Pure X - Pleasurebuy this
The Spurious band name and S&M leaning cover art may lead one astray into bad memories of early 90's industrial breakdown. In reality, this set-up proves to be a smokescreen for a bunch of softies - floating up there in the haze like dirty cloud puffs.
The band's sound revolves around a disarmingly pop formula - simple improvised songs that rely on atmosphere and mood. Lo-fi hazy murk only gets you so far. Luckily this trio has a natural way with old-world songwriting values like hooks and melodies. Underneath it all lies a gooey center of odes and overtures to hopeless romanticism engineered to liquify a stone cold heart.
Remember how you felt when you first heard Galaxie 500 or the self-titled Velvet Underground records (not the banana peel cover)? Like Real Estate if they were really doing it right. C'mon let's go! - JON

Emeralds - Does It Look Like I'm Here?buy this
Dreamy, hypnotic, visceral and drony, this Ohio-based band (now Portland, OR) create some of the most beautifully accessible experimantal underground seascapes. See also: Mark McGuire.
RIYL: Fripp/Eno, Tangerine Dream, Roy Montgomery - ASHLEY

Cheeseburger - Another Big Night Down the Drainbuy this
Do you like to have a bitchin' good time? Do you like your lead singers to play shows while holding a can of beer to their head? Do you have a wicked sense of humor? Do you like house party rock-n-roll and to dance naked in the mirror to 'Cum on feel the Noise'? (the Slade version not Quiet Riot). If you said 'HELL'S YEAH!' then buy this CD. Buy it now and turn it up. If you said 'um, no thank you' then walk away slowly and enjoy not having any fun. - MELANIE

Eddy Current Suppression Ring "Rush to Relax"buy this
This album, or any I should say, will hit your turntable and will not be taken off for weeks. WEEKS! Why? It's infectious upon first listen. They don't cover up their songs/lyrics with heavy fuzzed out noise - everything is audible. The faithful strumming of the bass runs continuously, the pleasing ring of the guitar that sprinkles in at times and then drives it home, and the lyrics that sound poetic in the most chilled out way. And sometimes a little gushy in a very hot way... "I can't get over, the color of your skin / I wanna kiss you all over, don't know where to begin. "

Vivian Girlsbuy this
Straightforward all-girl catchy punk meets Beach Boys. What else is there to say? How bout this: It's broken at times, the recording is a little weird and takes growing, but once it does you can't hear it any other way. Songs about telepathic love, dig it. Start with the self-titled and pick up their 7"s. "Surfin Away" is my favorite, if you can find it!

Damien Jurado "Saint Bartlett"buy this
You just can’t open a door to that dark place. It’s somewhere down a dimly lit hallway, down an empty ally-way, it’s hidden somewhere that takes a long time to get to. This is that journey. These are the songs it seems Jurado has written as to not be afraid of what he’s been out in search of all along: happiness.