This is fine.
New York based band Glimmer hit me in my ear holes yesterday with this new song “Buried,” and I just had to pass it along today. I love how the song starts out super heavy with loud guitars and driving beat, but then drops well into some quieter moments. When we say something like “rising action,” this is what we mean. The track also comes with a longer, more epic B-side called “Daydream,” which is streamable over on bandcamp.
For the last several years Queens based musician Ryan Work has been making some magical music under his recording and artistic moniker Fair Visions. This year, he has designs to release a new full length LP entitled Quite An End, which is due out on May 7th. Prior to that date, Work has just released what is easily my top song of the year so far with this stunning new single called “I Want You, Babe.” As far as progressions go, this thing moves along almost perfectly with a mellow, dreamy beginning as it flow into a slightly more heavy, swirling guitars sound. And those drums… ya it’s a fun one.
This is the first I’m hearing of Chanel Beads, and I’m definitely spending some time with the previous work of the project; they’ve just signed to Jagjaguwar, and dropped this new single that’s the perfect texturized bit of pop. In a sense, the track reflects the murky pop sounds of the Radio Dept, albeit spun with a more sterile feel, perhaps owing to the project being based in New York City. They layer beats, strings, vocal samples, creating this sublime relaxation, with each little accent piece nearing climax, only to be dragged back into the song’s core. It’s the perfect bit of dreary dream music you’ll need to get you over the hump today.
New York City based indie label Fire Talk has long been one of our favorite sources for new and upcoming bands both in the NYC area and throughout the country. Over the last year or so, the label has been dropping a ton of new and unreleased tracks from bands not necessarily on their main outlet via the imprint Open Tab. You can spend your day checking out all those tunes, but also put some heavy focus on these two new ones from the Brooklyn based band OMAT. Both have a heavier focus with a sort of post-grunge inspiration and straight badass vocals from leading lady Dharma Ramirez. Dig it.
Brooklyn based group snailosaur hit our radar back in April with the release of their debut self-titled EP. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the brotherly duo until today with the release of yet another stunner with this new single called “Apartment Boxes (nyc poem).” This one hits me as a tune with a very intricate and deliberate instrumentation similar to a band like The National paired with the deepest of deep vocals akin to someone like Bill Callahan. It comes across as something immediately familiar, but also unique to the band and their layered sound.
Though they may hail from Brooklyn, the songwriting duo of Patrick Walsh and Andrew Clarke certainly show some Southern Rock twang in their sound as the musical group Tennis Courts. Take this new tune “Jamie’s Party,” as an example with its indie rock meets Americana vibe to it. Think a band like Young Buffalo or Band of Horses but with a more classic rock structure to the song. Whatever you like to call it, I’m sure you’ll find it catchy as hell.
This track is the first single from the upcoming debut LP due out sometime this fall.
I love when I stumble across an act completely unknown to me, like New York’s Snailosaur. Their sound falls somewhere in between the vibes of Silver Jews and Dinosaur Jr, though probably more on the former for the song we’ve got featured below. It’s the opening track on their Snailosaur EP, introducing themselves to the world, and the first tune I heard that turned me on. I love the snappiness of the drums throughout the jam, as it feels like it breathes life into the solemn vocal delivery. Plus, fiery guitar lines chop right through the vibe, sure to let us know that while we’re getting the mellow up front, this lot aren’t afraid to rock.
There are a lot of wonderful storytellers in the indie sphere nowadays, but as of the last few months, I don’t know if I’ve run across someone so instantly enchanting as Cleo Handler. In a way, the songwriting is similar to early Moldy Peaches, flirting with a matter of fact nature that borders on the absurd; I love that there’s this sincerity to the tracks, a world without pretense as you wear your heart on your sleeve. Throughout Gold the songwriting just sparkles with humor and charm, built on the backbone of stellar pop musicianship, so get at it now.
Many of the bands covered for our SXSW interviews have been mostly newer, or maybe even unknown to some, but today we have a true legend and personal music favorite sharing some responses. Though he recently hung up the old “PA” moniker, indie legend Matt Pond continues to make incredible music with a bunch of his music friends in The Natural Lines. I was very excited when Matt agreed to take part in our interview questions and not the least bit surprised when he shot them back within a few short hours. The man is a true pro. Hit the jump for full interview from Matt Pond as part of his new outfit The Natural Lines.
As we offer more preparation for SXSW week coming soon, I am excited to share one of my top bands to see during the week, Blondshell. I have been jamming the new singles a lot recently and just clicked purchase on my pre-order of the upcoming debut album. Always a pleasure to hear from new and unique perspectives from all over the world. Hit the jump for full deets.
