This is fine.
Prior to the Friday release date of new album Out of Range, New Orleans based Electric Arch has this new single called “Las Ramblas” ready for your listening pleasure. The band, featuring compositions from main main James Marler, features a heavy layered, beat driven style of pop music. As I continue to listen to this song a few times, I’m finding new layers to peel back and discover each and every time. It’s wild man.
Pretty sure I’ve been waiting for this new Blues Lawyer LP for my whole life, or at least it seems that way. Somehow the Bay Area four-piece craft these insanely catchy pop songs with a little bit of the traditional slacker/DIY ethos. There just always seems to be this influx of energy and sugar in their songs; they inevitably bounce around my head for hours after they’ve been played…a sure fire sign of a hit if you ask me. There’s all sort of pigeonholing you could do here too; jagged riffs, male/female vocal interplay, etc, but why not just let ourselves have some fun with our music all over again? This tune is off the group’s new LP, Something Different, out November 8th via Mt. St. Mtn.
Listening to the Stargazer Lilies new material, it’s really hard not to hear the imprint of Tobacco in the production room. He’s sort of peeled back some of the layers and let the sonic barrage sort of barrel through the speakers. At first, you think you’re getting this sort of angelic dreamscape, and it’s special in its own right. But, then guitars fuzz their way into the picture, careful not to rip through the cones of your speakers…though they’re close. Beneath you can almost hear this pulse to the song, this heartbeat that lives deep in the mix; it’s really clear that building the sonic textures here was super important for the new LP, Occabot…out November 1st via Rad Cult.
I’m always scouring the Melbourne scene hoping to stumble upon something really incredible, which seems to happen more often than not. That’s sort of how I stumbled onto Annual Leaf who have a handful of releases to their name, with Stay Fresh coming in as their 4th EP of the last few years. The geographical region probably forces you to look right at the guitar pop, but while I adore that, I really loved the way that singers Matt and Mel play off of each other. To me, they seem the perfect fit for the sound, sort of like all those great Comet Gain albums I’ve been hoarding for years. These are songs of warmth with a definite Aussie flare that’s immediately recognizable. Take a chance on this EP right away!
Man it’s been a crazy day in Austin, and I’m hoping to end your day of music with us by offering up something a bit more chill and relaxed to ease you into the afternoon. Imagine that, I have this new song called “Write My Name” from Copenhagen based Rasmus Littauer and his project known as School of X. Currently working as the touring drummer for Major Lazor, one can hear a bit of electronica and beat driven pop here. I’m finding it to be quite irresistible.
School of X will release a new EP entitled Destiny on November 15th via Tambourhinoceros.
We’ve obviously got a bunch of new music to share with you today and I’m continuing the trend with this new song called “Green Deal” from London based artist Organised Scum. It’s a hard song for me to classify well into a genre, but I do know that it’s unique and certainly draws me in for repeat listens. At times it sort of reminds me of slacker shoe gaze like Mac Demarco, then I get thrown for a loop with the vocals, and hear more of a Moonface style. Genre or no genre, this one if worth you time.
The band has let me know that they will release this song on a new EP entitled One Less Bastard, which is coming in November.
Sometimes we get so caught up in expectations and hype that we often forget what great catharsis can come from just having fun with rock n’ roll…and that’s why I’m encouraging you to listen to Dylan Ewen. Here you’ve got Dylan with this energetic pop rock tune that’s easily the most infectious thing you’re going to hear today, or this week. There’s these little guitarmonies in there, matched by Ewen’s playful lyricisms; you’ll find yourself tapping your toes and bobbing your head, and all will seem right in the world. This tune appears on I’ve Made So Many Mistakes EP, which is being released by Solidarity Club Records on November 1st.
Everyone in the little circle of indiepop nerds has been dropping hints to me that I should check out the Umbrella Puzzles, and I’m glad I finally came to my senses. You can stream the band’s forthcoming EP before its release, and you’ll hear what I’m talking about. My first run through, I could hear the indiepop vibes going on in the vocals; they have that melodic softness that makes fans of the genre swoon. Musically, it had this almost classic psychedelic pop moment, but the more I listened, the more I feel like the band has no problem calling themselves fans of acts like Television Personalities. Sure, there’s a nostalgic rock vibe, but it has this bounce to it that you’ll surely find yourself enjoying this afternoon. The EP is available on November 14th from
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I woke up today wanting something reflective, something slowly moving that would have me looking back on the weekend, which is how I landed on Irish songwriter Tokoloshe. This track comes off The Ever Changing Same Old LP, which he’s recently shared. It sort of opens with this soft strum beneath his heavy vocal notes. Slowly, textural notes are built into the song, which really allows the emotional pull of the song to ebb and flow, ultimately leaves you with that thoughtfulness I alluded to earlier; that’s also matched by the fragility in the vocals that slowly unfold along the way too. Settle into your week with this number.
Monday’s are generally pretty slow, and while I’m looking over last week, there’s really only one thing that needs to be said; you need to listen to Emma Russack & Lachlan Denton‘s new LP, Take the Reigns. I could easily walk you through the whole record and all my favorite moments. For instance, go to “Help,” and wait for the beautiful uptick at the 1:18 mark. Maybe you’ll enjoy the stomp of Emma’s performance on “Letting Go,” which admittedly caught me by surprise. You can always come back to the joy of “Catch,” but when you do, you undoubtedly realize you’re going to keep coming back to this whole record time and time again. I dare you to find me a great pop album than this right here.
