Lonely Kamel
Dust Devil
Napalm Records
Street: 10.25
Lonely Kamel = Lüger + Fu Manchu + Masters of Reality
Dust Devil represents a logical next step in Lonely Kamel’s journey from Kyuss-worshiping stoner doom to a tighter, cleaner, blues-inspired psychedelic rock. Their songs are still pretty metal-inspired and heavy, but are much more in the spirit of stoner rock’s fascination with long highways and deals with the devil. Thomas Brenna’s voice is unique and powerful, and backed up with bright, catchy tunes, from the fast and gritty “The Prophet” to the slow, smooth riffs of “Whorehouse Groove.” This album might not be breaking any new ground, but it’s a great companion for long drives along desert roads. –Henry Glasheen

Lostribe
Sophie
CFO Recordings
Street: 08.23
Lostribe = Grieves + Looptroop Rockers + Prefuse 73
Let me tell you about the state of hip hop these days: It’s excellent, but—with one big fat “but” (you know, the type Sir Mix-A-Lot loves)—there’s so much new stuff that the market gets diluted. With that said, let me tell you how awesome it is to hear a record like Sophie from this California duo. Agustus ThElefant is a solid MC and he elegantly shares track space with guest stars like Talib Kweli, Casual and N8 the GR8. My real favorite here, though, is the production by JustLuv. More digitally informed and synth-heavy than a lot of current producers, his beats are still sample-driven and vary enough over the course of the album to never get monotonous. Particular favorites include “No Other Word,” featuring a vocal hook by Maryann Hunter that’s sweetly addictive; “Live Like A Rebel,” with amazing glitch-inspired backbeats; and “Come Down,” with some really hot verses. Like hip hop, but need something new? This is it. –Rio Connelly

Mandolin Orange
Haste Make/Hard
Hearted Stranger
Self-released
Street: 11.08
Mandolin Orange = The Head and the Heart + She & Him + Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s
As I drove down I-15, I found myself humming along to the catchy melodies and nice harmonies that Mandolin Orange’s Haste Make/Hard Hearted Stranger offer on this two-disc release. Both albums are pretty musically sound, what with the crooning voice of Andrew Marlin and the instrumental handlings of Emily Frantz. They each feature some excellent piano refrains and violin solos. The third track on Haste Make, “Lines on the Floor,” is my personal favorite because of the dissonant melodies and the cadence at the end of each chorus. It’s almost enough to make me fall for the album in its entirety. Unfortunately, overall, both Haste Make and Hard Hearted Stranger truly lack expressive depth. There is no solid point of differentiation between Mandolin Orange and any other amiable, folky band out there. The intimate, calming tone of the band’s sound is also nice, but ultimately lacks the intensity that fans need in order to keep going back to it after every victory and every battle. In order for an album to really stick, it has to provide something meaningful, and while this album comes close, it doesn’t quite pull through in the end. It’s pleasant, but pleasant won’t cut it. –Kylie Cox

Marshall Holland             
Don’t Jettison the Memories/Statistically I Should Say EP
Self-Released
Street: 11.16.10/07.22.11
Marshall Holland = The Shins’ Little Bro Fronting The Beau Brummels
Unsigned Bay Area artist Marshall Holland’s sound is pleasant and boyishly charming, as are his lyrics. Over the course of years since his 2004 debut, Don’t Jettison The Memories (self-re-released in 2010) and this year’s Statistically I Should Say EP, he has developed into a more polished (and more succinctly mature) performer. Being a one-man band in every sense of the term—performing all instruments and vocals—all of his songs share a common charm of catchy melodies and clear vocals. His self-made rhythm section, especially his drumming, is quite remarkable. The sole cover (songwriter Michael Brooks’ “Must Be Love”) fits nicely, too. About halfway through Jettison, the listener realizes they’ve heard a kaleidoscopic variety of styles, mostly from ‘60s influences like experimental Beatles and The Byrds, but Holland’s lyrics and voice are very much of today’s world and more akin to Elvis Costello. If there is a happy optimism missing from today’s more cynical singer/songwriter canons, it is in fine abundance here, as in the chirpy/chimey “Damage Control” and “Passenger Side.” Although perhaps a bit more mellow, the seven songs that comprise the Statistically EP display a fine maturity but a wit that is still intact. “Am I missing/intuition/I’ve got the upper hand/so just stop your bitchin’” he sings on the sprightly “Your Ego’s Too Big For Your Head,” while the EP’s title is culled from the equally catchy “Waste Away Your Heart.” But perhaps two of the best tracks here are the mid-tempo ballad, “Jennifer,” and the world-wise “Meet Me by the Blue Balloon.” Marshall Holland’s music is available from all the standard download sites, and on physical CDs from Amazon. –Dean O Hillis