Tag: video

Winter Announces New EP

Leave a comment

When I listen to this new single from Winter, I continue to be impressed by both the growth and willingness to push the songwriting process. It seemed like just yesterday when the Daydreaming EP dropped and we had another great guitar pop band on the scene…but that was a decade ago. Now, Samira Winter is taking some of the touchstones from What Kind of Blue Are You and completely diving into the world of down-tempo trip-hop…and I’m completely here for it. Entering the groove with spoken lyrics, you get to hear the anxiety build with these darkened piano tones, setting up the ringing of the guitar as the atmosphere closes in around your ears. It brings in something nostalgic and yet refreshing, particularly when I consider how far the songwriter has come from the early days. The new …She’s Still Listening EP will be out on May 24th.

Good Looks – Self Destructor Video

Leave a comment

As you wake up this morning, please do yourself a favor and spend some time with the new video/single from Good Looks that dropped yesterday afternoon. If anything, you should be rooting for the band to find success with Lived Here for a While, especially when you look at the last few years (exploding vans/head injuries). Still, if the first single wasn’t a warning shot, this new track only solidifies my opinion that the band are in the form of their lives; their sound is tight as ever (especially live), and they’re packing a huge bit of bite from Jake’s guitar work while Tyler’s offering up some of his most scathing pop lyrics to date. Hoping this is the start of a new chapter where hard work, good people and good songs finally take off. Grab a copy of Lived Here for a While from Keeled Scales before the June 7th release date.

Been Stellar Share Sweet Video

Leave a comment

I’m diving into two straight days of administering standardized state tests, so I need a bit of balance in my life, which is why I was drawn towards this fresh Been Stellar track. Musically, it has this abrasiveness that faintly hints at the melodic core the band will bring into the folk, sort of like running your hand across a well-worn sheet of sandpaper. When those vocals enter, they tiptoe into the frame, careful not to disrupt the discordant chaos, and that’s where I fell for it, as they tightrope between angst and comfort…allowing the listener to embrace both sides as you sink into the jangling riffs in the distance. This tune appears on Scream from New York, NY, out on June 14th via Dirty Hit.

Mountain Movers Share My Holy Shrine Video

Leave a comment

Sometimes, the simplest narrative can be the most impactful, as is the case with the new single from Mountain Movers; the song is said “to celebrate everyday places that are ordinary but can also be seen as sacred.” In that, you can be implored to reflect upon your own sacred places, even the most mundane of spots. The band, too, did this for the video, as you’ll see with footage from some of the locations they hold most dear. Still, you’ll need a soundtrack as you meditate on the places that hold the most meaning, and what better than the sprawling number the group has set before you. Like a slow burning candle, the track flickers with light strumming and lead guitar notes that drift overhead, all while a quiet rhythm section does just enough to add to the spirituality of the moment. Further reflection and enjoyment can be found by grabbing a copy of Walking After Dark, the band’s new double LP, out May 17th via Trouble In Mind Records.

Strand of Oaks Shares Party at Monster Lake

Leave a comment

Not sure exactly what it was that grabbed me, but there’s something magical about the new single from Strand of Oaks. Part of me wants to pledge allegiance to the father/son panda duo of the video version, but I’m also keenly aware that Tim Showalter’s vocal performance here is what really made this track a marvel. A synthetic backbone sets up a light strum, and though simple, that’s all Showalter needed to roll out his voice; it hits a true high point when he hits the line “there’s something about the rain,” which oddly coincides with what’s going on outside my window at the moment. If you think the vocals are all that matter though, be careful when you open up the music box as the tune is filled to the brim with accents and nuance that create this huge texture that soaks you in emotion. Miracle Focus is out June 7th via Western Vinyl….with an Austin release show on June 21st at the Parish.

Blushing Unleash Slyce Single

Leave a comment

As much as it was easy to pigeonhole Blushing for their adherence to a certain genre, their work on Sugarcoat seems them completely branching into other like-minded realms. The verses on this new single feel like they’re channeling late 80s Britain, while the chorus harkens back to 90s anthemic rock for the disaffected youth. They don’t just settle either, flirting with breakdowns in the song’s structure, tossing in explosive solos…they’re tighter than ever, and seem to be relishing every thundering beat and wave of feedback. This ain’t your grandmother’s Blushing, or even the Blushing of an early ATH EP; this is a force to be reckoned with. Sugarcoat is out via Kanine Records on May 3rd.

Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice Offer Keeps Ya Head Up Video

Leave a comment

If you’ve grown to accept that the Melbourne music scene is all bright guitar sounds and warm breezy melodies, might I ask you to listen to Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice? This bunch are working with a sound that’s much much darker, akin to that sort of middle period for Liars when they were moving from rock to more electronic sounds. That said, this isn’t an electronic piece, though there are certainly elements of that bleeding into the tune; it’s instead a study on locking into a groove and bringing in new pieces to see what fits. There are horns and discordant notes that almost seem as if they’ve been thrown at the centerpiece to see the reaction. This is a song only for the cool kids, pushed by the rhythm with risks running throughout. You’ll hear this jam on the new Total Reality LP, out this Friday via Marthouse Records.

The Wesleys Share A Lot to Lose + Drop Debut LP

Leave a comment

If you’re looking for the perfect album to walk into Spring, might we suggest you put this debut LP from the Wesley‘s in your listening rotation? As a whole, the record’s pretty diverse; it’s like trying to decide between a path of Elephant 6 to your left or Dirtnap Records to your right, but the Wesleys said fuck it, we’ll play our own road. On the single below, they are definitely playing more towards the pastoral folk pop stylings, maybe even flirting with acts like Woods. The vocal harmonies hang perfectly in the air, and you get hints of groovy Aussie pop too with the way the acoustic guitar gets picked carefully atop that bobbing bass walk. The song’s within The Wesleys are the perfect blend between sharp power and melodic folk tendencies, leaving you with the perfect gateway into the changing of the seasons. Full album releases tomorrow courtesy of Little Village Records.

Gift Sign to Captured Tracks + Share Single

Leave a comment

There’s been a lot of hype about these parts concerning GIFT, and it looks to have grabbed the attention of Captured Tracks who’ve announced the signing of the band by releasing this brand new single. They’re following up their excellent Momentary Presence debut with this track, and it seems them pushing into territory you might consider dream-pop adjacent. All the guitar work seems built upon a driving bit of speed, though there’s a lot of effects making the sound swirl around your head. Soft vocals dominate the front of the mix, which is one the band’s specialities, as they continue to toy with contrast in their sound.

Swiftumz Announces Simply the Best

Leave a comment

Over the last several years you’d likely notice a heavy San Francisco pop presence on our site, as that’s been one of the best scenes delivering works that hit right at home for me. Today, we bring you news of another act from the Bay Area, Swiftumz, who announces the new album, Simply the Best, today. And, as much as I love the foggy nature that often accompanies the vibe, this has this natural clarity and sincerity that should help you find it as endearing as I find it. There’s singer-songwriter elements working here, especially with the way you hear the stroke on the strings themselves, but you’ll also find lush arrangements and little psychedelic guitar licks lurking in the shadows. Empty Cellar Records will release Simply the Best on June 14th.

1 2 3 … 158