Tag: neutrals

Last Week’s Jams (4.8 – 4.12)

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Apparently it’s that time of year when I just can’t help myself; I’m going full-time it seems, as we ran 28 brand new tracks this last week, plus some nods to albums we liked that dropped on Friday. We got some fresh premiere activity from the Wesleys and Max Blansjaar, then there were some recent favorites dropping in new stuff like Lightheaded, Neutrals and Autocamper. Me personally, I loved the new Gregor single, and that new CBVB plays into similar territory. This collection of songs, like my own catalog, is pretty random, though we always tend to aim for left of the left of the dial. Stream on.

Neutrals Announce New Town Dream

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The announcement of a brand new Neutrals record is the sort of news I welcome with wide-open arms and a huge grin. You see, the Oakland outfit fronted by Allan MacNaughton have crafted a brand of jangling old school power pop that very few, if any, are capable of pulling off…as you’ll see listening below. The guitar style has that sharpness that seemingly mutes the jangular approach, giving it a bit more bounce and edge, a la the Television Personalities. They’ll get that nod more than one though, as I’m sure Allan’s voice/delivery will pull in some Dan Treacy comparisons; he has this matter-of-fact delivery that almost seems like he’s toying with you. This particular tune also gets some nice soft undertones from Lauren Matsui (also of Seablite), adding in a layer of cool that only makes my need to hear this whole LP even greater! New Town Dream is out on May 31st via Slumberland Records/Static Shock Records.

Cool Friday Streams: Kindsight, the Fine, Neutrals

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Fridays are a good day to sit back and do a lot of daydreaming. What’s better than good jams to go along with it? Well, check below as we’ve got a few things that might grab your interest.

Kindsight – Swedish Punk

We’ve been hyping this Danish band for a few years, and now their debut LP is finally here for all of you to enjoy. It’s 11 songs of creative pop, all tied together by a penchant for fuzzy riffs and 90s rock n’ roll. Brought to you courtesy of Rama Lama.

Neutrals – Bus Stop Nights EP

After dropping Kebab Disco, we became devotees to the church of Neutrals. Well, they drop their new EP today, reminding us that the best punk rock with UK lineage doesn’t always have to sound like Shame/Idles/etc; this is all pogoing, clever lyrics and off-the-cuff exuberance. Via Static Shock.

Fine – Fine

Pop music is always a great way to spend your time, particularly when it’s constructed as carefully as what we have here from Alice Kat and Kid Chameleon. Plus, this is a double album of charming ditties, some with energetic bursts, while others feel a touch more thoughtful. I love how they tease us with mellow bits before dropping in massive hooks. Courtesy of Subjangle.

Last Week’s Jam’s Today (2.28 – 3.4)

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Last week was one of those weeks where I wanted to write about all the songs; Ryan crushed it with tons of SXSW interviews, letting you get to know the likes of Best Move, Coyle Girelli, No Swoon and more. So, we’ve got to go back and give you a quick list of all the jams, and there were tons! You had new stuff from Austinites Friday Boys, Bright Light Social Hour and Wiretree, then Neutrals and Mick Love made my weekend with hits at the end of the week. There’s tons to browse through here, so go check it out.

Neutrals Prep Bus Stop Nights EP

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One of our favorite Oakland outfits, Neutrals, are preparing to release the fresh Bus Stop Nights EP, and well, you should use Bandcamp Friday as the perfect time to preorder the new EP! It’s fitting I run this today, as it’s hitting the same rad notes you get from that earlier Mick Trouble track, hitting on those heavier jangle notes with clever vocal delivery that always makes this amateur rock enthusiast think of TV Personalities. The lyrical content is playful and humorous (we all have a Gary Borthwick–it might be me!), and the ripping bops on this tune stick in your head all day long. Plus, the wonderful video by Elyse Schlock is worth the price of admission! You can grab Bus Stop Nights EP via Static Shock Records.

Neutrals Share Personal Computing Video

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If you were lucky to grab all the Slumberland 30 Singles, the last one in your batch was this incredible 7″ from Neutrals. While I loved their Kebab Disco, the two tracks on this 7″, including the video below, show this sharpness in their playing that really pops. Allan’s delivery has this very punk feel to it, balanced out by these really careful backing melodies from the rest of the group. Personally though, I think the guitar work just after the 1 minute mark is my favorite bit of this tune; I don’t know why, but its just this infectiousness I can’t get outta my head. Plus, you get a great video from Jenn Dorn Heard that plays off the band’s color scheme while honing in on the track’s thematic influence. But, if you didn’t grab the SL30 Series, you can grab this individual single from Slumberland Records, which is a ripper!

Slumberland Annouce Last Singles of the SLR30 Series

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It’s been a gift that continues to give me things I love, with Slumberland’s SLR30 Series wrapping up with its final singles on December 4th! It looks as if we’re going out with a bang, with one 7″ from UK’s Flowers and the other a new 7″ from one of my personal favorites, Neutrals! We’re treated to the A-Sides for both singles, and man, pretty sure we all win with these being added to the fold. The Flowers track is more powerful than I remember the band from some of their earlier releases, though it still hones in on the band’s penchant for melodic pop. Neutrals on the other hand do what they do best, buzzing through 2 minutes with infectious power pop punk; I think this might be the best recording from the band, with Allan’s voice spitting the lines out with this incredible sharpness. If you didn’t get the subscribe to the SLR30 Series, don’t worry, you can grab your own copy from Slumberland Records shop!

Neutrals Share Video for Rent

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Fresh off the release of the wonderful Kebab Disco, Neutrals turned right around and dropped their Rent/Your House EP, with proceed going directly towards RAICES and Border Angels. Below you’ll find a fresh new video dropping today for the tune “Rent;” the video is made up of images of Scotland shot on Super 8 film by Sandy Carson and spliced together to match this track. It’s one of the shorter tracks on the record, rushing in rambunctiously like all hell’s breaking loose with only Allan’s voice steady enough to right the ship here. A quick little punky jaunt for a good cause? Stream the whole EP on Bandcamp!

Neutrals Cover The Exploited for Rent/Your House EP

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Last year Neutrals burst onto the scene with Kebab Disco, but with all the hubbub of Bandcamp today…the band has two new offerings of important. First, they’ve tossed up a demo of a brand new track…you can hear that HERE. Second, they’ve just put up orders for their new Rent/Your House EP via Domestic Departure Records. In order to promote the new release, they’re currently sharing the below cover of the classic track from the Exploited, “Hitler’s in the Charts Again.” Now, I know we’re all focused on COVID-19, as we should be, but, this release is donating all proceeds to both RAICES and Border Angels…two important organizations helping immigrant families/causes; we should keep in mind that this pandemic is not the only problem facing the US today. Maybe you like the cause, maybe you like the song…either way, the money goes where its needed most.

Top 25 Albums of 2019

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This is the list you’ve all been waiting for, well, sort of. This is my Top 20 LPs of the year. Admittedly, there’s none of the high profile hitmakers on here, but that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy those albums. I loved Purple Mountains just as much as the next person, same with Weyes Blood, but in a pickle, would I choose it over that Martha LP? Uh, absolutely not. Plus, I ran a lot this year because I got tired of being fat, so the majority of this stuff is pretty upbeat and “runnable.” There’s no order because all are equal under my ears.

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