Kevin Warwick, Reader associate editor
The Radio Dept., Passive Aggressive: Singles 2002-2010 Overcast skies and dropping temperatures mean seasonal depression looms—and what better to pair it with than fuzzy, ambient dream pop from Sweden, one of the planet’s most seasonally depressed countries. This collection of the Radio Dept.’s deeper cuts shows off the band’s knack for tucking a glowing guitar or synth melody deep within a listless haze.
Ralph Rivera, CEO and employee of the month five years running at Not Normal Tapes
Light in the Attic Records Reissue specialists Light in the Attic raise the bar so continually that I can almost hear the exasperated gasps and grumblings of “Why bother?” from labels with similar intentions, but I’ve spent the past year worshipping at the Altar of the Bulb That Never Dims. Whether it’s reissuing skate-rock funk-punkers the Big Boys, psychedelic grandpappy Roky Erickson, or indigenous rock ‘n’ roll and Thai funk, LITA lavishes palpable love and care on each release, making its output a necessity for anyone born a rocker.
Samhain, Initium Equal parts eerie, catchy, and campy, Samhain‘s first album (also from 1984) is a perfect companion to the start of cold weather. Danzig’s vocals are in top form, and the bizarre production, though oddly appropriate, is something I still can’t wrap my head around even after hundreds of listens. At ten songs long, it’s over pretty quick, so I’ll just have to play Initium over and over until the first day of spring.
