Ty Segall – Melted [2010]
You’re not going to hear many rock records that’ll kick you square in the pants quite like this one this year, provided Segall doesn’t up and crank another one out by December; the kid’s got heart, brains, and quite an ear for a hook, and he throws himself body and soul into these tunes. Segall makes quite an impression in half an hour’s time, and Melted’s the best foot he’s put forward yet. It still seems like his best records are ahead of him, like he’s still got a couple of things to nail, but as it stands, Melted could charm the sweat out of anybody. – Pitchfork
Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will [2011]
Add Mogwai to the list of long-standing indie-rock acts leaping to new labels lately — the Scottish post-rock heroes long associated with Matador Records are offering the cheekily titeld Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will to the U.S. via Sub Pop. Produced by Paul Savage, who helmed the band’s very first full-length, 1997’s Mogwai Young Team, Mogwai’s seventh album was recorded in Hamilton, near Glasgow, and the limited-edition version features a 26-minute bonus track, “The Singing Mountain,” which was initially recorded for a German art installation. -prefixmag
Tennis – Cape Dory [2011]
This Denver, Colorado-based band is made up of the husband-and-wife team Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, who play laid back surf-tinged music that draws heavily from the girl group era. According to Denver Westword, the pair set out on a seven-month sailing trip on the Eastern seaboard where they started writing songs together as a “sort of a soundtrack” for their experiences. They first posted those songs online and attracted the attention of several high-profile music blogs, such as Gorilla vs. Bear. After dropping a 7-inch on the Fire Talk label and one on the Underwater Peoples imprint, they moved to Fat Possum for their long-playing debut. -prefixmag
