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Fast reviews of recent releases

A A A Comments Thursday, Jul 26 2007

Botch, American Nervoso (Hydra Head). Just over eight years after its original ground-shaking release, the Seattle sickos' debut full-length gets the remix, remaster and reissue treatment to stun a whole new generation of fans of progressive metallic hardcore. This re-release, which includes demos and bonus tracks, makes crystal clear why it has become de rigueur for today's heavy-music mongers to cite Botch as a major influence and inspiration. — Eryc Eyl

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Lloyd Cole, Antidepressant (One Little Indian). Having moved well beyond the Commotions' mopey angst and arty whine, Lloyd Cole still produces simple, understated pop songs, now drenched with strings and lush acoustics. But the hopeful, sunny start of Antidepressant eventually succumbs to cloud cover, even a little rain, before wrapping up on a melancholy note. — Glenn BurnSilverEliza Gilkyson, Your Town Tonight (Red House Records). The latest from singer-songwriter Gilkyson is the type of disc that's easy to overlook but deserves attention anyway: a warm, relaxed live session in which she assays a slew of worthy originals and offers first-rate covers of Dylan's "Jokerman" and, believe it or don't, "Bare Necessities," from Disney's The Jungle Book. It's a Town well worth visiting. — Roberts

Heavy Trash, Going Way Out With Heavy Trash (Yep Roc). Pairing Jon Spencer with Matt Verta-Ray means an album of scorching rockabilly-meets-blues-meets-beach-grind. Heavy Trash surfs the deepest back woods on primal rock beats, raw guitar and raucous brain-rattling vocals in a way that's warm and fuzzy, rough and itchy all at once. — BurnSilverWidespread Panic, Choice Cuts: The Capricorn Years 1991-1999 (Volcano/Legacy). Drugs are powerful things. Teetotalers are likely to see these songs as thoroughly ordinary, '70s-influenced guitar boogie — but the proper amounts of weed or what-have-you apparently make them sound amazing. Why else would Widespread have packed Red Rocks for three dates last month? The band should have either issued Cuts with a lickable-LSD cover or not bothered. — RobertsThe Winter Sounds, Porcelain Empire (Livewire Recordings). The Winter Sounds' shimmering, simmering indie pop proudly flies the flags of its melancholy '80s and '90s influences. Though favorable and flattering comparisons to Ride and other blue Brits are inevitable, these synthy, shoegazing Southerners put another feather in Athens, Georgia's indie-rock cap with startlingly sincere songwriting and the occasional foot-frenzy dance beat. — Eyl