Albums of the Week

Albums of the Week is a recurring feature at Pomp Culture where we will select three albums for our readers to check out. To listen to any of the Albums of the Week just click on the links provided in the sidebar. Live streams of each album can be played in iTunes, Winamp, or Windows Media Player. There is also a link to purchase music by the artists on Amazon, which I strongly encourage if you find something you like.

After taking a week off, we're back with three albums for your listening pleasure.


Something Old - "On Avery Island" by Neutral Milk Hotel
Released: 1996
Label: Merge
Genre: Indie Rock

Submitted by: Brant Brown

On Avery Island was Neutral Milk Hotel's first full-length album, released in early 1996. It is a record that will always be overshadowed by its much more successful and accessible counterpart, 1998's In an Aeroplane Over the Sea. Though the latter is a superior compilation, the former has a smattering of excellent songs that warrant a re-visit. Kicking off the album is the driving fuzzy bass on "Song Against Sex", a staple of the NMH sound. That bluster and exuberance is later surpassed by "Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone", a composition that deserves to be yelled only at the top of the lungs, preferably while shaking ones fists. A tolerance of horns and the accordion is recommended in order to appreciate the talents of the various NMH players, the most notable of which is their elusive mastermind, Jeff Mangum. Though the group would only release two albums under the Neutral Milk Hotel monicker, they were able to breed enough of a dedicated fanbase to assure that these songs will not quickly be forgotten.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Naomi, Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone, Song Against Sex.


Something New - "Volume One" by She & Him
Released: 2008
Label: Merge
Genre: Indie Pop

Submitted by: Brant Brown

This debut album from actress Zooey Deschanel and musician Matt Ward may seem like some cheap novelty at face value. These songs, and her voice, are absolutely legitimate. The minimalist instrumental stylings bring Deschanel's harmonies to the forefront. The reception to this album has been strong, so we should be receiving more from the duo on the near future.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here, This is Not a Test, Sweet Darlin'.


Something Different - "The Midnight Organ Fight" by Frightened Rabbit
Released: 2008
Label: Fat Cat
Genre: Indie Pop

Submitted by: Dave Thomas

This album flips back and forth between an indie-pop experiment and sort of a folky foundation. The band is a trio from Glasgow and their catchy opening number "The Modern Leper" sounds like a rough version of something you might hear from O.A.R.. The lyrics are all fairly dark but not so much as to turn someone away the first time through.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: The Modern Leper, I Feel Better, Keep Yourself Warm.

Like what you hear? Please feel free to leave a comment or drop us a line at pompculture@gmail.com.

Albums of the Week

Albums of the Week is a recurring feature at Pomp Culture where we will select three albums for our readers to check out. To listen to any of the Albums of the Week just click on the links provided in the sidebar. Live streams of each album can be played in iTunes, Winamp, or Windows Media Player. There is also a link to purchase music by the artists on Amazon, which I strongly encourage if you find something you like.


Something Old - "Scary Monsters" by David Bowie
Released: 1980
Label: RCA
Genre: Rock/New Wave

Submitted by: Governor X

With a career about to enter its 42nd year and genre changes too numerous to mention, it's impossible to pinpoint any one Bowie album as his best. It's better to break them down into periods. For 80's pop star Bowie, it doesn't get any better than Scary Monsters. The thin white duke wastes no time easing you into things, beginning the CD with Japanese vocals on It's No Game (Part 1) and roaring through the next forty minutes with a sound never truly heard before or since on tracks like Scary Monsters, Teenage Wildlife, and Scream Like a Baby. Fittingly, to close, the CD comes full circle with It's No Game (Part 2), a much slower version of the opening track that sounds like an entirely different song.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: All of it.


Something New - "Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" by Sigur Rós
Released: 2008
Label: EMI
Genre: Post-rock

Submitted by: Brant Brown

This 2008 release by Sigur Ros could be considered their most commercially accessible album. It is, dare I say, more upbeat than any of their previous efforts. That is not to say however that the band's signature indulgences do not exist here. While three of the first four songs have a strong rhythmic infusion and are just plain catchy, lead singer Jón Þór Birgisson's hauntingly poetic vocals regain the spotlight on the tracks Festival and Ára Bátur. Festival in particular delves into the rich sorrow that Birgisson has made a staple in Sigur Ros's catalogue, only to rally after the 4:30 mark and turn into a rousing overture of triumph. A solid effort as usual for the Icelandic group, with a strong presence on many "Best of '08" lists.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Festival, Ára Bátur, Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur


Something Different - "Sacred Cow" by Geggy Tah
Released: 1996
Label: Luaka Bop
Genre: Alternative

Submitted by: The Hundley

It would be fair to call Geggy Tah a one-hit wonder. "Whoever You Are" was released as a single in 1996 and reached #16 on the Billboard Charts and got some decent play on MTV with the accompanying video that looked like a driver's ed film. Thankfully that song got me curious enough to buy the whole album. Sacred Cow showcases the band's ability to play all different types of music - everything from rock to jazz to funk. Tom Jordan's vocals really shine as he's able to sing in many different styles, often times creating a separate melody for the songs. 75% of the album is nothing you'd be likely to hear on the radio, but that doesn't make it any less interesting.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Whoever You Are, Don't Close the Door, Gina, Sacred Cow

Like what you hear? Please feel free to leave a comment or drop us a line at pompculture@gmail.com.

