Mo Troper Shares The Billy Joel Fanclub Video

I know he’s gotten lots of praise, and we’ve certainly lauded all his work, but listening to the latest single from his forthcoming LP, I want to make sure we don’t undervalue the work of Mo Troper. For starters, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a record from Mo where I think “yeah, this is exactly like the last LP.” Each time, he seems to channel different influences and recording techniques to really work on his craft. On this one, he alludes to late 60s era Paul McCartney work, but in my ears, and maybe I’m weird, I immediately felt like he was channeling a bit of the Zombies, at least when that first vocal bounces into the picture. Sure, his voice is distinctive, but he just keeps challenging himself, and we get to sit back and reap the rewards. Svengali is out May 3rd via Lame-O Records.

Boy With Apple Return with Good For You

Swedish outfit Boy with Apple have been on our radar for some time, and they slowly keep churning out these dreamy little singles to keep our attention. Their latest is completely blissed out, taking their ghostly tendencies and draping them atop these subtle little beats that move and unfurl throughout the mix. Honestly, the more I listen, the more it feels like the Sneaker Pimps turning into a dream pop band; there are the little club beats that provide a groove, yet they get wrapped up in the swirling atmospherics, giving more of a modern twist to the vibe. As always, the band’s work is brought to you by Varo Records.

Elephant Stone Are Going Underground

As you’ve seen from the site, I’ve been really into the forthcoming Elephant Stone LP, which finally drops tomorrow! While we initially got into the band with their psychedelic sounds, Back Into the Dream seems to be offering a glimpse at a band working their way into other musical realms. For me, while I can certainly hear the psych nods in the mix, there’s something about this that feels more like a Britpop bit from the 90s; I keep thinking I hear hints of Ash in the way the vocals soar in the chorus. There’s a nice little plot-twist too, when the band pull back to offer a nice little subdued moment before letting the riffs fly right through your speaker. Stoked to see them flexing their songwriting muscles; grab Back into the Dream tomorrow.

Glimmer Drop New Tune Buried

New York based band Glimmer hit me in my ear holes yesterday with this new song “Buried,” and I just had to pass it along today. I love how the song starts out super heavy with loud guitars and driving beat, but then drops well into some quieter moments. When we say something like “rising action,” this is what we mean. The track also comes with a longer, more epic B-side called “Daydream,” which is streamable over on bandcamp.

En Attendant Ana Drop Single for SubPop

We’ve been huge supporters of En Attendant Ana over the years, and I adored last year’s Principia (Trouble in Mind). Today, out of nowhere the band dropped a gorgeous new single for the Sub Pop Singles Club, which continues to show the band stretching their pop sensibility. “Magical Lies” picks up where Principia left us, using this bobbing bass line to work its way throughout, adding a bit of bouncy lifeblood to the ethereal wash of vocal melodies. Then, you get to “Teeny Tiny Tyche,” which feels like the group is aiming to take on more open spaces in their songwriting; the tune has a striking vocal performance, with plenty of room left behind the voice for the notes to flutter about. These two new tracks are available now!

The Reds, Pinks & Purples Share Learning to Love a Band

If you’re coming to this site to discover a new song or be reminded of a favorite act you’ve missed, then you’re likely going to find yourself in love with the new single from the Reds, Pinks & Purples. “Learning to Love a Band” can be seen as a track from both sides, as a fan fawning over their favorite act or as a person stepping into a new musical project. Either way, the subject matter is spot on for our site, and the musical element…the smooth softness of Glenn’s voice, the understated melody…you’ve been here before, and you loved the coziness, so feel free to learn to love this band all over. The new LP, Unwishing Well, will drop on April 12th via Slumberland/Tough Love.

Soliti Welcome Kaspar to Their Roster

We love when our friends Soliti Music reach out from Finland to offer us a glimpse of what’s going on in their scene, and today, we’ve got a tune from their latest signing Kaspar; the duo will release a AA single this Friday via the label, with a sneak peek below. For all intents and purposes, the song’s a slow-moving pop ballad, but it was the way they crafted the soundscape behind the vocals that caught my ear. Early on it’s a rolling synth line, with the faintest heartbeat bubbling beneath; I love how the empty space leaves a lot of room for the melody to kind of build and grow, like a rolling ball of snow gathering mass as it moves down the mountain. Give a listen, and look out for the new single on Friday!

Variety Share The Light + Play the ATH vs SOTO Party

Last week we announced our annual SXSW Party with our friends over at Side One Track One, and one of the acts we wanted to be sure was on the show was new act Variety. They’ve just released a fresh track, with a nice little hint at their sound, and what we can expect from future singles. Although brief, there’s a frantic nature in the guitar work, trying to maneuver with as much movement as possible within the song’s time frame. The vocals seem to work in the opposite direction, keeping you off kilter a little bit as you try to keep up with the furious drumming…which I can attest is phenomenal in the live setting. Give it a whirl will ya.

Daniel Romano’s Outfit Share Where’s Paradise

Rock n’ roll probably doesn’t need to be saved at this point, but if there was someone that I’d back to kind of destroy the modern mediocrity, I’d place my bets on Daniel Romano. If you dive into the surface level of the band’s newest single, you’ve got this old-school power-pop vibe that’s filled with hooks and a shit ton of fun. I’m totally on board, but get underneath and you find this rocking bit of heavy psychedelia grooving in the leftover space. They ride out the close of the song with this smashing riot that reminds us all that you don’t need gizzards or wizards to be cool; you just need Daniel Romano’s Outfit. They release Too Hot to Sleep on March 1st via You’ve Changed Records.

Dumb Things Share Instant Coffee Single

I fell in love with Brisbane’s Dumb Things late last year when I caught wind of “Self Help,” and they seem to have aimed to keep things going with their newest single, “Instant Coffee.” When I heard the chime of the guitars, particularly the understated jangle beneath the mix, I’ll be honest, I immediately thought of fellow Oceanic popsters Spice World. This go round, they give the reins on lead vocals over to Madeleine who knocks it out of the park; even when accompanied by her male counterparts, her voice seems settled and fearless, adding this bravado to our favorite genre of indiepop. Be sure to stick around as the band let loose to close the number out; I hope there’s more just around the corner!

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