This is fine.
Stop me if I’ve already said this before, but SXSW is just around the corner and it’s time for you to start preparing like we used to back in 2019. We will of course be doing our best to aid in your preparations with our yearly coverage, recommendations, interviews, etc. Today I am pleased to continue or ongoing coverage with an interview from Portland based artist Logan Lynn. Hit the jump for full interview and some new tunes.
As anticipation builds for the release of Merlynn Belle, Tele Novella share one final video/single to entice your ears before it drops. And no offense to Jason here, but this track is completely Natalie’s show; her vocals are right in the front of the mix, showing off this insane range. Steady pop notes rise to meet quivering high notes, then dropping right into the max in this incredible playful manner; there’s also an emphatic punch that’s set up in the chorus, riding along the gallop of the drums. While I’ve always enjoyed the work of the band, this whole LP is starting to really really special. Kill Rock Stars will drop it for us all on February 5th.
You ever turn on a song, and it just brings back memories, things you’d long forgotten? Well, I turned on this great new Tele Novella tune, and here I am flooded with nostalgia…and in a way, its not even my nostalgia. It feels like its from an unknown moment of timelessness, somewhere, me sitting in some breakfast nook with a cup of coffee and music playing in the background. It’s some beautiful ballad, and I reimagine my father or mother doing the same thing, only twenty years prior. It’s a weird feeling, but there’s something about a band and a song that can move you in that manner, transport you to a time you might not even know existed…but in doing so, there’s comfort, solace…and for me, that was this gem of a tune. It’ll appear on the group’s new LP, Merlynn Belle, out via Kill Rock Stars on February 5th.
It may have taken six year for the follow-up to Trouble in Paradise, but it seems that was well worth the wait for us all, as Tele Novella appear to be at the top of their powers. Honestly, it almost feels like a different band, and Natalie, who has always had an incredible voice, only seems to have upped the ante on her singing prowess; she’s got such control over her pitch and tone that she seems to rise and fall at her every whim. Plus, the band’s artistry extends beyond the confines of recorded sound, with an incredible video being paired with the tune too. I’ve run out of mundane adjectives here, but I can truly say that this feels like something very huge; Merlynne Belle will be out February of next year courtesy of Kill Rock Stars.
It’s been almost five years since we’ve heard from Tele Novella, but today we get to listen to their first bit of new music since House of Souls. I love the forlorn weariness of Natalie’s voice that comes through here immediately, perhaps influenced by their new home in “lost in time” Lockhart; it has this timelessness, which might be the best descriptor for this group. But, as always, they layer in little doses of sublime pop, like the faint bubbling up just near the 1:10 (or 2:47) mark of this tune. This tune will appear on the group’s new album Merlynn Belle, which will come out via Kill Rock Stars.
You imagine folks get bored playing the same old sound, which is great for Wimps, as the band continue to evolve sonically. They’ve just recently announced they’ll be releasing Garbage People via Kill Rock Stars this summer, and our first listen still has the band brandishing their same frantic rock sound…though they’ve turned up the infectiousness quite a bit. Rachel’s voice naturally grabs the listener on this track while the guitar work pushes the song forward emphatically…and in the end it almost feels like we’re spinning out of control, until they settle in to close the song out. The new record will be released on July 13th, so mark your calendar for something fun!
I’m pretty sure that Wimps wrote this great new tune while thinking of me, or maybe you. The music itself is pretty straightforward, feeding listeners some solid riffs with a catchy ring to them. But, the lyrical content is where I connect the most. My interpretation is that the “old guy” mentioned in the song is disgruntled at having constantly being seen as the old guy at the party with all the answers. Now, I might not know exactly what they mean, but I definitely feel like the old dude at some of the shows we go to. It’s not a complaint for me so much as it is that everyone just stares at the “old guy” in the corner; I’m that old guy. Sorry for creeping everyone out. Still, the song’s great, period. It appears on the band’s new album, Suitcase, which has a November 13th release via Kill Rock Stars.
Listening to this new single from Wimps, I’m pretty convinced they need a larger stage in the indie realm. Their latest single, “Suitcase,” is a splendid piece of propulsive punk rock, fueled by incredible guitar work and a bit of ramshackle percussion. It’s reminiscent of the work by Parquet Courts, though I think this one has a ton more attitude and punch than their contemporaries. Could this be the year when Wimps break into the ears of the masses? I sure hope so. Look for their new album, Suitcase, to hit on November 13th via Kill Rock Stars.
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As you get ready to pick up the new EP from the Wimps, I figured I’d toss out another tune that’s been out for a week or so…just to further encourage your good tastes. While this quick little jaunt runs at just under 2 minutes, there’s plenty music in here for you to enjoy. Personally, I love the fact that the three piece seems to really have narrowed their focus in the songwriting, as their new tunes sound infinitely more powerful and direct than their earlier work…though that was enjoyable in an entirely different delight. It’s just nice to see a good band grow and still charm you…so without further adieu. Kill Rock Stars is handling this release…for this Friday!
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New of the Wimps signing with Kill Rock Stars is both a good thing and a bad thing. It means they’re leaving their label End of Time Records, who we love (sad), but they moved onto a larger stage with KRS (good). Ultimately, this just means they’ve now got a larger platform for their jittering punk rock, known for rapturous live shows and albums of exuberance. They’ll be releasing the Super Me EP, and this first single definitely highlights the band’s sound, filled with bouncing rhythms and just enough angst to make you feel young. Give it a listen and look for the EP on August 7th.
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