Slept on This Firestations Single

Saw this Firestations track pop up a week or so ago, and marked it as something to revisit. Now that I’ve had a bit of time to jam it, I figured it’s something you should have on your radar. Perhaps the first thing that caught my ear was the falling piano/keyboard lines ushered into the background of the focal synth and guitars. It was at once thoughtful and endearing…then came the vocals. They’ve got that airy flavor that captivates fans of indiepop, riding atop the mix like that feather in Forrest Gump. It’s a rather dense tune too, despite the light-hearted affect that song will have on your emotional well-being, so feel free to indulge below.

Premiere: Helen Kelter Skelter Drop New Tune

Norman’s Helen Kelter Skelter will be releasing their new album, Melter, on January 19th via Shaking Shanghai Records, and today you can get an early listen to one of the album’s stunning tunes. For just over a minute the group take you on an exploratory psychedelic ride, displaying their skills in craftsmanship before giving into to the vocal display. The vocals haunt the tune, stretching across the careful guitar lines while the ominous drum rolls echo in the background. You’ll also find a central pulse that carries the track along, hitting a heavy stride in the track’s latter half as a barrage of noise rings strong until the quieted fade out that closes the tune. Austin fans can keep an eye out for a show coming your way in February at Cheer Ups.Enjoy the ride on this one!

Another Number from Half Forward Line

The first track we heard from Half Forward Line (the new project from So Cow/Oh Boland members) you got what you wanted, or expected: a solid power pop outing that soothed. But, on the flipside comes their powerful new single, employing buzzsaw guitars and a pummeling pace that creates instant fury. The call and response vocals are forceful, providing a larger “punk” vibe than we figured, especially when they turn to a fading growl in your speakers. When the band formed, they promised each other to record and write as quickly as possible (2 days!), leaving us with The Back of Mass album; it’s a diverse listen influenced by the individual tastes of the 3 members…and it’s now available through Jigsaw Records.

Premiere: Daddy Lion Announce New LP with Future Tense

For the last several releases, Daddy Lion has primarily been the work of founding member Jeremy Joseph, though that will all change now that’s he got a full band for Learn to Have Nothing and You Will Have Everything. There’s a softness to Joseph’s voice, sitting just behind the heavier tones of the guitars; occasionally they’re peeled back for a lighter tone before the emotional crash of the breakdown that comes in the song’s latter half. It’s reminiscent, to me, of early Longwave, reaching across the various genres of punk and new wave to craft a purely pop driven sound. The album will drop on January 26th, looking to fulfill the promise of this single.

 

Rock This Silverbacks Tune

Looking for a band akin to Parquet Courts in the early days? Then perhaps you should check out Dublin’s Silverbacks…the band employ similar discordant guitar licks throughout the verses on their latest single. That being said, there’s a bit more polish and sheen to this number, especially in the punching chorus. Still, the band take on the exploration of ringing chords, laying them out into the speakers, with faint vocals running through one side of your ear! It’s an impressive number that rides the hype created by their powerful Sink the Fat Moon EP, released earlier this year.

Brand New Salad Boys Track

We’re just about to wrap up the musical year with lists and all sorts of silly lines, but in looking ahead to next year, Salad Boys are high on my list of anticipated acts. We get a new tune from the band today in lieu of their impending This Is Glue. One of the things I’m most excited about is that the group seem to have fleshed out their style; this song has this youthful urgency in some of the vocal delivery, though it pulls back for a calming interlude that’s filled with melody and synths. They jump to the end with one more bit of ramshackle rock…and like me, you’ll be thirsting for more. The LP drops on January 19th via Trouble In Mind Records.

 

Jonathan Bree Releases New Jam

Ever since I heard the single “Weird Hardcore” I’ve been a fairly devoted Jonathan Bree fan. He’s constructing these minimal pop pieces, usually with an artistic bent that comes out via various videos. On this new single, he’s joined by Clara Vinals on vocals, who offers a soft juxtaposition to Bree’s deepened tones. The rest of the tune is a subtle it of rolling pop; imagine “Young Folks” stripped down to the bones to ride out the natural groove. Look for this track to appear on Sleepwalking, which will be released on March 2nd.

Robert Early Thomas of Widowspeak Goes Solo

I’ve always appreciated the work of Widowspeak, but it’s also nice to see the members step out into their own light, as Robert Earl Thomas is doing here. You’ll find that it does resemble elements of War on Drugs or the Boss, but there’s a dreamier tone to the songwriting. It almost has this acoustic post-punk vibe to it that would have been a huge hit with the kids back in the 80s. So, it doesn’t seem like a huge stretch to find Robert in this musical place, but it’s a nice little dose of pop that never fails to warm you. Another Age will be released by Captured Tracks on February 16th.

One Last Trudy and the Romance Tune

To celebrate the release of their Junkyard Jazz EP, Trudy and the Romance dropped one last tune for you to enjoy. For some reason the first thirty or so seconds give me a feeling like listening to Libertines, then they spin the track into a soaring vocal, only to pull back where the hook is and prolong the gratification for listeners; it’s an emotional tease that will eventually lead to your satisfaction. It’s an interesting listen, with tons of little movements within the confines of one track, perhaps fitting that it also could be described as “junkyard jazz,” though with an indie pop twist. Go ahead, jam this tune.

New Tune from Pinkshinyultrablast

The musical year is wrapping up right about now, but it’s always good to have a few delightful songs to keep you focused on the good stuff coming our way next year…like this new one from Pinkshinyultrablast. Now working as a bi-country act, with singer Lyubov hanging in LA, the band’s sound was bound to stretch. You’ll hear a more defined wash of electronics and synths to accompany her voice, but I really love the way the drums work in this song, emphatic when needed. It leads to a song that unfolds into a dense dream with lofty vocals dancing in the foreground. Look for the band’s new album Miserable Miracles in May of next year via Club AC30 and Shelflife.

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