A look a local and non-local discs.


The Opposite Sex
Violent Heartstrings
www.oppositesexmusic.com
“Violent Heartstrings” is an awesome first full-length disc from locals The Opposite Sex. Kind of a Cure sound from days gone by, and some obvious punk-like influences. This trio features driving drums and base lines carrying agonizing lyrics. Steady guitar and the occasional horn fill it out.  Highlights include the title track and “Does Anybody Truly Love Anybody else?” These guys could be big. Check them out before it’s too late. They play DC9 on Sept 17. — RF

Akron/Family
Love is Simple
www.akronfamily.com
You know music has turned a strange corner when Akron/Family are oft considered a ‘freak folk’ band. Outlandish monikers aside, “Love is Simple,” the newest effort from the diligent New York experimental rock brigade Akron/Family, is indeed a thoroughly bizarre, yet meticulously engaging album. Chock full of clever hooks and avant-garde sympathizing, it’s an album that constantly surprises and pleases like an ill-advised road trip through uncharted-though-beautiful stretches of backwater West Virginia and Kentucky. Building and receding swells of jangled indie melodies shift in and out of focus like images in a dream, a wonderfully peculiar dream. Hits the streets Sept. 18. Catch ‘em at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel that same evening. — LGLP

Beatnik Turtle
All In a Days Work
www.beatnikturtle.com
Beatnik Turtle’s homage to a day at the office will strike just the right chords for anyone else listening from a cubicle. Beatnik Turtle’s latest album “All In a Days Work” brings together common events from a common workday into an album full of outrageously innovative instrumentals (they use trumpets, trombones, saxophones, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, and more). Beatnik Turtle is definitely on to something with these tracks made for Joe and Jane Schmo, the everyday average office dweller. — CG

Tim Blane
Clockwork
www.timblane.com
“Clockwork” is everything a radio friendly record should be – well executed, with simple, building melodies thickened by accompaniment. In the vein of fellow awkward pop champion Ben Folds, Tim Blane knows how to write a damn good song drenched in American flavor without letting it slip out of his control like too many Dave Matthew’s compositions. “Undone” is a wonderful song, laced with the college rock goodness of the late ‘90s, back when I would sit and ponder life (read: girls). Blane’s at his best when he explores slower tempos and treads the furthest from Matthew’s influence, but “Clockwork” is still an accomplished album despite its few flaws. — LGLP

The Death of Jason Brody
The Death of Jason Brody
www.tdojb.com
The Death of Jason Brody formed in 2006 after Jason Brody took a musical hiatus, which ultimately spawned the New York City-based foursome. TDOJB does stand out in a sea of monotony, however it stops just short of home plate. For starters, vocalist Jason Brody mumbles the lyrics. His voice may be distinct, but it apparently lacks the ability to annunciate. Conversely, the lyrics are very good. “Broken,” a mellow track about a breakup, is completely relatable without being a pop-cliché. If Brody would only clear his throat, it might be addictive. Still, very noteworthy. — NF

Frontside Five
Fall Out of Line
www.frontsidefive.net
Denver natives Frontside Five grind out a super high-energy brand of skate rock with their album “Fall Out of Line.” Now in its fifth year together, Frontside Five gives you everything you would expect from the genre; loud, fast, filled with attitude. If you’re at all interested in hardcore or skate punk rock, Frontside Five is flawless. — CG

Heavy Trash
Going Way Out With Heavy Trash
www.heavytrash.net
Heavy Trash presents “Going Way Out With Heavy Trash,” a rockin’ down-home album filled with twang and spice. Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray do a good job of delivering a sound reminiscent of Johnny Cash or Waylon Jennings, they play the part to a ‘t’. The only problem is, it seems a bit outdated. Heavy Trash has an old sound with their new album, but to be honest… I dig it. Dig for yourself at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hotel on Sept. 19. (See Joel’s Picks this issue). — CG

Icewagon Flu
The Great American Something
www.icewagonflu.com
What do whistles, a banjo, a harmonica and a mandolin have in common? They all appear on Icewagon Flu’s eclectic fifth album, “The Great American Something.” The Jersey-based rock outfit follows suit with groups like O.A.R., producing music you’d love on a roadtrip. Although the album starts slow, it redeems itself by the fourth track. Fans of multiple genres will appreciate the grab-bag approach that has been taken instrumentally. The album has a little bit of everything, from reggae to quasi-new age, which is simultaneously fun and annoying. The compilation’s merit is based entirely on the instrumental aspect, not lyrics. Check the site for the closest show to you. — NF

Johnny Irion
Ex Tempore
www.johnnyirion.com
Reveling in its ‘70s-esque delivery, Johnny Irion’s “Ex Tempore” is easily comparable to Neil Young’s work from that decade — not only in sound, but in quality. “Short Leash” is an exuberant number that could easily be used on a soundtrack to evoke nostalgic emotions of “a simpler time.” The strings on “Roman Candle” carefully push this triumphantly stumbling piece to its fading end. “Brush Yr. Teeth Blues #56” is easily one of the standouts of the record, the entangled voices of the harmonica and the piano giving this song such a rich texture. For ‘70s music enthusiasts and fans of “Harvest,” this album should not be overlooked. Sept. 25 at Jammin’ Java. — LGLP

