This is fine.
It’s Bandcamp Friday, so perhaps give the labels and bands you love the last of your monies, as who knows how long BC Friday will last, now that the devil has taken over. For instance, you love ATH, maybe go HERE and buy some stuff from our ATH Records label! There’s some deals in there! But, after the jump, check what I recommend for purchasing! Read more
You can label this Lavender Blush track as one of my favorite tunes of the week, perhaps even at the very top of my list, as its that special. Even better, it’s on the group’s new There’s Nothing Inside Your Heart EP, which you can grab since it’s Bandcamp Friday. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for the way the vocals seem to work in contrast with musical element; the guitars are shimmering noisily in the distance, punched up by a thunderous bit of percussion. But, the vocals seem almost stationary, like watching someone stand beneath an umbrella in a rain storm; they’re just standing there, smiling. It’s like this little pop ball of light shining through the darker edges of the galaxy, and I’m totally in love. The new 12″ officially comes out on December 1st via Shelflife Records.
If you’re looking to invest in something fun and playful today, might I suggest you dive into the new Light Beams album? Seeing as the band are tied to Dischord/Mud Memory and DC, its definitely hard for someone living so far away to not hear similarities to some of the work of acts like Q and Not U, particularly as that band aged. There’s this revolving sound, primarily focused on the rhythmic nature; the song snakes its way across the stage, pulsing, bobbing and bouncing. Relying upon such rhythms allows the listener to really feel the movement in their soul, and it all gets punctuated by the rapid vocal delivery from Justin Moyer; even those vocals have a percussive nature to them. If you’re into this sound, get into Wild Life today!
For the last several years, Frog have been quiet, but it looks like the band have been toiling away working up some great new material, like “Maybelline.” To me, the band has this (probably unintentional) connection to the Glands. Both bands had this Southern gothic Americana bleeding through, both in sound and spirit, but they also have a penchant for flipping that over and making it come across with exuberance, just as it does here. The chorus is snappy and sharp, difficult to keep from crawling under your skin. I love the way the piano toils away underneath the song throughout; this song’s really something, so grab Grog before it drops via Audio Antihero on November 17th.
It’s really a bummer that Blood left Austin for Philadelphia, but at least they’re still dropping great tunes like they’ve always done. They’ve slimmed down to a four-piece, and whether that’s impacted the sound as a whole, it does feel like its tightened the ship a little bit, and even maybe subconsciously tying it back to their Austin days. For me, its like a discordant Spoon, maybe a Britt Daniels/Mineral mash-up. There’s definitely a push for a nice vocal grab, but the song revels in its ability to sound tight and ramshackle all at once. It’ll be interesting to see where they’re heading now that they’ve signed with Ramp Local, but you can be sure I’ll keep you posted.
I know this track ran a few days ago, but I wanted to let it settle a bit, then pop up with a reminder. This new single is precisely why I’m so excited about Get Wrong, as it’s like the perfect tasty treat, waiting to be devoured on a Friday morning. Working with this dancefloor ready electronic pulse, Adam and Naomi trade lyrical lines back and forth with one another. They add in some texture with synth stabs and guitar licks, throwing it way back to some nostalgic pop sounds, albeit with their own brand of honesty. Seeing as the two were/are in some of the most joyous pop-punk acts, you can hear that joyousness in their new project, and its completely heartwarming; they drop Get Wrong on December 1st via Father Daughter Records.
If ever there was an artist that one had to see, I would think that Karin Dreijer would be really high up on that list of current artists. From the work with their brother in the Knife, to the Fever Ray project, they’ve continued to push the boundaries of where performance and music intersect. Plus, after releasing the excellent Radical Romantics this past Spring, they’ve allowed/encouraged tons of folks to work on official remixes, like the latest from Frost Children, which you can hear HERE. So, a great artist/performer blows into town, offering 1 of 6 shows to Austinites? You’re going to be there, right? IF you haven’t gotten tickets, they can be had HERE.
After releasing Of Love and Other Affections around 8 years ago, Adriano do Couto and Postal Blue are back with a charming bit of classic indiepop. The track below is all about selling the pop hook; Adriano textures the song with a sentimental brooding to being, sucking you in emotionally, forcing you to digest the jangling guitars with glee. Suddenly, guitar notes feel a bit distorted, and its like you’re grabbing your best friend and swinging one another joyously about your room; there’s this natural frivolity you’ll feel if you’ve got the volume adjusted right. And back and forth, and back and forth, until you’ve been completely seduced all over again by craft. Do Couto promises this is just the first of many great singles to come in the next few months, so keep your ears out!
Having just been turned onto the Norwegian outfit The Uptights a few weeks back, I really had to push you to check their new I Was Dreaming release out; its this ripping brand of indie rock that’s continuously surprising from start to finish, even within a single song, like the one below. When it opens it has this sort of K Records ambiance, but with a bit more of a mess to it. Then, they spin this bouncing guitar line that’s insatiable, except just as you’re sinking into that hook, you’re met with a ripping growl that punctuates the band’s ability to spin sounds entirely at their own will. Hook-laden and dangerous, just like the whole of their new release! Stream it all HERE.
In honor of Milk Teddy reforming to play the Lost and Lonesome 25 Year Anniversary Party, I figured I’d run up this newly unearthed video from the sessions surrounding their last LP, Time Catches Up with Milk Teddy. Starring several band members, the video plays upon the song’s concept of a romantic tryst in a cemetery. Musically, you know I’m a sucker for vocals that seem almost spoken, but hanging onto enough melody that you’re gobsmacked. All of that and you get these floating backing harmonies on the vocals and huge ringing guitars, reminding me I need to go get myself a copy of Time Catches Up with Milk Teddy before they’re all gone! If you’re in Melbourne, they play this weekend! Hopefully the reformation leads to another record of hits!
