Month: September 2023

J. Madden Shares Dawn

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J. Madden rose to fame as a powerful songwriter for both Seatbelts and Hooton Tennis Club, but I felt like he really came into his own when he released his solo debut, Same Day as Yesterday. We’re a few years removed from that release, and we find James in a contemplative mode on his latest single, reflecting on the comforts of home, in the nostalgic sense. His voice feels heavy, akin to the croon of Jonathan Bree, coating the track in this striking drama. At times, you can hear these playful little “oohs” that remind me of Bowie too, so perhaps this is all a fresh take on those spiders that came from Mars. Good time to open up your Tuesday with this tune.

Check Out Burn From RAINSONG

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Sometimes the shoegaze label can be a bit much, or even over used with current indie tunes, but London based RAINSONG seem to perfectly fit into the genre. Seriously, after checking out this new single “Burn” you will surely agree that the band is progressing the sound and offering a ton of energy and freshness to the sound. And hot damn, those drums will kick you in the ass for sure. Hit it below and follow RAINSONG via socials.

Semihelix Share Renovate

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Of all the acts in Austin, a band that I’m always happier than not to hear from is Semihelix; they’ve promised a new 7″ before the year’s up, so we wanted to make sure they had your attention. While their last single was hitting some dreamy jangles, this one seems to peel it all back, driving the sweetness home in the presentation. For me, I absolutely love Geannie’s vocals here, particularly when they get dubbed for the backing vocals too. There’s a nice little sonic turn too, letting the track dwell in some late 90s rock n’ roll territory as it draws to a close, with an added bit of piano thickening up the mixture here. We’ll keep you posted when we know more about that 7″!

Empty Nesters Share The Simphony

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When I saw another shoegaze email coming my way from Empty Nesters, I’ll admit, I was a little hesitant; I like the genre, don’t get me wrong, just feels like it’s becoming the new NPR-core. But, this track stuck with me at first because it has Madeline of PACKS on vocals, whose voice has drawn me to her own band’s work. Still, the song excels because of the slow approach of Eric Liao; he lets the space get sort of filled with those distorted pieces, letting you sit with them for a bit, rather than bash you in the face again and again with wave after wave of abrasive noise. And, in that lush setting, Madeline’s voice is sublime, paired up with Liao. There’s a nice little treat waiting for you at the end, so hang around!

Seablite Share Hit the Wall Video

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Lemon Lights, the brand new LP from San Francisco’s Seablite, is out this Friday, and we’ve had it as one of our most-anticipated releases as we near the end of the musical year. Up until now, the group have offered their perfect blend of dreamy pop-gaze, though they’ve mostly been playing up the dark side, particularly with “Pot of Boiling Water.” All that to say, I think the new single offers a glimpse of the band in complete control of their vision, perhaps even bringing out some of their best tricks to guarantee they leave us with a standout LP. When I first heard it, it kind of reminds me of that sort of acid-house influence creeping into the dream/jangle realm of the current climate; it’s got this secret wash that keeps locked into a playful groove. Jenn Heard’s video plays up to that sensibility, throwing in some light-hearted magic to tie into the whimsical approach on the single. Lemon Lights is a must have; grab a copy from Mt. St. Mtn. on Friday!

Jeff Moller Shares Another Name, Drops New LP

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I was a little behind the times on Friday, so I missed running new stuff from Jeff Moller, just as he dropped his Sigh Baby. But, we’re musically hanging out for the first part of this morning, so I wanted to make sure we shared the closing track, which I felt was one of the various special tracks on the LP. This song opens with this twinkling guitar note, shining down on this heavy groove that locks the listener in place; it feels heavy and dark, setting you up for the cascading melody that shoots across during the chorus. Honestly, kind of sounds like the National meeting up with Grizzly Bear on goth night…all before your dad and his friends got into them. If you love it, check out the whole LP.

Last Week’s Jams (9.18 – 9.22)

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Last week was kind of light on the tunes, at least from my end of things. That being said, it was a pretty heavy week in terms of tunes that made me swoon. We got to premiere new stuff from Citric Dummies and Red Pants, which rule, equally. Of course, it was nice to see our pals in Voxtrot take back up their crown as master of pop; Bubblegum Lemonade was another friend making a return with new music too! All that, and I haven’t even touched on the Lower Plenty track that nearly broke me listening to it. The Serfs and Dancer both had great new music out there; those hit from Alien Nosejob and the Exbats on Goner Records didn’t hurt either. Maybe light on coverage in lieu of our recent weeks, but so much great stuff to dig into here.

Dancer Share Love Video, Announce New EP

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If you haven’t caught on to Dancer at this point, you’re likely missing out on some of the best music-makers in the the UK right now; you’ve got members of Nightshift, Robert Sotelo and more combining to bring this brand of post-punk your way. Honestly, there’s something in their craft that sounds like a more pop-centric brand of Life Without Buildings. The vocals have that vibe where they feel almost distant, though they clearly have that melodic draw that keeps you focused. Circling around the vocals are these angular riffs that sparkle and twist around a thick rhythmic groove. They’ve just announced the As Well EP, which will be out on October 13th via Gold Mold Records.

Voxtrot Share Another Fire

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Whatever led to the Voxtrot reformation a few years back, well, we’ve all benefitted from it. Be it their reissuing of B-Sides or Compilations, or now, a fresh new tune, I’m so very happy they’ve taken to writing music together again. That said, almost all of them have been working on projects through the years, so they’re songwriting is definitely still sharp. For the opening moment, you get Jason Chronis throwing down a thick bass line that allows Ramesh to weave his melodic wizardry through your speakers. Then, we hit the minute mark and the party kicks off with drums and keys joining in, providing this huge bounce that allows the track to develop its rising action. When that chorus drops, the tune just soars, harkening back to the band’s heyday when they couldn’t help but deliver insatiable hooks. They’ve definitely delivered, with a huge hook-laden ballad that takes their infectious early vibes and brings it into the band’s present. Fingers crossed there’s more on the way!

Red Pants Share Watch the Sky Video

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For all those that thought lo-fi bedroom pop was meant to merely bring its charms to your headphone experience, Red Pants are here to prove you wrong; their magical songwriting has allowed for the world to move in reverse…at least if this video is to be believed. Fun and jokes aside, there’s nothing more gratifying than listening to this new track from the duo’s forthcoming LP. I was in love with the guitar tones instantly, hitting those slightly discordant notes that transform into melodies as they sneak inside your ear canal. But, going through on repeat again and again, those guitars notes didn’t do nearly as much for me as the vocals in their rising tones. Listen for the lines of “Do you want to/do you want to come home” and tell me your not transported to some otherworldly cocoon of warmth; that moment, for me, felt like I had come home, musically speaking. Then, you get an extra boost at 2:21, where the song ramps up the punch and drives you to the promised land. You won’t regret one minute with this song, or one minute you spend with Not Quite There Yet; it’s out on Ocotber 27th via Meritorio Records.

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