Check Out This New Grocer Tune

Ever have one of those tracks that just finds its way under your skin, no matter your expectations? Well, this new Grocer tune definitely found its way into my brain, and now I’m hoping it finds a landing place on your side of the speakers. There’s something powerful in the way the vocals are delivered, almost like a roller-coaster, rolling up then down then up then down. Expertly crafted, the song feels really open at the beginning, with lots of sonic space left behind the vocals, so they’re able to create that emotional pull. But, then you hit the latter half and they jump on the gas and let the song rip. Give it a whirl and enjoy. Grocer release Bless Me on April 19th via Grind Select.

La Luz Shares Poppies

I’ve always enjoyed the work of La Luz, though admittedly I hadn’t given too much attention to their forthcoming record (I can only listen to so much music!). But, when I played “Poppies,” there was something truly majestic in Shana Cleveland’s vocal performance; I love how it begins slightly romantic, then rolls into something a bit more smoky and billowing. The song itself plays like a more transcendent brand of psychedelia, offering up a bit more hope in a sense, which works thematically as Cleveland says the song occupies “a sense of rebirth” after entering the world again following her cancer diagnosis and “trying to make sense of it all.” Definitely am more focused on New of the Universe, which drops on May 24th via Sub Pop.

Red Sleeping Beauty Add Another Single

Swedish pop outfit Red Sleeping Beauty have been working in 2024 with a single a month, and today, we can hear the latest installment in that project. This one is by far the shortest, though as Tony Molina fan, who am I to argue that you can’t capture the listener with brevity. You mostly get a light bit of strum and the warmth of vocals; then the tune gets a little percussion and a wash of twinkling synths, carefully finishing off this puzzle piece. An interesting plot twist to their work thus far in 2024, so we’ll check back in with them on May 1st!

Variety Share Pooling Rain

I feel like I’ve only got a handful of bands on my radar in the Austin scene at the moment, and Variety is definitely high upon that list overall. On their latest single, they offer up hints of what could make them exciting as they continue to flesh out their sound. Their first two singles have been right up my alley, but I love how this track seems to almost work in contrast to those early tunes. There’s this harrowing feel, accented by gunshot snare work that almost seems industrial in nature. Guitars snake around, carefully bending behind the buried vocal work. I love how the song’s allowed to breathe within the vocals, building in this natural emotive quality you won’t be able to pull away from below.

Sofia Bolt Shares New Single (ft. Stella Donnelly)

I’ll pretty much write about anything that features Stella Donnelly on it, as seen in our sites adoration of her track with Methyl Ethel. Today, she’s popping up on a new single from Sofia Bolt, adding in some nice vocal textures to an already alluring pop track. But, it’s not like Sofia needed any help, having recently worked with Van Dyke Parks and scoring songs for Cate Blanchett films. For me, the song’s success is in its simplistic approach, to a layperson like myself. Sure, there are textural horns and strings, along with the aforementioned Donnelly appearance, but those heavenly tones working atop a faint ringing guitar are all the tune really and truly needed. This song appears on the next Sofia Bolt record, Vendredi Menuit, out on May 10th.

The Juniper Berries Share the Home Team

We’re less than a month away from the release of Death and Texas, the new record from Austin’s The Juniper Berries, and I think today’s single might be the finest piece on the LP. You’ll hear the core of the song working with Josh Stirm’s vocals riding atop the muted strum of an acoustic guitar; you’ll definitely hear some similar notes to Elliott Smith, both in the tone and sincerity. I love how the arrangements behind the strum and vocals help lift the song beyond mere fireside ballad, giving more depth to the emotional feel that will surely pull you into the band’s world. Feel free to lose yourself in these 3 minutes, and be sure to order a copy of the group’s LP; Death and Texas is out April 19th.

Luma Fade Announce Visitor

Luma Fade is a fairly new act out of Florida, with one LP dropping late last year, and they’ve already turned around to prep another set for May. This current single is really one of those perfect dreamgaze pieces that seemingly works against the genre, refusing to let the tension and build ever get released. Instead, the song just feels weighted by these churning guitar notes that create this pleasurable layer of hazy anxiety. Then, the vocals drift in, like a shadowy figure lurking in the song’s distance, always present, yet never fully stepping into the light. Together, it creates this haunting beauty that swirls with elements of mystery. Keep your ears peeled for Visitor, out on May 24th.

Seasonal Falls Share Lie Down

Ever since moving from the Dentals into his new project, Seasonal Falls, Roman Gabriel has been on a run of hits. There are elements of this new single that are perfectly fitting into my current listening rotation, bringing to mind a bunch of late 90s/early 00s slow-core; I know Gabriel’s loving Pedro, but there are elements in here that also feel like the down-trodden pop of Bedhead. One of the true joys, however, is there’s this slight little vocal rise in each lead-in to the chorus, and that moment just breaks me every time; there’s this honest fragility that one can’t avoid. If you’re digging this, be sure to be on the lookout for Happy Days, the debut LP dropping May 10th.

The Shop Window Shares Fresh Single

Figured we’d start off everyone’s Friday with something bright and glittery, and what better way to go that route than a new sweeping pop tune from The Shop Window. As soon as you hear the ringing of the guitars bending carefully, you know that you’re in for a track that’s meant for a sense of longing. Vocals are offered up in a perfect melodic structure, with a bit of punching emphasis on the notes during the chorus. The subject matter itself is actually the opposite of what one would expect from the title “Blues,” as it seems its more of a ballad of appreciation and love for those that can help rid us of the blues. Oh, and stick through to the end, as there’s a nice little powerful rise in the tune near the 4 minute mark! You’ll find this song on Daysdream, the group’s record, which comes out on May 3rd.

Goosewind Share Lime Time with Clementine Video + Announce New LP

How does one describe a band that’s been around for over years, continuously experimenting and shifting? In all honesty, you can’t. But, you can spend a little over three minutes with this brand new track from Goosewind, and you can hear how they’ve taken an amalgam of all their years of existence and moved into one sonic piece. A brief flirtation with heavy rock lines opens things up, but out of nowhere Melody’s voice comes into play, offering a faint hint at DIY lo-fi in its delivery; I started to think this was going to be a nod to K Records! Then Rick Goosewind takes control, using his baritone voice to bring in a bit of swagger as the track blends elements of psychedelia and rockabilly. They jump into the chorus quickly, with a bit of emphasis on the heavy guitar lines; you can still hear them layering the song brick by brick, only to pull back and settle into the verse again. Building the song in such a manner has the song teetering between cacophony and beauty, which epitomizes the secret charms of Goosewind. Think of this as a jam band featuring members of Halo Benders and Low, and if that sounds incredible, then be on the lookout for a copy of The Miracle of Tape, available April 19th via Shrimper.

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