The Serenes

So beautifully....serene. The Serenes had a brief two-album career, but were enormously talented. I only discovered them a few weeks ago through the Jangle Pop Boutique blog, but am still in awe of the group's music. So....so, so, so, so amazingly good......just unbelievable. *(Shakes self out of dream state)* The Serenes have been compared to New Zealanders The Chills and the Hoboken-based Feelies, but the group is very, very unique in its own right. Please listen to Barefoot and Pregnant, the band's 1990 debut; it's nearly flawless. Dreamy...and...melodious... It's just as good, if not better than, The Chills' Submarine Bells. Seriously. Singles "Rebecca (You're Gonna Be Allright)" and "Abiding Place" are just the tip of the iceberg on this gorgeous record.

The Serenes released a second album called Back to Wonder, one that deserves plenty of praise, but is not quite as strong as the debut. Although the band ceased to be in 1994, another group called Simmer formed from the ashes to release one album, 1997's Mothertongue. Theo de Jong, lead vocalist for The Serenes, is a definite holdover, but I haven't been able to gather enough information to know whether or not other Serenes' band members made the transfer. Simmer definitely has a harder-sounding edge to its music, but many elements that made The Serenes so compelling are also present. Mothertongue is available digitally on iTunes and elsewhere and I wholeheartedly recommend that you give it a thorough listen.

The Occasion

Mysterious lyrics draped in quietly beautiful melodies comprise most of the songs written and performed by The Occasion. The band released two albums, one self-titled and the other Cannery Hours (pictured), before disbanding. To say that the music bears similarities to Pink Floyd in terms of its instrumentation is entirely accurate, although the uniqueness of The Occasion's sound is also difficult to deny. Beginners should try the group's most accessible songs, those being "A Dulcimer's Fancy" from the self-titled LP and "Register My Complaints" from Cannery Hours. Then again, I was hooked from the moment I heard "You May Know Me," and "All Over Idaho" is a treasure waiting to be unearthed.

Cannery Hours is, in my opinion, the most accomplished of the two records, but each one has its own strengths and both are well worth hearing. To hear the greatness that is The Occasion, head on over to the band's Myspace page or the ever-trusty Last.fm.

The Reivers

Originally known as Zeitgeist, The Reivers were a band that should have received more attention outside of their home-state of Texas. I heard "Freight Train Rain" through the Cloudberry Cake Proselytism blog, and later decided to purchase Saturday, the album that followed what many consider to be their masterpiece: Translate Slowly. The latter is available through iTunes along with Pop Beloved, the group's final album. I honestly found nothing worth liking on Pop Beloved, but Translate Slowly is excellent and really must be heard to be believed.

As for Saturday, that one is well-worth buying and can be bought online for a reasonable price. "Secretariat," "Baby," and "Once in a While" are just a few of the CD's many highlights. Lead singer John Croslin has a very unique voice, although comparisons to Luna's Dean Wareham and John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants are justifiable. Background vocal harmonies by Kim Longacre add a beautiful touch to many of the group's songs. If you've never delved into the group's catalogue, I highly recommend it. End of the Day is the album that followed Saturday, and although I haven't looked into it yet, it's definitely on the to-do list.

The Moths

I found this one very early in the morning, and can still hardly believe my ears. Much of The Moths' discography is available on iTunes, and from what I understand the group has been going strong since 1982. One comment on an iTunes page likens the bands' sound to that of The Doors mixed with The Smiths, which I would call a fair assessment. I'd add The Bats to the list of comparisons, especially when I hear some of the songs' deliciously jangly guitars. The Moths' band members tell so much more on their website. It's well worth visiting, and has a number of audio samples. As for the song "Bubbles In the Water," you need to download that one immediately.