Premiere: DA Stern Releases Video for Isnt It Obvious

Having just reissued Aloha Hola via Slumberland Records, D.A. Stern is ready to take on all pop-comers with his new Isn’t It Obvious EP. Below, we’ve got the infectious title track, drawing on nostalgic vibes from Costello and Nilsson. But, Stern very much has his foot in the present, taking the classic sound, and giving it a bit more shine…think of the recent work of Nada Surf. You’ll tap your toes throughout (maybe even get overjoyed with a bit of a stomp), and you’ll swoon when the natural harmonies wash across your speakers; then you’ll rush to Slumberland to find out how you can get your hand’s on his records. It’s easy, just take a jump HERE;the EP drops Friday!

Charming Pop from Cool Sounds

There’s a new EP from Cool Sounds floating around today with a few tracks they had laying around after finishing up their second LP. I’d listen to this EP on the strength of the opener alone; I love the harmonies in the vocals, and the sax fits right into the vibe. And while I enjoy these four tracks, I’m stuck on the feels with the final tune, “Grudge.” While the pop sensibility is prevalent, the track almost wobbles due to the production, muddying up the polish and churning out an intoxicating mood that will have you spinning the track over and over. If these are the songs leftover from the sessions on LP 2, then we’re in for something brilliant. For now, enjoy these tunes.

Stream City and Sur EP from DEWR

For those not in the know, DEWR is the project of current Californian Brian Dewar; he offers up a blend of stripped down folk amidst a backdrop of pop sensibility. “Try Not to Try” begins slowly, with Dewar’s voice working over a guitar line; it moves forward with a more angular cut in the guitar and horns that force the song into blossom. On “Anyway” he emulates a touch of the new batch of indie rockers, driving hooks into the listener’s ears with ringing guitars and crashing cymbals. “Violet’s Encore” is more in the vein of folk as we’ve come to know it, playful and heartfelt, aided by a female vocal foil throughout. The City & Sur EP will be available for you this Friday.

New Honey Radar Tune

Honey Radar first bounced onto our radar when the Philly act released their second LP via What’s Your Rupture. Today, they’ve announced a brand new EP is on the way via Chunklet Industries; it’s titled Psychic Cruise. Immediately you’re going to toss out that psychedelic vibe, but the song’s brevity and casual demeanor make it a far cry from that far out land. Sure, I can hear some of the guitars giving you the impression, but just the smooth delivery of the lyrics gives the song a whole lot more polish and assuredness. Jamming can be cool, but it’s only as cool as the song will take it…and this tune takes it pretty far in under a minute and a half; look for the EP on April 20th.

Paul Bergmann Wins Again

In case you missed it, Paul Bergmann made a beautiful record last year that I included in my Albums People Probably Overlooked. Rest easy, you still have time to go back, but first listen to this new entry into Paul’s on-going canon. It’s simple in structure, with Bergmann’s voice moving gently atop a walking piano line. At times, it almost sounds like the piano is going out of tune, haunted by a faint speaker hiss in the recording; it’s one of the more intimate offerings we’ve heard him created. Overall, it leaves you with a message of promise, both in life, and in Bergmann’s continued growth as a songwriter. This song will feature on his new EP titled Night, Unfold, which comes out on February 2nd.

New Video from Sarah Lane

We wrote about The Late Great awhile ago, and now the band’s Sarah Lane has reached out to share a track from her forthcoming solo effort. For me, the winning part of the track comes from Lane’s vocal performance; it has this vibrance that stands out, even when delivering lines like “I’ve been broken like a tree.” Interestingly, the accompanying video for the single has Sarah laughing off her trials and tribulations, wearing a charming smile all about her home city of Portland. You’ll find yourself captivated by the strum of the guitar, but you’ll circle back again and again to hear that voice. Look for the EP to drop sometime this Spring.

 

Sarah Lane “Enemy” from Crimson & Clover Media on Vimeo.

Dryspell Prepping New EP Release

We’ve written about Dryspell before, and they just dropped this delicious new tune yesterday in preparation for the release of their new EP in March. The song begins as many guitar pop tracks would, distorted guitars fighting one another for your attention. Perhaps the best moment comes in what would be perceived as the chorus, the vocals take on almost a Win Butler-esque quiver just before the group blasts off into their jam. These guys are definitely channeling something special this go round, so keep your eyes peeled for the release of their EP come first of March.

New Ditty from Austin’s Hola Beach

I’m always a sucker for a good pop song, especially when the execution of said song is pulled off to perfection…like this new tune from Hola Beach. This track employs a really bare bones approach for the opening two minutes, with the drum sitting way in the back of the mix in order for the natural melody to unfold in step with the guitar notes. A few of those notes meander out of context, crafting the slightest bit of tension leading to the crashing wave of the song’s last minute. Look for their new EP to drop this weekend!

Fresh Pop Punk from Breaklights

Austin’s Breaklights headed up to Fort Collins’ Blasting Room to record their latest EP; it’s the famed studio for so many of your favorite pop punk rockers. Of course, that’s an easy way to describe the band’s sound, though I sort of hear a hint of Matt Skiba in the vocals…not a bad thing by any means. For me, the best thing about a good pop punk rocker is the hook, and these guys have that for days; I put them right alongside our favorites Basketball Shorts as best pop-bunkers in town. Look for their Don’t Try So Hard EP on January 19th next year!

New Music from The Cabin Fever

This might not be what The Cabin Fever want to hear, but there latest song exhibits some heyday Jade Tree Records vibes. For me, that’s a great thing, as it’s both nostalgic and overlooked. There’s a fragility in the vocal delivery, curating that emotional feel. But more importantly, the song also works as a collection of moments; it begins with a quiet opening, moves to a more developed, emphatic middle, and takes a careful direction change that fades into the ending. The group are set to release their new Exercise the Demon EP in January of next year, but take a small dosage by streaming this number below.

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