(It’s technically Monday night, but I’m doing my blogo-homework on time). This tuesday I, Kelsey Flapjacks, bring you (1, 2, 3 )four reviews of albums that we are rocking here at PRB… The rocking may be short-lived in the case of the last one. I’m going to make some sorry attempt at a rating out of 10 each week. (but I’m really just pulling a number out of a hat people)

Also, for your viewing pleasure (because it is already turning out to be a long long week) here is one of my favorite music videos ever: Revillos-”Where’s the Boy for Me?” (Thanks Narin!) Reviews after the jump….

Beach House- Devotion [Carpark Records #042]
WHAT IS UP WITH BALTIMORE?! Between Animal Collective, Dan Deacon, Celebration, Cex, Wzt Hearts, Pony Tail, and Ecstatic Sunshine and now Beach House, you are becoming a threat to be reckoned with in the modern music scene world. Quality, not quantity I say! Beach House solidified themselves as a legitimate group in my mind with this album. I was only mildly impressed with their live show which seemed a little scattered a year ago when they were opening for Animal Collective. It was pretty, but sleepy. But now they are back with melodies that have grown a backbone and a beautiful music video. I really feel the simple lo-fi beats with the distant spaceyness and haunting vocals on top make for an unbelievably beautiful atmosphere. I’ve always liked the organic feel of the recordings clashing with the electronic nature of what drove the songs. But the second time around was the best time around, and their sound is yet another awesome contribution out of Baltimore. If you haven’t checked it out, Stereogum had a sneak peak here. [8.2/10]

Xiu Xiu -Women As Lovers[Kill Rock Stars #484]
If you don’t know Xiu Xiu, (Pronounced: Shu-Shu) you will probably fear for your life and wonder if Jamie Stewart is mildly schizophrenic. If you do know Xiu Xiu, your heart gets torn out by his songs, danced on, and then put back in your body when you are reminded he probably is mildly schizophrenic. His wild, atonal moaning vocals are backed this time around by a much more lush full sound that is different from La Foret’s electronic glitchiness or previous albums eerie silences. Similar to other hard-hitting albums, Women as Lovers deals with topics from abortion to nationalism to child abuse. The album is as creepy as it is poignant and emotionally challenging. But what can you expect from the morose geniuses that are Xiu Xiu? Personally I found this album much more listenable than many of the previous, with the rich sound of the first track and its free jazzy breakdown starting the record strong. While sometimes I just can’t take any more of his vocals, I feel they are used much more deliberately than in other more frantic compositions. And really, you should at least listen to this album for the Xiu Xiu/ Michael Gira (Angels of Light/Young God Records) collaboration covering David Bowie’s “Under Pressure.” It makes you want to sing along, but has a desperation and anxiety about it unique to the Xiu Xiu sound. As always, surreal; and here is a beautiful Xiu Xiu cover by the lovely Melissa Nadler. [7.5/10]

HEALTH- HEALTH [Lovepump United #014]
Okay this album is kind of old but because the blog is brand spanking new, so I want to review it. This album has been rocking my world for most of my recent memory. And the fact that something so noisey and abrasive can also be so dance-oriented and beat-driven is impressively fun. Not to mention that this band can be making something so out there, but have groups like the Crystal Castles and other electronica artists remixing them into trashy-glitchy dance oblivion. The 7” we’ve been spinning pretty intensely with the “Crimewave” remix is fantastic. [Check another online exclusive here at RCRD LBL] The album begins with a nearly inaudible drone (almost enough to make you want to turn your volume up) and then suddenly erupts into a total freak out (where you either regret or love that you turned that volume up). The record is nicely balanced between some really experimental and less-accessible tracks and some unbelievable grooves. The vocals are almost entirely indecipherable as they were live, but the beats fade in and out through the noise- keeping you hooked into the sonic bliss your ears are experiencing. They’re on tour now and do an awesome live set, so check this record and band out while they’re hot. [9.1/10]

Speedknot Mobstaz- Money to Blow[Koch Records #???]
WPRB is going to hate itself a couple months down the line when Twista and his “Mobstaz” crew makes it big- and this record is left in our stacks for unknown reasons. Someone proposed we add this to rotation at our music listening hours, jokingly, and some of us agreed it was a great idea. But you know what, I still think it’s a great idea. Big production, big thugs, big claims to fame. I’m all about it. Plus I love the idea of asserting “gangsta” masculinity through the act of non-dancing. The idea that being distant and cold is that which defines badass. We’re getting so Godfather-y with these hip hop artists. What happened to shaking your tailfeather? Nelly? Anyone?!? Not that it matters what they do because really they’re spending a ton of dough and the babes love it. But honestly these songs are kind of unbelievable in how bad and great they are simultaneously. It’s not like that new Redman song that I secretly turn to other radio stations to listen to in my car, but it is something that makes you want to laugh and dance in a really big way. I played it on my radio show tonight for kicks, and as a request from some WPRBers at large, and suprisingly got some calls from listeners saying they couldn’t stop laughing and it was the best thing they ever heard. I mean, this guy has 600 dollars a day burdgeted to making it rain, or so they claim- and they look like this. But the bottom line is, it is overproduced and their lyrics like much mainstream rap are talentlessly misogynistic. (But when did that stop us from dancing?) All in all: WPRB may be snobby in it’s tastes, but it also has a bad sense of humor. (Why am I reviewing this again…?) [3.0/10]

Stuff I took out to review this week and am psyched about:

• Reykjavik!- Six or Seven songs we are trying to promote to US Radio (Saw these dudes in Reykjavik, actually at a rad music festival at one of the Icelandic national Universities, they are way poppy and fun!)
• The Battle Royale- Wake Up Thunderbird (Self described as a “bad mixture of everything- we copy everyone” there doesn’t seem to be enough spazzy disco-electro coming out these days. But as opposed to trashy they tend towards the experimental side. I dig.)
• Nadine Mooney- MouseHouseWormHole (CocoRosie like childish vocals with more sprase compositions reminiscent of the Thanksgiving-centric Portland OR scene she is coming out of-beautiful!)
• Rivers Cuomo- Alone: The Home Recordings (Pre-Weezer Rivers sounds like, well, Weezer. The jury is still out on this. Nostalgia vs taste vs an iconic sound I immediately want to stay way from….)
• Headlights- Some Racing, Some Stopping (These guys were SO much fun to see last weekend. Never enough tambourine!! Sadly, the fire alarm went off the the show was cut short. That being said, everyone in the band was really attractive, really fun, and really knew how to rock while spreading that addictive craziness.)