AstroPOP reviews for May 2007 written by JimiC, Lawrence Winnerman, imaginary girl Dana, and imaginary girl Liz

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
While you earthy Taureans are usually know more for your grounded steadfastness, something is up with you this spring. You're here, you're there; when you have the chocolate you suddenly want the vanilla; when you have the rock, suddenly you just wanna roll. Sound familiar, oh bullish one? Madison, WI band Sleeping in the Aviary know how you feel. On the track "Another Girl," the band's frontman Elliott Kozel confesses, "I know I could love you but I don't know why," while then admitting in the chorus mere seconds later, "I'm always thinking of another girl." While he anguishes over his fickle nature (as evidenced in the refrain "I hate what I've become"), you should consider for the long run if you're truly suited to a lifetime of flakiness of heart. We know you're not, Taurus, but the incredibly hook-filled, lo-fi masterpiece Oh This Old Thing has the one-two-sock-it-to-ya punch that you're craving during this strangely (and gloriously) indecisive month. So just roll (or rock) with it for awhile. {buy it}

Gemini (May 21 - June 21)
There's something to be said for playing hard-to-get, Gemini, and the duality of your tricky-twin nature makes you most adept at simultaneously avoiding attention and fascinating the teeming masses. Seattle musician Mat Brooke has mastered this skill in recent years, first entrancing scores of fans (and earning loads of critical praise) with his band Carissa's Wierd (RIP) and then dissolving the band just as they were starting to get national attention. Next up Mat joined CW alum Ben Bridwell and formed Band of Horses, and, well, we don't need to tell you the sorts of success that band got? Mat then left the band. A few weeks ago, his latest project Grand Archives played their first show, and the response was immediate and intense; not only did the band get an opening gig touring with Modest Mouse as their second show and gobs of praise from Pitchfork, but they signed to Sub Pop records, even with fewer than five shows and only four demo tracks on their MySpace. The moral to this story for you, Gemini? You might want to let your tortured artist side steer your ship awhile and your showy superstar side way be able to reap the benefits; if the results are half as gorgeous as these demos (including the spell-binding "Southern Glass Home,"), you too are heading for good places.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22)
Venus is going to be tugging at you this month, Cancer, and you’ll feel a real need to bond with your family. We both know that can only end in tragedy, though. If you really want the drama, opt for Ether Aura’s moody new long-player, Before We Could Sing. “Tell Me I’m Nothing” is probably a romantic lament, but could just as easily be the last argument you had with your folks before you ran crying to your room, cursing the day you were born. Not that that’s bad, I mean musically speaking… A little dark and goth-y, reaching out to the tortured teen in us all, but successfully avoiding the overwrought pomposity of newer “goth” bands like Evanesence, Ether Aura brings the angst, but also remembers to bring good songs. Think Medicine’s “Time Baby III” from The Crow (c’mon, you love The Crow… admit it). So ignore mom and dad, storm up to your room, crank the stereo and plan your escape. {buy it}

Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Leo, you're usually one to run to the front of the pack without a second thought, but this month it's imperative that you shift into super-analytic mode. Because of your worldly way with words, you'll be called in by friends and coworkers to offer advice on their sticky situations. Use Your Favorite Book as your soundtrack to keep you grounded and chock full of wise words. Like you Leos, Your Favorite Book persuades companions with candor and loyalty. Scotch Hog, Your Favorite Book's second album, earns the band obvious comparisons to fellow wordsmithy acoustic guitar wielders The Mountain Goats and quirky lyricists They Might Be Giants. Tracks like "Mountains of Foam" offers quotable lines like"Sail on, clinging to the flicker of hope that this world might one day feel like home" for you to incorporate into your consoling fireside chats. Don't worry, the demand for your sage advice and dissection of perplexing evidence will secure a comfortable place for you in the spotlight of your adoring fanbase for the entire month of June.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
Virgo, May is going to be a time for transformation. Don't waste time thinking about whether it is right or wrong, just get out there and start that new hobby (decoupage anyone?) or skip around the park. Sure, there's a little bit of stress that comes along with change, but embrace the new you and sing along with the songs on the Icicles new album, Arrivals and Departures. How could your new-found self-confidence shrink while singing along to the Michigan-based band's song "La Ti Da," "Things are looking alright today, the sun is shining and I'm feeling OK." The Icicles charm with their vintage 50's female vocals and sunshiny keyboards that ooze with the carefree goodness of the Concretes mixed with the Partridge Family. {buy it}

Libra (September 23 - October 23)
This month Mars is in your seventh house, Libra, which will put some demands on you, but also give you the energy to push through it all, with the help of a partner… you know, it takes two to make a thing go right, just like queer/electro/hip-hop duo Team Gina’s Gina Bling and Gina Genius. “A Tribe Called Rocco” shows these two ladies in fine old skool form, calling to mind not so much Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock as “In Search of Manny”-era first EP Luscious Jackson, with some funky Mario Caldato-style organ riffs. Gina and Gina have a unique flow all their own… the Team’s delivery both clever and sexy. And really, who doesn’t love a little girl-on-girl… emceeing?

