Out This Week 8/11

Can you believe it’s already been two months since the last Robert Pollard-related release? I know, right?! It felt almost like three months! I mean, single-celled organisms have gone through at least a couple of life cycles, and the loaf of bread you bought back then might be a little moldy now. But Bob Pollard is not mold spore… no, he’s more productive, having this month topped his previous ‘09 outings — Cosmos’ Jar Of Jam Ton Of Bricks, Circus Devils’ Gringo, Boston Spaceships’ The Planets Are Blasted, and The Crawling Distance — with 22 two-minute tracks on his latest solo effort, Elephant Jokes, an album some critics are calling a return to mid-90’s form.

Other worthwhile releases come from Black Mold, an experimental side-project of Chad Vangaalen; Patrick Wolf, who was supposedly giving up showbiz amid the buzz generated by his last album; The Bottle Rockets, who are going over 15 years strong; and Malcolm Middleton, the other half of Arab Strap, whose fifth solo release may very well be his last (so he’s alluded). One you don’t want to miss: the remixed version of Balmorhea’s excellent 2008 album All Is Wild, All Is Silent. Check out the highlights below and get the full list from Largehearted Boy — and head out to your local record shop quickly, before Robert Pollard puts out another one!