Wilco Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)

Recorded in Wilco's own Chicago studio, the album was recorded by TJ Doherty (the Hold Steady, Sonic Youth) and mixed by Jim Scott (the Rolling Stones, the Dixie Chicks), Sky Blue Sky finds Tweedy & Co. leaning closer to the down-home gritty side of their sound, all while bending glass with avant-jazz guitar hero Nels Cline. Full of guitars and electricity, songs like "Impossible Germany" highlight the relationship between slow-moving 70's vibes and more goddamn-inducing moments as Tweedy and Cline perfect the guitar solo in some alternate avant universe. Wilco's sixth studio album (but first that features every member of the current touring band) continues the trend of branching out and expanding on a foundation, and though in many ways it sounds like Being There's older brother, it once again hits the mark as a milestone for rock 'n roll.

Wilco Official
Wilco MySpace
Stream Sky Blue Sky
Trailer for Sky Blue Sky's DVD

Dungen Tio Bitar (Kemado)

Dungen returns from Ta Det Lungt with Tio Bitar ("ten pieces") full of hair (more than ever), remarkable compositions (tighter and better-sounding than ever) and a far more rockin' approach to songwriting than their Swedish cohorts (Peter? Bjorn? & John? -We're looking at you). Tio delivers psychedelic prog-pop at its finest, at times storming through the castle like armored saviors of rock, at other times dipping slightly into organic pieces that pay a bit more homage to their homeland's reputation. Far less long-playing expanses through various pedals and solos, just as much foreign language sing-a-long potential, the songs sweep in and out of simple holds and complex melody to make one fantastic album that both Zappa and Abba would be proud of.

Dungen Official
Dungen MySpace

XXL Spicchiology? (Important Records)

The trans-Atlantic collaboration between Italian instrumentalists Larsen and America's favorite avant-pop artists Xiu Xiu has reached a sophomore fruition with Spicchiology?, an 8-track album that is flying remarkably low under the radar. It promises to be a bit more speculative and brash when compared to its predecessor, Cautistico!, as Xiu Xiu frontman James Stewart declares, "If the last XXL record was romanitc and fun, this one is broken and superior. Look at yourself! Your matress is embarrassed that you give it a job. The farfisa is a real one, not a sampler. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!"

XXL "Paw paw paw paw paw paw" (mp3) (from Cautistico!)
XXL @ Important Records

.38 Special: Live at Sturgis [CD/DVD] (Sanctuary)

Alias: Collected Remixes (Anticon)

Amir Sulaiman: Like a Thief in the Night (Uprising)

Au Revoir Simone: Bird of Music

Avalanches: Ski Surfin' (Collectors' Choice Music)

The Avett Brothers: Emotionalism (Ramseur Rec.)

B.B. King: Best of the Blues Guitar King 1951-1966 (Ace UK)

Balkan Beat Box: Nu Med (Jdub)

Billy Childish: Live at the Wild Western Room - London (Damaged Goods)

Dio: Magica/Killing the Dragon (Recall)

Dolores O'Riordan: Are You Listening (Sanctuary)

Dungen: Tio Bitar (Kemado)

Ebb: Loona (Gay Monkey)

Efterklang: Under Giant Trees (Leaf)

Ellul: Ellul (Sounds Are Active)

The Exies: Modern Way of Living with the Truth (Eleven Seven Music)

The Fall: World Bewitched: Best of 1990-2000 (Artful)

Funeral for a Friend: Tales Don't Tell Themselves (Atlantic / Wea)

Gabriel & Dresden: Gabriel & Dresden (Organized Nature)

Great Northern: Trading Twilight for Daylight (Eenie Meenie)

Gretchen Wilson: One of the Boys (Sony)

Guided by Voices: Live from Austin, Texas (New West)

H.A.W.K.: Endangered Species (Ghetto Dreams)

The High Strung: Get the Guests (Park the Van)

Ian Hunter: Shrunken Heads (Yep Roc)

Joseph Arthur: Let's Just Be [Special Edition] (Lonely Astronaut)

Linkin Park: Minutes to Midnight (Warner Bros)

Luc Ferrari: Didascalies (Sub Rosa)

Marco Polo: Port Authority (Red Urban)

Megadeth: United Abominations (Roadrunner Records)

Mistah F.A.B.: Da Baydestrian (SMC Recordings)

Modeselektor: Boogy Bytes, Vol. 3 (Bpitch Control)

Mogwai: Zidane: A 21st Century Portait (Play It Again Sam Us)

The Narrator: All That to the Wall (Flameshovel)

Optimo: Optimo (Sony International)

The Race: Ice Station (Flameshovel)

Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars (Geffen)

Seb Fontaine: Type 02 (Thrive)

Secret Chiefs 3: Path of Most Resistance (Mimicry)

Telefon Tel Aviv: Remixes Compiled (Hefty)

Various Artists: High Fidelity [Original Cast] (Ghostlight)

Veruca Salt: Resolver (Artful)

Volt: Volt (In The Red)

Wilco: Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)

Woody Guthrie: Hard Travelin' Man (Rev-Ola Bandstand)

XXL (Xiu Xiu/Larsen): Spicchiology? (Important)

YACHT:I Believe in You. Your Magic Is Real (Marriage)