs ("Fat-Bottomed Girls", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"), and they had a penchant for gaudy theatrics, but there is no denying Freddie Mercury's incredible voice and Brian May's monstrous guitar licks. Queen's third record Sheer Heart Attack is a fucking sheer attack of awesomeness. Released in 1973 it featured Queens first Top 20 U.S. hit "Killer Queen" and was the first Queen record to reach Top 20 on the U.S. charts. From "Brighton Rock" to "Stone Cold Crazy" Queen burns it up. I'm so worked up just writing about it that I may have induced a heart attack.

Buy this record to show deference to the Queen of Rock.

www.queenonline.com