Fresh Tunes from Blush

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What began as bedroom project for Maura Lynch has now evolved into Blush…a band fleshed out by members of Pill and Pop. 1280. The impressing bit in this new single is that the group still manages to capture the intimacy of a bedroom recording; Maura’s vocals are almost like quiet whispers, so as not to wake the others in the house. Still, there’s plenty of little artful flourishes, like the sharp guitar plucks that permeate through the track’s natural melody or the buzz in the quiet distance. Look for the band’s self-titled LP to drop on December 8th via Arrowhawk Records.

Pleased to Meet You: High Rise Finale

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It’s great when bands are created by mere circumstance, such as High Rise Finale. The group came to be when Matt Bailey was recording the latest LP from his main gig The Salient Braves with Neil Ritchie; the two quickly realized their affinity for classic synth pop sounds, thus leading to the band’s creation. Quickly they drafted 3 tracks, bringing in their friend Dani to flesh out “There For You” with vocals. I’m quite drawn to “Disarray,” which definitely seems rooted in classic UK pop sounds. Give it a listen below.

Show Review: Protomartyr @ Barracuda (10/20)

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Last Friday night we welcomed Protomartyr to Barracuda for a night of dark post-punk tunes. Coming up on a decade of existence, Protomartyr have become a staple of the genre, the current dark state of the world giving them the perfect backdrop for their brooding tunes. On their latest effort, Relatives in Descent, they took the post-punk to a greater height, giving audiences moments of aggression followed by great cathartic release. These new tracks played well in the live setting– read on for some brief thoughts on how the evening unfolded.

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A New Ditty from The She’s

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I think the next year could be an incredible ride if you’re following San Fran’s The She’s. They’ve already had some buzz about them, but I see that getting bigger with song’s like this new single filling up their sophomore release. There are a few moments on this song when they seem to employ a nod towards the Pixies, with a guitar chord in the background that seems to work against the track’s natural progression. They’ve also got this knack for crafting intoxicating harmonies within the confines of rock standards, especially when they draw out the syllables such as the line “lost in your sunken eyes” just near the 1.20 mark. Look for their all female rock and roll quartet to hit stores on November 11th via the consistently reliable Empty Cellar Records.

New Music from I Was a King

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While Frode was working with the No Ones, I Was a King was momentarily on hold. But, just this last week they’ve rekindled my love affair with this short little blast of power-pop. It comes with the promise of another glorious single (I’m betting), but just pressing play below will have you marveling at what a punch the band can pack in 1.5 minutes. They still know their way around the perfect melodic vocal turn; I couldn’t be more excited to hear more from them going forward. This tune comes out on the new single on November 10th, with promise of a full-length to come later next year!

Have You Heard of Papa Topo?

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Admittedly, I hadn’t either, though I’m currently trying to find out as much as I can after our friends over at Elefant graciously passed the collection of songs worked on by Papa Topo, and the band’s Adria Arbona for films by Marc Ferrer (La Maldita Primavera and Nos Parecia Importante). There aren’t a lot of cuts out there, other than the one featured below, so what a great way to introduce you to it all. I’ve got it on repeat, and hopefully you will too. It’s different, but rewarding.

Exciting Jam from Juan de Fuca

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Juan de Fuca isn’t one man; it’s an act from Athens (Georgia), brandishing a slightly noisy take on modern indie rock. The guitar chords within this single offer a slight nod towards the arena of gaze rock, though there’s a bit more swagger to them. The vocals have this echo-y coat washed atop, giving off the impression of live performance. It’s like some weird world where Fresh and Onlys meet up with early Walkmen…trying to make beauty rise through the noise. Look for the group’s new Solve/Resolve LP to drop on January 12th via Arrowhawk Records.

Brand New Ezra Furman

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I cannot wait for the release of the new Ezra Furman album, especially now that I’ve listened to the record’s first single. There’s this almost Springsteen like vocal delivery, spoken with a purpose, as opposed to sung. But, for me, it’s the backing production work that really elevates Furman’s work. From the little strings to the backing vocal bursts, you can tell just how much Ezra cares about what he’s creating. Don’t skip out on the euphoric ending that awaits! Look for Transangelic Exodus to drop via Bella Union on February 9th of next year.

Enjoy Line & Circle

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Once the new single from Line & Circle settles into itself, the guitars create this circular jangle that rings and reverberates in step with the percussion. It sets the scene for the vocals to come, entering like the ghost of Matt Berninger, though there’s a bit more urgency in the delivery. I’m particularly attracted to the chorus, letting the notes soar as the pace picks up ever so slightly. The LA-based group will be releasing their new collection of songs, Vicious Folly EP, on December 1st, just in time for you to add it to your various year end lists.

Stream Life from The Yellow Melodies

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Spain’s The Yellow Melodies have been on my radar for quite some time, thanks to our friend Wally at The Beautiful Music. I think I first fell in love with their tribute album to the Television Personalities back in 2012, but they’re back with a brand new album titled Life. I’ve been jamming it quite a bit the last few weeks, and today you get your chance to get your hands on the LP. If you press play below you’ll find an album filled to the brim with charming melodies and indiepop delights; it’s a complete gem from start to finish. I could go on and on, but who needs my words…you just need the songs below!

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