While Dan Mangan’s latest record, Nice Nice Very Nice blew me away, if I was first exposed to Mangan’s music with his debut Postcards and Daydreaming, I probably wouldn’t care too much about him. That’s not to say that it’s a bad record, but instead to say that it’s average; average average very average.

Postcards and Daydreaming starts with a high point, “It’s Not What You Think It Is” which might get his fans excited that it’s up to the quality of his later release. However, the audience is left continuing on through a record of unremarkable folk music.

I’m going to take this optimistically, and say that Mangan improved significantly between his first and second albums, I look forward to the improvements for album three.

Masters of the Burial
by Amy Millan

Amy Millan puts together a rather pleasant folk record with Masters of the Burial. It’s not as strong as her first record, Honey From The Tombs, but it’s still enjoyable. Millan’s voice is sweet, and works well for folk music. The biggest difference between this record and the first, being that the first was really a country record, this one is folk. While the two genres share a lot in common, it’s a noticeable difference.

The strongest song on the record is a Weeping Tile¹ cover that Millan performs with mastery. While the worst is a Jenny Whiteley cover called “Day To Day,” a strange contrast to her first album where Whiteley’s “Baby I” is among the strongest.

Public Strain
by Women

Public Strain is not to be mistaken for Pubic Stain.

This Calgary band was recommended by a good friend in the United States who oddly isn’t the biggest fan of Calgary². While I see why he’s a fan of the record, I don’t think it’s for me. The band sounds like they’re trying too hard to recreate the Alternative/Grunge sound of the early ’90s. While they do it admirably, I feel like it’s a sound best left to the Sonic Youths/Eric’s Trips/early Sloans of the day.

There’s nothing bad about this record, it just doesn’t strike a chord³ with me. I have a feeling over time I’ll find a place in my heart for this feedback-laden record.

1. Sarah Harmer
2. Much like most Canadians.
3. HA!

I also bought the new Apples In Stereo records… Chubby, bearded, bald dudes need role models.

Also bought the new Amy Millan record…

1) Sleater-Kinney – The Woods (2005)
2) The Magnetic Fields – i (2004)
3) Belle & Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003)
4) The Flashing Lights – Sweet Release (2001)
5) Neko Case & Her Boyfriends – Furnace Room Lullaby (2000)
6) The Joel Plaskett Emergency – Down At The Khyber (2001)
7) Julie Doiron – Woke Myself Up (2007)
8) Neil Young – Live At Massey Hall 1971 (2007)
9) Valery Gore – Avalanche To Wandering Bear (2008)
10) God Help The Girl – God Help The Girl (2009)

11) Wilco – A Ghost Is Born (2004)
12) Joel Plaskett – Three (2009)
13) Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (2005)
14) The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns (2008)
15) Valery Gore – Valery Gore (2005)
16) Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire – The Swimming Hour (2001)
17) Elevator – A Taste of Complete Perspective (2000)
18) The Guthries – Off Windmill (2000)
19) The Magnetic Fields – Distorion (2008)
20) Cuff The Duke – Cuff The Duke (2005)

21) Matt Mays – Matt Mays (2002)
22) The Apples In Stereo – New Magnetic Wonder (2007)
23) Neko Case – Canadian Amp (2001)
24) Local Rabbits – This Is It, Here We Go (2001)
25) One Hundred Dollars – Forest of Tears (2007)
26) The Guthries – The Guthries (2002)
27) The Joel Plaskett Emergency – Ashtray Rock (2007)
28) Amy Millan – Honey From The Tombs (2006)
29) Elliott Brood – Ambassador (2005)
30) The New Pornographers – Mass Romantic (2000)

31) Rufus Wainwright – Poses (2001)
32) The Superfantastics – Pop-up Book (2007)
33) Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice (2009)
34) George Harrison – Brainwashed (2001)
35) Belle & Sebastian – The Life Pursuit (2006)
36) Sleater-Kinney – One Beat (2002)
37) Final Fantasy – Has A Good Home (2005)
38) K’naan – The Dusty Foot Philosopher (2005)
39) The Bicycles – The Good, The Bad & The Cuddly (2006)
40) Elliott Smith – From a Basement on the Hill (2004)

41) Peter Elkas – Wall of Fire (2007)
42) Gentleman Reg – Darby & Joan (2004)
43) Neko Case – Middle Cyclone (2008)
44) Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
45) k-os – Joyful Rebellion (2004)
46) Matt Murphy – Bring It Back Home: The Life And Hard Times of Guy Terrifico (2004)
47) Cuff The Duke – Life Stories For Minimum Wage (2002)
48) Tom Petty – Highway Companion (2006)
49) Travis – The Boy With No Name (2007)
50) Ruth Minnikin – Marooned And Blue (2004)