Friday Album Streams: Sharp Pins, Exploding Flowers, Cats of Transnistria + More

It’s a really busy week in the music business, with everyone aflutter over the new album from Japanese Breakfast. But, while that’s stealing the headlines, we’ve got some other recommendations we’d like for you to consider before you venture off into the weekend. We’ve been highlighting several of these releases, most notably the reissue from Sharp Pins, which features some incredible new songs. But don’t worry, as usual, the stuff below is all over the map, so feel free to click and find out what you love the most.

 

Sharp PinsRadio DDR (K Records/Perennial Death)

Exploding FlowersWatermelon/Peacock (Meritorio Records)

Cats of TransnistriaIV (Soliti Music)

Private LivesSalt of the Earth (Feel It Records)

Private Lives Drop Psychic Beat

Over the last few years, Feel It Records has turned me onto some great acts I might not have caught onto otherwise, and as I circled back on yesterday’s news, there was this great Private Lives tune to share. My initial draw was Jackie Blenkarn’s voice; it’s got this pre-riotgrrrl yelp to it that teases the links between punk and classic rock n’ roll vibes. Behind her, there’s this quick rhythm and jittering guitar stabs that feel over-caffeinated in the best way possible. Blenkarn’s voice through the chorus delivers the sweetness to dose you with pop, while the band takes on a moment to remind you of their adoration for the old school with a ripping little nostalgic solo. They’ll release Salt of the Earth on March 21st.

Corker Release Vital Fall Single

The Ohio scene has really been on fire of late, and you can just throw Corker into the pile of rad acts you should be listening to daily. With their latest, they swing in with these angular riffs that knife their way around machine gun snare rattles. You can hear where folks who love Omni or Ought would be into this tune, as they play with the melding of dissonant sounds and indifferent vocal deliveries, as if they’re encircling their prey, the listener. If you wait one more day, they’ll have the entirety of Hallways of Gray available to stream, courtesy of Feel It Records.

Class Share Milkman Single

Less than a year ago, Class released the rad record, If You’ve Got Nothing, and they’ve turned it around with another release slated to drop this Friday. Today, before the album drops, we’ve got this jagged bit of garage pop that should garner a listen or seven. There’s definitely a punk nod on this, particularly in the way the vocals almost seem to pogo into the picture, though in a sedate manner; they do burst forth emphatically when you hit the hook and the chorus, as they should. I love the marching drum roll that sets up the chorus, then it hits you with these gang vocals and pounding piano notes; it’s a huge sound with crunchy rock n’ roll flare. Best in Class! Grab A Healthy Alternative this Friday from Feel It Records.

Another Single from Marcel Wave

I’m really falling head over heels for this new stuff from Marcel Wave. Sure, you can pile it with the post-punk adjacent acts, but there’s something really special about Maike Hale Jones. It’s almost as if she’s got this little secret she keeps to herself; you can almost feel her smiling as she hits some of these notes, particularly the strikingly enchanting moments that pop out of the chorus on this tune here. The band itself maintain this effortless cool in everything they do, whether they’re plucking riffs steadily or letting the keyboard work texture the tune, it just feels like a band at the top of their game. Something Looming will drop on June 14th via Feel It Records/Upset the Rhythm.

Marcel Wave Share Stop/Continue

It’s always a wonder why folks gravitate to some bands and not others. Like we’ve all raved about Dry Cleaning, but there’s been hardly a whisper overseas about Marcel Wave. Sure, they’re not identical acts, but they draw from the same tradition of spoken-word vocals that have walls of punk ethos towering around. This tune, like the track’s title, has this feeling like the tune could be stopped at any point; the pulse of the synths stabs through the speakers, jittering as it builds tension. Still, as you expect either a halt or a release, the band push on, spinning those nervy synth lines right down the line to the close. Something Looming is right around the corner, released by Upset the Rhythm and Feel It Records.

Premiere: The Ar-Kaics Share Cornerstone

For all the ferrymen along the river of psychedelia, I wouldn’t be lying if I said things had perhaps traveled a bit too far into the realm of the mundane. That said, I love the flare and style that the Ar-Kaics bring to the fold; they almost seem like their more enlightened by the annals of classic rock as opposed to the tethered nostalgia of psych rock. You can hear the need to get down and boogie in their craft, with guitar crisp and steamy, packing a huge punch that gives off a bit of sweaty swagger. You’ll find that the coolness of the vocals brings in a refreshing touch, almost as if they embody a wolf howling at the moon before settling into a little soulful blast. Patrick Fugit can’t wait for you to hear those incendiary riffs that run throughout the whole of See the World on Fire; it drops on May 3rd via Feel It/Dig/Bachelor Records.

The Ar-Kaics Share Stone Love

While the latter half of this fresh Ar-Kaics tune takes off in a fiery ball of psychedelic stomp, you’ve got to lock into the classic rock grooves of the first minute or so of the tune. There’s a bit of an assured swagger to the riff work, but there’s this openness that seems faintly celebratory, like one’s gathered up in a van full of friends and ready to hit the road. When they hit the road, tambourines and shakers are passed around and everyone’s on board to ignite the fire that lights up the song’s latter half. There’s definitely an interesting juxtaposition, as the front half totally owes a debt to the classic while the back half is more akin to early Oh Sees or Black Angels. They’ll release See the World On Fire via Feel It/Bachelor Records.

Marcel Wave Announce Something Looming

If you were all aboard the Dry Cleaning brand of jangling post-punk with spoken words, but then felt a little desensitized, might I ask you to check in on Marcel Wave. In many ways, the bands both employ similar sentiments in some of the jittering mannerisms, but ultimately, I find this London bunch a lot more springy. Skip into the song and you’ll likely notice the fashionable post-punk plod, that is, until you hit the chorus where there’s a sparkling disco-ball vocal performance bouncing rays of light all across the track. There’s also some aggressiveness too in spots, hinting at the right type of edge we might find on Something Looming; the LP drops June 14th via Upset the Rhythm/Feel It Records.

Corker Release New Single

Feel It Records was on a roll late last year, releasing tons of great new music for us…and now they’ve got Corker releasing a new single. It rips right through your speakers, offering up a brand of post-punk that feels sort of Marked Men adjacent, to me anyways. It’s got this natural pop sensibility, but it’s surrounded by this darkness as the band play into their own aspirations by driving the listener at a furious speed whilst piling on their disorienting vocals. It’s a quick little ride through rock n’ roll town, but if you’re definitely digging their Falser Truths LP from last year, this comes as welcome news to you.

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