Last Week’s Jams (6.19 – 6.23)

It was a pretty busy week around these parts, though on a personal level, the next two weeks are going to be a bit of a shit show. So, it was good to settle into that ride with some great new jams. New music from Colored Lights and Lola Tried got me super excited, so we’re kicking off last week’s jams right there. B. Gray shot some great photos of Love and Rockets, which you can scroll back into and find, thus their inclusion. RayRay ran a review of the latest from Elder Jack Ward, so you can get your soul fix in. I probably played it safe and close to home with new songs from Snooper, Swansea Sound and Film School, among a bunch of others. Unfortunately, the new Lewsberg tunes are streaming yet, so those aren’t here, but go back and listen, please!

Film School Announce Field; Share Single

Having been banging around for over two decades at this point, it’s been really nice to see Film School continue to grow as artists; they’ve expanded their entire sound, building in these dense textures that add depth and discovery. Today we share “Tape Rewind” with you, kicked off instantly by this heavy eruption of feedback and noise. For all it push towards that side of psychedelic rock, the groove gets locked in, and serves as the gravitational pull for the tune. Things swirl and percussion erupts, but you can’t escape being sucked into the melodic nature of the vocal work; it’s like you’re being sucked in by a tractor beam, indifferent to the cavernous noise all around you. This song is the first single from Field, their new LP for Felte Records, out August 23rd.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (11.29 – 12.3)

Happy Monday! We’re still here, still covering sweet jams, though we’re not really working too hard on the cred-required year end lists. Still, last week we tossed up almost 20 new jams, so figured we should run a little recap. You get new hits from the Bay Area via Reds, Pinks and Purples, Kids on a Crime Spree and Sad Eyed Beatniks, plus some videos from our friends in Central Heat Exchange. I included a Smashing Times track from their 2021 LP because we loved their new 7″, though its not quite up on the streaming sites yet. Also, if you didn’t check out that Fortunato Durutti Marinetti track yet, what are you waiting for?

New Video/Single From Film School

If you’ve read the pages of ATH over the years, you must know that we are all huge fans of Los Angeles based outfit Film School. The band recently dropped their 6th studio album entitled We Weren’t Here just this past September which has seen heavy rotation around our offices. Of course if you have yet to check out the new album, might I recommend you hit play on this new single/video for album track “Said Your Name” to give yourself a reason to check out the entire full length. Overall things have a very new wave vibe in both sound and visual but also with that intimate, shoegaze touch we know and love from Film School.

Film School’s latest album We Weren’t Here is available for purchase now via Sonic Ritual.

Listen to More Film School

Film School is one of those bands that really makes me angry about the world. They offer this dreamy indie rock that sort of fuses all these brilliant elements, but sadly, everyone else gets to take home the glory. Here, they almost seem like their looking upon the early days of Interpol with reverence; it’s a bit post-punks in its natural propulsion, though there’s just a bit more shimmer in the guitar. I always get carried away with this group, playing their songs non-stop, and I can feel myself going there today. Look out for the group’s new EP this Summer, or keep your eyes peeled as they hit the road with Mint Field.

Hazy Jam from Film School

The recent history of Film School seems to be a modern success, if ever there was one. They brought minimal expectations to 2018’s Bright to Death, hoping a few people would remember their early work, and they did indeed; people raved over the successful return. So, here we are in 2019, and the band have readied a new set of tunes, and a new EP on the horizon. Our first listen is this beautifully hazy pop number, swimming in and out of propulsive rhythm work and shimmering guitars. Amidst it all is Greg Bertens steadying voice, softly draped across the fuzzy melody of the track, sort of just hanging out there seducing the listener. Expect the EP to drop this summer via Hauskat Records.

Another New Track From Film School

I absolutely love the synth fopundation on this track.

“Go Low” is the second single off of Film School‘s pending LP release Bright To Death. The record is due 9/14 on the shiny new Hauskat Records. It seems our eight year’s worth of patience is going to be rewarded by a reinvigorated and revitalized Greg Bertens in a collaborative environment with his bandmates that are bringing ideas in like the aforementioned synth line. The new tracks both share the first record depth, the notion that the first major release of any band has a more weight as the first record’s songs carry the artist’s thoughts and motivations of their life up to that point, not just the few months in a studio after a tour. Do you agree?

Film School Are Crushin

Film School was an absolute favorite of mine; their show at The Parish eight years ago was my first “assignment” for ATH. I am happy to catch you up on the news that the band has shared a new song called “Crushin” with accompanying video. The other piece of great news is that their first full-length record in six years, Bright To Death, is due in the Fall. Pretty excited, this is a gorgeous piece of shoegaze pop by Greg Bertens and company.

More From Film School

filmschoolA few weeks ago we were given our first glimpse of new Film School, after a fairly long hiatus (in relative terms), and now, we have another brilliant song that makes me regret the fact that the band’s been quiet for so long…yet perhaps that’s why this is so good…it’s coming out naturally, rather than being forced out there. There’s this propulsive rhythm building within, similar to the grooves that Fujiya and Miyagi brought us a few years back, yet I also here this expansive bit of darkened pop building out of all that. They’ll be releasing their June EP this week, which means you need to pick it up.

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New Music from Film School

filmschoolIt’s been quite some time since we’ve heard from Film School, especially the original line-up that helped make their brand new June EP. Seeing as that’s been almost ten years, things have changed, both for the music world and for the band. You can hear growth and maturity in the band’s new single, opening with a sprawling bit of post-rock before the yearning vocals drone echo through your ears. It’s a fitting track to be matched with the black and white cinematography of the video meant to accompany the tune. Look for the new EP on February 12th.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/xbqGhGOmFdk[/youtube]

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