Strong haul of rad gumbo here, as we’ve taken to saying. Never thought I’d want to hear another Hold Steady album after the last one, but “Teeth Dreams” pretty much reaffirmed the faith. And if you’re that way inclined, I can recommend the new Men album, too; their best, I think.

Then there are the deep new Woods jams, and the small matter of the firs Afghan Whigs album in 16 years, to be discussed somewhere further down the line. This amazing Holly Herndon single. And three, maybe four, things I didn’t really like at all. Not bad, really.

As is the new issue of Uncut, due any day now. The Ramones are on the cover, and I can especially recommend the feature on great American punk records that goes with it. Full details here.

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1 Vertical Scratchers – Daughter Of Everything (Merge)

2 The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams (Washington Square)

3 Jimi Goodwin – Odulek (Heavenly)

4 Death – Death III (Drag City)

5 The Men – Tomorrow’s Hits (Sacred Bones)

6 Real Estate – Atlas (Domino)

7 Red House Painters – Old Ramon (Sub Pop)

8 Bohren & Der Club Of Gore – Piano Nights (PIAS)

9 Pye Corner Audio – Black Mill Tapes (Type)

10 Ned Doheny – Separate Oceans (Numero Group)

11 Woods – With Light And With Love (Woodsist)

12 Fat White Family – Touch The Leather (Hate Hate Hate)

13 EMA – The Future’s Void (City Slang)

14 Alice Boman – Waiting (Adrian)

Alice Boman – Waiting from Jesper Berg on Vimeo.

15 Afghan Whigs – Do To The Beast (Sub Pop)

16 Weekend – The ’81 Demos (Blackest Ever Black)

17 Claypipe – A Daylight Blessing (MIE Music)

18 Hans Chew – Life And Love (At The Helm)

19 Little Feat – Rad Gumbo (Rhino)

20 Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy (No label)

21 Holly Herndon – Chorus (RVNG INTL)