Guitar Wolf & Lightning Bolt - Ultra Cross Vol. 1 [2006]

In an unexpected yet not so unlikely turn of events, two notable noise rock bands from different sides of the globe come together to release a rowdy and rapid split single. Ultra Cross Vol. 1 boasts two tracks each from Japan's Guitar Wolf and the U.S.A.'s Lightning Bolt, both bringing what they have to offer in full force. It starts off with Guitar Wolf's more garage punk-y approach to noise rock as they play their instruments as hard as garage punks can, pausing for silence to emphasize the decibels they're blasting through plenty of distortion. On the other hand, Lightning Bolt takes no breaks in their signature frantic and chaotic style, hitting the bass riffs and drum fills as fast as possible. Both bands seem to be vying for the position of the loudest half of the split as they do what they do and do it well on Ultra Cross Vol. 1.

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Puffyshoes - Finally The Weekend [2011]

This album is like the summer festival that you never went to as a kid because you grew up in Detroit. This album is the album that Vivian Girls would've released if they were Japanese and hadn't broken up last year. This album will potentially break your hi-fidelity speaker system and Finally The Weekend by Puffyshoes, an all-girl indie rock duo from Japan, will simultaneously be the cutest and most badass thing you listen to this week.

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Coachwhips - Double Death [2006]

Coachwhips is an old project fronted by Thee Oh Sees's John Dwyer (guitar and vocals), who also brings John Harlow (drums) and Mary Ann McNamara (keyboard/tambourine) along for the wild ride. As a man who's felt like he's calmed down on the alcohol, drugs and going insane, Dwyer crafted this project in a state that was very much the opposite. Double Death is a collection of B-sides, covers and whatnot released a while after the band's time, which, like the music they performed, was wild, raucous and much too short.

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