I first heard about Dolorean a few years ago, when we saw them open for Richard Buckner in Phoenix. I don’t remember much about their set (probably because I was too excited to see Buckner) other than frontman Al James slightly resembled comedian Darrell Hammond.

I’m happy to say I’ve got something better as a reference point, and that’s the band’s new album You Can’t Win, Dolorean’s third release on Yep Roc. My memory being what it is, which is to say not much (obviously), I wanted to write off Dolorean as another alt-country knockoff; You Can’t Win proves otherwise.

It’s a sprawling effort, mostly melancholy but uplifting at points, with very little twang to speak of. The centerpiece is the 6-plus-minute Beachcomber Blues, a somber piece with perfect touches in tone of organ and electric guitar.

In Dolorean’s bio on Yep Roc, James writes that he “was tired of feeling completely ungrounded day to day” as the recording of the album began, hence the title You Can’t Win. As he began to let go of his frustrations, his perception of the phrase changed: “And thankfully, it’s no longer just one hardened heart singing ‘You Can’t Win,’ there’s a chorus of us reassuringly combining our voices with the same words, but a different message, ‘It’s okay, quit trying so hard, You Can’t Win.’ ”

In that regard, You Can’t Win isn’t all doom and gloom. James isn’t crying in his beer like so many worn-down singers of his kind. He’s weary, yes, but hopeful, too, as the clearing sepia-toned fog over his face on the album cover might suggest.

• Dolorean | Beachcomber Blues

Buy You Can’t Win from Yep Roc.

Stream the album here.

Consider this your friendly reminder to come down to Modified in Phoenix tonight to check out Jonah Matranga, Joshua English and Frank Turner (though I’m not sure in what order they’ll appear). Also on the bill is Western States Motel from Los Angeles.

You’re already aware of how I feel about Jonah’s music (link, link, link) and he dropped by to tell us his thoughts on Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy.

Joshua English, formerly of Six Going on Seven, is new to me, though our friends at Welcome Home Records have remedied that by sending me his upcoming LP, Trouble None (due out April 17).

It’s such a refreshing listen, 13 songs in 31 minutes. No track is longer than three-and-a-half minutes; most hover in the two-and-a-half range. That leaves little room for error and even less of a chance to leave a lasting mark, but English’s lively and distinctive voice packs plenty of emotion in such a short space. He’s proof that writers mustn’t need to endlessly drone on to reach a point.

Doors at 7 tonight. $7. Go.

• Joshua English | Go ‘head Heal Your Heart

I have been waiting for a song of the year candidate to rear its head, fall in my lap, reach from my speakers and shake me. It’s March, I know. I hate premature song/album of the year blather as much as you do. But perhaps you haven’t heard Devastation by the Besnard Lakes.

Quite simply, it kills. Everything in its path. It appears on the group’s LP, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, which NPR says “demonstrates a remarkable flair for dramatic shifts between initial fragility and walloping dynamics.” NPR forgot to mention the album cover art: a black stallion engulfed in flames! I think if I spent a lot of time at coffeehouses reading philosophy books I could attach a metaphorical meaning to this imagery. But I don’t, so I can’t. However, I will say this: It’s a black stallion engulfed in flames! And I sort of want a poster of it, but it has to be made of that fuzzy, velvet-y fabric.

But back to Devastation. This is nearly six minutes of major ambition, a juxtaposition in sound of thick classic-rock riffs and modern, swirling synths. The group’s Montreal home means obligatory comparisons to the Arcade Fire and the like. But I take more of a Low-ish vibe from the album – spacious sounds and distant vocals; maybe something closer to Pink Floyd (though I claim to be no expert on Floyd).

Judge for yourself: You can stream Are the Dark Horse at Jagjaguwar. Also, the Besnard Lakes are at the Paper Heart in Phoenix on March 19 with Dirty on Purpose.

If somehow they could incorporate a real, live stallion galloping through flames at the venue, I might just follow them around the country.

• The Besnard Lakes | Devastation

The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse is available at eMusic.

If you stalk check up on Brendan Benson’s MySpace page every now and again, you’ll see he’s pretty active in posting demos and such for your streaming pleasure.

Well, with the Raconteurs noise dying down now, we can probably expect a new album from Benson very soon. And he’s planting the seed by dropping in a new tune on his MySpace called Feel Like Taking You Home.

It’s darker – in both sound and lyrical content – than what we’re used to hearing from Benson, and the driving beat steadily reaches a crescendo as guitars layer and crash over it.

• Brendan Benson | Feel Like Taking You Home

(Via)

AT CIRCA 45: A rip of Zager & Evans’ apocalyptic In the Year 2525.

Lately, there seems to be no shortage of excellent shows running through the Valley, and the trend is continuing in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, one band seems cursed by its travels through our state. We’re sorry, Birdmonster. Come back, won’t you?

Sunday is particularly exciting, for Menomena comes through to play Rhythm Room, a show I am eagerly anticipating. I wanted to resist Friend and Foe originally, as I tend to flinch at what the masses are feeding me. And, yet, it now seems all very justifiable because these are songs heavy in texture (the horns are so wonderful) and catchy, to boot.

I tortured my wife over and over with the album opener Muscle’n Flo (which I couldn’t figure for the life of me why that wasn’t the first single) until she was waking up with it in her head. And now I’ve come to terms with Wet and Rusting as the single, though you could certainly make a case for Boyscout’n.

Also, the word “Menomena” is hard to type.

Local bands the Threads and the Morning Kennedy Was Shot open the all-ages show on Sunday.

• Menomena | Wet and Rusting

Visit MTV’s Subterranean Blog for the very cool video for Wet and Rusting.

Stream Friend and Foe via Barsuk.

Long night, no post. Don’t ask.

Anyway, CNet’s download.com (who are the ad wizards who came up with that name?) is offering a full-album stream of Jon Rauhouse’s Steel Guitar Heart Attack, which we prattled on about a couple weeks ago.

Heart Attack comes out Tuesday. To celebrate, Jon will be playing a free in-store at Stinkweeds in Phoenix at 6 p.m.

• Jon Rauhouse | Ballad of the Black Chihuahua

Tally up another show I’ll miss because of work. If only I didn’t have bills to pay.

In any case, Birdmonster will play with or without my attendance at Modified tonight. And a little, um, bird (ok, sorry) told me some new songs will be tested out. And, no doubt, you’ll hear all your favorites from No Midnight. (No promises on the 500 Miles cover, though.)

• Birdmonster | Cause You Can
• Birdmonster | Skeleton Suit