The Kin
Rise and Fall
www.thekin.com
Australian-born brothers Thorry and Isaac Koren, now residents of New York City, craft epic pop songs that have evoked comparisons to bands as varying as Coldplay, the Cure, and early U2. Known collectively as the Kin, the Koren brothers have garnered quite a bit of attention. Billboard has called their live show a “humbling experience,” and Time Out NY has similarly lauded their efforts. “Rise and Fall” is an effortlessly delivered pop album, as dreamlike and present as Frou Frou’s remarkable “Details.” The Kin have found a happy medium in the pop landscape, and an elegant one at that. — LGLP

Robert Lighthouse
Deep Down in the Mud
www.robertlighthouse.com
Very happy to see Robert Lighthouse release his second full-length album, “Down in the Mud.” Very well-done blues from a local.  Covers, including the required Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, but Lighthouse also shows his chops by tackling the likes of George Clinton (“Red Hot Mama”) and Jimi Hendrix (“Spanish Castle Magic”), both highlights. And just how local is this disc? Solo acoustic tracks laid down at Chief Ikes Mambo Room, full band compositions at Zoo Bar, both in DC,. Check Lighthouse out live — multiple local shows next month. Visit his Web site for details. — RF

Manu Chao
La Radiolina
manuchao.net
Manu Chao has always let his displeasure of U.S. foreign policy known, especially during his June DC-area show at Merriweather in front of 16,000. In “Tristeza Maleza” he speaks of infinite sadness due to the privacy-invading “Sr. Bush” and in “Rainin in Paradize” he thinks of Baghdad as non-democratic “because it’s a U.S. country.” These are songs of anti-globalization, peace and war, freedom and love, in English, Spanish, French and now Italian, using his trademark wondrous mix of global rhythms, with a new emphasis on rock. “Rainin” calls for calm and intelligence in a chaotic world with a fist-pumping, peppy upbeat catchy tune. In ”Me llaman Calle” he hopes for love for streetwalkers in a beautifully melodic flamenco strum rhythm. “El Hoyo” is just plain fun, filled with sirens, screams, pulsating snare drums, rolling R’s, chants of “hey, hey, hey,” and “hoyoyo… oyoyo.” CD release date is Sept. 4. — AF

Monarch
If Children
www.monarchmakesmusic.com
Baltimore’s Monarch play in the muddy waters of the shoe-gaze genre with no plans of being drowned in the textured sounds of their established contemporaries. The duo embrace a far more melodic and straight forward approach than the style-over-substance shoe gazers — walls of distortion and meandering guitar lines are not enough on “If Children.” The compositions are considered and allowed to progress and ultimately evolve. Comparable to their Baltimore brethren the Trushes, there is also a touch of the contemplative chaos of early Broken Social Scene or the artsy leanings of Grizzly Bear present here. Overall, a stunning release from a band I’ll be keeping my eye on. — LGLP

Greg Roth
Caught Looking
www.gregroth.com
Arlington’s Greg Roth slips through a number of deliveries on his debut solo album “Caught Looking.” Roth has a solid formula for his compositions and doesn’t seem to deviate from it except on a few tracks, “League Bowlers” amongst them. Everything works, often quite well. ‘Caught Looking’ is a competent debut. Often plays local, check out his site for details. — LGLP


Two Loons for Tea
Nine Lucid Dreams
www.twoloons.com
The Two Loons are Jonathan Kochmer and Sarah Scott, and they have a collective group of friends who help them out in the studio. As interesting as this may sound, vocalist Scott sounds kind of like a mournful early No Doubt Gwen Stefani and the backing track is kind of boring. At some points the music heads in a trippy direction and could make a good soundtrack for cooking dinner in your bare feet. — RA

Uncut
Modern Currencies
www.thenewviolence.com
Vocalists Ian Worang and Derek Tokar drip with the same deep, sultry sexiness as Marilyn Manson. They project their lyrics with a conversational ennui over typically modern rock. They’ve opened for Bob Mould, too, which gives Uncut a ton of street cred. The swirling, edgy guitar lines have a tendency to perk up into the high ranges, which injects a bit of sunshine into the seemingly dark metal of the sound. — RA

J.P. Reali
Cold Steel Blues
www.jpreali.com
Local picks up his steel guitar, takes stab at blues. Not bad. Lots of covers, some originals, Catch him locally, check his Web site for dates.

Simplicity
Ego Straight
simplicitymusic.com
Third studio release from Detroit-based rock band Simplicity.

Siobhan Quinn & Michael Bowers
Dreamers, Lovers and Outlaws
www.dreamersloversandoutlaws.com
Local folk-like duo with a new disc out. Performing at the Takoma Park Folk Festival on Sept. 16.

Have a CD you think worthy of review? Mail submissions to:
Robert Fulton, On Tap Magazine
4238 Wilson Blvd. Suite 3078, Arlington, VA 22203