Johnny Ill Band
In the Wintertime
X! Records
Local atonal pop-punks quash the superficial cheer of winter wonderland, but offset any cabin fever blues with subtle xylophone chimes and buzzy organs. It's a refreshing sip of bitter tea. Go to x-recs.com.
Belle Ghoul
Neighborhood
FiveThreeDialTone Records
The songs of the two members of Belle Ghoul — Christopher Tait (Electric Six) and Jesse Paris Smith (daughter to Patti and Fred "Sonic" Smith) — are great stuff. "(Out of) The Neighborhood" is like a kid's summer's final waterslide splash; reverb-soaked verses support funky guitar chords, and choruses surge atop buzzing organs and bursting brass. "Cold Cold Heart" is a jaunty rag of prancing piano, sexy choruses and subtle feedback howls. See fivethreedialtone.com/belle-ghoul-the-neighborhood-7
