Bouncing Pop from Mike Rowave

Really got stuck on this Mike Rowave track this morning, as it offered the perfect little midweek snack for me, kicking with just enough exuberance to get my toes tapping at 6 am. Musically, the song is something you might consider Drums or Beach Fossils adjacent, though I’ll admit the surfy notes feel a little more bent on electronic vibes, providing you with a spinning goth version of your favorite pop sounds. So maybe your week has been fairly “mid” as the kids like to tell me, and you need a ramp up. Drop into this track and let your day start off having a blast.

Dumb Things Give You Self Help

I knew almost instantly that I was going to love this track from Dumb Things; the song opens with that forlorn, wistful Aussie twang, sort of weary yet filled with hope on the horizon. Then, the vocals jumped into the picture, working somewhere between Malkmus and Pete Yorn, with faint hints of backing vocals twisting the pop knife deep into your soul. All of a sudden the track drops into the chorus, throwing some sick harmonica at me, and you’re tapping your toes to this spritely track built on the back of broken spirits. This was a really unexpected hit to come my way, and I’m looking forward to their new record, Self Help; we’ll have more on that later!

Wishy Announce Paradise EP (Levitation Artist)

Sure, this new track from Indiana’s Wishy popped up yesterday, but seeing as the new group featuring Kevin Krauter is making their way to Austin in a few weeks we wanted keep the band in your thoughts. Kevin’s sharing lead songwriting duties with Nina Pitchkites, who takes over the vocals here, giving the song the melodic backbone that allows the noisiness to swirl and spin about. On one hand, its sort of working with bedroom pop tendencies, offering up a sweetness that feels intimate; the flip side of the coin is the incessant push forward with noisy notes shooting off like fireworks in and out of the core. Paradise EP is out December 15th via Winspear.

Cade Earick Shares Gazed Single

We always feel like trudging about when it’s a Monday, so it felt like something with a heavy wash atop it would be fitting, which is where we get to meet up with this splendid new tune from Cade Earick. Despite that weighted guitar feedback, there’s plenty of melody that will allow you to sink your teeth into this track, finding Earick’s voice permeating the madness, hanging in between the cracks to let those light notes hook you. As more of the song unfolds, some of those heavy pieces began to fade away, revealing a little calm until the track erupts again to draw it to a close.

Last Week’s Jams (8.14 – 8.18)

Okay, so I’m back in school and coaching women’s volleyball, which of course meant we couldn’t dare draw near the 40 or so tracks we covered the week prior. But, that being said, there were some really special tunes, and some of my favorites popping up in here. Blue Ocean and Seablite announced new LPs, while the Smashing Times dropped another stellar single to whet our appetites. Local favorites Single Lash and Sun June both announced new releases too, so it was a pretty solid week. Oh, and that Optic Sink jam was so good, we might have accidentally overlapped and posted it twice! Stream below!

Airhockey Drop Always Late Single

Felt like I wanted to kickstart this week with a bit of energy, so it’s perfect that there’s an excellent new track from Florida’s Airhockey. The band employ those swirling jangle notes, almost dancing through the mix in unison with the snappy drum beat that serves as the cores of the track. When you hit the vocals, it feels like you’ve just been coated in the warmest, fuzziest down, balancing out the song’s energy by keeping this dynamism in the song’s presentation. The group have been dropping singles pretty consistently this year, so perhaps there’s a longer effort hanging just on the horizon…but if not, let’s just keep rocking these bouncing singles!

New Music from Silver Biplanes

When listening to Silver Biplanes latest single, you’re certainly going to here that nostalgic pop feel; the vocals are certainly reminiscent of the doo-wop pop era. But, the packaging of the sugary center is a little different here. The band build a heavy wall of fuzz, bathing the sweetness in this distorted world of atmospherics. It’s like the band have constructed this cocoon of darkness, but on the inside is this brilliant butterfly ready to break free and present itself unto the world. If you’re interested in what the band are doing, as you should be, keep an ear out, as the group are set to release A Moment in the Sun just after the new year kicks off, via WIAIWYA.

Hunting Cover Sparklehorse’s Piano Fire Single

Mark Linkous would have been 60 this last Friday, which was the day Hunting decided would be the perfect day to release this glorious cover of “Piano Fire.” Typically, I stay away from covers, but I very specifically picking up It’s a Wonderful Life back in college upon the recommendation of a friend, and I, too, found myself in love with Linkous songwriting. The band also chose to announce that they’ve got a new LP of their own titled You’ve Got Love coming your way this November, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Just a nice reminder of great songwriting, and a pretty spot on cover!

Glenn Donaldson Is Making Me Broke

Okay, so maybe that’s a wee bit of hyperbole. But it seems like the last few years while many artists have struggled in the pandemic, Glenn Donaldson and his work seems to have only grown more prolific. Today, a mere weeks after the arrival of his last LP hit my doorstep (and after dropping a digital EP), the Reds Pinks and Purples announce a new mini LP of sorts. Actually, the mini LP takes a rare 7″, tosses in 6 more tracks from the band’s early days, and offers them anew. Old tunes or not, I can’t let this pass me by, can you!? They Only Wanted Your Soul is out in October via Slumberland Records.

 

Florist Announce Self-Title LP

I’ve been a fan of Emily Sprague’s Florist project for sometime, though admittedly, I’ve gravitated towards certain tracks more than others. But, today, the project announces a new self-titled LP, and with it comes this meditative single that’s got me all up in the feelings. It circles around this ornate little guitar picking and Sprague’s vocals, with little rumblings rising to the surface from time to time; it’s like listening to your favorite record just to hear the crackles through your speakers. I just imagine this tune playing on the car stereo as we cruise down a stretch of empty highway in the Fall, dreamily gazing out the window as the colors swirl into this blur of emotion. The self-titled LP will be out on July 29th via Double Double Whammy.

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