Charles Wyatt left England after recording A Trick of the Sea with Piano Magic and scouted stateside for similar-minded musical collaborators. He found them nearby on the Star Star Stereo label: Erik Kowalski (of Casino vs. Japan) and keyboardist Jared Matt Greenberg, who had played with Wyatt two years earlier in the Ché Records band Dart. Kowalski soon left to pursue Casino vs. Japan fulltime, and in 2002, UK transplant Sacha Galvagna (Rosa Mota, Horsepower) joined the band as a multi-instrumentalist. Their latest album, To The Dust: From Man You Came And To Man You Shall Return, was originally envisioned as an acoustic album, but quickly spilled over into the amplified and electronic realms to become the most stylistically varied Charles Atlas album so far, featuring contributions by cellist Zoë Keating and vocals by Odessa Chen.

Stylus writer Max Schaefer described the 2004’s To The Dust’s last song as creating: “a reflective state that speaks to both the band’s engaging maturity and the album’s underlying themes.” For an interview with Charles Wyatt on the Stylus main site, click here.

Still to come this year are a number of live appearances supporting the new album. For tour and general Charles Atlas information, you can visit their website here.

Jawbreaker– Sluttering (May 4th), [Dear You]

Sad to say, but I was turned onto this Bay Area trio long after they had broken up. I still can’t believe we never crossed paths. We were making music in the same town, at the same time. They were probably 20 blocks away churning out brilliant, heart-wrenching, punk-pop songs while I sat in my room, listening to some obscure C86 band whose single I have long since sold. Their last record, Dear You, is somewhat notorious for its departure from the fury of their previous releases. But the second to last track on the album, “Sluttering (May 4th)” delivers the fist-clenching, heart-baring controlled rage that made Jawbreaker one of the most compelling bands of its kind. Since adding “sluttering” to my lexis, I finally have a concise way to describe what’s-her-name…the one who left me waiting in a crowded room, holding flowers for two hours, only to find out later that she was with someone else. This is my bad day song. If you hear this song a hundred times, it still won’t be enough. PLAY IT LOUD.

[visit the complete Jawbreaker website here, buy Dear You here]

Neutral Milk Hotel– Holland, 1945, [In the Aeroplane Over the Sea]

Neutral Milk Hotel made two perfect records and then called it a day. More bands should do that. It’s what makes people keep listening. I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about NMH. Even if it’s not your thing, you can still appreciate it. “Holland, 1945” is genius. This song makes me smile. It makes my friends smile. It makes my kid smile…hell, I think I’ve even seen the dog grin when I play it.

[visit Neutral Milk Hotel’s website here, buy In the Aeroplane Over the Sea here, read Tyler Martin’s Stylus review of Jeff Mangum’s Live At Jittery Joe here]

Francoise Hardy– Oh Oh Cheri, [The Yeh-Yeh Girl From Paris]

Ah, Francoise Hardy, that lovely chanteuse from the 60’s. I wish my parents had been savvy enough to have this in their record collection, because the kids love it. As soon as my daughter was able to stand on her own she discovered that she could shake her thang. She called this track “The Uh-Oh Song”, and it was required for all bed-jumping and hip-shaking endeavors. I heard this song at least twice a day for two years. The groove recalls Johnny Cash’s “Walk the Line” or even a taqueria Mariachi band. Because it’s in French, I’ve no idea what she’s singing about…but it sure does sound good.

[visit Francoise Hardy’s website here, buy The Yeh-Yeh Girl From Paris here]

The Decemberists– California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade, [Castaways and Cutouts]

I spent a year in NYC and every time I heard this Decemberists’ song, it made me sick with longing for the West Coast. Anyone who has spent a Sunday along Highway One (or anyone who has spent a Sunday with a bottle of California red) will immediately connect with Meloy’s homage to this famous stretch of concrete. Though California One doesn’t quite replace the feeling of driving along the coast, it can summon some sunshine for a cloudy day…perfect for California dreaming.

[visit The Decemberists’ website here, buy Castaways and Cutouts here, read Gentry Boeckel’s Stylus article about the Decemberists’ first album here]

Keren Ann – Sailor and Widow, [Not Going Anywhere]

I grew up on Blue Note artists: Hank Mobley, Dexter Gordon, Tony Williams. That said, I’m always somewhat surprised when such a traditionally jazz label releases albums outside of that context (US3, Medeski, Martin & Wood, etc). This song, about a woman killing all the people she loves, is delivered in a quick, extended mumble. The juxtaposition between this dark, Tom Waits-esque verse, and the poppy sing-a-long chorus, gives the track a haunting quality. It’s an interrogation-room confession, laid down to music.

[visit Keren Ann’s website here, buy Not Going Anywhere here, read Josh Timmermann’s Stylus review here]