Last Week’s Jams, Today (2.14 – 2.18)

What were the hot jams from last week? Well. We have them. We put them on a nice little playlist (you can complain about it later) so you could enjoy revisiting the hits. We’ve been running spotlights on SXSW artists, so you’ve got tunes from Logan Lynn, Grant Pavol and Elephant Stone, hoping it’ll catch your eye and get you to check out the interviews. Our friends in Good Looks dropped a new tune, plus we’ve got absolute rippers from Bodega and Dehd, plus some cool shit under the radar from Star Party, Salt Lake Alley, Red Pants and Howless.

Bodega Drop Statuette on the Console

While the typical Bodega single brandishes art-punk with Ben up front, the latest tune from the band features Nikki Belfligio leading on vocals, totally changing the dynamic of the band with her performance. Angular guitar punk is out the window, turning towards a more anthemic power pop vibe, just riffing right through the hooks once the track jumps into play. But, it wouldn’t be Bodega if they weren’t calling our attention to our “dependence on fragile, fleeting technology.” Love this band, but this track takes their work to a whole new level that I’m hoping you’ll dig. Broken Equipment drops on March 11th via What’s Your Rupture.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (1.17 – 1.20)

We got some great music last week, either in single form, or in album form, so we’re grateful for last week. We collected all the jams from last week and put them on your doorstep in this light little playlist. We start off with the great new Say Eyed Beatniks tune, which incidentally is not called Hysterial Roosters, but rather “Hysterical Rooters.” Plus, our friends in Good Looks announced an LP with our other friends, Keeled Scales, so double win there. And, there’s a few jams from great records from Artsick, Good Good Blood and Jana Horn, so sit back and enjoy the day. P.S…I thought I was clever bookending it with Bay Area hits.

Bodega Drops Lyric Video for Thrown

Bodega are set to drop their sophomore LP in March, and as they build, they drop another new tune with this emphatic beat cut up by sharp little guitar riffs. The composition provides a post-punk style that’s built to get you bouncing on the dancefloor, euphorically letting yourself run free. Lyrically, Ben Hozie and Nikki Belfligio use the song as a reflection of sorts, admitting the amount of influence their own interest in art, literature, music has influenced or “thrown” them. Sitting here typing this up, I’m like “yeah, same.” Can we trust ourselves and our tastes? Does it even matter? Watch the video and you make the call. Broken Equipment hits on March 11th via What’s Your Rupture.

Last Week’s Jams Today (10.18 – 10.22)

We were back on our game last week, for the most part. We had tons of great tunes, so we’re hoping you caught wind of at least a few of these on the site. But, if you didn’t, Monday’s a great day to just sit back in your chair and relax. I also threw in a few tunes from the likes of Spirit Was, Keg, Power Supply, Belaver and Dummy who all released most excellent albums last week. You get 20 songs to ease you into this week. Might I still suggest listening to Japan Review. That Rural France tune isn’t half bad either!

BODEGA Announce Broken Equipment LP

When I first heard BODEGA a few years back, I was completely thrilled; they had this brand of post punk that was musically sharp and filled with biting criticism. But, that sound gets easy to pigeonhole, so its great to seem them sort of move into some new territory with the announcement of a new LP: Broken Equipment. This round, they don’t shy away from social critique, taking aim at the world’s necessity to entirely push output as the endgame. Musically, there’s still a rhythmic pulse beneath the surface, but it feels like there’s this openness that allows Ben Hozie to work his distinctive delivery into the mix. I love how the guitar seems to tip-toe around him, ringing out during the chorus. Tunes like this only have one home…What’s Your Rupture drop the LP in March of next year.

Bodega Share Knife on the Platter

It’s good to see a band you enjoyed take a step to the side and start to flex their musical muscle. I love Bodega‘s brand of thoughtful art-punk, and while the lyrical content doesn’t seem to stray too far, the music we’re hearing from the band’s forthcoming LP definitely has the group reaching into new territory. Here we get to hear the band sit back and entrance listeners with Ben’s emphatic lyrical delivery while the rhythm section dims the room (as seen in the video, right?). The guitar work is still slightly angular, but it almost seems like a shiny accessory in the presence of this tune. The band will releasing their new Shiny New Model EP next Friday via What’s Your Rupture.

Bodega Return with Shiny New Model

When Bodega dropped their debut LP last year, it seemed, to me at least, like a refreshed version of early Parquet Courts; Ben Hozie had a similar delivery to the aforementioned, with the band walking the line between art/postpunk. Now here we are with the announcement of a fresh new EP, and at times, a fresh new sound. Ben still has that matter-of-fact lyrical delivery, though he seems to have softened the notes on the ends, stretching them into song. Guitars still have this sharp fuzziness, but there’s textured layers built in, supporting the band with this underlying pop sensibility. The brief instrumental starting right before the 1:30 mark might be some of the best bits the band have crafted to date; it’s clear they’ve really grown their sound, and I can’t turn this song off. It’ll appear on a new 8 song Shiny New Model EP, out on October 11th via some label called What’s Your Rupture.

New Bodega Jam For Your Ears

Up until now, the singles we’ve gotten from the forthcoming Bodega LP have largely been presented with a male voice. But, this round, Nikki Belfiglio gets to take the reins. It’s fitting, as this song is a tune of celebrating self-gratification from the female perspective…an idea that’s an homage to an early life experience of Nikki’s. Musically, those angular chords and throbbing bass are ever-present, and Belfligilio channels her inner Kate Pierson. Endless Scroll will drop on July 6th via What’s Your Rupture.

Bodega Drop a Pop Tune

Up until now, the majority of us have experienced Bodega as an upbeat, art rock act, akin to Parquet Courts. But, this new track is perhaps one of the reason’s so many people have been looking forward to the band’s Endless Scroll LP; it offers that band’s natural arty grit, though the chorus is definitively a pop nod, so much so that some might even dare to call it twee. Still, the band employs a bit of absurdity by comparing the song’s narrators to Jack from Titanic; you can still be clever and fun in rock n’ roll. The record will drop on June 1st via Whats Your Rupture.

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