Brian Jonestown Massacre

Most people’s knowledge of San Francisco psych-rock band Brian Jonestown Massacre goes no further than its much-publicized feud against fellow West Coast band The Dandy Warhols. It’d be hard to blame the public for being so hung up on that, though, when their ongoing tension was the subject of 2004’s dramatic documentary Dig!—which, no matter your allegiance, only makes both bands look alternately petty and petulant. Still, that was eight years ago. Since then, frontman Anton Newcombe has been consistently pumping out the same dreamy, pastiche-happy songs that have been well worth a listen since 1993. BJM’s latest, Aufheben, its first release since 2010’s Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?—which saw guitarist Matt Hollywood rejoining the fold after 11 years away—just hit shelves last week.

Updated 04/26/2012