New Jam From Gentle Heat

My apologies for my lack of musical postings over the last few days/weeks though my pal Lankford has held down the fort as he usually does. I’m back today with this shoegazy as hell tune called “Closer II” from Chicago based indie legends Gentle Heat. For those familiar with the band, you may notice a slight change in the vocals with the addition of keyboardist and accompanying singer Sarah Clausen. I am loving how her vocals provide this sort of eerily harmonizing effect that sort of fades and melds into the fronting vocals of David Algrim. Be warned, the track may start a tad slow, but it certainly picks up.

Gentle Heat will release new album Sheer, featuring this new tune, on May 13th.

Triangle Rain Club Release Close the Door EP

Feel like we should start off Friday with something straight and simple: good old fashioned fuzzy rock n’ roll from Triangle Rain Club. When you hear the lead track from the Close the Door EP, you;ll immediately realize why there’s a cover of JaMC hanging out in the back end. Riffs bound and bounce forward immediately, shooting off like fuzzy stars against the blackened star, leaving a trail of melodic hooks in their wake. Singer Austin Smith has these heavy tones in his voice, but I like that you get a lot of clarity in the mix, really letting the track get its hooks under your skin. Great place to spend some Bandcamp money!

Courtesy Release Video for Spots

I’m going to be real honest here. Until they reached out, Courtesy was not an act on my radar, but fuck I’m glad they did. They’re an outfit that just feels like a collective of musical adventurers, twisting and turning knobs, layering textures, adding loops and dropping in vocals where fitting; its like they’re out to pick up a sample here, mix in a new sound there, and all of it working perfectly. On this striking video, the accompanying track has this high pitch vocal in the middle that reminds me of Liars; it seems like they approach things in the same manner, and dare I say, seem even more willing to stretch the boundaries. And speaking of the video, can we praise Essian enough? I think not; this video gets knocked out of the park. If, like me, Courtesy are new to you, prepare yourself for one helluva ride when the band drop Check the Milk on November 19th!

Dramatic Shapes Share In the Other

No need for me to go out on a limb here, as if you frequent this site you surely know that the musical element of Dramatic Shapes is pretty spot on for my personal “brand.” I love those light jangling guitar lines and a steady drum loop that adds a nice little toe tapping groove to it. That said, what I love about this tune from the Chicago outfit is the way they go about the vocals; they’ve got some heavy effects on the vocal, which, in their own manner, deliver this dreamy element to the song’s center. They’re almost entirely obscured, so I naturally was like, “Well, that’s new!” Give it a listen.

Straight Banger From Stuck

Looking for some short and sweet rock music to brighten up your day and get you ready for the weekend? Well, then you need look no further than this new single “City of Police” from Chicago quartet Stuck. It is most definitely a song inspired by the post-punk genre but offers a hell of a lot more intensity and passion in it’s 2 minutes than most things I am currently hearing on the scene. I think you’ll dig it as well.;

Stuck will release a new EP entitled Content That Makes You Feel Good on August 13th via Exploding in Sound Records. Pre-orders are live now.

Bnny Share Ambulance Video

I have this weird feeling that Bnnywill be high upon folks talking points list when their debut record finally drops; I’m already holding them in high esteem. I love the nakedness of this tune, just the solitude of the presentation is really striking, to me anyways. Not sure which feels lonelier, the vocals of Jess or that guitar, but either feels like its just hanging in isolation, waiting for our discovery. There’s also this very slight tonal change around the 1:10 mark that really made this song stick out in my mind, so if you’re looking for little flourishes to charm, check that brief moment. Everything will be out on August 20th via Fire Talk.

 

Bnny Signs to Fire Talk, Readies New Single

Seeing as we’re in the mood for hot labels and hot tracks, lets look over to Fire Talk Records, the powerhouse label giving us the likes of Dehd, PACKS, Deeper and more…and speaking of more, today they announce the singing of Bnny. The band is the project of Jess Viscius, who sort of stumbled into the group after someone left behind a guitar at her apartment in Chicago. Musically, she’s crafting this brand that’s somewhere in between the Cate Le Bon and Sharon Van Etten, with these sort of smoky pipes and snaking guitar psychedelic guitar lines. Apparently this song’s going to be a big deal, as its featured prominently in the final season of Shrill (out Friday!).

Pool Holograph Share Mirror World

Chicago outfit Pool Holograph are just a few weeks away from the release of their new LP, Love Touched Time and Time Began to Sweat. I really love the thoughtfulness of this new single, illustrating the band know exactly when to kind of pull back on the reins a little. Every little note seems like its perfectly stitched into this subtle pop quilt that shimmers on the surface, allowing Wyatt to add his breathy vocals and coat the tune in this heavy melodic blanket. Already a huge fan of the band, every step they’re making on this new Lp seems supremely rewarding; it drops officially on October 2nd.

Have Another Slow Pulp Tune

The Chicago, by way of Madison, based band Slow Pulp has slowly been building a following over the last year with several solid tunes hitting the interwebs. Earlier this summer we shared with you new single “Idaho” and now I am beyond pleased to have this fresh new single called “At it Again” hitting the site today. As we’ve all seen from the band on prior singles, this one again features some expert musicianship, especially the drums, paired with the more intimate, quiet voice of singer Emily Massey. It’s sort of like a more banging version of POBPAH or Alvvays. Definitely worth a listen today.

Slow Pulp will release new album Moveys on October 9th via Winspear.

Pool Holograph Share Life by the Power Plant

In 2019 I threw a SXSW show together in 6 days, and dammit if I didn’t pull it off. One band I was really stoked to have grabbed was Pool Holograph; they played an incredible set that we raved about. Since then, they’ve had a few singles, but I’ve really been waiting for a new full-length to drop…and that news is out there now with Love Touched Time and Time Began to Sweat announced for an October release. This new single has the slow burn I love from the band, utilizing these chopping angular guitars knifing through a haze of feedback to create this sort of unhinged anxiety. The vocals, while melodic, almost feel pained, aching to find a home in your ears. Dig it you will; the record drops on October 2nd.

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