30 Second Reviews from 9/16

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
Break Up
SOUNDS LIKE: Yorn was going for a Serge Gainsbourg/Brigitte Bardot thing and ScarJo doesn't ruin his emo guitary duets completely
FREE ASSOCIATION: Babe, these aren't Waits songs, you have to really sing
FOR FANS OF: Match Point, L.A., "Life on a Chain"

The Proclaimers
Notes & Rhymes
SOUNDS LIKE: The '500 Miles' twins are still making ultra-Scottish records that are equal parts pub rock, Nashville, Beatlemania and UK folk
FREE ASSOCIATION: How many songs into their set do drunks start yelling '500 Miles!'?
FOR FANS OF: The '80s + the movie Once

Sea Wolf
White Water, White Bloom
SOUNDS LIKE: Literary chamber pop full of strings and organs, inspired by a love affair in Montreal and executed in Omaha with a Bright Eyes producer
FREE ASSOCIATION: Shoulda recorded it in Canada, woulda sounded less like Conor Oberst
FOR FANS OF: Sad Stars, orchestral Rilo Kiley

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
The Bear
SOUNDS LIKE: Western MA native and road warrior who writes sappy country-tinged folksy songs that could be terrible but manage to be charming
FREE ASSOCIATION: A band that could somehow fit in at state fairs, the Opry, and Mercury Lounge
FOR FANS OF: Jackson Browne, the Band, Rhett Miller

The Rifles
Great Escape
SOUNDS LIKE: East London boys' second LP and US debut is full of punchy, short, mod rock reminiscent of every 21st century UK indie rock band
FREE ASSOCIATION: Don't young Brits grow up listening to more than Oasis and the Clash?
FOR FANS OF: Straighter Bloc Party, the Kooks

Thrice
Beggars
SOUNDS LIKE: Anaheim, CA quartet of prog rockers' follow up their epic Alchemy EP cycle with serious cerebro-rock taking themselves very seriously
FREE ASSOCIATION: Opening for Brand New and Rise Against might seem like a good idea but...
FOR FANS OF: Slower Muse, Warped Tours

Miley Cyrus
The Time of Our Lives
SOUNDS LIKE: Disney and Walmart team up to re-package the 16-y.o. puppet's Avril-wannabe whiney bullshit, minus "Party In The U.S.A." - pure gold
FREE ASSOCIATION: The world waits for her Jonas Bros. gang-bang sex tape with baited breath
FOR FANS OF: Taylor Swift, Hillary Duff

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
Brother's Keeper
SOUNDS LIKE: The Cali funk guru got some help (Ndegeochello, funky as hell on the bass) but his Greyboy Allstars ish was more electrically fun
FREE ASSOCIATION: You can almost smell the herb and envision the hoola-hoopers
FOR FANS OF: Festivals of groove, Curtis Mayfield


The real deal.