This is fine.
As the year nears its close, there’s a handful of releases that are worthy of your listening experience. We wanted to run through a couple of them so you had some stuff to enjoy as you browse Bandcamp on the first Friday of the month. You’ll find some mellows jams, some guitar pop, and some powerhouse vocals…all of which we encourage you to enjoy by clicking below! Don’t forget to support your artists and labels.
In what seems like a continuous cycle of bad-assery, Meritorio Records has another great release on their line-up for the end of 202: The Wesleys Explosive Device EP. The first single from the release had a driving rhythm to it, but this go round, they’ve opened the song up a bit, letting the guitars kind of shimmer in the background, creating this psychedelic sway that moves the song; there’s something in that reminds me of a slightly more upbeat Clientele. Twisting their sound leaves listeners on notice that you’re going to get your moneys worth when you pick up the EP, with a little bit of energy and a little bit of pop, so be sure to grab a copy from Meritorio Records before the Novemeber 7th release.
After wowing us with the rambunctious jangler that was “Hunter’s Fancy,” Strange Passage has circled back with the second peak at their new A Folded Sky EP. While the first single hit us with this large rush of noise, their new single lets the guitars swirl in a hazy fashion just behind the front of the mix. It’s the perfect way to tie the group’s sound into a little bit of a Felt connection, though there are also hints of psychedelia lurking in the little rips in between the thumping percussion. The vocals embrace a little bit of a sedated vibe, omnipresent, and holding back until they feel the need to let loose, as they do once you near the 2 minute mark and the song’s final excursion into wiggling guitar pop. A Folded Sky is going to be a brilliant listen, so grab a copy from Meritorio Records before the November 7th release date!
If Willie Nelson were a fan of guitar pop music, he’s always have Meritorio Records on his mind, and today, the label is back in my sights with the latest track from Creative Writing. Their newest single is one of the group’s oldest tunes on the forthcoming Baby Did This LP, and it’s one that takes the jangles to a more nostalgic setting, almost working a classic rock sensation into the way the guitars ring out. It perfectly sets up the warmth of the vocal too, which sits just behind the front of the mix, presented as if its a ray of sunshine blessing us with its presence. They even go so far as to turn the last minute or so into a sort of breakaway boogie that would make CSNY a little jealous. Give it a listen and order Baby Did This before its October 3rd release date.
As previously mentioned on these here pages, the heralded label of Meritorio Records is busy this week, and after an early jam, we’re back with the latest from the label…a new video from the Wesleys. This tune’s a bit of a pop punch, giving you this frenetic jangle kick with snappy drums and quick guitar rips. There’s something in the sound that feels like a balance between Rolling Blackout Coastal Fever and Ducks Ltd, with a mixture of the two feeling like the bands perfect balance. There’s a couple of little mini guitar solos that remind us of just solid guitar pop in their construction, and reminds me of the purity of the genre. Not to mention, its all strung together with this excellent video! Their new release, Explosive Device, is ready for your enjoyment on November 7th.
It’s a busy day over at Meritorio Records HQ, with two new singles dropping, but let us first check in on their announcement of a new Strange Passage LP. Their early work drew in Felt and Feelies comparisons, and you can still hear that in the swirling sound of the jangling guitars, but the rhythmic work in this first single sets you up in a slightly different fashion. The way the drums kick and stomp in a smattering of noise is a bit more punk forward, so you get a bit more of a energetic grab in the front of the tune. The vocals have that disaffected delivery, swaggering in with a juxtaposition of nonchalant and emphasis; it sort of reminds me of Neutrals, if they were a bit more spiritually light. A Folded Sky is the name of the new LP, and it drops on Novemeber 7th.
When you crank up this new tune from Creative Writing, there will certainly be some familiarity in the group’s sound. I keep getting little pieces of Parquet Courts, albeit with a less frantic approach; the energy drives forward, but this lot seem to be wrapped up in more of a melodic sensation coursing through their sound. While the song has a distinctive underground growl to it, they let it take a turn midtrack, giving a little bit of a diversion for the listener before they drive home their sound at the close. Another exciting track from Baby Did This, out October 3rd via Meritorio Records.
If you were seeking out a pick me up this morning, then you are going to want to get your ears ready for this new Dancer tune. I loved the rush of blood that kicked off with the guitars that drive this tune forward, but if I’m being completely honest, the rhythm section is what completes the band’s sound, musically. They’re so tight that every little speed switch and piece of off-kilter movement just gives the entirety of the tune this bounce that makes it an undeniable hit. Don’t forget that Gemma Fleet’s distinctive voice is an absolute highlight no matter the style, and you get plenty of vocal-forward moments in this new bop. More or Less is out September 12th via Meritorio Records.
After releasing their True 90s EP earlier this year, folks were already keeping an eye on Massachusetts band Creative Writing. Today, the group returns with this great guitar pop track, announcing their debut album, Baby Did This. I love how the band sits in the groove between jangling guitar pop and modern americana; they don’t really push the sound either way, which inevitably allows the group to work on their own foundation. For me, the balance between the vocal stylings throughout help cement the band’s presence in my music listening; the verses work on a soft spoken nature, then the chorus kind of erupts with a forceful punch, though it never shies from the melody. Such a great reminder of this act’s quality; they drop Baby Did This on October 3rd via Meritorio.
Having gathered accolades for their brand of post-punk exploration, Dancer mix it up on their latest single, a sign that the band are growing into their own sound. I love the nostalgic feel of the guitars this go round, hitting on some of those early 2000s indie rock riffs. Gemma’s voice fits in perfectly throughout, and you can hear her confidence as she belts out huge notes in-between the jittering jump of those aforementioned riffs. The line “it’s me/it’s me/it’s me” sets up a huge playfulness too, furthering the idea that she’s one of the most creative vocalists working in this indie rock niche. Like a soft and sweet version of Royal Headache, and you all need that. More or Less is out on September 1st via Meritorio.