Albums of the Week

Albums of the Week is a recurring feature at Pomp Culture where we will select three albums for our readers to check out. To listen to any of the Albums of the Week just click on the links provided in the sidebar. Live streams of each album can be played in iTunes, Winamp, or Windows Media Player. There is also a link to purchase music by the artists on Amazon, which I strongly encourage if you find something you like.


Something Old - "Greatest Hits" by Huey Lewis and the News
Released: 2006
Label: Capitol
Genre: Pop

Submitted by: Chaim Witz

Huey Lewis and the News (or HLATN if you're hip) best represent the 1980's phenomenon of relatively older, nondescript singers and bands dominating the pop charts. Think about it. Today's music is ageist. You basically have to be under 30 and sexy to be relevant on the pop charts. Think of all the popular stuff in the 1980's. HLATN, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, The Pointer Sisters...Good Lord, I could go on forever. They all could have passed for our parents, yet they were hugely successful.

HLATN was the cream of the crop. Not many bands before or after have used a saxophone to their advantage as much as these guys did. "Power of Love" conjures up images of a young Michael J Fox, with his whole life in front of him and sweet ass Deloreans, which I still argue are the cars of the future. Surprisingly effective music for tailgating. The CD jewel case doubles as a great cocaine plate. I could have picked a studio album, "Sports", but c'mon this is all you really need, even though it inexcusably leaves out their second best song, "Bad is Bad".

Tracks to stay tuned in for: The Heart of Rock N Roll, Power of Love, If This is It


Something New - "Day & Age" by The Killers
Released: 2008
Label: Island
Genre: Alternative

Submitted by: Governor X

The Killers never fail to mix things up and their new release Day & Age is no exception. The electronic rock and quasi-western sound of their previous three CDs is gone, replaced by something that straddles the long forgotten line between pop and disco. It can take a few listens to "get" it, but it's steadily been growing on me. Not growing on me? Brandon Flowers' feathered jacket. Please go back to the Colonel Sanders look.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Spaceman, A Dustland Fairytale, This is Your Life


Something Different - "Us and Them" by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Released: 19925
Label: Philips
Genre: Classical

Submitted by: Brant Brown

I stumbled upon this disc of the London Symphony Orchestra performing a collection of Pink Floyd songs sometime in college. I'm a fairly avid Pink Floyd fan and thought it would be interesting to hear the depth that an orchestra could provide, and if the disc would be able to get across the same emotions without any lyrics. The result held up pretty well, and went into my rotation of late night studying music. Ten years later, I still enjoy breaking it out after lengthy rock and roll spats. As much as I love Dark Side of the Moon, I've grown tired of "Money". The version on this album is much more pleasing.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Breathe, Nobody Home, Money

Like what you hear? Have a suggestion or recommendation? Please feel free to leave a comment or drop us a line at pompculture@gmail.com.

Albums of the Week: GnR Edition

Albums of the Week is a recurring feature at Pomp Culture where we will select three albums for our readers to check out. To listen to any of the Albums of the Week just click on the links provided in the sidebar. Live streams of each album can be played in iTunes, Winamp, or Windows Media Player. There is also a link to purchase music by the artists on Amazon, which I strongly encourage if you find something you like.

This week is a special edition of AOTW. In honor of the long overdue release of Chinese Democracy we're having a special Guns N' Roses Week.

