Superchunk Share Stuck in a Dream

With their much anticipated new record just a few weeks away now, Superchunk have dropped what’s likely to be their last single from Songs in the Key of Yikes. This one comes out swinging from the get-go, running right at you with huge riffs and the most magnificent chorus you’ll be singing at all their shows. They even tease us with a little stuttering breakdown just after the one minute mark, right before jaunting off to some solo guitar flair to put their musicianship on display. Be ready to scream “I’ve been stuck in this dream all night,” when the record drops on August 22nd via Merge.

Superchunk Drop No Hope Single

Not sure if this was the planned single announcement Superchunk had in the cards, but it definitely feels like the title is an apt descriptor of where we’re dropping this week. “No Hope” rumbles in with angular cuts shredding atop a rumbling bit of drum work; a natural energy courses through you almost immediately, greeted by this faint “oohooh” that drives the sugary sweetness of the tune. Honestly, this might be one of their best tunes in sometime, incorporating all their best elements into a really tight package; the music and vocals have innate hooks; they vocals have a softness they don’t always carry; you get an anthemic chorus too! All signs point to a ripping new record when Merge drop Songs in the Key of Yikes in August.

Superchunk Announce Songs in the Key of Yikes

Monday may not be anyone’s favorite day of the week, but when you can kick it off with a little bit of Superchunk, things could ultimately be worse. That actually ties into the group’s new record, Songs in the Keys of Yikes, which draws from themes about all of us going through things at various times in our lives, for better or worse, we just keep pushing on. And, if we’re doing it with this track, then there’s not much better way to rock it, as this track immediately hit you with the hooks; I was caught by the powerful melody in the vocals the instant they dropped into the mix. The rest of the track jams it out in true fashion, offering a little punk and a whole lot of joy. Stoked to hear what all of the new LP sounds like; it’ll be out on August 22nd via Merge.

Rosali Releases Hey Heron

If you were paying attention to the Cardinals at the Window, the compilation benefitting flood victims, then you’ve possibly already indulged in this new Rosali song. But, seeing as she released a powerhouse record earlier this year, we wanted to point you in the direction of this single. There’s a slow burning guitar that courses through, reminiscent of the summer haze that we’re trying to escape down here in Texas. Take in the slow burn, then go dive into Bite Down, if you haven’t done so already. This tune is out there, like her album, courtesy of some label called Merge Records.

Quivers Drop Oyster Cuts Title Track

A few days our friends in Quivers released the title track to their exciting new record, Oyster Cuts. While their first single bombarded you with huge pop sensation, this track peels it back a bit, settling into more of a locked soothing sensation. It’s the rhythmic pulse that really makes the track successful, setting the foundation for a huge wash of synths to sweep in while Bella Quinlan belts out these ginormous pop notes. That budding atmosphere helps create this bit of pop haze, both hopeful and trepidatious; this ties into the theme of the lyrics wherein the narrator is moving away from personal hardship into something new, though still doubting a bit of the reality. Atop great new music, the band will also be embarking on a huge tour in the Fall, bringing their set to Austin in late October. Buy their new Oyster Cuts LP before its August 9th release date via Merge Records.

Quivers Return with Apparition + Announce Oyster Cuts

Really excited for our friends in Quivers who release a new single today, courtesy of their new home Merge Records. The last time we heard from the outfit, they were brandishing striking pop rock via their album Golden Doubt, but it seems like they’ve aimed to top themselves this go round, pumping out bigger riffs and even bigger melodies. They employ group harmonies on the vocals, often overlapping, which vaguely reminds me of the New Pornographers at their most joyous moments; it’s an infectious feel that bleeds right through the speakers with a huge stomp that catches you up in its charms. Little bit of swagger and a whole lot of fun; looking for more good stuff from the band as the year continues; they release their new album Oyster Cuts on August 9th!

Camera Obscura Shares Liberty Print Video

Long ago, when a friend first suggested listening to Camera Obscura, I remember that it was all about Tracyanne Campbell’s voice; it felt steadfast in solitude, yet charming in its emotional power. When I listen to their latest single, “Liberty Print,” I can still feel the majesty in Campbell’s vocal performance, though sonically, you can hear the band moving in new directions; even Tracyanne comments that “it’s the song most unlike anything we’ve one before.” That charming openness of the song, leaving drifting guitar notes atop sampled synth notes is perfect, leaving the song with tons of space to be filled…and they do, adding in snappy drum work that gives the song a bit of gallop. Lyrically, the song manages to detail Campbell’s grief (after the passing of her brother) from within the context of a buoyant pop song; this the charming craft of a songwriter few can beat. Look to the East, Look to the West is out on May 3rd via Merge.

Camera Obscura Share We’re Going to Make It in a Man’s World

There’s so much new music out of late that it’s incredibly impossible to keep up with it all, unless that new music is coming from Camera Obscura, who I adore. After a long hiatus, the band are back with a new LP on the horizon, and this new single takes their fascination with country-tinged pop and fuses it with their classic pop sensibility. Through the repeat of the song’s title, the melody is built and layered, almost drilling the track right into your brain. You’ll also find some little playful interludes that see them tinkering with their songwriting; I love that they are still finding their way while adhering to some of their old pop feels. Look to the East, Look to the West will be out May 3rd via Merge Records.

Camera Obscura Return! New Album + New Single

How on Earth have we reached 10 years without a Camera Obscura record? This was the news that I wasn’t expecting, though now that I’ve sat with “Big Love” for a minute, I’m definitely celebrating. There’s an immediacy in the tune’s hook, Tracyanne Campbell’s voice is so powerful and distinctive, that you can’t pull away, even as you notice the band have begun to shift the sound a bit. Press info reports that the group have peeled back a bit of the horns and strings, turning towards organs, keys and a bit of swing to boot. One of my favorite things about this tune is that you can hear the shift in a new direction, though the move doesn’t seem outlandish, as the central style of songwriting is totally lurking beneath that slide guitar. Really excited to hear what’s in store on Look to the East, Look to the West, out May 3rd via Merge Records.

Another Teenage Fanclub Tune

Look, I don’t care how many posts I have, or how many other silly sites cover them, there’s never a bad time to cover Teenage Fanclub. This new single is a reminder of that, as they had me the instant that jangling strum hits you in the face. Operating with a steady circular stomp, the song twists into this stretched out melodic piece that reminds me a lot of sitting around my grandparents house listening to the oldies station. They’re creating pop music that’s just absolutely timeless, and I couldn’t be happier to know that Nothing Lasts Forever is closer on the horizon; it’s out on September 22nd via Merge Records.

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