I am still a bit under the weather today, but since this stuff is growing staler by the day, here are some jumbled and entirely random thoughts on a few recent releases.

The Photo Atlas - No, Not Me, Never
Sounds like At the Drive-In to me, and depending on your views on shouty, over-the-top vocals, that may or may not be a bad thing. I don't usually tend to go for this type of stuff, but I bet they're pretty good live.

The Cinematics - A Strange Education
They sound like the Editors like The Editors sound like Joy Division. And by that I mean, close enough for lazy comparisons by lazy writers. That would be me right about now. Still getting through my first listen of this record and I like it even though it doesn't have the scope or depth of The Back Room. But I bet this record will grow on me with a few more listens. Look around for some MP3's (there are plenty out there) and judge for yourself. Another band I want to see live, although I'll be in Vegas when they play D.C. with The Changes (dagger!) so I'll have to wait until they tour with The Bravery in June.

Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City
I think I said this sucks a few weeks ago, but it has grown on me quite a bit since then. I'm really liking the angular guitar sounds. There are a few great songs here but overall it lacks the copious amount of hooks on Silent Alarm.

Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
This also isn't as instantly catchy as their last record, but it's still really, really good. It has this great, vintage Replacements vibe to it that I'm really enjoying. The thing I like most about this record is they've successfully made "the difficult third album" where they've updated and changed their sound, and it stands up to their earlier work. Which is more than you can say about most bands. Counting the days until I can finally see them live.

Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
I just cannot get into this band. Even with Johnny Marr on board. Meh.

The National - Boxer
Moody as all hell and lacking a slam dunk like "Mr. November," but I do find myself looking down at my iPod thinking "This song is great" a few different times with each listen. I'm not sure if this will be the record that ultimately breaks them and makes everyone realize how great they are, but it should be. This album will set the blogosphere on fire when it's released (if it hasn't done so already). The early favorite for 2007's Band of the Year as voted by a bunch of effing bloggers.

Ted Leo - Living With the Living
My first reaction was "Oh shit, Ted made a bad record," but that's not true. It's just merely good, not great. The reggae song and some of the other stuff doesn't bother me as much as other people, I just feel like this record is Ted treading water. Sounded great live though.

Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures
Now, with keyboards!

Albert Hammond, Jr - Yours To Keep
I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this record. It takes all the great stuff from the Strokes (killer riffs and great drumming) and distills them into a tidy, new package - without the crap production. Bonus. Some of the lyrics are cringe inducing, but that could easily be said about any of the records above. Definitely worth checking out if you're curious.

Travis - The Boy With No Name
I've only heard five songs from this record but they're all great. I can't explain my irrational love of this band, but I've been a fan since their first record. The new stuff doesn't re-invent the wheel but I'm a sucker for Fran & Co.'s happy, fun-time pop tunes. Looking forward to hearing the whole thing.

Even though I'm trying to give away all the promos I never got around to listening to or didn't like, I actually do listen to a lot of the ones that fill up my mailbox. Here are a few I listened to in the last few weeks:

Sloan, Never Hear The End Of It
Buzz on this record has been universally positive and I have nothing different to report. I'm a very late arriver to the Sloan party (Between the Bridges is my shit!), which I think actually works for me because I don't have their vast back catalog to compare the new material to. This record, all 30 (!!) tracks, is full of gorgeous 70's FM radio inspired pure power pop. My only complaint is that the songs kinda run together and you can't tell when one begins and when one ends, but I'll probably end up listening to this all the way through, as opposed to specific tracks, so even that's no biggie. Recommended.

Dean & Britta, Back Numbers
This is a nice enough record, Ms. Smith really digs it, but it's too Luna-like for me. I am still bitter about Luna breaking up, so it will be a while before I can listen to this with a clear conscience. A long while. I still can't bring myself to listen to any Malkmus, and Pavement broke up when?

Robbers On High Street, The Fatalist and Friends
I love EP's. Give me four great songs that can grab my attention and a good EP will stay in my rotation much longer than a merely okay album. This definitely qualifies, even if they veer a bit too far into Britt Daniel's territory. Still, lotsa fun. Recommended. Grab it on iTunes.

