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    1. Richard Thompson Dream Attic
      31 August 2010

      Richard Thompson – Dream Attic (Shout Factory)

      Sure, the album is going to be, in general, strong, but how will it stack up against his own best work?

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      Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby, Two-Way Family Favorites
      29 August 2010

      Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby – Two-Way Family Favorites (Southern Domestic)

      Even if the prospect of yet another covers record gives you the hives, you’ll likely find your pants charmed right off by Two-Way Family Favorites.

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      eels tomorrow morning
      27 August 2010

      Eels – Tomorrow Morning (E Works)

      Backed mostly by warm keyboards, E is in what seems like an uncharacteristically optimistic mood.

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      24 August 2010

      Leatherbag - Hey Day (self-released)

      No effects pedals, no complicated song structures, no tongue-twisting metaphors – just good songs, played well.

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      Stan Ridgway Neon Mirage
      21 August 2010

      Stan Ridgway – Neon Mirage (A440)

      A song cycle inspired as much by loss as by living, Neon Mirage strips his signature sound down to the bare essentials, while still remaining as eclectic as always.

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      Weep – Worn Thin (Projekt)
      18 August 2010

      Weep – Worn Thin (Projekt)

      It sounds like Hammer created this record under the influence of several hours of 120 Minutes, circa the mid-‘80s.

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      James Blackshaw All
      15 August 2010

      James Blackshaw – All is Falling (Young God)

      Blackshaw’s exchanged his acoustic 12-string for an electric, and the instrument’s trademark chime makes his circular melodies sparkle.

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      Carnival Season - Misguided Promise
      12 August 2010

      Carnival Season – Misguided Promise: Carnival Season Complete (1984-89) (Arena Rock)

      Gathering up everything the group recorded, including both EPs, the album, a pair of demos and a couple of live cuts, the disk makes the case for Carnival Season being a candidate for Great Lost Band of the 80s.

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      Jack Rose with D. Charles Speer & the Helix
      9 August 2010

      Jack Rose with D. Charles Speer & the Helix – Ragged and Right (Thrill Jockey)

      I don’t know how much Ragged and Right will do for Rose’s posthumous reputation, but it should alert discerning listeners to the potential of D. Charles Speer.

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      Wire Send Ultimate (reissue)
      6 August 2010

      Wire – Send Ultimate (Pink Flag)

      This two-disk edition collects all the recordings made during the three years leading up to the album’s release.

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    2. Michael Toland’s Top 10

      Week of August 8

      What spun in my player the past couple of days. The preponderance of instrumental music is due to my working on a long piece for another magazine that required little distraction from lyrics.

      1. Sonny Sharrock – Ask the Ages (Axiom)

      2. Sisters of Mercy – Some Girls Wander By Mistake (EastWest/Merciful Release)

      3. Steve Tibbetts – Exploded View (ECM)

      4. John Abercrombie/Dave Holland/Jack DeJohnette – Gateway (ECM)

      5. Bill Frisell – Lookout For Hope (ECM)

      6. The Green Pajamas – The Red, Red Rose (Green Monkey)

      7. David Torn – Cloud About Mercury (ECM)

      8. Steve Tibbetts – Natural Causes (ECM)

      9. Eels – Tomorrow Morning (E Works)

      10. English Teeth – s/t (Invasion)

      About Michael Toland

      Michael Toland began scribbling about music in 1988 for the photocopied ‘zine FHT Music Notes. He’s since written for various print and online publications, including Pop Culture Press (for whom he was reviews editor for several years), Texas Music (of which he was a founding editor), Trouser Press, Sleazegrinder, Sonic Ruin, Amplifier, Goldmine, Austin Citysearch and the Austin American Statesman. He was also the creator and grand poobah of the music-obsessive web site High Bias (2001-2006). He lives in Austin, Texas and works for public television.