Pat Fish, better known as The Jazz Butcher, passed away a year ago today. Julius C. Lacking offers a requiem for this legendary everyman.

The Lost Album (Tollie / Sunset Blvd.). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

The Good The Bad and the Funky (Nacional). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

Palberta5000 (Wharf Cat). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

Hailing from the southwest of France, The Llamps build on a sound that’s equal parts New York City grit, San Francisco psychedelia, and spaghetti Western twang, which makes for a pan-global main dish.

For quite some time, the Mommyheads have delivered the sort of complex pop and lyrical insight that fills in the cracks and gaps in your musical thinking with new ideas and sounds.

Native Sons (New West). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

Radio Astro (BMG). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

Pom Pom Squad began as songwriter Mia Berrin’s solo operation but now employs four full-time experts in musical munitions and lethal lyrical techniques.

If the name didn’t give it away, there is a very distinct beach slash surf feeling to San Diego’s Wavves and their sun-glittered sounds.

There are several sounds that are most definitely British, and with their clear soaring female vocals and intimate indie pop sensibility, The Catenary Wires are a textbook example of one of them.

The World Within Our Bedrooms (Rough Trade). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

NMN Episode One features Adam Elk, talking about his band the Mommyheads with KAFM Radio’s Judy C. and Julius C. Lacking. No relation, everyone! They’re just good friends.

Negativity (In The Red). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

Palladium EP (Third Man). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

At a time when we need the positive carefree sound of French yeh-yeh the most, April March comes through with a spicy new number.

Street Venom (Burger). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

Birling Gap (Shelflife). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

The Fogerty Brothers are putting their upbringing to good use in the genuinely psychedelic outfit Hearty Har, parsing the electric sitars and paisleys of long ago into a legitimate translation.

Covercade (Rough Trade). Review by Julius C. Lacking.