
Clear your calendar, folks! February 21, 2012 brings the release of Pontiak 's new LP, Echo Ono , on Thrill Jockey . The first track from the album is called "Lions of Least" and demands to be heard. It steps away from the more psychedelic sounds of this summer's Comecrudos and veers more toward the rock of their previous records. If the first track is any indication, the full length will be something to behold. Pontiak - "Lions of Least" [MP3]

Oh, those rascally name-changers! This is a band - let's call them A Silver Mt. Zion for simplicity's sake - that slightly alters their name nearly every release because they just don't care, you know? The man would get them down otherwise. I'm sounding mean, especially because I love the band. Whatever you want to call them, they're releasing a new album, Kollaps Tradixionales , on February 8 in Europe and February 16 elsewhere. If the preview track, "Kollaps Tradicional (Bury 3 Dynamos)" is any indication, the band is continuing to gradually move from their [...]

Frankly, I'm surprised I haven't discussed The Most Serene Republic on KR yet (except for this brief mention . Can i even call that brief?), and I apologize. While the seven-piece Milton, Ontario crew does occasionally swing for the fences and miss, when they're on, they're on. One of the most downright enjoyable albums I have in my collection is The Most Serene Republic's Population , which is filled with atmospheric, pounding pop gems, and gorgeous back and forth guy-girl harmonies. It's a discordant masterpiece of an album, with pieces that shouldn't [...]