Red Birds Share For Show + Drop New Album

As we mentioned earlier, today is going to be one of those huge release days, and so I’ll try to look at the folks under the radar, like Maryland outfit Red Birds. My initial draw here on the featured track was the solemnity of the guitar tones; you can easily hear where this would have slid right alongside any number of slowcore acts of the late 90s (I’m thinking Bedhead). But, where this differs is the power of singer Zoe August’s voice; she embraces an almost traditional folk delivery, setting her next to any number of huge stars like Merce Lemon or Waxahatchee. Intermingling texture, pace and beautiful vocals makes the entirety of Things We Thought We Were Done With a very special listen, and it’s available to jam today if you jump HERE.

Lightheaded Return with Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming

What!? You thought Skep Wax and Slumberland were done with pop announcements today!? Nope. They’ve doubled down with more LP news today; this time the two powerhouse labels team up for a new Lightheaded record, with the group aiming to build on the underrated Combustible Gems. Not sure anyone can argue, but this New Jersey lot come out of the gates with a masterful pop swoon, mastering the art of combining girl-group harmonizing with a modern vision that embraces a world where chamber pop is king. You’ll hear tons of touchstones throughout this singular song, but for me, the arrangements in the back perfectly texture their striking sound. Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming will likely be a personal favorite when it hits on June 27th.

Jeanines Announce How Long Will It Last

There’s something strange afoot this week, with an abundance of pop music coming out our way, though if we’re being honest, a new Jeanines LP might just be the highlight of week! This go round, they’re taking on a tumultuous world; it’s one rife with changes, and as such, the band are embracing the deeper meaning in their lives and their work. That said, you wouldn’t know it by listening to this lead single, quickly bouncing right into reflection with lines like “I want to lay in the grass with you/watch dead leaves turning green and new,” illustrating that despite trials, there’s a brightness in the future. And, all of this gets put to task with their sharp guitar lines and Alicia Jeanine’s punctuated delivery. I always marvel at how their songs seems so long, yet they barely ever stretch over 2 minutes. If you’re interest is piqued, they’ll drop How Long Will it Last via Slumberland and Skep Wax on June 27th.

Pleased to Meet You: Hot Lava

Okay, so Hot Lava isn’t entirely new, but RayRay and I had just begun this little blog here when their first album came out in 2008. But, while we missed that, the band recently have risen from the ashes, due to some changes in songwriter Allie App’s life that had her circling back to her love of music as a starting point for a fresh outlook on the world. I was immediately caught off guard by the immediacy of the guitar line here, though Allie’s vocals take on this sort of sly cool to them, like she’s toying with the listener, drawing them in with a little syllabic curl that you’ll want to play over and over today. They’ve got a whole record ready, but they couldn’t sit on this great tune (and a handful of others), so we hope to hear more about the LP soon!

Gentle Leader XIV Share Title Track, Joke in the Shadow

In a world full of immediacy, for which I’m admittedly a sucker, Gentle Leader XIV are offering up an entirely different brand of electronica than our typical fare. For starters, the drawl of the drum sampling seems to be tugging at the time stamp, holding it one place for the track’s duration. Even when the synths take on their full approach, there’s restraint; just listen to the nod to Depeche Mode after the 30 second mark. All of this work leaves plenty of space to be filled, and while the vocals entering adds another layer, even there, the song has space to move and wiggle. You get a ripping guitar cutting into the song’s middle, yet it all feels tethered to the percussive march, and in the end you’re left with this brilliant blanket of modern pop that greets you on its own terms. Their new record, Joke in the Shadow, is out on April 18th via Feel It Records.

Brideshead Return with You Are the Light

For a band with 30 years under their belt, it seems like Brideshead are just peaking. It’s been nearly ten years since their last proper release, but this new single illustrates their ability to work into the confines of both classic indiepop and more modern mixtures of the indie sort. After a little snap of the drum sticks, the track immediately cascades into this brilliant bit of heavy jangling, letting the coolness of the vocals push through the speakers. Where they could just rinse and repeat, the group choose to take on some of the dreamier elements of their peers, incorporating it into their more spritely nature, which gives a buzzing hum beneath the track’s mixture; it’s the perfect pop concoction, and you won’t be able to stop playing this song (or so we all hope!). They release You Are the Light via Shelflife on May 23rd.

Cleo Handler Releases Compare & Contrast

In the past weeks I’ve written a lot about Jeffrey Lewis, mostly because I love his occasionally self-deprecating humor and his matter-of-fact storytelling. But, Cleo Handler is here to take up a similar space on Compare & Contrast, with the below single one of the standout tracks that shines a light on her craft. It’s just a witty little confessional tune, but it gives Handler ownership of her own existence, seemingly telling a jilted lover to move over as this space belongs to her! It all comes across in this playful fashion, aided by the brevity, that you chuckle, go to the next song, knowing you’ll be circling back to listen to the whole of the record today!

Adrian Quesada Announce Boleros Psicodelicos II

I completely realize I’m going to come across like a jerk-store here, but I 100% love Adrian Quesada‘s solo stuff more than the Black Pumas; I know that’s sacrilegious, but just calling it like I see it. I was gifted an early listen to this fresh track from Boleros Psicodelicos II, which features Cuco, and I’ve pretty much been playing it non-stop. For starters, Cuco’s voice is just ridiculous here; it doesn’t feel out of place in a classic bolero sense, and in fact, almost seems like the genre was built just for him. But, that wouldn’t work if there wasn’t this incendiary blend of synthetic keys, percussion and guitar, all thrown together in this masterful fashion that almost makes it feel like the score to an unwritten Robert Rodriguez vampire movie, yet totally pop at the same time! I freaking love it, and am excited to hear all of Boleros Psicodelicos II when it drops on June 27th via ATO Records. Now, if I can only convince him to do his take on Chicha, then we’ve got a party!

New Jam from Will Johnson

I’m a little upset with our friend Tony for running a new Will Johnson track while I was out of town, but nonetheless, his music is too good to ignore, so here we are. Will’s latest ballad is set to a synthesized Casio beat, allowing his voice to cling tightly to its distinctive resonance. What a career musician like Johnson can do, however, is visible. in the song’s latter half, where it takes an instrumental jaunt, almost narrating an entirely different story before letting the track draw to a close; he’s capable of keeping you with the magic of his lyricism or the gifts of his musical crafts…and you’re forever rewarded. Diamond City is out on April 4th via Keeled Scales.

Ty Segall Announces Posession

I likely don’t jam to Ty Segall as much as I once did, but it’s always nice to check in on one of the most prolific artists progress, especially as he announces his new LP, Possession, today. Our opening listen sees him traveling back to the power ballads of classic rock, working on a bouncing organ and thumping bass to set the musical scene. It’s interesting to listen to a track where Ty’s guitar work is not the selling point, at least not in a lot of the verses, as that’s where I feel like he made his bread in the early days. That said, the latter half of the song sees him break into more of the expected jam territory, letting the guitar free into the world and driving forth with a bit of emphasis. His new album will be out on May 30th via Drag City.

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