Month: August 2022

Elizabeth Drops Sweet Connection

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It’s been really interesting watching the trajectory of Elizabeth the last few years. The Wonderful World of Nature still felt tethered, in some manner, to previous work, but with her Suite of Singles, it’s clear she’s fully embracing the role of budding pop star. This track opens with simple beat work, understated it seems, stuttering right before the release of the chorus, allowing a more angelic pitch to shift into play. Elizabeth is confident, and in that, you can tell that all things pop are fully in her grasp. It’ll be exciting to see how far the work gets pushed after the three track Suite of Singles is wrapped.

Rubblebucket Drop Earth Worship Video

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Sure, I’m writing every day on this here site, but the real gig kicked off yesterday, so I’m gearing up to coach some 7th grade volleyball and teach some reading skills. For me, that means I obviously need a little pep in the step, which is where this Rubblebucket track comes into play. Honestly, once the vocal sample ends and the song slides into its groove, I was hooked. It begins with a soft spoken word over a thick beat, then spins itself off into a more euphoric pop burst; it reminds me a lot of that Methyl Ethel track from earlier this year, riding on the coattails of commercial pop, but unique enough to catch old indie curmudgeons like myself. But, if you’re still holding onto the snobbery, just listen to the finer details, filling the crevices with jazzy inflection and effortless cool…so back off, enjoy yourself. The band will released Earth Worship on October 12th via Grand Jury.

Pleased to Meet You: The Variable Stars

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One of the great things about the last 30 years is the ease with which we can dig out old files and tapes and give them a proper re-release, which is how I came upon The Variable Stars. Our friends over at Recorded Psychic Readings reached out to let us know they’d be dropping a tape from the Bay-area bands early recordings. Take a listen to either of the songs below and you’ll surely see where I fell in love here; it’s got the charm of the Pastels or Comet Gain, albeit with just the faintest hint of modern indiepop. Honestly, I love how the vocalist seem to perfectly compliment one another, particularly when they’re uniting for a nice melodic push. If, like me, you hadn’t heard of this band, well, spend some time streaming these bops! All Signs Point to Life will be out this Friday!

Welcome Strawberry Share Harvest Apartments Video

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In a little over a month, Welcome Strawberry will release their debut LP via Cherub Dream Records, just adding to the great things going on in the Bay Area music scene. On the group’s latest single, they to you with you, bouncing back and forth between a traditional wash of shoegaze and a more stripped down blast of mellow pop. The shoegaze moments are heavy, swirling and feeding back, as you’d want, but it’s the almost-chorus where the noise gets teased into something almost childish; the vocal delivery sounds like a schoolyard cheer, while distortion bursts through in the distance. Another cool listen, if you ask me; the band will be dropping their self-titled album on September 2nd.

Old Fire Announce Voids LP, Shares Don’t You Go ft. Bill Callahan

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John Mark Lapham has teamed up with a bunch of our favorite vocalists to flesh out his latest Old Fire project, with participation from the likes of Adam Torres, Emily Cross…and as you’ll see below, Bill Callahan. While the song is a cover of the underrated John Martyn, I think the composition, film work and Callahan give the song a complete makeover. For starters, the black and white imagery leaves you emotionally naked while watching, as if it’s you being buried beneath the dirt in the video clip. The piano and string work add to the drama, but ultimately Bill’s voice just hits you. There’s something about those deep tones, a sweetness whose melody seems like a light turned on in the darkest of tunnels. I get the feeling we’re in for a moving collection when Old Fire releases Voids in November via Western Vinyl.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (8.1 – 8.5)

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Back to the grind! I’m back at work, getting read to teach the kids and what not! But, looking back at last week, we covered a lot of rad territory I think that’s worthy of you easing into your work week, or just your day. I was stoked to hear Emma Kupa popping up on the latest track from Let’s Whisper, a band she’s joined recently. RayRay dropped new tunes from Sunfruits and Pale Blue Eyes, as well as threw some love towards the new Mall Walker EP. I know there was a lot of love and buzz on the new Peel Dream Magazine and Winter tunes, but personally, the track I couldn’t stop playing was the Enola jam inclued. Anyways, enjoy.

Kay Odyssey Share Tomorrow’s Girl

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Austin’s Kay Odyssey have been relatively quiet since their excellent Knockout LP in 2020, and today it looks like the band is gearing up for another stellar release, sharing a fresh single with us. This new tune has a striking elegance to it, with Kristina’s voice majestically soaring over the baroque backdrop carefully crafted by the rest of the group. Subtle piano lines walk us along, with Liz Burrito’s careful drum work and Geannie Friedman holding the rhythm section in place to help build the song towards its delightful apex; it all comes together like a crash between indiepop and Medieval Times…and I mean that as a compliment. We’ll keep you posted as we hear more, but for now, relish this sweet jam.

Rachel Love Releases Stories from Another Time EP

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It seems that ever since we got those Dolly Mixture reissues that Rachel Love has decided she was going to keep the torch alive. Having already released the beautiful Picture in Mind, she’s now shared Stories from Another Time. While only containing 4 tunes, you get two Love tracks, and then two tracks Rachel wrote with Martine Newell of Cleaners from Venus. The tune below was written in the 80s, but didn’t get properly recorded until this year. I think the striking thing is the perfect balance in the mix; it allows for the dreaminess of Rachel’s voice to remain the focal point, while the thump of the drums and twinkling nuances hang right behind her. That drum always seems like it should take off, so I love the restraint in this, never letting the tune carry off into cliche.

 

High Sunn Share June’s Mist

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It’s been a hot minute since I’ve covered High Sunn, but Justin Cheromiah’s project has always reminded me of our good friends Letting Up Despite Great Faults. It’s definitely something that falls in the indiepop groove, driving rhythmic elements consistently pushing the song forward as those dreampop guitars swirl around each little syllable Justin’s dropping into the track. This song celebrates the band’s upcoming mini-tour along the West Coast at the end of July, as well as hints at something more to come later this year…or so we’re told, but reset assured I’ll keep you in the know there.

Let’s Whisper Share Long Run

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Obviously, I’ve been really high upon the forthcoming release from Let’s Whisper, but today, I’m even more amped, as the band has allowed new member (and one of my all time faves) Emma Kupa to pen a track and take the lead. It’s a mellow ballad, but this time Emma seems to be finding solace in letting things go, allowing yourself to find some closure. The instrumentation is really special, from little horn accents to an understated banjo working beneath Emma’s voice. As of yet, I’ve not heard anyone involved in the songwriting craft a bad song, so you can expect the In-Between Times to be a knock out; it’s out August 26th via Fika Recordings.

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