DEAD CONFEDERATE, ALBERTA CROSS, FUTUREBIRDS(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) With the exception of Kings of Leon—and even pigeons hate them—there are not a whole lot of true-to-form alt-rock bands left. Hailing from a little city that knows plenty about music left of the dial, Athens rockers Dead Confederate aim to change all that. Absolutely mammoth in scale, Sugar is their latest, and this mighty alt-rock recording extends from behind the console (recorded by John Agnello, whose credits include Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth) to a sound that would fit right in on the 1993 Lollapalooza lineup. While browsing their wares in the Doug Fir merch nook, the cover of Sugar might look a tad familiar—that's because it's exactly the same art as Rachel Taylor Brown's 7 Small Winter Songs EP from 2007. Just so you know. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
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