Big Bill Share Coma Single

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This past Friday our good friends in Big Bill released the stellar new single, “Coma,” which we wanted to delay so as to offer you up something delicious on Monday morning. While Eric Braden’s distinctive vocal delivery is omni-present, the mono-syallbic burst at the 37 second mark (and repeated later) is a sure-fire hook. What’s most impressive to me is how furious the band seems to be here; they’re playing with this angular jackhammering, more emphatic and rocking than ever before. All of this gets tied together with time changes matching up with Eric’s syllable play in the lyrics…one of the band’s signatures. Don’t miss out on this Jon Lovitz approved hit!

Show Pics: Are We Back?

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Over the last two weekends, I have been out to see a couple of shows, as some of you may have noticed on the instagrams. Two Saturdays ago, I had procured tickets to see Sun June with Buffalo Nichols at 3TEN. This past Saturday, it was a quick trip down to The Far Out Lounge to support SIMS Foundation, see some friends and catch a bit of Moving Panoramas. I have to tell you, it was release of stored anxiety while being a source of stress. I wasn’t sure if it was okay to be out, to feel nearly normal. There were some fist bumps, goose bumps and even a few hugs. Let’s get into the venues, the bands, the CDC, the resulting social politics without being too political and a big batch of photos.

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Emily Wolfe Shares Something Better Video

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Back when we were throwing shows and booking things for SXSW, we had the wonderful Emily Wolfe on our annual SXSW bill with our friend John ( of 101X/SOTO fame). She’s got her new LP Outlier slated for a June release, and this great single is the perfect way to get you hooked on the sound she’s dishing out. Emily opens the tune with her voice riding atop a synthetic pulse, aptly building tension before dropping in with a crunchy hook. That chorus, while thematically heart-wrenching, hits just right with Wolfe hitting the perfect notes. But, the guitar virtuoso isn’t going full pop, with a nice little solo showing off her signature Epiphone guitar sitting poolside. Outlier drops June 25th.

The Intelligence Share Celebration Radio

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We hadn’t heard from the Intelligence since their 2019 LP Un-Psychedelic in Peavey City, and this single crept up on us kind of out of nowhere. Starting off with an acoustic strum, the song moves quickly into a more angular craft, with bass ambling along in the background, lurking with the rhythm section. For me, the vocals and the drums are the standout, with Lars’ voice rolling and climbing over all the notes, making his way up the mountain created by the drumming; it feels like the drums are just hurtling this steady stream of boulders upon us, forcing us to dodge and duck, locked into the tune’s propulsive nature. You’ll find this hit on a new 7″ courtesy of Leisure World Tapes.

 

The Week in Music May 10 – 14

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Here we are. Here you are. It’s Monday morning, so let’s go back in time. Way way back, to last week. We’ve got new hits from the Goon Sax and Quivers, as well as some more obscure stuff like Keron and Nina Savary. Plus, we’ve got some old favorites in Dentist, Leon Bridges and Tapeworms, piled on top of a few tunes we dug that already got the mass of hype you’d expect. As per our tastes, its all over the place, which is sort of how I’m feeling on this Monday morning. Have a rad day my friends!

Tape Waves Share Invisible Lines Video

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I think one of the things I love about listening to Tape Waves is how safe (no-frills, comforting, etc) their brand of dream pop is, meaning that in the best way! You get folks over indulging in beats, or minimizing the strum of a guitar, and maybe even sometimes coating the vocals in too much of a studio wash. But here, as you can hear with their latest single, Tape Waves don’t need to employ any of those little textures; their songs succeed on their own merit. And, you can hear light guitar strums, steady drum bounce, and Kim’s wonderful voice fitting right into it all; they’ve managed to balance in such a way that you might even just call normalize it by calling it some of the best pop music all around. Good songs supersede technological studio tricks, in my mind anyways. Plus, the video’s adorable, featuring cats, ice cream and a couple going through their record collection! Bright is out soon via Emotional Response!

Jesper Zacco Shares Dream Single

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I’ll admit to not knowing much about Jesper Zacco, prior to this debut single for famed Labrador Records, but I’m fully on board with what he’s doing in this brand new single. The song opens with a careful vocal lurking behind some careful notes…ringing notes, synth echoes and atmospheric washes; it’s like a mischievous character playfully lurking around trees in a foggy forest. But, that mystery unfolds in the chorus, delivering this momentary clarity; it’s this sort of subtle warmth that I remember washing over me when I had early records by Nada Surf on, or maybe even the Wrens. Jesper will be releasing his debut this September, so we’ll keep you posted!

Keron Shares Alphanumeric Single

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There was something about the immediacy of the latest single from Georgia’s Keron Robinson (or Keron). Punching in almost immediately with this heavy voice that seemed to be hiding beneath the mix sucked me right into the tune; I felt like I was being invited to a secret party filled with careful nuanced melodies and subtle pop hooks. I think the chorus really solidified my love for this tune; there was something about it that just felt huge and powerful, despite being a little softer in its delivery. Keron will be releasing a new record later this year, so keep your ears peeled for more hits!

Pony Hunt Share Stardust Video

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I love a great video, particularly when its paired with equally great song, like the latest from Pony Hunt. For me, the song was a rolling journey, begun by the drum beat; they set you up with a soft roll, laying out the world before your feet. It’s then that Jessie Antonick’s voice enters the fray, serenading you with this heavenly voice, filled with guttural emotion, yet sparkling in the dark shades of the song. I appreciate the little breakdown just after the 2 minute mark, offering a slight soul performance in the midst of the tune’s dense sound, which eventually creeps back in and carries the song to a close. This song appears on the new record, VAR!, which is out on July 23rd via Wing and Wing.

Lachlan and Snowy Release Phone In

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I’ve no qualms stating that anything loosely affiliated with the Ocean Party will likely get space on our site, but even more so if its got great songs, like the latest release from Lachlan & Snowy (now of Pop Filter, among others). In fact, Lachlan reached out to let me know the project began as sort of a joke, but when you’ve got two great songwriters and friends, its hard to keep great music buried. There’s maybe a few tunes lurking in here that you could maybe forgive for being playful recording banter, but even then, you’re not going to find many songs better than “Blame it on the Seasons” or “Triple End; I just don’t know how you call either of those tunes ‘jokes” in the grand scheme of things. Honestly, one of those tunes might be one of my favorite of the week! Go ahead and find yourself falling in love with two great friends writing music together. Stream Phone In below:

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