System Exclusive Share Click Video

I’m a huge sucker for an easy hit, but that’s not what you get when you turn on a System Exclusive tune, like their latest, “Click.” Sputtering electronics and crawling vocals bring you into the track, waiting for the guitars to glide underneath the mix, met by drums and an electronic wash. Ari B’s vocal performance remind me of an early Karen O when she felt super dangerous, yet you can’t pull yourself away here. Throughout, the song moves in and out of its organic nature, letting tension build as it plays with the negative space behind Ari’s voice, always rolling in with this pulsing groove. Really stoked on this tune. Click is out on Mt. St. Mtn.and Le Cepe Records on May 17th, with a big Spring tour working through the US.

Happy Like This Video from the Wind-Ups

A little over a month ago, the Wind-Ups dropped their latest LP, Happy Like This…and today we get a video version of the album’s title track. For all intents and purposes, it’s a skate promo, which matches up with the song’s lyrical content…”I’m happy like this.” Musically, you could file it under a mixture between various genres of punk; it’s a little bit gritty in spots, but also manages to sound huge and anthemic like you’d expect from a Spits record. Just goes to show that a little bit of proper noise can go a long way. If you’re interested in hearing more, might we suggest picking up Happy Like This from Mt. St. Mtn.

The Wind Ups Announce Happy Like This

Likely going to make folks irate here, but if you listen to the new tune from The Wind Ups, you get the feeling that the song’s got some lineage with The Ramones. For me, its not just the unabashed banging from start to finish, though I love that being in there. There’s just a bunch of playful stuff they’re including, like simplistic lyrics that play upon single syllables to deliver hooks; they’ve also got handclaps, ramping up the childlike joy of early punk vibes. This song will be on the group’s Happy Like This LP, which drops next week via Mt. St. Mtn.

Seablite Share Hit the Wall Video

Lemon Lights, the brand new LP from San Francisco’s Seablite, is out this Friday, and we’ve had it as one of our most-anticipated releases as we near the end of the musical year. Up until now, the group have offered their perfect blend of dreamy pop-gaze, though they’ve mostly been playing up the dark side, particularly with “Pot of Boiling Water.” All that to say, I think the new single offers a glimpse of the band in complete control of their vision, perhaps even bringing out some of their best tricks to guarantee they leave us with a standout LP. When I first heard it, it kind of reminds me of that sort of acid-house influence creeping into the dream/jangle realm of the current climate; it’s got this secret wash that keeps locked into a playful groove. Jenn Heard’s video plays up to that sensibility, throwing in some light-hearted magic to tie into the whimsical approach on the single. Lemon Lights is a must have; grab a copy from Mt. St. Mtn. on Friday!

Seablite Release Pot of Boiling Water Video

Whether on accident or luck, some bands just hit all the right notes with certain songs; for me, the new Seablite track is precisely a band blending various moments in music into one cohesive ball of blissed pop. Lurking in the shadows of the song (and video!) you’ll hear this gothic tendencies, but as easily as we could dive in there, other elements begin to rise through that wall. Feedback and a wall of noise blow in from behind, then hang about in the atmosphere, billowing with the faintest discord in the distance. All of it coats the airy vocals sitting in the middle, waiting to find their way to your ears. Sure, there’s tons of adjacent sounds here, but it’s been a minute since I’ve heard it executed this well! The band will release Lemon Lights on September 29th via Mt. St. Mtn.

Seablite Announce Lemon Lights

Another day and another dollar I’ll likely have to send to Mt. St. Mtn., particularly now that they’ve announced a fresh new LP from Seablite. Although they’ve sprinkled in some singles and an EP, we haven’t had a proper LP since 2019, so I’m excited to hear what’s finally coming our way. And, after spending several minutes running through the new single, I really like how they’ve come out. Sure, there’s some dreamy/gazey moments that are still wrapped in there, but something about the vocals really has me leaning towards those 90s alternative rock vibes. It’s a nice twist, allowing the band’s murkiness (also there in the video) to hang in the air, while still driving home this pop aesthetic they seem to have perfected, letting the hip kids indulge from all the various angles. Lemon Lights is out on September 29th!

Rubber Blanket Share Rainbow Bridge; Prep Our Fault

If someone were to tell you that Rubber Blanket was made up of members of the Intelligence and Wounded Lion, would you be interested? What if I were to tell you the band create a sound that falls somewhere in the area between Liars and Blank Dogs? Well, the group have just announced the release of their new album, dropping this demented bit of synthetic pop music that feels like it was constructed by AI…in the best way of course. A buzzing pulse warbles its way into your ears as the haunt of the vocals offer up a reminder of the various colors in the rainbow. Perhaps its not your everyday listen, but that makes us all the better for it. They’ll release Our Fault on June 29th via Mt. St. Mtn.

Cindy Share Earthly Belonging Single

If ever there was a band coming through with a new LP that needed praise and adoration then it would absolutely be Cindy…though I’ve been hoping folks would catch on far earlier. Each single that drops from Why Not Now seems to up the ante on the band’s sound, expanding into an almost bouncy bit of pop on their latest. The rhythm section controls the song here, kicking out this steady little gallop that serves as the backbone for a solid vocal performance from Karina Gill. Strangely, this song seems like a natural progression, and in the whole of the record, it doesn’t feel out of place one bit, as the charm they’ve delivered has always been there, they just push it way up front. Seriously, how is this not already one of the best albums on everyone’s list? Go grab a copy of Why Not Now from Mt. St. Mtn.; it drops on April 14th.

Pulsating Pop from System Exclusive

One of my favorite labels Mt. St. Mtn. just sent over this track from System Exclusive, which I thought would be a good share with you all on a Friday morning. Immediately upon pressing play you’re sucked into that throbbing beat, pulsing with this dark fuzz as drum hits and synth lines accentuate the vibe. It’s all about a nice little bit of musical scaffolding, building a textural layer that allows the vocals to seep out. The digitalization in the video adds another layer to the group’s sound, operating somewhere between disco pop and arty punk, so of course I’m all over it. If you dig, the band drop the Party All the Time EP on April 21st.

Cindy Share the Price is Right

Sure RayRay and I have been out and about at this SXSW thing, but coming home to a fresh Cindy track is a right up there with that New Order show I caught. Honestly, I want to study the band’s execution; they remind me of Bedhead in a strange way, as they’re able to captivate with pure emotion, although the movement on the surface seems minimal. Slight little touches like layering piano in the closing moments build this beautifully textured swell of dense pop music. Going to die on this hill that this might be one of the best group’s in Indie Land at the moment. Their new album Why Not Now will be out April 14th via Mt. St. Mtn.

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