Lester Bangs

Welcome to Lester Bangs, a new and recurring column that details what tunes have broken into the rotation at El Duderino radio. Music reviews aren’t ED’s specialty, so all content has been lifted from other sites, as noted. If one person finds enjoyment from a new band as a result of Lester Bangs then all the time and effort will have been worth it.

America Loves You

MODEST MOUSE (Good News For People Who Love Bad News)
“Half expansive, burnished radio-rock, half swampy Delta hoodoo-hollerin' that reeks of Brock's Southern sojourn.” Spin, May 2004

“Never happily slotting into any template demanded back in their home town, MM are nearer to some wondrous mish-mash of Pavement and Beck; closer in harmony to The Flaming Lips.” Logo

SONIC YOUTH (Sonic Nurse)
“Every song but one falls fully developed in the five- to seven-minute ballpark, brimming with enough dissonant wizardry, smart vocal imagery, and tonal shades of rock to fly the freak flag like no aging rockers ever have.” Austin Chronicle

“All told, this album is probably the band's best balance of pop melodies and avant-leaning structures since Washing Machine; even if it doesn't rank among their most ambitious work, Sonic Nurse sounds like the kind of album Sonic Youth should be making at this point in their career.” All Music Guide

STELLASTARR* (Stellastarr*)
“The New-York four piece makes its full-length debut with this 10-track effort that has drawn comparisons to the usual suspects (Joy Division, The Cure, The Pixies, et al) as well as to newer bands who also draw from the same sources (Interpol, Hot Hot Heat, et al).” Metacritic

“I know the whole ‘retro-rock’ thing is en vogue in about a bazillion different ways, but Stellastarr*’s take just seems a bit more energetic and vibrant than most. Considering the genre, this disc is a frighteningly solid listen.” Delusions of Adequacy

THE BUZZCOCKS (Operators Manual – Best of…)
“Did The Buzzcocks invent pop-punk? Probably not. Did they perfect it? You bet. Marrying glorious pop melodies, the chainsaw roar of a downstroked guitar, and the furious angst of a million confused teenagers, The Buzzcocks played punk rock that was physical, passionate, and emotionally compelling, but also joyously listenable (and danceable) in a way The Damned and The Clash could never dream of being. If the Buzzcocks Mk. 1 (1976-1981) ever made a bad record, they've done a splendid job of keeping it a secret; all three of the group's original albums are brilliant, and Singles Going Steady (which collects the A and B sides of their first eight 45's) is as perfect a compilation album as you're ever likely to encounter.” MusicMatch

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