I love post-rock as much as the next fellow. Explosions in the Sky, Mono, Red Sparowes… they’re all great. But sometimes, I can’t help but feel like there’s something the genre is kinda missing. It needs some soul, some funk. There’s no good reason a tune can’t be epic and still groove. Fortunately, Maserati agrees with me.

Maserati released Inventions for the New Season last month, and I have to say, they really got it right. The songs build and expand, layers are developed and added, but most importantly the sound moves and drives. This isn’t just headphone music, it’s music meant to be played loud. The men of Maserati consider themselves “the now sound of ass-kicking southern rock” (they hail from Athens, Georgia) and claim this as their reason for being an instrumental band: “fuck vocals— Maserati doesn’t have time for all that mess. Maserati is rocking a tight schedule and they refuse to be bothered by the conventions of modern rock-and-roll talking points like words… and front persons”— which may be the best thing I’ve ever read in a band’s bio.

Maserati started as a good band, but with inclusion of their new drummer Gerhardt Fuchs (!!!, Turing Machine), they are officially a great band. This new record backs up their claim that Fuchs is “the 21st Century’s answer to John Bonham.” Their Myspace blog reports that they will be doing a West Coast tour in late September. Here’s hoping that means a stop in L.A.! Thanks to my pal Scott for leading this horse to water on the joys of Maserati.

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Another great new release is We Can Create from Maps. Maps is essentially a single British gentleman by the name of James Chapman, and a talented gentleman he is. From the moment I heard this record, I knew it would rank somewhere on my list of favorite records for 2007. Unless Jay-Z puts out 20 records as good as the Black Album between now and December, that spot is secure.

There are certain sonics which just really appeal to me. We Can Create seems to hit just about all of them. It’s a beautiful, dreamy record with just the right amount of melancholy to capture the big softie in me. There are moments when the programmed drums can feel a bit canned and dated, but they are one voice among many instruments, and it rarely detracts from the gorgeous melodies swirling through the album. If you enjoy the track you hear below, trust me that the entire record is consistently that good.

New Releases 7.17.07: Need more metal in your diet? New albums from Coffins and Abruptum on Southern Lord records. A couple re-releases from Cluster and Harmonia. Yesterday’s Universe on Stones Throw. The Editors have a new record on Kitchenware. New Interpol came out last week…haven’t heard it yet, but I’m sure their bassist is still a douchebag. Buy a Chameleons album instead, and deprive him of the $17.99 that he would undoubtedly spend on more hair gel.

If you enjoy these tunes, tune into my radio show on kxlu 88.9fm 10a-2p every monday. we’re also streaming live at www.kxlu.com.

Visit the original post to ear-taste mp3s by Maserati and Maps.