Telekinesis: TELEKINESIS!

Holy shit on a compact disc, Merge Records just keep getting better and better! Twenty years going, and they're still putting out kick-ass gems like Arcade Fire, M. Ward, Rosebuds, and now Telekinesis. Indie-pop rock doesn't get much better than this! They have a slight mod influence, which would explain the cover art, and a bit of acoustic guitar, even where there's an electric guitar track. Plus, they're good with song titles: "Coast of Carolina", "Awkward Kisser" and "Imaginary Friend". Only downside with this debut is their sound and songwriting can't sustain a full-length. About halfway though, things start to get boring, though they do pick up near the end of the album, with songs like "All of a Sudden" and "I Saw Lightning". And I have to give them props for starting and ending the album with acoustic songs. Goddamn, can't wait to see these cats live -- would make a nice double bill with Chicago's The Office.

Rating: 4 outta 5 stars

Rosebuds: "Wishes for Kisses" (2003)

All right, we're halfway through this week's topic of Duos. Here's another married couple who make awesome music together, proving that true love is absolutely awesome.

The Rosebuds Makeout is an amazing debut record, not one piece of filler in there (seriously). I couldn't decide which song to post here today, so I shot a prayer up to my higher power and asked for a little guidance, but all I got was a busy signal. So I went outside and asked the CPA up the street which song I should I post. He called me a faggot, probably because I was wearing my T-shirt that has a picture of a cemetery and says, "Class warfare: We've found new homes for the rich." So I went back to my apartment and was about to call an ex-girlfriend -- the one who got away -- but the phone wasn't working; that'll happen when ya don't pay the bill. Then I said, "I know what Rosebuds song I'll post!"

"Wishes for Kisses"