Something Old - "Use Your Illusion II" by Guns N' Roses
Released: 1991
Label: Geffen
Genre: Hard Rock

Submitted by: Governor X

If you can believe it, the epic Use Your Illusion I and II were the last studio albums released by Guns N Roses before Chinese Democracy. Use Your Illusion II is the harder cock punching rock of the two and represents the band at their best. You Could Be Mine is easily my favorite G N R song and features everything a man could want in hard rock. Another classic, Estranged clocks in at over nine minutes, making it one of the better buys at the jukebox, and inspired a video where Axl, wearing a Charlie Manson t-shirt, jumps off an oil tanker to swim with the dolphins. Hard rock never again came close to this level of awesomeness and excess.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Civil War, Estranged, You Could Be Mine


Something New - "Chinese Democracy" by Guns N' Roses
Released: 2008
Label: Geffen
Genre: Hard Rock

Submitted by: Daft Funk

Last month brought us America's first black president and Chinese Democracy. What can we expect for December, a YouTube video of Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy making out? Although no album will ever be good enough to justify more than a decade of waiting, this is still the kind of balls-to-the-wall rock you'd expect from a band named Guns 'N Roses, even if it's not really them anymore. Stop wishing for the same style of Use Your Illusion and accept the fact that this is a solid record by a new band that just happens to share the name of one of the greatest rock bands ever and you'll be fine.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Chinese Democracy, Better, Scraped


Something Different - "Izzy Stradlin & the Ju Ju Hounds" by Izzy Stradlin
Released: 1992
Label: Geffen
Genre: Rock

Submitted by: The Hundley

Riding high from his work in GnR, Izzy went off on his own, clean and sober. It's almost as if he was told in rehab to "go make a record that sounds like the Stones". Is that high praise or an insult? Depends on how you look at it. What Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds is is a great record of straight ahead rocking songs. No frills, no over-productions, just a rockin' drum beat, driving guitars, some roadhouse piano, and raspy vocals. Throw in some homages to reggae and punk, and you actually have a pretty diverse record. Worth noting that the lead guitarist is Rick Richards of Georgia Satellite fame, who lends some nice slide work and some tasty, Southern licks. Good driving music and a good one to pass a spliff around to, as is reinforced by a ten second bong rip sound effect in "Train Tracks". Clean and sober, huh, Izzy?

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Shuffle It All, Cuttin' The Rug, Somebody Knockin'

Like what you hear? Have a suggestion or recommendation? Please feel free to leave a comment or drop us a line at pompculture@gmail.com.

Albums of the Week

Albums of the Week is a recurring feature at Pomp Culture where we will select three albums for our readers to check out. To listen to any of the Albums of the Week just click on the links provided in the sidebar. Live streams of each album can be played in iTunes, Winamp, or Windows Media Player. There is also a link to purchase music by the artists on Amazon, which I strongly encourage if you find something you like.

We're starting something new this week. From now on instead of just myself picking the albums, we will have various members of the Pomp Culture Collective make selections from their own music catalog.

Something Old - "Waylon Live" by Waylon Jennings
Released: 1976
Label: RCA
Genre: Outlaw Country

Submitted by: Chip Wesley

Look, I love Johnny Cash as much as the next person, but when it comes to Outlaw Country, Waylon Jennings was, is, and always will be king. Saying 'F.U.' to Nashville, Waylon took over his own recording rights and moved to Texas in the early 70's. The result was a bevy of kick-ass songs and the rapid expansion of the Outlaw Country movement.

This live album was originally recorded in 1974 and features Waylon in his prime. While you'll find a few of his classic tunes on here, the real treat is hearing him do some covers, such as "Never Been to Spain" and a haunting rendition of "House of the Rising Sun".

Tracks to stay tuned in for: T for Texas, Never Been to Spain, House of the Rising Sun


Something New - "Sycamore Meadows" by Butch Walker
Released: 2008
Label: R.E.D. Distribution
Genre: Indie Rock

Submitted by: Chaim Witz

Mr. Walker is quite the polarizing figure amongst the Pomp Culture Collective. Nay, I may be the only one who actually likes him. But like the kid who gets called a 'fag' for liking KISS in high school, I take my lumps and continue to hoist my lighter into the air. A poor man's Dave Grohl (minus the testosterone) Butch not only writes every one of his songs but plays damn near every instrument to boot. Each of his albums has a different feel and this one is no exception. Mixing influences like Petty and Springsteen with his own brand of pop rock to great affect, Butch has crafted his most personal album yet, recorded shortly after the California wildfires claimed his home and everything that he had. Like most of his albums, there are songs that should be huge hits but won't be. "Here Comes The..." is that song on this album.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Ponce De Leon Ave., The 3 Kids in Brooklyn, Summer Scarves


Something Different - "Original Soundtracks 1" by Passengers
Released: 1995
Label: Island
Genre: Experimental

Submitted by: Governor X

U2's underrated mid-90s exploration into different genres hit a bizarre peak with a collection of songs from mostly imaginary movies so strange they released it under a pseudonym. The Passengers (U2, Brian Eno, Luciano Pavarotti, and others) offers the listener everything from electronic instrumentals from a faux-film that per the liner notes, "exists in that underexplored territory between horror and comedy" to deep south porch music lamenting Elvis Presley's battle with his weight.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Miss Sarajevo, Corpse, Theme from Let's Go Native

Like what you hear? Have a suggestion or recommendation? Please feel free to leave a comment.

