Especially since their last one was a return to form.

...The first four songs, culminating in “Book of James” offer up the best opening third of an album of 2011. And the influences are all here, too. From The Killers to Nirvana to Arcade Fire, Springsteen and even some Green Day, We Are Augustine has an ‘alt rock’ sound that fuses together several different elements of the bigger acts of the 2000s and their own influences. At the center is Rob Allen’s heavy-hitting drums, keeping everything grounded and big. At times, it’s hard to believe this is the work of just a trio (excluding the production touches of Broken Social Scene’s Dave Newfield) and it’s hard not to be a little reminded of Arcade Fire’s own debut, with its bombast and exuberance. Indeed, this album would easily be a good play off Funeral without it’s abounding emotionality. Instead of the broad nature of that album though, We Are Augustines have gone inward, providing a richer, more deeply personal experience...

We Are Augustines was borne out of the ashes of Pela, a band which both McCarthy and Sanderson were a part of. Pela fell apart while trying to record a follow up album to their debut (and only album) Anytown Graffiti

I assume you have blocked out last year's Cornershop and the Double 'O' Groove Of .

Everytime I see Arcade Fire as a riyl it's an immediate red flag for me.

Hiss Golden Messenger is Durham, North Carolina-based songwriter M.C. Taylor, in partnership with multi-instrumentalist and recordist Scott Hirsch. The pair have been playing music together for nearly two decades. Poor Moon is the fourth proper Hiss Golden Messenger release, and serves as the best summation thus far of Taylor's lone journeys through the dark night of the soul. "God is good, and it's understood," he sings. "But he moves in mysterious ways."

Thought the debut was numbingly amateurish, but a year of touring plus Jon Brion seems to have done the trick. A leap forward similar to the Dum Dum Girls.

Thought the debut was numbingly amateurish, but a year of touring plus Jon Brion seems to have done the trick. A leap forward similar to the Dum Dum Girls.

that new Best Coast is fucking booooring.

I may give it a go. I don't like their earlier stuff that much, but I believe I said the same thing about the Dum Dum Girls early releases.

I'm sure some of the reg-rock, folk-rock, old weird America, Americana and country-folk Obs will have heard of this or possibly dig it after hearing it. Hiss Golden Messenger (yes, shitty band name) is the name under which MC Taylor puts out his music.

I wouldn't say it's as huge a leap forward as the Dum Dum Girls took, but it's a definite improvement.

I'm sure some of the reg-rock, folk-rock, old weird America, Americana and country-folk Obs will have heard of this or possibly dig it after hearing it. Hiss Golden Messenger (yes, shitty band name) is the name under which MC Taylor puts out his music.

"MC Taylor writes folk music that is at once firmly steeped in tradition and immediately accessible." - NPR Music



here's an MP3 of "Westering" from his most recent album Poor Moon

and a couple of others from Poor Moon



and here's the link to the album on Spotify

Yeh, this definitely doesn't sound like something you'd like.

I believe you but I really disliked their first one. To the point that I'm not sure I can muster any enthusiasm for this.

For some reason it sticks out in my mind that you liked the Best Coast?

This one is OK (I downloaded it on Rads' comments) but it gets very same-y pretty quickly. Sounds like good music to throw on a party mix, but not something I can stomach a full album of.