Last Week’s Jams (4.24 – 4.28)

I felt like I let you down last week, having only really covered about 17 new songs, but in that, we tried to make sure there were some burners in there that would get you excited. What better way to start off this week’s recap than bringing you the world’s best power pop outfit, The High Water Marks and their new single. We got a new RVG tune, which is never a bad place to be, plus Beach Fossils continued to show their growth on the new LP. And, it wouldn’t be us if there was no Austin contingent, so we ran an acoustic session from Redbud, plus the latest from Dress Warm. Take a listen.

James Leonard Hewitson Drops Fresh Single

If you come to these pages from time to time, you’ve likely hit upon a tune or two from one of our favorites, James Leonard Hewitson; he just dropped a brand new single we wanted to share with you. For me, the songwriting on this track feels like it has two sides. One on hand, you get some quirky guitar pop with playful lyrics, not far off from what you’d get from say a Mo Troper sort. But, when the chorus drops, things kind of stretch into more of a beautiful yearning of shimmering hooks. It sets up the tune well, leaving you with this tasty morsel of great pop, so go ahead and pop it in your ears and thank us later!

James Leonard Hewiston Shares Waiting for a Call

James Leonard Hewiston has a brand new EP coming out at the end of July, so he’s been teasing us with the hits from that forthcoming release. “Waiting for a Call” is definitely a stand out, utilizing the slick combo of the 80s synthesized hooks to contrast the angular knife cuts of his guitar work. At time, things sound frantic, as if Hewitson is trying to escape an unknown assailant. Those melodic vocal tones are also omnipresent this round, even when the song feels like its reached the pinnacle of James’ anxiety; hooks and tension throughout, oh boy! Commercial EP will be out on July 29th via Win Big Records.

James Leonard Hewitson Eschews Cool

There’s something in this new single from James Leonard Hewitson that recalls the sultry stylings of Jeremy Jay. It’s pop music, but not the overproduced sort, settling into a consistent bit of dreamy pop…fitting as this new single is titled “Dream Person.” A slightly heavier/darker tone crashes into the song’s middle, but fades away back into the soothing core of the song that revolves around Hewitson’s voice…though joined by a female counterpart on the track’s latter half. I love the way he’s just casually bringing out songs slowly, testing the waters of his craft. Cheers to you sir.

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Hooked on James Leonard Hewitson

jameslewisYou listened to that last Ought record yet (you should!). But, if you are looking for newtwisting, turning, spoken-word, artful punk, then you should tune into this James Leonard Hewitson hit. It’s got that jagged little swagger in the guitars, with overlapping vocals and voice samples layered atop one another…all of it adding to this huge wall of hook-laden tension that begs you to run…though you can’t pull yourself away. Just stuck playing this song on repeat all morning, and I feel like you deserved to be in the know. This is the second single we’ve heard from JLH, all courtesy of Endearment Records.

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