Wau Y Los Arrrghs!!! - !!!Viven!!!

Missing-teeth and suit-wearing garage rock from Spain. The great songs really stand out on this record. You've got this mad scientist type guy for a vocalist growling over the songs, giving it some major personality. This record should be huge. Check them out when they stop in the Bay Area on tour this September.

The Strange Boys - The Strange Boys and Girls Club

Distorted, mousey vocals over garage, rockabilly, and blues guitars. Highly unusual and traditional at the same time. The combo of adding a new twist to pre-60s music and having songs that stand on their own makes for a great listen.

Wooden Shjips - Dos

This is definitely something for fans of the repetitive nature of bands like Can. Psych-y, space rockin', krautin', stuck in your head for days. They are from S.F. too! Bonus!

Thomas Mapfumo - Gwindingwi Rine Shumba / Hokoyo!

Here's a pair of reissues from this legendary political singer/guitarist from Zimbabwe. He created a genre by updating traditional Zimbabwean music with modern instruments and called it Chimurenga, meaning "struggle" in English. You can hear a mix of great early reggae melodies, African rhythms, and some awesome guitar interplay.

More Stuff You Should Check Out:

Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career (they've done it again!)
The Rippers - Why Should I Care About You? (fitting name)
Ponytail - Ice Cream Spiritual (spastic and fun)
Burmese - Colony Collapse Disorder (grindcore mayhem from S.F.)
The Weight - Are Men (for fans of Lucero, Drive-By Truckers, and Drag the River)
Todd Snider - The Excitement Plan (song about a Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis, who threw a no-hitter on LSD in 1970)