Tag: connections

Top Albums for Nathan

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Honestly, I thought about foregoing a year-end list this year. I mean, if you read our site, you know what we love. But, list making can be fun, especially if you really really love music. My criteria was simple, and not based on what I think is “best,” but rather looking at the stuff I listened to the most, and eventually bought (or was gifted). Popular locals for my Nathan Wrapped have me living on an island in between San Francisco and Australia; label of the year would be Trouble in Mind (congrats to Bill and family!); genre would be: most awesome. Again, this is one man’s personal tastes, take it for what its worth.

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Friday Album Streams: Zack Rosen, RPPs, Connections + More

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The Spring generally means you’re just going to have to throw down a lot of money and grab record after record after record, so let us throw a few suggestions, or just give you some great stuff to stream, as its Friday, and who really wants to work on a Friday.

Zack Rosen – SYZYGY (Chimera Music)

A struggling artist gone before his time; these songs remind us of the gifts he left behind.

The Reds, Pinks & Purples – The Town That Cursed Your Name (Slumberland/Tough Love)

No one on this planet is writing songs as powerful as Glenn Donaldson.

Connections – Cool Change (Trouble in Mind Records)

If you need a record without a throw-away tune, this is the one.

The Sprouts – Eat Your Greens (Tenth Court)

Australia has a new supergroup, and you have a new favorite band.

Mary Anne’s Polar Rig – Makes You Wonder (Rama Lama Records)

A shapeshifting masterpiece of pop and rock, like if the YYYs, still had that risk factor.

Connections Share Bird Has Flown

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Spending a week catching live music on the daily, I was looking for something that reminded me of the spirit of live rock n’ roll, which is exactly what happens when you press play on this new track from Connections. Don’t let the 7 second intro full you, as the drums drop in and give you the immediacy of a good old fashioned garage rock stomp; you’ll be tapping your toes throughout. As the melodies from the song unfold, there’s this breezy cool that whips through the tune, touching off that emotional nod. For me, I was sold with the emphatic delivery in the chorus, delivering the urgency of live rock n’ roll that I alluded to at the beginning. Cool Change, their new LP, is out on Friday via Trouble in Mind Records.

Last Week’s Jams (1.17 – 1.20)

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You’d think in a short coverage week, we’d have few tunes, but there was so much great stuff last week, that we couldn’t help but to try and cover as much as we loved. Personally, I fawned over new Lachlan Denton, Cor de Luxand Tiny Ruins, plus continued my support for Spice World as Album of the Year. I also hit up the Austin scene with new stuff from Bayonne, Dorio, Fantastic Purple Spotsand Rad Gnar. RayRay loved that new Pile tune to death and premiered a new Strawberry Fuzz jam you can find lurking in here too. If we missed something super cool, let us know, otherwise, here’s a way to pass an hour of your day, happily.

Connections Release I Confess Video

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Thinking about the previous Connections records, this new one sounds refreshing in a sense; it’s got softer edges and more melody; it almost feels like the group is one upping fellow Ohioans GBV by bringing in sharper hooks and more pop. But, you can be the judge on that one. I said what I said. You can’t deny the draw of the vocals in the front of the mix here, with jangling guitars echoing in each ear of your headphones and a steady bop on the drums hanging backstage. But, as soon as you’re swooning here, the song wraps up in a rush. It’s the perfect pop tease, and I can’t wait for Cool Change to drop on March 25th, courtesy of Trouble in Mind Records.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (11.28 – 12.2)

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It’s been a hot minute since we’ve run our weekly recap, but last week we covered a ton of ground, so why not give you a chance to see what all we were digging on our end? It was good to see Trouble in Mind with a couple of new releases we’re likely to enjoy from Martin Frawley and Connections. We also got to meet new supergroup from Melbourne, Equal Parts and their debut single. Plus, we even got to dip our toes in the Austin waters, with a new Daily Worker tune and a live recording from Balmorhea. Browse below, see what you’re into…likely all of it?

Martin Frawley Preps the Wannabe + Shares New Single

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We hit up that Connections coverage, so the indie sphere gods demanded we only run one post concerning Trouble in Mind per day, thus here I am to talk about the other news they dropped regarding Martin Frawley. We adored Twerps and Martin’s songwriting, not to mention his infectious smile he brought to the stage when he played our SXSW party long ago standing next to a chicken coop (the SXSW glory days!). Well, Martin’s on his own now, working on his next release, the Wannabe, coming out next Summer. In his songwriting, there’s something to the simplicity that shines through, both in the lyrical content and the overall vibe; it’s as if Frawley knew the song’s success was in leaving out frills and just hitting that melodic note from the minute the song set out, riding its charms to the end. Trouble in Mind Records will release the new LP next June, with pre-orders available HERE.

Connections Prep Cool Change

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We’ve got tons of coverage on Connections here on our site, going way way back. But, last week they made us super happy, announcing a new record, again on our fave, Trouble in Mind Records. They dropped a single with the below video, highlighting the juxtaposition between nature and humanity. Personally, this feels like a road trip, from the backseat of my dad’s car. There’s something in the hurried jangling that rings through the speakers that feels like the world zooming by quickly, with an earnest singer soothing my soul through the headphones of my old Walkman. While it might give me some nostalgic daydreams, the label and the band are constant evolving with the new sounds, so be sure to keep your ears peeled for Cool Change, coming your way in March.

Another Track From Connections

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If you’re one of those that think’s guitar pop is out of fashion, then perhaps you should take a moment to sit back and listen to this new track from Connections. There’s a slight jangling shuffle to the guitar, while the rhythm section steadies the ship. It’s like a super casual Teenage Fanclub just came over to play you their demos without throwing full force on the distortion pedal; even the melodic presentation of the vocals harkens to the purest of power pop. Don’t worry, they throw in a quick little guitar solo, just to show you they can. The band will drop Foreign Affairs via Trouble In Mind on May 11th.

Brand New Connections Tune

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I’ve been writing about Connections pretty much nonstop since I discovered them a few years back via a friend at the record store. They’re back with exciting news…a new LP and a new label; they’ve just signed up with Trouble In Mind. Our first listen has the group readying a steady rock number, heavy on DIY attitude, but filled with infectious hooks. The guitars and drums crash down emphatically, matched by the band’s vocal performance. Perhaps my favorite thing is that the group are just banging out rock n’ roll hits; there’s no pretense, no BS, just swagger and hooks. Foreign Affairs will drop on May 11th.

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