Sub*T Share New Single, Asterisk

Fire Talk Records has been doing some great stuff with their Open Tab project, giving us new tunes and cool interviews with lesser known bands. Today they’re sharing a brand new track from Sub*T, a New York duo bringing up this fuzzy indie rock that’s high on hooks. There’s something about their work that just feels anthemic and intimate simultaneously, like you could singalong while jumping on your bed, or bang your head in the live setting. If you’re in the need for driving pop rock that’s filled with harmonies and catchy lines, then you need go no further than this outfit…and don’t forget to check out some of their other hits…it’s about discovery afterall!

Cola Announce Deep View

Cola‘s album announcement is yesterday’s news, and it came with this great video here, so I couldn’t just ignore it. That, and well, I’m a huge Tim Darcy stan, so it definitely is fitting over here. Honestly, this doesn’t feel too far off from Ought, those there’s a little bit more softness on the notes here, hints at sunnier melodies lurking. Darcy’s performance in the chorus feels a touch like Travis Morrison, adding emphasis without really stretching his pipes too far. All of it feels like the next logical step for Darcy and his new band, as you could feel him toying more with melody as Ought progressed. But, there’s still this bit of wildness in his songwriting, and if he keeps that, Deep View‘s going to be a surefire hit; it’s out on Fire Talk on May 20th.

Erasers Announce Constant Connection

Tired of pigeonholed music posts by me? Well, there’s really no definition or trinket box I could shovel Aussie duo Erasers into. Sure, their latest single, coinciding with the announcement of a new LP, has this cinematic quality, churning out these otherworldly pulses while layering them with heavy washes of electronica. But, the ghostly nature of the vocals effuses this sort of space-age sterility that’s equally unsettling and intoxicating. The whole tune is like this genre study of pop, and what it means to bend and mold the definition into something wholly your own. Stoked to hear the entirety of Constant Connection when it hits via Fire Talk on April 22nd.

Bnny Share I’m Just Fine

If you haven’t had a chance to listen to Bnny‘s Everything LP from last year, then perhaps this tune might serve as a reminder of the band’s enchanting draw. On this number, I’m really drawn to the way the guitar lines seem to kind of have this trickling manner, like a quiet brook, steadily building a soft current of melody. Combine that with Jess Viscius’s voice, and you get this intoxicating escapism; it’s ethereal yet omnipresent, sort of keeping your listening brain in an in-between world of musical euphoria. Enjoy the new single, and please, go check out their LP, which, like this single, come courtesy of hard work and Fire Talk Records.

Cola Sign with Fire Talk (former members of Ought)

Man, I’m a huge Tim Darcy fan, so hearing that Ought are calling it a day is a bit sad; the band had a solid run that I’m grateful is part of my collection…not to mention the great shows I’ve caught. Luckily, with the announcement of their disbandment comes news of Cola, a new project featuring Tim and Ben) is very much welcome on my end…particularly as they’re sprinkling it in with a new single courtesy of Fire Talk. Honestly, hearing the song and the way that it sort of feels like a meditative state feels very much like the next logical step. Hints of playing with the expanse of sonic exploration was always on the cards, but this feels somewhat leaning into that a bit further, tossing in some melodic undercurrents too to maximize the charm. This sounds like a crash between Ought and Broken Social Scene, and I don’t mind that one bit.

Media Jeweler Announce the Sublime Sculpture of Being Alive

It’s crazy how full a song can sound, even if it comes in just barely over a minute and a half, but such is the power of the craft Media Jeweler are pushing forth with the announcement of their new LP, The Sublime Sculpture of Being Alive. A few quick shards of guitar glass hang in the air before the band frantically start rolling the song forward; vocals are hurled at the listener, like a military assault on your auditory senses…that’s before things switch gears. The song takes on an operatic note, the sort of left-field art rock the band are known for, providing you with a little something extra to sink your teeth into. If you dig it, the new LP is out this August via Fire Talk Records.

Wombo Drop Just Like Time Video

I keep waiting for all the folks who clamored over the Dry Cleaning LP to jump on board with Wombo and their new Keesh Mountain EP. Sure, it’s not exactly identical, but the willingness to deconstruct everything in the punk/pop sphere and rebuild it in their own fascinating manner. I mean, everything seems out of whack here, and Sydney’s vocals almost feel like they were sped up through some tape recording method to sound more frantic…but it all comes together perfectly. It’s like this weird blend where everything seems disjointed and swirling about you, then it all ends up tied in a nice little bow. The new EP drops today courtesy of Fire Talk Records.

PACKS Share Hold My Hand

This Friday we’ll be treated to the much anticipated debut album from PACKS, but before we get there, we should just indulge ourselves in one last little grungy ditty; I mean you can never really get enough of this lot if you ask me. They crank the song out in under 2 minutes, so they get right to it, with Madeline teasing the listener along over a mild guitar before the rest of the band drops in, and things get turned up into a classic pop rocker. I think one of the things I love about this band is how quickly they go from rock to really subtle pop nuances, even if they last for a mere three seconds, like Madline’s annunciation of “hand” at the 1:17 mark. Just good old clean fun. Take the Cake is out Friday via Fire Talk Records.

Wombo Share Situations Single

Wombo will be releasing their new Keesh Mountain EP at the end of the month, and this new single has me rather stoked to hear its entirety. I think every time I listen, I get closer to calling the band the bastard child of Deerhoof; Sydney Chadwick’s vocal performance here is pretty spot on hereditary lineage, but the rest of the band sort of mix things up. Sure, there’s still a sort of natural bounce to this, but the guitar tones are much much warmer, and the sharp edges I loved about Deerhoof seem rounded out here, almost muted. I don’t mean to say any of this to knock on the band, as I think they’re making a similar sound their own, just throwing out some pigeons in the hole. Look for Keesh Mountain on May 28th via Fire Talk.

PACKS Share New TV Video

Let’s be clear, I’m a huge fan of this PACKS video; I love joyous moments, whether they’re performed or not, so just the sheer amount of smiling and laughter here is more than welcome. As for the song, it definitely feels close to the likes of Cherry Glazer, flirting with sort of garage rock sensibility but presented in a slightly new fashion, tugging on dreamier notes. The plodding drum feels super heavy, like you’re stomping in quicksand, but that muddiness works well with Madeline Link’s soaring pipes, curling her pop sensibility around each note. The Toronto band releases Take the Cake on May 21st via Royal Mountain/Fire Talk.

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