Friday Album Streams: Ribbon Stage, the Smashing Times, Junior Boys + More

Lots of albums dropping just in time to make the year end lists, and here’s my favorites that came our way this week. I mean, we’ve already raved and raved about Ribbon Stage, which actually came out last week, but I was late on that game. Plus, I Was a King and the Smashing Times both have new records out that should be on their way to my house. No need for much to do, but here’s our faves.

Junior BoysWaiting Game

I Was a KingFollow Me Home


The Smashing TimesBloom (Meritorio Records)

Ribbon StageHit with the Most (K Records)

DazyOutofbody

Last Week’s Jams, Today (10.17 – 10.21)

In a week where tons was going on, we hit it fairly harder than I remember. We ran a preview of Levitation (kicking off this week) by catching up with La Femme, plus we learned how to make a sweet acai bowl with Ribbon Stage. Dropped a few brand new tunes from folks like The Living Pins and Elizabeth, plus through out some encouraging album streams from Melby, Twain and more. This is a great way to catch up on all those tunes we ran, and maybe jump back in time and look at our interviews. Or, just turn it up and rock it out, cuz you know, Monday.

Rock N Recipes: Ribbon Stage

The last few months I’ve been really hyping up Ribbon Stage; they’ve got Hit with the Most coming out Friday. They encompass everything I love about noisy pop, offering gritty singles spliced with delicious melodies. So, I thought I’d reach out to see if we could get a Rock n’ Recipe going with them before the release; we got some great responses from Jolie, along with a wonderful acai bowl recipe you should try out! Grab the LP from K Records when it drops friends!

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Last Week’s Jams, Today (10.10 – 10.14)

There were a lot of great songs coming our way last week, as well as a lot of great album to spend time with when you got to Friday. We tried to make sure we got your ears on as much as we could, so hopefully you can revisit those posts from last week to grab a little bit of joy from those tunes. If not, then you can certainly stream all the tracks we had in this fun little weekly wrap-up. We had new stuff from Hot Tubs Time Machine, Shake Chain and Ribbon Stage; we then made mention of Reds Pinks and Purples, Winter, Chorusgirl and more in our album streams. Just sample the songs below; you’ll be just fine.

Ribbon Stage Share Exaltation Single

Up until now, Ribbon Stage‘s new ripper of an album has been accompanied by poppy singles, albeit brandished in the band’s discordant fashion. But, while they’ve noted various indiepop darlings in their work, this new single seems to be channeling a bit of Kim Gordon in the craft; the vocals feel heavy and dark, with just a hint of indifference towards everything surrounding it. Musically, the vocals are surrounded by a swirling tornado of noise, with a subtly bouncing drum beat hooking into the show here. Just really can’t get out to say enough good things here about the group; they drop Hit with the Most next Friday via K Records.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (8.15 – 8.19)

Is it just me, or does it seem like there’s an overabundance of great music coming out as of late? I mean, I fell in love with at least a half dozen new tracks last week, and that’s just the one’s I was able to get up on the site. At the end of the day, I’m still blown away by that Mo Troper tune; I was a fan before but these last two tracks are out of this world good. Ribbon Stage dropped another hit we couldn’t escape running, plus there’s some old ATH standbys like Michael Beach, the Beths and Free Time (all Oceanic acts no less!). Press play, and sink into that Monday vibe.

Ribbon Stage Drop Stone Heart Blue Video

There are certain bands I get to fawn over on these Interweb pages, and as of late, it looks like its going to be the case for Ribbon Stage and their new LP. There’s something insatiable about the latest tune, something that keeps me pressing play again and again and again. It starts with a wall of furious noise, building into this thumping rhythm that allows the distorted guitar sound to sway in and out of focus. On the edge, you get the melodic vocal notes, though they’re just beneath the mix, kind of undecided about how forcefully they’ll make their presence. Still, they had this sweetness to the furiousness, which has Hit With the Most high upon my anticipated albums as the year draws to a close; it’s out October 21st via K Records.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (7.25 – 7.29)

I don’t know if you guys noticed, but RayRay got a new gig, so he’s had tons more time to get some sweet jams up! It’s great, as we definitely have some crossover, but also our own styles, so our playlists are probably much more diverse! I mean, just last week he premiered new Mother Sun and Peter Matthew Bauer, while I was rocking the heck out of Almond Joy and The Smashing Times. I mean, there’s no winner, but you! We also were able to get some old friends on the pages with Why Bonnie and Cam Bina! So, happy Monday to us all!

Ribbon Stage Share Playing Possum Video

Ok, so this Ribbon Stage tune’s been out for a few damned days, and I’m super late to it. But, if ever something felt like the natural connection between modern DIY and Sarah Records, I feel like its surely gotta be this New York outfit. At times, the video simply feels playful, like your best friends made it in their spare time between inside jokes and cigarette breaks. Still, there’s this natural infectiousness, an almost sure-fire sweetness that has you circling back for more and more. Not to mention, is that a Shop Assistants reference in the album artwork for Hit with the Most!? The group will release the LP in October via K Records.

Ribbon Stage Drop 7″

Admittedly, things I love escape me at first, so I’m not sure how I missed this new 7″ from Ribbon Stage; it’s 5 songs in under 10 minutes, but dammit if its not the most enjoyable little dose of noisy pop you’ll hear this week. Take bands like Talulah Gosh or Jeanines, but put the pop sensibility on the back-burner, add a couple of tablespoons of energy and crank the noise, and well, the perfect batch of pop songs. Kind of like if you love the Comet Gain when David’s not singing, particularly in the pre 2000s output. I know you’ve got ten minutes to spare, so don’t drop the ball and skip this like I did!