Tag: oakland

Half Stack Share Burnt Single

Leave a comment

While there’s a fogginess that’s swept over the Oakland scene, in a certain musical sense, Half Stack are bringing something a little bit different. They’ve got a little Southern boogie to their sound, and the vocals feel neighborly. I just imagine like a J Mascis figure inviting me over to a BBQ of some sort. Still, there’s definitely a slow burn of Cali sun shining through your speakers here, which is down to the way the riffs have this sort of understated fieriness to them…well, that and the way the male and female vocalists intertwine. Sitting Pretty is out October 6th via Forged Artifacts/Royal Oakie.

Zum Audio Compilation #5 Shares Baus Tune

Leave a comment

Zum Audio is celebrating 25 years in the biz, and with that, they’ve also got a new compilation on the way in mid-August. Personally, I love a compilation. You find one or two acts you love, then you get turned onto a half-dozen new bands to fawn over. Today, we’re fawning over this new Baus track, which is part of Zum’s Volume 5 Comp. It’s a frantic tune, cutting along the lines of all your favorite post-punk, though tossing in bands like Wire and Pylon isn’t necessarily a bad place to start for comparisons. I love how the sharpness gets erratic in nature, sharpening the sound as the rhythm grooves and moves beneath you. And just as you jittered into love, the song ends, and you’re left catching your breath. You’ve got time, as Volume 5 doesn’t drop until August 18th.

Softie Share Gauzy Single

Leave a comment

I have no idea whether anyone has coined the term fog-gaze or not, but I feel like Oakland’s Softie would certainly encompass the moniker, if we were to use it. For me, the sound has this weighted mass that just creeps through the speakers and into the corners of your room as you listen. All the vocals feel like ghostly whispers, like echoes from a distance you can’t quite make out as you fall under the spell of the warbling melody riding through your speakers. Definitely a sound that should have you listening in really closely, and with fingers crossed, we’re hoping we’ll get a new EP. Track brought to you courtesy of Cherub Dream Records.

The Saxophones Share Boy Crazy

Leave a comment

The wife and husband duo The Saxophones have long been a group we’ve championed and thrown praise at over the years of our ‘lil website. Well after a short three or so year hiatus, the duo are returning this year with a new album entitled To Be a Cloud due out June 2nd on Full Time Hobby. Prior to that release date, we are incredibly excited to share with you this brand new, stunning single “Boy Crazy.” It’s light and dreamy, yet impactful and enchanting with heavy floor drums and an almost jazz inspiration. Lovely.

Pre-orders for To Be a Cloud are live now.

Low Praise Share Forget That Its Summer

Leave a comment

It only took me a few seconds to latch onto this new track from Oakland’s Low Praise; I love the jagged guitar vibe that cuts through this one, and that bob-and-weave bass line doesn’t hurt one single bit. Once the song takes off after the maneuvering mantra, the track begins to really unfold into this post-punk bit of trance; I definitely hear some Wire tendencies in the way the vocals get delivered. But, for all the nods to their forefathers, the group also are willing to bang out some heavy grooves, which you get a glimpse of when they deliver their pseudo-chorus, crashing through the speakers as opposed to bobbing up and down. If you dig on it, the group are releasing Dressing on May 19th!

Nothing Natural Announce NN EP

Leave a comment

Well, seeing as I’m just getting through all my emails today, may as well stop with another track from the Bay Area…Nothing Natural. You might already be familiar with the band’s members, with us having covered their other projects like Parallel and Aluminum. This act, however, are hitting on these classic 90s guitar vibes, slowly letting the guitar notes light up in the track’s background while the vocals have this heavy indifference; it’s that perfect college rock vibe, best if listened to really loudly through your speakers as the echoing distortion let’s you know this more than just a slacker rock affair. Listen loud as the group hit that perfect balance between ballad and grungy riff work; NN EP will be out via Dandy Boy Records on March 3rd.

Dancing with Abracadabra’s Talk Talk

Leave a comment

Sometimes I have to remind myself that there really is no point in feigning to be cool or pretend like I’m some magical gatekeeper of indie cool. Instead, I’m merely here every day or so to promote jams that I’m loving, and right now, I’m grooving with this new tune from Abracadabra. This Oakland outfit is throwing out some Caribbean beats fused with elements of post-punk and crafty early beat work from the likes of ESG. Plus, they spin it with these playful vocals that ultimately make you feel like you’re the cool one just for partaking in this dance party. Put down your cool patch and slide right into this tune on your way to super fun times. Their album, Shapes & Colors drops in January via Melodic.

Shutups Share Endless Heaven

Leave a comment

Before we dismiss you for the day, I would be remiss to not send you on your way with this new song called “Endless Heaven” from Oakland based group Shutups. I’m a huge fan of the way the song lulls you into this mellow, sort of indie rock groove and then explodes into this banging, heavy guitar rock number about 1.5 minutes in. When looking for a song to progress slowly, rise heavily, and then fall again into a fade out, this is the song for you. Absolutely stellar production on this one as well.

Shutups will release this track on new album Can’t Eat Nearly as Much as I want to Vomit which is due out on October 21st via Kill Rock Stars (pre-order now).

Stream Orange Dots Latest LP, Deflated

Leave a comment

Another band from the hotbed of Oakland, Orange Dots, has just released the stellar Deflated LP, and I figured you could find a bit of joy in listening to this collection. The PR describes it as “Aztec Camera songs but reimagined by Robert Wyatt,” which should have all you rushing to click the play button here. Personally, I’m loving “A Lot to Take” as my current standout jam, offering this sort of smoothed out jazzy pop you might expect Edwyn Collins to throw your way. But, perhaps what’s so intriguing about Deflated isn’t the hits, it’s the way Sean McDonnell moves back and forth between different brands of pop offerings; you’re not going to find a single song here that sounds like any of the others’ instead, they’re all naturally linked by Sean’s songwriting expertise. This whole LP is now available via Recorded Psychic Readings.

Neutrals Prep Bus Stop Nights EP

Leave a comment

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.

1 2 3 4 5 6
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com