Tag: australia

Mope City Share Laminating the Classics

Leave a comment

Between the work of Flooding and Mope City, I’m definitely living in a dreamland where acts are brandishing heavy-handed riffs to go with their slowcore stylings. On Mope City‘s latest single, they start off in this sludgy pool, only to rise out of those ashes to work their way into some super cool alternative vibes. Feels to me like a lot of flirtation with Sonic Youth’s catalog, working from within the confines of a punk ethos to kind of dive into this underworld of explorative pop. They’ll likely get some Low comparisons too, as they mention in the bio for Population: 4, so you know the best thing for you is to grab a copy from Tenth Court Records; it drops on October 13th.

Pop Filter Return with CONO

Leave a comment

As you begin to wrap up your collection of albums to make it through the end of the year, might I suggest you save a spot for Pop Filter, the band that sprang up after Ocean Party. They’ve already delivered some great batches of tunes, but on the first single from CONO, man, you get some full-fledged punching pop rock. In the past, they’re songwriting has flirted with energy, but they’re letting go here, and you’re going to find yourself stomping your feet and bobbing your head as Lach bemoans a mundane existence, begging us all to relax a bit and soak it all in, instead. My favorite moment hits at the 1:35 moment, where the vocals are emphatic, yearning for that youthful exuberance; it reminds me of a more sincere Strokes at their best, and I totally love it. CONO will drop on December 1st via Bobo Integral.

Vintage Crop Announce New 7″

Leave a comment

Felt a little power-poppy this morning, so felt like I should turn into something a little sharper, a little more brooding, such as this fresh track from Melbourne’s Vintage Crop. The guitars on this song really get you wound up; they curl around your ears, snaking inside in this sort of off-kilter chug, thrusting you right into the pounding stomp of the drum. Jack’s vocals come across in this similar throttle, almost hitting you as each syllable tries to step in line with the rhythm. You get a hint of respite in the track’s middle, with some punctuating synth stabs hitting from behind the mix, all of it leading to the resolution. The video was directed by Oscar O’shea, who aimed to present three parallel versions of Jack, coinciding with the feelings of change in the lyrical content. This new 7″ is available on September 8th via Upset the Rhythm and Anti Fade.

Lower Plenty Announce No Poets

Leave a comment

Just as I thought the year couldn’t have spoken to me anymore, musically speaking, Bedroom Suck Records went in and snuck a new Lower Plenty LP into my listening schedule. It’s interesting that the timing of the release coincides with Spring down in Australia, as it almost feels like you can hear the rustling of the leaves as the breeze washed between Winter and budding trees. It’s dominated by a really strong and steadied strum, with layer upon layer upon layer of vocals building the song’s depth. There are these little “oohs” that lurk in there too, leaving you with this really special nuanced charm that has me grinning from ear to ear. Look for No Poets to drop on October 6th.

Alien Nosejob Shares Split Personality

Leave a comment

There are two things you can almost always count on in life: Goner Records and Australian rock n’ roll, especially when it comes to the prolific nature of Jake Robertson’s project, Alien Nosejob. He’s just announced a brand new LP, looking back at that Nuggets-era boogie rock n’ roll, albeit with a spicier modern twist. For the first minute or so, the track plays with the trope, kicking out that pronounced garage stomp. But, hit that 1:16 mark where the melody sneaks under your skin and you’ll be hooked on the track. Find a fiery solo breaking the track down, turning it into an all out burner that has you rushing to pre-order the LP. The Derivative Sounds of…Or…A Dog Always Returns to Its Vomit is out October 27th via Goner Records.

June Jones Signs With Chapter Music

Leave a comment

When I look at labels that I love, one of the one’s I modeled ATH Records after (in my mind at least) was Chapter Music. The label, partially through our site, was perhaps known for great Aussie guitar pop with acts like Crayon Fields or Goon Sax. But, if you dug in deeper you’d see the label’s affinity for an array of artists from all walks of life, like their newest signing June Jones. “Good Girl” operates with this hyper pulse that’s definitely infectious, tugging you into the pulse even as the vocals come across with a bit of steadied calm. Every time I press play, I imagine what it’d be like if Stephin Merritt wrote club bangers, so I’m glad there’s an artist like June Jones to fill that void. Fall into those electropop vibes below.

Split System Share Alone Again

Leave a comment

I delayed listening to this new Split System track until I could pump it up nice and loud (had a sick kiddo all weekend), and now I can’t stop just jamming this tune time and time again. The guitar riffs that opened set up this perfect drop in that brings in this little dancing angular note, dropping right alongside a stomping drum beat; you take the two guitar lines and you get the melody running aside the gritty, matching the way the vocals come across in the song’s whole. The verses feel calmed and pensive, leading to this growling chorus that fuels the furious punch this song will deliver to your ears. This track is our first listen to music from Vol. 2, slated for release early in 2024 via Goner Records/Legless/Drunken Sailor.

Quality Used Cars Share Seven Minute Opus

Leave a comment

There’s something magnificent in the way Francis Tait is executing his songwriting goals, particularly with his band Quality Used Cars. On the band’s latest single, it moseys into the bar, brimming with a sort of Aussie swagger; the track charms and draws you into the narration. At times, you feel like you’re in some old honky-tonk, being serenaded by Francis, but then its like the rest of the band jumped up on stage and you get this smoldering burn that’s hitting home with this Texas boy. The benefit of the song running over the cup, so to speak, is that you get these different little switches, like the track’s middling melodic pursuit, opening the latter half of the track to more of a solemn plod. Spending time with this track alone will immediately encourage you to go grab Quality of Life, the new LP from Spoilsport Records.

Small Intestines Prep Hide in Time LP

Leave a comment

Another day in bloggerville with another single coming from Australia that I’m really enjoying; it’s coming courtesy of Meritorio Records/Lost & Lonesome, too! Small Intestines are a new act on my radar (though w/ members of Chook Race), but the pacing and twisting of this track is sublime. You get a good 35 seconds of nice clean guitar pop before the band bring in the vocals; they’re operating with dual voices overlapping, which, for some reason, is always best executed when its done by the Aussies. While the track might seem sated, it takes on the song title’s mentality, turning from a solid trot into a nice bit of a hurried horse riding gallop; it’s a nice twist that keeps you coming back to press play. They’ll be releasing Hide in Time this September.

Off Judy Share Under The Weather

Leave a comment

Continuing with my string of upbeat bangers this week seems to make the most sense for our collective psyche and Byron Bay based artist Off Judy is here to kick off your Monday. The band’s latest single “Under The Weather” features an alternative rock style with some hints of sludge and grunge, but with just enough pop elements to drive it home. Think White Reaper, but maybe with just a touch more sloppiness or slacker themes. The accompanying video fits well with the style as we have the neighborhood alcoholic crashing the local skate rink. Good times.

1 2 3 … 36