Secret Square - Secret Square (1997)
I grabbed this out of print album from the fine Elephant Six themed blog, Optical Atlas. It’s a side project of Apples in Stereo / The High Water Mark’s Hilarie Sidney along with Lisa Janssen, who has a Neutral Milk Hotel connection. Some pretty wonderful psych pop that borders on shoegaze. More than once I thought of the band Lush. Naturally it’s a bit Apples in Stereo-ish too. You can grab it free for a limited time here.

Josh Rouse - Subtitulo (2006)
I’m just now getting around to this one, although I did play it twice today. I loved Nashville and believe it or not that’s the only other Rouse album I’ve heard. I know his other works are held in high regard but sometimes I’m a freak like that. I didn’t even realize until I went to college that The Smiths had more albums than The Queen Is Dead and Louder Than Bombs. I was just so happy with those two that it didn’t occur to me to seek out more. I think maybe I don’t want to be disappointed by an artist’s other works when I come across something I really connect with. Then again I can think of a zillion other bands from whom I’ve heard one thing and rushed out to acquire the rest of their catalog. Who knows what my deal is but I thought Subtitulo was pretty good. I’d read some mixed reviews so wasn’t sure quite what to expect. It is pretty mellow and folky but there are moments of pop brilliance. The one-two punch of “His Majesty Rides” and “Givin’ It Up” is particularly awesome. I’m sure I’ll start working my way backward through his discography sooner or later…

The Flaming Lips - Oh My Gawd… The Flaming Lips (1987)
It’s quite a novelty to hear old Flaming Lips. They used to be pretty punk, although it was punk steeped in all things psychadelic. I think I heard this back in the day. Not when it came out but around the time Transmissions From the Satellite Heart broke big. Yes, that’s when I caught on. If only I had been more with it I might have caught the legendary show with Nirvana opening for them at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor during my freshman year at the University of Michigan. Oh, well. What can I say? One thing- All these years later Oh My Gawd is worth listening to. It’s not great but I enjoyed it. “Everything’s Explodin’,” “The Ceiling Is Bendin’,” and “Prescription: Love” are all choice cuts.

And of course I couldn’t give Billy or Holly the day off:

The Milkshakes - In Germany (1984)
Punk meets early Beatles and Kinks. A solid album although after a couple of listens there’s no single track that jumps out at me. The whole thing has got a curious reverb quality, like Billy and company recorded it live in a huge room. Without liner notes I can only guess.

Holly Golightly - Truly She Is None Other (2003)
Holly had drifted away from the garage by this point. It’s still a “rock” album though and reflects various 60’s influences. Every album I hear I think, “Is this her best one?” I’m leaning toward Serial Girlfriend as my favorite but Truly is outstanding. “She Said” (also on the Down the Line comp) is my favorite song of the moment.