The Wind Ups Announce Confection

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The water in Oakland must be tasting might fine right about now; you’ve got two powerhouse labels like Slumberland and Dandy Boy just dropping hit after hit…and today is no difference with a new tune from The Wind Ups. It’s the perfect track to crank as you march out the door for a day full of ass-kicking; it employs a scuzzy wall of noise on the surface, but it’s the special hooks living beneath the surface that make the track an ultimate joy. The stomping drum kit and tambourine shaking almost make you feel like its all about to fall apart, only to get dragged back together with the infectious vocals and pure pop sensibility. Confection hits on July 11th via Dandy Boy.

Michael Beach Prepare Big Black Plume

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Michael Beach hasn’t put out a proper album in several years, but he’s constantly working; he’s dropped a few EPs and singles to coincide with tours, not to mention the numerous records he’s played on or helped bring to light since 2021’s Dream Violence. On the horizon, we’ve now got Big Black Plume, and if this opening statement is anything to go off of, we’re really in-store for a statement album. There’s this sort of casual indie sound that opens up the track, letting Beach kind of wiggle his way into the picture with a cool that comes from years of experience. Though the indie side shines at the get-go, it only serves as this kindling, kind of lighting the fire that burns through the various sounds on the tune. In a weird sense, it reminds me of Lift to Experience, sort of spoken word, with Americana licks, but burning with passion and noise that rips through the cones of your speakers. Big Black Plume is out July 25th via Goner Records.

Chatterbox Drop Dark Days

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After a slow burn to wake you up a little bit, wanted to drop this garage rocker from Portland’s Chatterbox. While you’ll hear some incendiary riffs at play, growling at you from your speakers, you’ll also find a bit more darkness lurking in the shadows. They give into those moments, letting the cymbals shatter all around your ears, but in the end the tune still holds onto a tight bit of melody, which is where the charm hooked me. If you’re looking for a little grungy rock n’ roll swagger, with some sugary sprinkles on top, then this is the place!

Art Gecko Share Kuiper Belt

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If you are wanting to trickle into your Tuesday, you might want to sample this delightful little track from Art Gecko. The simplicity fits perfectly into the mixture; it offers this otherworldly warmth, with the vocals sent like messages transmitted across space and time. While there’s always a tendency to push on and mix in layers, this Seattle outfit only doubles down on the velvety textures, using a female backing vocal to ornately round off the main vocal. But, while I felt settled in the first two minutes, they save an uplifting moment for the latter half of the tune, building in texture to deepen your connection.

Nihilistic Easyrider Release Getaway

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As the front person for Narrow Head, Jacob Duarte has to work as a team, but for Nihilistic Easyrider, his solo project, he gets to take all those ideas spinning in his head and do with them whatever he pleases…and we reap the rewards. It’s interesting that this announcement comes the same day as a new Superchunk tune, as you can certainly hear the pop rock enthusiasm in both tunes; it’s an earnestness to just let yourself be freed by hooks and noise. Duarte does a great job, too, toning it down a bit to bring in a melodic nugget in the vocals, calm and sweet, which offers a touch of juxtaposition. The new collection of tunes under the title Deluxe Edition will be out on July 25th via Run For Cover.

Superchunk Announce Songs in the Key of Yikes

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Monday may not be anyone’s favorite day of the week, but when you can kick it off with a little bit of Superchunk, things could ultimately be worse. That actually ties into the group’s new record, Songs in the Keys of Yikes, which draws from themes about all of us going through things at various times in our lives, for better or worse, we just keep pushing on. And, if we’re doing it with this track, then there’s not much better way to rock it, as this track immediately hit you with the hooks; I was caught by the powerful melody in the vocals the instant they dropped into the mix. The rest of the track jams it out in true fashion, offering a little punk and a whole lot of joy. Stoked to hear what all of the new LP sounds like; it’ll be out on August 22nd via Merge.

Pop Rock from The Goodbye Radio

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When I listened to the latest track from The Goodbye Radio, I found a smile begin to creep upon my face, thus I felt like you could use the same touch. At times, they have a straight-forward pop rock sound, but I beg you to spend some time with this chorus. The drums begin to rumble and the guitars shoot off into the horizon; this all gets the perfect pop affirmation where the classic college rock vibes from the 90s shine right into your heart. Sometimes, a tune just makes everything feel alright, and as such, feels like it needs to be part of your world today. And if you do dig, then look for In This Sleeping City to drop this Fall!

Alec Andre Shares Dreams of You

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While the summer typically evokes sunshine and a bit of a pop bounce, I’m certainly not averse to falling into the depths of seasonal melancholy. That sentiment is precisely how Alec Andre‘s latest ballad swept me away. Andre has a sullen voice, at least in this presentation, though you can hear how he takes those heavy tones and churns them into something that stretches towards promise. I think this is where the song’s sentiment aligns magically, as he sweeps you away with hopes hanging from a solemn vocal; this is another tune that feels like it’s Richard Hawley adjacent, and I’m not mad at it. Look for the Dreams of You EP to hit later this year.

Last Week’s Jams (5.27 – 5.31)

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In one of those weeks that magically felt longer than it was, we managed to cover a fair amount of ground, cranking out coverage of at least 20 new tunes for you. Add to that B. Gray’s excellent Kilby Block Party footage and the Levitation Announcement, and, well, we seem like we have our shit together! I loved that there was new stuff from Ryli and Autocamper, both giving me little doses of my pop fix. There was a lot of new stuff, too, that scratched a different itch, with Fortunato Durutti Marinetti announcing a new LP, coinciding with a fresh track from the new Tropical Fuck Storm LP. A bit all over the map, but in the best way. Let us know what you loved the most.

TG Shand Releases The Deadpan Break

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When I clicked go on the new tune from New Zealand artist TG Shand, I found this solemnity in the opening moments; there’s this motorik beat, but it seems to be pushing full force into this mellow wash of atmosphere, like its struggling to gather pace. As Annemarie Duff’s voice enters the fray, the textures begin to take color, with light brushes of guitar and synthetics brushing against one another in the background. Duff’s voice, too, feels like a texture, light and capable of maneuvering between the beat and the coating of noise. And, as the song fades, it settles into this club groove, with a slightly more bold bass line and snappier drum rhythms, pushing the tune to its close.

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