The Raveonettes :: Dead Sound
Coasting is the easy option. Having the balls to recognize that things aren't right and doing something about them is much harder. It may have taken Sune and Sharin a little while but they made the right decision in the end- both personally and creatively- and 'Lust, Lust, Lust' is where the two worlds collide. The songs cover the toughest decisions, the fondest of memories, the scariest of fears and the most tempting of desires all from the most personal viewpoint yet captured in The Raveonettes back-catalogue.

The Whigs :: Right Hand on My Heart
Eager to record their ATO debut, The Whigs entered the legendary Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles, CA with producer Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith). Sonically superior to anything the band has recorded to date, MISSION CONTROL is an album jam-packed with infectious melodies and dynamic rhythms. The urgency of opening track "Like A Vibration" knocks over the listener with a roaring attack of guitars, while "Production City" combines a dancing bass line over machine gun tight rhythms. The thunderous pounding of drummer Julian Dorio is a staple throughout, but on the soon to be anthem "Right Hand on My Heart," Dorio’s playing makes it evident why Esquire Magazine named him "Drummer of the Year" in 2007.

Grand Archives :: Torn Blue Foam Coach
Seattle, WA is famous for many things. Sunlight is not one of them. Yet illumination and warmth suffuse the self-titled debut from Emerald City quintet Grand Archives. Dark times do not necessarily call for dark music. And, while singer/guitarist Mat Brooke's previous ensembles – Band of Horses, Carissa's Wierd – often shied away from light, he has changed direction with this band. To be clear, The Grand Archives is not escapist bullshit. But like the timeless classics of The Mamas & the Papas or The Turtles, it responds to the turbulent times of its genesis with hope, high spirits, and a sense of camaraderie.

Headlights :: Cherry Tulip
From its inception, Headlights has represented an exercise in developing a musical vision. Following years of bringing the visions of others to life in the acclaimed pop act Absinthe Blind (Parasol Records), the three members of Headlights together provide insight into what they brought to the table in their former band, as well as how it limited them. In an immense and prosperous moment, the band is now more than ever an entity of its own. Simply put, Headlights is anything but mere byproduct.

Nada Surf :: See These Bones
Beloved New York-based band Nada Surf will be releasing their new record, lucky, on February 5th, 2008. This will be Nada Surf's fifth record and third for Barsuk, following the successful and critically lauded let go (2003) and the weight is a gift (2005). The record is filled with songs of restlessness, longing and the elusiveness of love. Yet, in its inimitable way, the band beautifully counterbalances its signature lyrical wistfulness with its singular musical buoyancy. Intimate tunes become we're-all-in-this-together anthems, thanks to the chiming guitars, propulsive beat, and the ever-present yearning in singer Matthew Caws' voice.

The Helio Sequence :: Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Upon returning to Portland, Brandon Weikel's doctor forbade him from singing for almost two months. "I really hit the wall," he recalls, "Going into 2005 I actually had to think, 'If I lose my voice, what will I do?'" Trading whiskey for Throat Coat®, Brandon taught himself vocal exercises and mic technique. He took up jogging and vowed not to be another lazy musician; from that point on, recording and practice sessions were to begin at 9am sharp. In light of such devotion, it’s not surprising The Helio Sequence regrouped and went on to record their most dynamic, extraordinary work to date. Keep Your Eyes Ahead marries the duo's signature layered keyboards and impossibly big guitars with crisp songwriting and a newfound appreciation for minimalism.

Chris Walla :: Sing Again
Known both as the guitarist/producer in Death Cab for Cutie and as an in-demand producer of other independent-minded artists (Tegan & Sara, Decemberists), Walla brings a refined aesthetic and melodic ear to everything he involves himself in. Walla's past recordings of his own songs (occasionally made available online under the name Martin Youth Auxiliary) have mostly been quickly-recorded lo-fi sketches unintended for widespread release. His new release, titled field manual, represents the first time his own songs have been given the studio attention and thought-out approach to recording for which he is in such demand by others.