Last Week’s Jams (7.31 – 8.4)

I really thought we knocked it out of the park last week, covering 25 different tunes. But, it looks like we decided to one-up ourselves and post 26 for this week’s Last Week’s Jams collection. We got some of our favorite labels and bands putting out fresh new stuff, like new Tony Jay on Slumberland and new Onyon on Trouble in Mind. Plus, our friends at Keeled Scales are putting out a new LP with one of my favorite Texas songwriters, Will Johnson. All that and we haven’t even talked about how great that new Smashing Times single is. As much as it can be a challenge to cover it all, feel like we did our damndest to bring you some of the more deserving hits you might not find where the cool kids hang out.

Animals in Exile Share Fresh Single

I really love the swagger that rocks in this brand new Animals in Exile tune; it sets up the track as this heavy riffed bit of alt rock. But, where I got hooked was the sucker’s chorus. The bravado is shunned here, letting the song shift gears into this more melodic stretch that’s sure to have you thinking of late 90s British pop rock, which is exactly my cup of tea. This tune, along with several others, will be featured on the soundtrack from the forthcoming film Publish or Perish; that soundtrack is available today, but be on the lookout HERE for an accompanying video tomorrow!

Animals in Exile Share Western Gothic

I’ve really enjoyed spending the last few days listening to Western Gothic, the new EP from Denver’s Animals in Exile. The project has alluded to psychedelia throughout their three releases, but here we see the band peel back the weight of the genre to share in the more organic vibe that serves as the underbelly. Combine that delicate touch to Redding Bacon’s voice and you get a sound that falls somewhere between the Shins and the Clientele; they have this slight inclination towards melody, only blended with a willingness to journey into a greater expanse. Pretty solid way to sort of delve into a case of the Mondays.