That New Yard Act Tune/Album

A few years ago, everyone was buzzing about Yard Act; they were the brand new baby for those that were in attendance at SXSW. To be honest, I thought they were the poor man’s Franz Ferdinand, as you could hear the style of dance music leaking in, but it didn’t quite feel as passionate. This go round, the band are aiming for something that feels a little bit like the crossing pattern between Talking Heads and LCD Soundsystem; it’s built to get your feet moving, embracing the body’s natural movement and employing all the tricks to get it up and going. It’s a lot more fun this go round, so I’m eager to see where they go now that they’ve announced Where’s My Utopia, out in March via Republic.

Cosmo Jimmy Announces Under That Dress

Feel It Records have been on a roll this Fall, but their secret seems to be balancing great new music with unearthed classic, like this unreleased LP from Cosmo Jimmy. Initially, this song was intended as a piece for a movie, but never made it, though as a child of 1987 (when the record was originally recorded), you can certainly hear the familiarity to some of our favorite songs; I mean, it would have fit right alongside that Kenny Loggins banger from Caddyshack. Still, a further dive into Under That Dress reveals a bit more of an outsider roll in pop music, nodding to acts like XTC in a lot of the sonic construction. It’s a fun tune, and definitely something that should have been out years ago. Nevertheless, Under That Dress will finally see a release, thanks to the good people at Feel It Records.

Dazy Share Forced Perspective Single

After dropping the Otherbody EP this past Spring, this is the first new music we’ve heard from Dazy, though it seems to be a stand-alone single as of now. In the email blast sent out, there’s an admittance to all sounds from the 90s alternative underworld, mentioning Folk Implosion and Daman Albarn. Personally, this sort of seems like a take on what Beulah was doing; it really hits me when James Goodson hits some of those notes in the chorus, riding this sort of bouncing ball of melody that pushes it right into your ear…but hey, that’s just one old guy’s take on the cool stuff from 90s indie. Fun song for a fun day!

Soft Ballad from Mia Porter

Sometime next Spring, Mia Porter will be releasing her debut LP, and with that in mind, I’d like to encourage you to keep your ears out for her music. Her voice has this distinctive nature to it, particularly in the way that she toys with some of the syllables in her songwriting; the vocals toy with a bit of comedic effect, whilst detailing the complexities of love. While her performance reminds me of the love child of Hope Sandoval and Aldous Harding, I think the accents in the arrangement, with horn work from Denzel Mendoza, really allow the track to swell and blossom as it swirls around you.

The Maureens Share Rainy Day

Don’t let the first 50 or so seconds of The Maureens new single fool you, for as pretty as it may be, the Dutch outfit are brandishing their rock wares on the latest single. When the tune kicks in near the minute mark, it does so with a full on punch, the sort one would expect from only the best Teenage Fanclub tracks, brandishing huge riff-driven guitar pop with melodic centerpieces. That being said, the group do pull towards the more melodic, especially when there’s a explorative breakdown in the middle; they filter in a bit of twanging guitar that rides on some “oohs,” which is an absolute charming moment. In January, the band will release Everyone Smiles via Meritorio, so you’ve been put on notice!

The Serfs Share Beat Me Down

Half Eaten by Dogs is dropping next Friday, and before we get there, we get another chance to sample the incredible work from the Serfs. Jamming this new single you get a sharp little electronic pulse that sets the scene, providing the groove that lets the band lock into their style. A snappy drum beat with hints of tambourine aims to keep pace while the vocals lurk in between the shadows. Speaking of the vocals, they’ve got this animated delivery that almost feels percussive on its own, marching in unison with the notes as they spin us towards the track’s end. It’s begging you to boogie, taking you right to the edge, so sink your teeth into this new one; new LP drops courtesy of Trouble in Mind on October 27th.

No Drama Share MFNM Single

Last week we brought you news that our friends over at Hidden Bay Records/Seitan’s Hell Bike Punks were going to jointly release a new collection of songs by French band No Drama. Today, we have a fresh single that we hope will get your eyes and ears on the project. This one grabbed me immediately, bringing in some really light guitar notes that rang in my ears, allowing the song to set the mood before you even get a bit of vocals. When the vocals roll into the scene, they’re light, careful not to disrupt the pop structure coming through; you even get an added melodic brush with backing vocals. Still, the shifts and changes aren’t done, as you begin to hear a heavier riff working beneath the surface; the tension builds and the song carries more volume, pushing a grungy punch. I could probably, and hopefully, listen to this song all day. The self titled EP drops on November 3rd.

The Problem with Kids Today Share Catchy New Single

Not entirely sure how I feel about the band name, as its a bit of a mouthful, but I’m totally enjoying the latest single coming from the Problem with Kids Today. There’s this spring bounce to the tune, sort of a mixture between indiepop vibes and power pop, which is definitely something in the dadpunk wheelhouse over here. You can feel a bit of grit in teeth of the lyrics, particularly as the track rolls forward pushing the pop aspect simultaneously. This is what I love about rock n’ roll; it can be dangerously energetic and sugary sweet at the same time. The group are dropping Born to Rock next February.

Office Dog Drop Gleam Single

I’ll be completely honest here…I almost skipped over Office Dog‘s new single, entirely based on my judgment of the band’s name. But, a quick glance at the bio mentioned New Zealand, and then Kane Strang, who was all the rage on this site and others a few years back; this is his new, more collaborative effort. There are still some incredible hooks in the tune, as I gravitated towards the latter half’s stomping close, however, there’s a darkness to this album, written during a period of turmoil in Strang’s life; you can get some of that imagery from the video version below, if you put all those pieces together. Spiel will be released in January via New West, with Flying Nun already releasing it in Australia.

The Wind Ups Announce Happy Like This

Likely going to make folks irate here, but if you listen to the new tune from The Wind Ups, you get the feeling that the song’s got some lineage with The Ramones. For me, its not just the unabashed banging from start to finish, though I love that being in there. There’s just a bunch of playful stuff they’re including, like simplistic lyrics that play upon single syllables to deliver hooks; they’ve also got handclaps, ramping up the childlike joy of early punk vibes. This song will be on the group’s Happy Like This LP, which drops next week via Mt. St. Mtn.

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