Paul Weller, Hit Parade
I got the single disc sampler from this collection and I almost short-circuited my car stereo because I was drooling so much. Although, it might be a while before I actually pick the box set up because I already have most of it on the individual CD's. But if you want to immerse yourself in all things Modfather, you can't go wrong with either one. Recommended.

The Shins, Wincing The Night Away
I'm already on the record about how much I like this record. I've had it for a while and it hasn't grown stale at all. The whole record has this Don Henley, "Boys Of Summer" vibe that I'm really loving. Although I don't know why they went with "Phantom Limb" for the first single. They go into the second verse instead of the chorus the first time through, so the big payoff doesn't come until the second half of the song. Not exactly radio ready, but then again, I guess radio's not going to play it, so...*shrug* Also, they were positively horrible on SNL. Shockingly so.

LCD Soundsystem, Sound Of Silver
Yeah, it's good, but it sounds like James Murphy cut up the Nike song and remade it into a bunch of similar tracks. I'll listen to it on the treadmill, but that's about it.

Bloc Party, Weekend In The City
Hated it the first few times I listened to it, but it's grown on me a bit. Definitely not as hooky and catchy as the last record. I guess they're trying to prove to everyone how grown up they are. I still think these guys are overrated, but not as overrated as Sufjan. Yikes!

The Vita Ruins, Thanks For Your Concern (But We're Okay)
Another EP! This one by a local DC band I booked to play the last Unbuckled. They play the best kind of rock, drugged out and spacey as fuck. Their influences are very apparent; Spiritualized, Doves, Ride, MBV and even a bit of Coldplay (the guitars, not Chris Martin). Good stuff. Check 'em out on Myspace.

The Panda Band, This Vital Chapter
I wanted to like this on band name alone, but I just couldn't get into it. The music is bright and peppy, but after three listens, I couldn't hum a single tune or recall a memorable hook. And then I went back to listening to the Sloan record.

Even though I've spent most of my recent music listening time either prepping for the wedding (which, while it didn't exactly come off without a hitch, was still pretty great) or listening to old Pavement and Oasis records, here are a few recent releases that have made their way into (and in some cases out of) my iPod/CD player.

The Zutons - Tired Of Hanging Around
[buy it from Amazon]
I'm a bit late to this party but I'm liking The Zutons more and more. They had one of the best tracks on the recent War Child charity compilation, "Hello Conscience," also included on this album, which piqued my interest. While this album probably isn't the best album you'll hear this month, it's definitely the most solid. I had this on endless repeat last weekend while I was driving around. There's not really a standout track per se, but there's lots of good ones. If memory serves, they're pushing back the physical release of the CD until the band can come over and tour, but it should be available soon digitally if it's not already. Take a chance on this, you'll dig it.

Paul Weller - As Is Now
[Buy it from Amazon or download it from eMusic]
Without a doubt, the best thing about the new influx of tracks on eMusic is the abundance of newish Modfather releases. This album, released last October, is the best thing he's done in quite a while. More Stanley Road than Wild Wood, this album is chock full of memorable, chunky riffs and killer tunes. If you can't tell, I'm a fan. I can only hope I age as gracefully and Mr. Weller. Fat chance.

Asobi Seksu - Citrus
[Buy it from Amazon or download it from eMusic]
Vaguely reminscent of my dear departed Lush, Citrus is full of falsetto female vocals backed by dreamy, dense shoegazey soundscapes. A grower, but they have my attention.

Stars of Track and Field - Centuries Before Love and War
[Buy it from Amazon]
Athlete + Snow Patrol + indie rock = meh.

Razorlight - Razorlight
[buy it from Amazon]
I opened this CD with baited breath. Quite the buzz band across the pond, I couldn't wait for Johnny Borrell and company to wow me and show me what all the fuss was about, but all I got is a (very) tired Shed Seven record. Just horrible. One of the press quotes that came with the CD declared this album the "best British guitar record since Definitely Maybe," which is laughable on so many levels. I couldn't even make it through two listens of this cliched, bland shite.