Category: Tunes

The Smashing Times Share New Single

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Not sure what you have planned for this Friday, but seeing as its a Bandcamp Friday, might we encourage you to take a peek at what the Smashing Times have in store for you. Whereas their earliest efforts dwelled in the crosshairs of paisley and jangle, they’ve done an about-face here, working with more of a kind of oddball-punk feel, albeit spun through the lens of great pop sensibility. Think of the Blockheads or TVPs as nostalgia’s contemporaries; they work this new single almost as if its a multi-act play, circling back to this mystical seance that teases the listener before swinging back with a bit of a punky bob and weave. Mrs Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys will be out via K/Perennial on November 1st.

The Green Child Announce Look Familiar LP

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If you’ve covered the Australian music scene for the past few decades in any fashion, you’ve likely heard the name Mikey Young; he’s been behind the scenes and in the scene with various acts like Eddy Current, but today, we’re focusing on his work with Raven Mahon (of Grass Widow), as The Green Child. On the new album, Look Familiar, the band began with ideas of both Mikey and Raven, then fleshed them out with new members Alex McFarlane and Shaun Gionis, allowing their psychedelic influences to mix and swirl like some color-based science experiment. In the first minute and a half, you get the casual pulsing pop akin to Broadcast, but as a collector of musical pebbles, I implore you to definitely drop in just before the 2 minute mark. It’s a quick textural shift, livening the track, then building layer upon layer, even adding to the vocals; this lets the song take on more life and spring right through your speakers! Look Familiar is out on November 1st via Upset the Rhythm and Hobbies Galore.

New Innocence Mission Album!!!

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Every night, or every other night, I put my son to bed, and we read three books, then “play music from your phone, daddy.” He’s two, and just wants something to help him drift into the night; the last few months, it’s been the Innocence Mission, one of my personal escape acts that I’ve adored for decades. Yesterday (I’m late to the game!) they announced a new record, already pre-ordered on my end; Midwinter Swimmers is out on November 29th. They’re one of those groups who have these little treats within the confines that continue to mesmerize me, like the 45 second mark where there’s this just the faintest uptick in the guitar line; it subsides, only to sneak back in with some plucked strings. This the album that will coat us in warmth to wrap up 2024, and I couldn’t be happier to play this for my son tonight.

Video Age Drop Record Shop 7″

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As much as I enjoyed Away from the Castle, I think that Video Age might have upped the ante on their songwriting skills with their latest 7″ as they prep for a European tour. This one’s pulling on the jangling string stylings of acts like Lucksmiths, texturing backing vocals that build crest after crest of pop vibes that repeatedly soak the listener in melody. Personally, the change in attitude around the 2 minute mark only adds a sense of effortless cool that I couldn’t pull away from, taking their craft one step beyond. Hope the group have fun while their overseas and come back with more songs like these! That rhymes!

Sam Blasucci Returns With Witching Hour

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Sam Blasucci really caught my ear around this time last year with the release of his debut solo LP Off My Stars, which was a heavily spun piece by me. Blasucci doesn’t have any plans to slow down with his new solo work as another new album of material entitled Real Life Thing is due out on November 1st via Innovative Leisure. Prior to the full album, Sam was kind enough to send along a preview of the new material with this single “Witching Hour.” It turns a little bit, and delivers a more piano driven, slight Elton John undertone of inspiration, sound. I am here for it.

Forceghost Ready Recycled Hearts EP + Share New Video

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If you’re an avid fan of textural pop, then perhaps you might spend some time with us, listening to the great new single from Georgia’s Forceghost. They’ve got one EP in the books this year, with Recycled Hearts on its way to your ears this November. One listen through is simply not enough to really indulge in the layered constructs the group are pushing. Synthesized beats and glitches work to build this fuzzy background, punctuated by a sharp drum hit, all the while space age notes spin and bounce throughout. Still, you’ve got a fuzzy bit of guitar crafting the slightest edge that keeps the track from bounding off into absurdity…and all of it’s tethered by these velvety vocal notes built into the musical complex they’ve built around themselves. Risky and rewarding makes for some of the best underground pop. Recycled Hearts is out November 1st via Gift Fig Records.

Surf Trash Drop New Banger

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Prepping for another trip away and I was needing a bit of a boost in the ‘ol brain with some sunny and positive vibes. Luckily I have Australian upstarts Surf Trash to give me a little inspiration with their new single called “Tappin Into Magic.” You’ll find it gives off these great, sort of SoCal meets garage type vibes perfect for anyone wanting to get out and get some sun. I’m sure these dudes are plenty familiar with sunshine vibes.

This track is part of a new album from Surf Trash entitled The Only Place I Know which is out this Friday, September 13th. You can order it, along with some cool merch pieces over on the band’s website.

Check Out Tom Emlyn and His New LP

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If you’re paying attention to the UK scene, Tom Emlyn might already be on your radar, but at the moment, there’s not a ton of folks covering him over here Stateside. That said, I’m here to get down and boogie with his latest release, Rehearsal for the Rain: Scaredycat Vol 2. You’ll get a big dose of classic pop writing styles, with nods to Barrett and the Beatles, but there’s a bit more shimmy and shake on the single below, which is why it works as a great introduction; the howling harmonica alone should set your ears afire. Also, as a fan of storytelling, I love the way he’s gone about explaining and detailing every track in his Bandcamp page. Give him a listen!

September Single from Red Sleeping Beauty

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You have to commend our friends in Sweden, Red Sleeping Beauty. They promised a brand new track every month this year, and here we are with the 9th installment, as we’re hitting September. This one has a different vibe somehow, while still feeling connected to previous 8 months of work. Something in the confines of this song just seems a little more organic, and perhaps less propulsive; I like that it has that earmark of synths, but still feels like a fresh take that’s blossoming by putting that sound in the background a little. As promised, we’ll be back next month with the latest installment from your personal Red Sleeping Beauty PR team!

The Chairman Dances Ready Evening Song

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It’s been over a year since we last heard from Philadelphia popsters, The Chairman Dances, but it seems like this will all be worth the wait, with the group announcing a new record, Evening Song. Our first listen sprinkles in a bit of a light strummed jangle atop a roller-coaster of pop sensibility, rising and falling with the drama of the vocals. While you might file this under your typical folk meets orchestra meets rock, you’ll find a larger sense of exuberance within the confines of the tune; pretty sure there’s a little chuckle on the underbelly of a a vocal note or two, with an added “hey” celebrating the joyousness of band peaking at just the right time. Really looking forward to what’s to come on Evening Song, which hits on October 11th.

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