Albums of the Week

Albums of the Week is a recurring feature at Pomp Culture where we will select three albums for our readers to check out. To listen to any of the Albums of the Week just click on the links provided in the sidebar. Live streams of each album can be played in iTunes, Winamp, or Windows Media Player. There is also a link to purchase music by the artists on Amazon, which I strongly encourage if you find something you like.


Something Old - "Exile on Main Street" by The Rolling Stones
Released: 1972
Label: Atlantic
Genre: Rock

I could drone on about how awesome this album is, but pretty much every rock critic out there has already taken care of that. "Exile" is the Stones at their country and blues apex. This is one of those albums that can be listened the whole way through without wanting to skip a single track. If you've never familiarized yourself with this classic, then it's high time that you did.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: All of them.

Something New - "Write a Letter" by A Night in the Box
Released: 2008
Label: Afternoon
Genre: Indie Rock

Take some old-fashioned blues and folk music, mix in some banjo and fiddle, and throw on some sick slide guitar and you my friends get "A Night in the Box". This Minneapolis band is one of the coolest groups I've come across in a while. Their latest release, "Write a Letter" manages to mix classic old school blues and folk music into their own blend of indie rock. Seriously though, check out the track "Let Me Know" for some killer slide guitar.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Let Me Know, Rich Man's Table, West Texas


Something Different - "Butter 08" by Butter 08
Released: 1996
Label: Grand Royal
Genre: Indie Rock

I dug deep in my collection to dust this one off. Butter 08 was a indie rock side project/supergroup involving the chicks from Cibo Matto, and Judah Bauer and Russell Simins from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion along with a couple other guys. The result was this album, mixing in punk, funk, and even some quirky lounge music. A fun soundtrack for some hipster party you probably weren't cool enough to be invited to.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: 9MM, How Do I Relax?, Butterfucker

Like what you hear? Have a suggestion or recommendation? Please feel free to leave a comment.

Albums of the Week

Albums of the Week is a recurring feature at Pomp Culture where we will select three albums for our readers to check out. Each week there will be a new album selected for one of three categories.

Something Old - This will usually be an album that has been out for quite a while (at least two years or longer). The purpose of 'Something Old' is to reintroduce ourselves to some music we may not have heard in a while.

Something New - This will include albums that have been released in the last few months. 'Something New' will give you a chance to check out a new album before you decide to drop some money on it.

Something Different - We're going to push the envelope a bit with this category and hopefully introduce you to some new artists or styles of music you may not have heard or even considered before. "Something Different' will cater to the more adventurous music fan.

To listen to any of the Albums of the Week just click on the links provided in the sidebar. Live streams of each album can be played in iTunes, Winamp, or Windows Media Player. There is also a link to purchase music by the artists on Amazon, which I strongly encourage if you find something you like.

Now let's get to this week's selections.

Something Old - "Core" by Stone Temple Pilots
Released: 1992
Label: Atlantic
Genre: Hard Rock/Alternative

With the opening lyrics and blast of guitar at the beginning of "Dead and Bloated", STP punches you hard in the taint and refuses to let up. Railed by the critics as being nothing more than Pearl Jam copycats, fans came out in droves for this album nonetheless. STP would move on to bigger and better albums, but this debut put them on the rock map and is still a good listen when you just want to tune out and listen to some straight up hard rock.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Sex Type Thing, Wicked Garden, Plush


Something New - "Dear Science" by TV on the Radio
Released: 2008
Label: Interscope
Genre: Indie Rock

"Dear Science" is the follow up to TV on the Radio's breakout smash hit "Return to Cookie Mountain". On this latest release, the band continues to explore the various sounds of post-punk, electronic dance, modern jazz and soul music. The result is a truly unique sound all their own. For me, this album took a few listens to truly get into it, but it has since jumped up the list as one of my favorites of 2008.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Halfway Home, Golden Age, Red Dress


Something Different - "Exit" by Shugo Tokumaru
Released: 2008
Label: Almost Gold
Genre: Indie Pop/Lo-Fi

I was in my car listening to XM, when I first heard "Parachute", the opening track on Shugo Tokumaru's latest album, 'Exit'. I tried my best to remember the artist's name until I could get home and look him up. After some quick and dirty Google searching and some spelling corrections I was fortunate to find this album. Shugo's amazing ability to layer instruments and experiment with melodies makes 'Exit' a beautiful little nugget of indie pop weirdness, and him Japan's version of Brian Wilson.

Tracks to stay tuned in for: Parachute, Clocca, La La Radio


Like what you hear? Have a suggestion or recommendation? Please feel free to leave a comment.