Here’s a rundown of the essential albums available online and in record stores today, with more after the jump. Click each album title to read Spin‘s review:
- Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line:
Rousingly scrappy anthems tinged with eerie musings.
- The Fiery Furnaces, Remember:
Feel the avant-indie confusion in the privacy of your own home.
- Human Highway, Moody Motorcycle:
Indie pals blithely examine the sand between their toes.
- Jaguar Love, Take Me to the Sea:
Refining the bratty squeal without losing the punky squirm.
- Juliana Hatfield, How to Walk Away:
Alt-rock homecoming queen (finally) grows old gracefully.
Read reviews of 12 other vital albums also out today on page 2.
More on SPIN.com:
>> Dandy Warhols Announce Fall tour
>> Fiery Furnaces Detail Massive Live Record; New Juliana Hatfield Album Out Aug. 19
>> Kristoffer Ragnstam Has Flashdancers Over for Breakfast
>> New Stills Album Out Aug. 19
>> Artist of the Day: Ceasars
>> Artist of the Day: Juliana Hatfield
>> Artist of the Day: Human Highway
>> Artist of the Day: Jaguar Love
>> Artist of the Day: Lykke Li
>> Artist of the Day: Lindstrom
>> Artist of the Day: Ra Ra Riot
>> Artist of the Day: David Vandervelde
- Caesars, Strawberry Weed:
Noisy Scandinavians pretend they’re swingin’ London boys.
- The Dandy Warhols, …Earth to the Dandy Warhols:
Major-label refugees stick it to the man (and their fans).
- Lykke Li, Youth Novels:
Swedish elf eschews dancing queendom for minimalist throb.
- Lindstrøm, Where You Go I Go Too:
If Michael Mann had called him, Miami Vice could’ve sucked less.
- The Music Tapes, Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes:
Meterology buff bids for Weather Channel/indie niche.
- Lee “Scratch” Perry, Repentance:
Jamaican dub legend still plays the eccentric next door.
- Kristoffer Ragnstam, Wrong Side of the Room:
Natty newbie decorates the second tier of Swedish pop.
- sBach, sBACH:
NES obsessive can’t seem to put down the musical joystick.
- Shwayze, Shwayze:
High-spirited stoner can’t really rap, but sure has fun doing it.
- Sonny J, Disastro:
Dumpster-diving DJ praises Norman Cook like he should.
- The Stills, Oceans Will Rise:
Note: More memorable choruses needed for admission to arena.
- David Vandervelde, Waiting for the Sunrise:
Savvy glam-pop up-and-comer drifts into a soft-rock sinkhole.