Author: nathan.lankford

Dropkick Share Don’t Give Yourself Away Video

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If there were a band in the indiepop/power pop realm that I feel folks were overlooking, I think I’d have to put UK outfit Dropkick right up near the top. They’re churning out these gentle pop numbers, just left of the dial, but with all the melodic hits that make pop so incredibly endearing as a genre. I love that their latest video has the band just doing what they do best, playing in their own studio space; there’s no pretense or drama…just good old fashioned pure-pop songwriting. The band will release The Wireless Revolution on April 28th!

Greg Mendez Announces Self-Titled Album

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Over the last few years, I’ve definitely enjoyed Greg Mendez‘s work, but the announcement of a new self-titled LP comes with what might be his work to date. The Philly songwriter feels like he’s taking notes from the old Elliott Smith school of songwriting, allowing the listener to imagine themselves right next to Greg as he serenades. It’s a level of intimacy that feels often imitated, but Mendez knocks it out of the park, even opting for a more low-key arrangement throughout, maintaining that DIY ethos we’re all seeking. Greg Mendez, the album, will be out via Forged Artifacts and Devil Town Tapes on May 5th.

Meet the SXSW Band: Semiwestern

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The end of this week will see the official kickoff of SXSW, which brings tons of bands and tech companies and movies to our town, so we’ve been trying to highlight some of the acts on the music side. This round, we get to lock into a Texas artist, Semiwestern, coming at us from about 3.5 hours North. There’s a full-length from the artist slated for later this year, and perhaps you’ll get a chance to taste some of his Italian cookies!

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The Ghost Party Share Severed Hands

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Ghost Party is a new outfit on the Texas scene, though admittedly, they’ve got a familiar vibe going on here. Their first single brings back a smoky psychedelia, laying really low like a bit of rustling leaves in your yard. They build in a nice little plot twist when they hit the chorus, letting the melody evolve into more of a playful boogie or stomp, something that gives off a bit more groove to the genre. As the song circles back through another cycle, it eventually fades out with this bit of ambient space, leaving you with your own ability to take in a deep breath.

Symphony Orchestra Drop Intersection Video

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While I love the mellow tones of that Constant Follower tune we just dropped, you’ve got to make sure to pick up the pace, which is why this great new Symphony Orchestra tune kills. It’s got a new project from a few artists we’ve already covered in their other projects (Badge Epoque’s Max Turnbull and Michael Rault), but that doesn’t mean I got exactly what I was expecting here. In the opening moments, it has the playfulness of early MGMT, albeit with the musicianship the focus as opposed to the hook (that hook is still huge though). Then it moves into some funkier space, letting the guitar work speak for itself while the vocals get this metallic coating that turns the song towards fresh territory. Then when they return, they almost dwell in this bossa-nove croon for a wee bit. Lots of movement in textures and sounds, so should make their debut, Radiant Music, a special listen; it’s out on May 12th via Telephone Explosion Records.

Constant Follower and Scott William Urquhart Announce Even Days Dissolve

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If you read these pages from time to time, you might have read about the moving performance I caught from Constant Follower last year, not to mention the incredibly intricate brand of folk they’ve been writing. Recently, the group announced a collaborative album with Scott William Urquhart, which only adds another delicate layer of guitar work to Stephen McCall’s moving pieces. Here, I love the openness running through the track; the tune allows the song to find its own way, leaving space to breathe and allow the musicianship to shine through. The writing all came about organically, inspired by the poetry of Norman MacCaig, to whom McCall is indebted. Together they will release Even Days Dissolve on April 14th, so prepare to delve into one of the year’s most intimate listening experiences.

Soft Walls Announce True Love

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Today feels like one of those days where I’m just absolutely in love with listening music; it’s lifting my spirits and bringing in this absolute sense of wonder. One of the acts I’ve been enjoying is Soft Walls, the project of UK based Dan Reeves. This single is almost this meditative piece of guitar pop, letting the guitars shine in the very front of the mix as they ring in this bright pattern that returns again and again. For me, the joy is how the vocals seems sort of hidden in the mix, hanging just behind, or so it seems, everything else, providing the listener with this sort of spiritual release. If you’re digging it, Soft Walls release True Love on May 5th!

Cleo Handler Charms with Gold

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There are a lot of wonderful storytellers in the indie sphere nowadays, but as of the last few months, I don’t know if I’ve run across someone so instantly enchanting as Cleo Handler. In a way, the songwriting is similar to early Moldy Peaches, flirting with a matter of fact nature that borders on the absurd; I love that there’s this sincerity to the tracks, a world without pretense as you wear your heart on your sleeve. Throughout Gold the songwriting just sparkles with humor and charm, built on the backbone of stellar pop musicianship, so get at it now.

Beach Fossils Return with Don’t Fade Away

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While there have been a handful of releases in the interim (jazz album, single, etc), Beach Fossils have been fairly quiet since the release of Somersault in 2017. But, worry no more as the band announce Bunny today, their brand new record for Bayonet. Our first listen has us circling back to the group’s sound, building layer upon layer of synths and swirling guitars; this one had me hooked from those opening lines, and it only gets better as the chorus evolves and you get a little extra guitar focus that adds a beautifully dreamy wash to the song’s middle. Stoked to listen to the whole of Bunny; it drops on June 2nd via Bayonet.

Chime-ing New Stuff from Slumberland Records

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Friday was a busy day around these parts, but it seems like it was even busier for those over at Slumberland headquarters. The cherished label got some coverage from us via a new Reds, Pinks and Purples single, but we missed out on some other exciting new stuff, so I wanted to be sure we had that up there. After their great self-titled LP, Chime School came back with a brand new hit from their forthcoming 7″ (out in April). Not to be outdone, or out-chimed, Ohioan power-poppers the Laughing Chimes dropped another charmer through the label. Sorry I didn’t get this all up on Friday, but better late than never?

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