The Boys with the Perpetual Nervousness Share Turning Red

Some pop music is written for the moment, but then other pop songwriters go about their business writing timeless pop tunes, just like the track below from The Boys with the Perpetual Nervousness. I don’t know whether it’s the perfect guitar jangle notes ringing out with that percussive stomp behind or whether it belongs to the comforting curl of the warm vocals, but I don’t think there’s a single person who’d turn this track off. It’s living somewhere in that perfect place between our love for bands like Teenage Fanclub and Nada Surf, so if that’s your bag, then you’re going to want to grab Third Wave Of… from Bobo Integral/Tear Jerk.

Another Great Massage Tune

This Massage LP better not sell out before I get paid, though admittedly, it should definitely be on everyone’s radar. The latest single has this wistful vibe, something akin to a movie scene where the passenger stares longingly out a window hoping/praying for a better day than today…or at least that’s how I’m hearing it. Plus, the jangles and the synths give the song this wash that sounds incredibly similar to Another Sunny Day’s “You Should All Be Murdered,” and that is 100% reason alone to steam this song and tap your toes. I mean, how many great songs can this band write? We’re going to find out when Still Life drops on June 25th.

Yesterday’s Massage Video

We’ve definitely been supporting Massage on their new LP, careful to throw in only the appropriate Pains of Being Pure at Heart references where applicable. Here we are a day late on their new video for the record’s first single, which is the opening track on Still Life. For me, this tune is all about the juxtaposition of the varying guitar sounds that course through the song. At times they’ve got that disorienting fuzz, other times you get crisp circular jangles, at times both battling for air…and all of it dripped over a simply thunderous beat. Honestly, what’s amazed me the most about this record, or at least the singles, are how well balanced everything is…every guitar sound, drum beat, and vocal; its really a special treat for us all. Still Life is out in July via Mt. St. Mtn./Tear Jerk/Bobo Integral.

Another Single from Massage

Bobo Integral is out there proclaiming that this Massage LP might be the best indiepop record of the year; while I’m pretty sure Glenn Donaldson might have something to day, I think that’s reason enough to give an added push to the sounds. Clearly everyone involved isn’t far off, particularly with the sort of soft pop underbelly of this tune; this gives you sort of that dreaming whimsy, that smiling as you stare longingly out the window feels. Twinkling guitar notes and some great arrangement really do make you feel like this could be the stellar indiepop record we were promised. Still Life is being supported by Bobo Integral/Tear Jerk/Mt. St. Mtn. on June 25th.

That New Massage Tune

If you happen to be into the same style of jams as us, you’re likely to know there’s only a handful of sites covering some of these genres regularly, which is where this tune first popped up yesterday. Massage has former members of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, which to me shines through; you can imagine some of these tunes showing up as acoustic demos in the band’s practice space, taking notes from 80s UK indiepop (and some other nostalgic notes). Of course, we wouldn’t love a good slow burn if it didn’t feature delicate little touches of ringing in your ears rock n’ roll, placed delicately throughout so as to walk that tightrope between traditional pop and blends of shoegaze. Heavy hitter labels Mt. St. Mtn./Tear Jerk Records/Bobo Integral will help get Still Life out into the world on June 25th.

Another Pop Ditty from Pure Moods

Feels like just a week or so ago I was sharing a new Pure Moods tune, and here we are again with a brand new track from the forthcoming Upward Spiral. I loved the last track, but I think this one’s even better; it has everything you want in a pop song: it’s catchy, nice melody and it’s short. There’s that Australian casual attitude in the way the vocals are delivered, as if there wasn’t a care in the world. But, what I’ve been drawn to are the sharp guitar notes; they toy with being jangly, but happily make out their own path until they’re joined by this interesting textured guitar buzz meandering through. Tear Jerk Records release the full LP this Friday.

Pure Beauty From Pure Moods

It’s Friday afternoon and I can’t imagine a better time for some fantastic tunes to take into your weekend. Today our weekend vibe tune comes by was of Melbourne based artist Pure Moods and the new single “Tide”. This one has an absolutely lovely grooving vibe with some slacker rock tendencies and some bright guitar numbers. It’s my favorite song of the week.

Pure Moods will release new album Upward Spiral on November 29th via Tear Jerk Records.

Massage Return with New Video

If you’re looking for a song about all that can go wrong with loving someone, you’re not going to hear a better one than this new track from Massage. The rhythm section sets the song up perfectly, giving a steady driving pace and just the slightest hint of bounce. The guitars turns and churns in a relaxed jangle, allowing Gabi Ferrer to string her voice across the whole mix. It ends up leaving you with this feeling that even though the frustration of a relationship, there’s promise on the end; it’s uplifting and worth repeat listens all day long. You can grab Oh Boy right now from Tear Jerk Records.