Scorpio (October 24 - November 21)
Boom! Bam! Bling! Dramatic entrances and hooky bass lines are your thing, Scorpio, all smoldering stares and come-hither gimme gimmes. This isn't to say you lack substance -- in fact, this imaginary astrologer understand the goods underneath your showy exterior are your strongest, and it's from this deeply personal place that you derive your greatest sense of self-pride. New York's Elk City, and specifically, singer Renée LoBue -- have the flash and tinsel to pull your ear and eye in this day of indie-rock online overload, but it's upon further listens that you hear the skill and structure that have gone into creating the gems on their latest release, New Believers. Opening track "Cherries in the Snow" hooks and entrances you in with it's almost-Christmas-time sounding intro, and LoBue's stunning vocals infatuate you as you realize this band is burgeoning with indie-pop talent. {buy it}

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
Time to get some rest and take care of yourself Sadgie. Trade in your fast food lunches for something more of the brown rice and tofu ilk. Clean out your messy drawers and bring total order to the chaos in your life. It is all about making a better you, you, you! By the end of the month, you're going to be primed to conquer whatever lofty goal you want. Take inspiration from Cardiff, UK's Los Campisinos!. The band has been taking their vitamins and doing their morning stretches and it certainly shows. Their single, We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives is full of infectious friendliness and bright hooks that make them the rulers of any indie-pop battle of the bands. They are so sure of themselves they've got a gaggle of their sweet songs (including cover art) available for download on their website. All this goodwill has paid off in spades. The band has recently signed to US-label Arts and Crafts (home to critically acclaimed indie stars Broken Social Scene) and they've snagged a spot on this year's Lollapalooza tour.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)
Things are changing all over the place for you, Cappy, so it's only logical that you've been feeling a bit down lately. But the changes in your personal life...well, they're hard, but they're *good* for you. And you know that...so what's causing the funk?! You should be embracing the changes that are happening in your personal life, and looking at the larger issues in the world that are contributing to your pervasive dread. Hate the Supreme Court decision restricting abortion? Pissed off cause you and your gay boyfriend can't get hitched? Furious that there's a war going on in your name that you don't believe in? Go take a listen to "I Hate the War" by The Ballet (off their disc Mattachine! (clever, huh?!)), and then get up off your goaty ass and march in a protest. Better yet, apply your legendary organizing skills to getting other folks to stand up with you for the cause you believe in most. For a simple song about war-hatin', this peppy tune with it's oh so slightly discordant strings will infect your brain, and have your activist posse marchin' to City Hall singing "I hate the war, na na na na na na na na na!" Over and over and over again.... {buy it}

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)
You've been feeling tremendously needy, Aquarius, and those around you are growing weary of your consistent near-pleas for attention. It's time to shake off your dependencies on others and realize you need to find your own voice, your own sense of direction and purpose. Northampton, Mass band Winterpills have a new record called The Light Divides and I think you should listen, Aquarius. The record is fluid and warm (would I steer you toward anything less, oh water bearer?) with a post-Belle and Sebastian new sense of indie-pop meets soft rock sensibility. With delicate boy-girl harmonies and tender melodies, the record is equal parts melancholic and hopeful, familiar and yet new. Winterpills can gently ease you into a whole new phase of you -- one that feels comfortable, but still lets you outgrown the stagnation that's lingered in your spirit far, far too long. {buy it}

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)
Oh sweet Pisces, the long long winter is over, you're freshly reborn, along with the grass and the trees and tulips and things. Huzzah! But you have a tendency to...um...how shall we say?...forget things. Like everything you learnt the last time around. It's amazing, really, this capacity for willful naivety that you possess. It's like a madness, that when spring pumps through your nether-parts that you're suddenly willing to do everything again, even if it knocked you on your ass last time. That's why, as you're driving along the highway with your head out the window, on your way to tiptoe through the tulips, dreaming about love, you should be listening to "Naive" by Dolour (off The Years in the Wilderness). This jumpin' power ballad will speak to the reborn sunshine in your soul, while reminding you that life can be a bit gritty. And hey, you optimistic naïf in the woods, you...sometimes the second (or third) time is the charm. So sing it to the world: "Just you try and knock me out!"

Aries (March 21 - April 19)
Aries, everything should be going your way this month. A Jupiter trine to your sun should keep things sailing smoothly… remember, don’t sweat the petty things (and don’t pet the sweaty things). And since everything will be coming up roses, you should take advantage - go out, enjoy yourself. “Get Up and Get Out,” as the Rosebuds might (and do) say on their new LP. Head to the dancefloor and you might find them waiting with a new, more Electronic direction, and I do mean capital “E,” a la the Bernard Sumner/Johnny Marr/Neil Tennant collaboration, of which their new tunes are very reminiscent. Their near-perfect post-disco pop will help keep you footloose and fancy-free all month long. {buy it}