Category: News

Fun News from Swansea Sound: Holiday Card + New Video

Leave a comment

Our pals at Swansea Sound continue to keep themselves busy, despite having just release their latest LP, Twentieth Century in September. They’ve banged out three Christmas themed new tunes, and are currently offering them together with a signed Christmas card accompany the three-song Santa Bail Me Out CD! You can stream the title track below.

But, in bonus news…Rob (from the band) reached out and let me know that a bunch of high school students in the Chicago area created their own video for “Click It and Pay.” Knowing that I’m a teacher and a Swansea Sound fan, Rob directed me towards the video; the students seem to be loving the song as much as we do; you can enjoy their creativity and hard work below! Congrats to the students at New Trier High School…and their teacher!

Fun Pop from Veolciraptor

Leave a comment

I’m loving that Australians are still intent on keeping rock n’ roll going; it seems like a dumb strategy to just stop sharing music for an entire month (plus), but at least we’ve got a new Velociraptor tune. This track is pure pop joy; it’s got that attitude you likely found in early Hives and Strokes records, but in being honest, the band has totally ramped up the pop sensibility. The vocals have this natural hook to them, kind of curling syllables like you’d expect from a Billy Idol impersonator; it’s the sort of performance that gets you energized at any point of your day, so if you’re in need of a kick, it’s right here! This is our first taste of the group’s new album, Computer Future, coming next year vi Coolin’ by Sound.

Loving Share Medicine Single

Leave a comment

Austin’s surprisingly feeling a bit wintry, and with that, my mind begins to drift to more restful days, lighter feels musically speaking, which is where this new Loving track found me. For me, there were two things that truly drew me into the depths of the tune: the velvety vocals and the light percussion. The percussion work is so light, and yet feels so prominent, it’s almost like fallen branches crackling beneath your feet as you wander down some snowy patch; the vocals add that wistfulness, carrying you on the wings of the wind, floating you along with the perfect melodic touch. This track appears on Any Light, out in February via Last Gang Records.

Sachet Announce Brand New EP, Share Lead Single

Leave a comment

It’s been a hot minute since we last heard from Aussie outfit Sachet; they last released Nets in 2020. But, we can breathe easier knowing the group have a fresh EP on the way for us in 2024. While the band fancy themselves as a prog-pop outfit, they’re not straying too far off from classic punk meets pop vibes. You can hear some of the Debbie Harry playfulness in the vocals this go round, hitting those crystalline disco notes as the band snakes its way through a sort of musical call-and-response. Plus, you’ll find just a bit of punk ethos squeaking in too, adding some sharp licks that build the tension. Totally digging on it, so looking forward to The Seeing Machine EP, out next February via Tenth Court.

Real Estate Return with Water Underground

Leave a comment

This news announcement is a shout out to my dear wife, who is an avowed Real Estate stan, and I’m sure she’ll love the airy nature of this tune here. Those crisp guitar sounds are exactly what made us all fall in love with the group initially, and their charm shines brightly on this track. According to the band, the lyrical content is all about the well of inspiration that artists draw from; it’s an apt analogy, as you can interpret the various stages of writing with water…sometimes its plentiful and other times drought hits hard and things dry up…like my writing here today! Oh, and fellow New Jersey natives and Nickelodeon fans might recognize cast members of Pete & Pete making an appearance in the video. They’ll release Daniel in February of next year via Domino Recording Co.

Koalra Share the Clouds Still Hang On You Single

Leave a comment

When I first turned on this new track from Koalra, there was something hypnotic that completely captured me; there was this lingering darkness in the drum sound that just got under my skin. It set me up perfectly to fall in love, as the minute mark introduces this melodic high-toned voice; it soars, lifting the track and your spirits up in the mix. And, then there’s a heavier vocal resonance, matching the heavy march of the drum beat, letting the guitar line wiggle and churn up the muddy melody waiting to soar as the song pushes forward. One minute of listening will have you clamoring to hear Disasterclass, but like us, you’ll have to wait until it releases on December 22nd.

Juppe Releases Andy I Have Your Lighter

Leave a comment

Having just released his debut album this past September, Juppe is wasting no time, turning around and dropping a fresh new single via Soliti. Originally written for a skate video, the song locks you in immediately with this seductive groove that feels like kicking and pushing on the asphalt, hair blowing in the breeze. It was that natural joyfulness that grabbed me, and then the vocals offer up this softened curl that really draws you into the track; I think you’ll also hear some similarities to some of the British pop rock that was breaking big in the late 00s (2000s not 1900s). Give it a listen, and if you dig it, we advise you to go back and check on Feeling Bad About Feeling Sad…, available from our favorite Finnish friends, Soliti.

Johnny Aries Releases New Single

Leave a comment

I was actually a big Johnny Aries fan back in his Two-Wounded Birds days, but definitely love that he’s become an integral part of the Drums line-up over the last decade or so. But, today its all about him, as he drops this drifting bit of melancholy pop music, a piece that perhaps will appear on his new LP, which is stated to be in the works. This one’s all about sliding into the sprit of sadness mentioned in the song’s title; you can feel those sparse guitar notes just echoing in the darkness, atmospheric noises shooting pass as you get to wallow in the emotion of the single. Get in touch with your feelings below!

Sturt Avenue Share Title Track from Bury Me in the Garden

Leave a comment

So, while us here in the States were turkey-ing up, the rest of the world carried on as one should, just like Sturt Avenue, who released Bury Me in the Garden. We’ve covered the band’s work before, noticing their brand of orchestral chamber pop and how it naturally has that swelling feel-good nature to it. The title track from the record has an incredible vocal performance, again, from Bryn Soden; I love how we can feather a note, but then turn around and pull another tone from deep in the gut…and all the while there’s a perfect bit of accentuating backing harmonies to boost. Feel like this is the warmest welcome to a fresh week of music!

Pop Filter Share Undertow

Leave a comment

A little over ten days to go before Pop Filter drop their brand new track, and they want to drag you right into the experience of CONO by hitting you with “Undertow.” It’s immediately going to grab you, opening with a racing rhythm section, using snappy drum work and a bassline that seduces you instantly. It doesn’t stop there, as the band race through the tune, dropping discordant noise in throughout as they seem intent on rushing you through the song as fast as they can. Little bit of saxophone helps the song fade out and still throw its weight behind the pop sensibility! CONO is out on December 1st, but it’s already SOLD OUT, so hopefully there’s a repress!

1 2 3 … 1,406