The new hotness (with apologies to Agent J)

I haven't been blow away by too many of the new records I've checked out recently, but there have certainly been some strong releases among them. Among the more interesting have been the new records from Peel and The Narrator.


Austin-based Peel is rooted in the indie rock aesthetic, but set themselves apart with their playful tone, synthesizers, and horns. Idolator digs 'em, and I do too. While not as quirky as How I Became the Bomb or as rockin' as The Clutters, Peel seems to me somewhere between Velcro Stars and a catchy ad jingle. They're bright and punchy, with hooks to spare and tunes that you'll want to listen to with your windows down. Awfully convenient with spring upon us...

Peel - Navy Waves
Peel - Sliding Doors

Their self-titled debut LP was released on April 2, and is available from Peek-A-Boo Records. Tourdates and other nonsense are on their Myspace page.


The third record from Chicago band The Narrator has also been receiving regular spins here at C&T HQ. Their All That to the Wall is due May 15 on Flameshovel Records, and will likely appeal to fans of indie rock from the last decade. They can be both noisy and melodic, reminding this listener of acts like Modest Mouse, Guided by Voices, or Built to Spill at different moments. The intensity of the eleven tracks varies, but one of my favorite moments is probably one of the album's "breather" segments -- a cover of Bob Dylan's "All the Tired Horses." Perhaps not surprising given Dylan has written every popular song in the last forty years, but an interesting choice for inclusion on the record.

The Narrator - SurfJew
The Narrator - Start Parking
The Narrator - All the Tired Horses [Bob Dylan cover]

Fo' mo' info, go to Myspace.