Another Hit From Topographies

Bay area band Topographies released one of my favorite tunes late last year and they don’t appear to be slowing down as we enter 2024. Yesterday the band dropped this dark wave inspired new tune called “Chain of Days” and it just had to be shared with you all. It builds on the heavy synth sound and washed out guitar sound from previous releases and is sure to build buzz for the upcoming full length. Dig it below.

Topographies new album entitled Interior Spring is outon February 2nd viaDark Entries.Pre-orders are live now.

 

Ovens Announce 44 Song Reissue

I’m an avowed Tony Molina fan, and knowing part of his history, Ovens is definitely a huge piece, which is perhaps why the band are releasing a huge double LP 44 song reissue of their work via TankCrimes. There’s a couple of tracks to enjoy from the release, with one certainly nodding to the pop riffs Weezer was pulling off about the same time, but it includes the noted Molina brevity. The other tune still has a nice little bounce, but a little cleaner sound, hinting at some of the work Tony would pull into his later catalog. Regardless of whether you’re a TM fan or not, the collection has a bit for everyone, if you’re into power pop, punk, metal, emo; it all fits into the Ovens LP, which will drop on December 2nd.

Rock With The Silhouette Era

It’s Thursday and I’m ready for the weekend so it’s time to rock out! Thanks to this hit “Waste Me” from Bay Area band The Silhouette Era I can do just that. This one is most definitely for fans of fellow garage rock bands like Wavves or even Surfer Blood (hey a shark!). The guitar riff alone is sure to pull in even the “I prefer soft music” types.

The Silhouette Era will release a new self-titled EP on June 22nd. Pre-orders are up now.

Silent Pictures Offer Throwback Garage Rock

unnamed (5)Bay area indie rock band Silent Pictures has just sent over this new single “Twisted Smiles” and I thought it might be something you guys would be interested in. This one sounds like a bit of throwback style garage rock to me with some elements of psych and dreamy brit pop mixed in nicely. I’ve already played this one about three times this morning and I’m positive many of you will be doing the same today.

Let it Be will be released on July 15th via Green Fuse Records.

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SXSW 2015 Hip-Hop: IAMSU!

IAMSU! is one of the more talented acts to come out of the California Bay Area, post-Hyphy movement. IAMSU! has been making a name for himself on the west coast for a number of years and is also one of the founding members of the Heartbreak Gang (aka HBK Gang) rap group, which also includes Sage the Gemini, famous for the 2013 hit “Gas Pedal”. IAMSU! performed along with HBK Gang at Fader Fort last year and is returning for several shows this year. Confirmed performances include Bar 96 on 3/19 and Clive Bar on 3/20, along with another unspecified confirmation.

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SXSW 2015 Hip-Hop: E-40

In an interview during last year’s SXSW, California bay area rapper G-Eazy likened E-40’s influence in the bay area to Jay-Z’s in New York City. In terms of originality, innovation, longevity, relevance through several eras of hip-hop, and business prowess, it’s hard to argue 47-year-old E-40’s importance in hip-hop. This influence even includes E-40’s 27-year-old son Droop-E, who has been successfully producing for a bevy of west coast artists since 2004. One of my favorite revelations about E-40 came in 2014 when it was discovered that E-40 used more unique words in his work than Shakespeare in a side by side comparison of the first 35,000 words used in each artist’s work (he wasn’t the only rapper who out did Shakespeare, but definitely the only rapper in his genre of hip-hop). E-40 has been putting out a minimum of two albums per year since 2010 with his most recent album including guest spots from Dej Loaf, Ty Dolla $ign, Kirko Bangz, and others. And we all heard E-40’s verse on Big Sean’s break up anthem from 2014 “IDFWU”. E-40’s presence at SXSW is a huge deal and should not be missed. He’s scheduled to perform at The Roosevelt Room on Friday, March 20, 1:20 a.m.-1:50 a.m. E-40’s “Tell Me When To Go” from the height of the Hyphy movement is below.