New Jangling Pop Tune from Royal Target

You don’t have do too much to get my ears to perk up, and this new single from Royal Target just jumped right in from the get go, tossing out that j-angular little guitar noodle before the song settled into its melody. Gentle little pop hooks dig into your ears and hold tight with the slightly affected vocal warmth; I think a real highlight comes in right near the 2 minute mark when you get the slightest little tonal shift. That helps switch the song’s mood more towards one of longing, kind of that wistful dream of what’s next…which I’m sure we can all relate to these days.

The Arctic Flow Share New Single

The Arctic Flow have graced these fair pages on several occasions, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t toss them a mention now that they’ve got a fresh single out on the esteemed Sunday Records. In a sense, it reminds me a lot of the stuff that came out on the Tres Oui record last year, though this one definitely feels like Brian’s playing up the dream factor in song; there’s not atmospheric haze really, but the vocals feel list gasps of air floating through your speakers. Not quite sure if this means there’s a new record on the way, but you can’t really turn away from a great song on a Friday, can you?

New Stuff from Austin w/ Brother Sports + Sailor Poon

Just because its quarantine, it doesn’t mean folks aren’t working on great music all over the world, but let’s focus on what’s here at home on our end. First up is the newest tune from Brother Sports; we’ve been covering a bunch of their singles in 2020, and they do it again, with sort of slow burning pop tune, coated lyrics and nice backing melodies. I don’t think this track would be out of place on that new Strokes record at all.


After that, we’ve got the debut album from Sailor Poon. They’ve been regarded, deservingly so, as one of Austin’s can’t miss acts for the last several years, putting on phenomenal live shows and carrying an aura of indifference and brashness that puts many punk peers to shame. Finally we get Sailor Poon’s First Album, and its 13 can’t miss hits by one of the baddest bands in town.

Tim Koh Shares Fall Into Your Dream

I remember the first time I saw Tim Koh on stage with Ariel Pink; he was this towering guitar wizard of hair that you couldn’t pull your eyes away from. He’s currently relocated to Europe, and now it seems he’s got his now solo album coming on the horizon courtesy of O’ Genesis Recordings. His creativity and musicianship is obvious in the song’s first minute, but then he settles into this propulsive vibe that seems to course through the song’s entirety. There’s a lyrical reference to his stomach ulcer, which resulted in emergency hospitalization while on tour in 2018, so perhaps this album’s been a long time coming. Whatever happens, a debut solo record from Tim is going to be something really special.

That New Wolfhounds Single

Hopefully the Slumberland Records compilation of the Wolfhounds‘s John Peel Sessions reminded those of us out there about the talent from one of the original C86 acts. They’ve been releasing new music here and there, and now we’ve got news that they’ll be releasing Electric Music later this year. This song is chock-full of swirling guitars and bounding rhythms; they fit perfectly into the visual presentation from David Janes. Callahan’s voice has this steadying vibe throughout, even when he stretches it through the chorus, balanced by the backing vocals. I love the guitar ringing out around the 3 minute mark as the tune pushes towards it brooding close. The new LP will be out on July 3rd via A Turntable Friend Records.

BILK Drop I Got Knocked Out the Same Night England Did

Been kind of treading water mentally as of late, so I kind of just wanted a carefree rocker that kicks in some energy, which is one of the reasons I’m jamming on this new track from BILK. First, I’ll be honest, I was drawn to the single because of its nod to one of my favorite soccer players ever, Sir Bobby Charlton. Second, the track’s just a fury of British affectation and gritty guitar; lyrically it also touches on fanaticism in football, as the narrator still aligns his own misfortune with that of the English team in the World Cup. Fun little jam, this.

Dialup Ghost Ready Empty Houses LP

I really enjoyed I’m Fine, I’m Fine, the debut LP from Tennessee’s Dialup Ghost, but they’ve been relatively quiet the last few years…until recently when they announced Empty Houses. When I listen to their stuff, I tend to think of bands like the Glands or maybe a touch of Elf Power; there’s hints of americana-tinged pop, though they’re kind of obscured by the distinctive approach to the vocals. In the first song below, you get this slow burning brood, almost like a steady stomp through college rock nostalgia. In the second, you get this sort of bedroom fuzz, akin to maybe Elvis Depressedly, only this one calls the “yups” (we can relate!). Their new LP is out on July 3rd.


Popular Music Share Holding Out for a Hero

Admittedly, I hadn’t thought about Parenthetical Girls for quite some time. That’s not to say that I wasn’t entirely obsessed around the release of Privilege, but its been a minute. Now it seems that Zac Pennington has formed a new project with Prudence Rees-Lee named Popular Music. The duo are reimagining hit songs from the 20th century, though they’re doing remix versions take on an entirely different feel than you’re likely to find in the originals. Here you get this dark wave version of the Footloose classic “Holding Out for a Hero;” I dug it so thought you should give it a listen. They’ll release their debut LP Popular Music Plays in Darkness at some point this year!

Dig Nitty Share Lomita

Brooklyn’s Dig Nitty have something really special going on here, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t give the band’s first single a little shout out. Musically, this song offers a sort of casual mesh of surf and garage rock; guitars just on the border of jangling, ringing out as the rhythm section gives the track a nice little bounce. Of course, you’ll also hear a dreamy wash coating the track, mostly due to the soothing voice of Erin McGrath; she initially formed the band with Reggie Bender after the two met working at Shea Stadium. This little ditty is worthy of the two minutes you’ll spend steaming below. Their debut LP Reverse of Mastery will be out via Exploding in Sound on July 24th.

Please to Meet You: The Electorate

Imagine finding a band that references Built to Spill and Fugazi, yet sounds like the Wedding Present fronting a pop band? That’s precisely what I got when I first pressed play on this single from the forthcoming LP from The Electorate. I immediately fell in love with the energy from the start; it’s propelling your forward, carefully nodding towards its own pop sensibility. The guitars are heavy and jangling, sounding like the strings are loose as the trio furiously push the track forward; its such a killer sound that I can’t get enough of at the moment. This song appears on the group’s brand new album You Don’t Have Time to Stay Lost, out soon via Templebear Records.

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