May 12Bob’s Burgers Music AlbumEver since I heard “Gravy Boat (Sailors in your Mouth)” three Thanksgivings ago, I knew that I needed a full album of “Bob’s Burgers” songs. And now that dream has come true. A massive collection sprawling all six seasons of the show and over 110 tracks, this record collection really does have everything. In addition to tracks from the show itself, it also features selections from the “Bob’s Buskers” series, a collection of covers by bands like The National, St. Vincent, and Stephen Merritt, among others. There is also an amazing vinyl boxset collection coming out, complete with art prints, stickers, temporary tattoos and all sorts of other goodies. Perpetual burger eater Teddy narrates an unboxing video that is wonderful. Remember, bad stuff happens in the bathroom.
Amanda Palmer and Edward Ka-Spel, “I Can Spin A Rainbow”This week in unexpected but perfect combinations, we have avant pop and weird art superstar Amanda Palmer and Edward Ka-Spel of the Legendary Pink Dots combining forces into a baroque pop feast for the ears. The recording leans on the quiet, moody side, and serves as a perfect soundtrack to writing weird fiction by candlelight, or poetry by the river. Both Palmer’s and Ka-Spel’s voices intermingle with each other so well that, even though they are very distinct, they get lost in each other, adding to the otherworldly tone of the recording as a whole. If you have been craving something to drink weird tea or have 2 a.m. conversations about past lives to, this album should scratch that itch.
John Frum, “Stirring in the Noos”To those in the know, John Frum is an enigma that emerged out of a few of my favorite musical acts. Featuring current and former members of The Faceless, The Dillinger Escape Plan and John Zorn, John Frum, named from a strange cult surrounded a World War II serviceman, is an enigmatic and massive death metal presence, churning and growing like an uncontrollable cell. At first it seems impossible to dig in to, but once you immerse yourself in the noise and tumult, you will feel the patterns and ride the roiling waves to a transcendent death metal masterpiece. This is not for everyone, but should you have any interest in extreme music, I implore you to listen to something that will challenge you.
Paramore, “After Laughter”And to think they said pop punk would never die. Call it selling out, call it cashing in, call it a maturation, whatever you want to call it, Paramore has changed. You probably felt it coming while listening to their last self-titled album. Something was different. The fire was still there but it burned a little differently. Uplifting is probably the best word to describe “After Laughter,” a motivational pop mixtape to keep the listener going when it is hardest to go. Gone are the shrieking vocals and surprisingly-beefy distortion, replaced by danceable midtempo songs that follow a traditional structure. Not to say they’re boring, but if you have ever heard a song before, you can probably predict how it is going to progress.
Cooper Stapleton
