Tag: pop

Exclusive Album Stream: The Smallgoods – Lost in the Woods

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It’s been almost 15 years since The Smallgoods dropped their last album, but with Lost in the Woods scheduled to hit Friday, we were fortunate enough to snag an early listen to the record for you. When we first brought you news of the band’s forthcoming LP, we said that the band aimed to drop bold pop rock, railing against a stale musical climate! While I love the record’s opener, I think a great way to sample the goods from this album is to jump to track two, “Where’ve You Been All This Time;” I’ll go out on a limb here and say this sounds like Dear Catastrophe Waitress era Belle and Sebastian, swelling with arranged sounds and striking power. But, things aren’t always full of bombast; I’m totally in love with “Satellite;” it feels like the perfect pop song and thus I dare you to find a better one to have on repeat today. Shit, now I can’t stop pressing play on “A Month of Sundays;” this record is filled with twists and turns, each equally rewarding. Just imagine yourself on a scavenger hunt of every great pop sound in the last 30 years, but instead of tripping over 30 years of songs, you’ve got the only 10 tunes you’ll need today! Lost in the Woods drops Friday via Lost and Lonesome.

The Hepburns with Estella Rosa (of Nah)

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Despite the tragic circumstances we find ourselves in, this pandemic has brought us some really great projects that seem to have sprung out of the need to create, like this new tune from the Hepburns, featuring Estella Rosa of indiepop outfit Nah. Pressing play, you will find that the band adhere to a sort of jazzy lounge version of indie pop, where the jangles are a bit more subtle and the vocals have a little more pizzaz. It doesn’t hurt that Estella lends her melodic notes here, almost as if she’s joining the band in the roll of full-time back-up singer…though her performance is anything but. The song will feature on the joint venture between the two called Architecture of the Ages, out soon via Elefant Records.

The Smallgoods Schedule Lost in the Woods

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It’s been a long time coming, but we finally have a released date for the long-awaited new LP from The Smallgoods. Having mostly been quiet, at least as a collective unit, for the last 14 years or so, the band wanted to pick up where they left off with 2007’s Down on the Farm. According to Gus Franklin, the idea then and now was to rail against the staleness of the musical climate, crafting huge bold pop music with just a little quirks; they even went so far as to reference the Muppets. Here, you get that blast of pop, with layers of vocals and bounce thrown on top of extra layers of pop; it’s like building a fort out of pop blankets where you can hide out with all your friends. The band are set to release Lost in the Woods on September 24th via Lost and Lonesome.

Expanding Void Drops Believe In Me

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About to head out the door towards the beach in a few hours, and perhaps my favorite bit about that drive from Austin is riding through the coastal land, warm breeze in your face, dreaming of what is in store. In a sense Expanding Void have captured that sentiment, musically and lyrically. Light and playful, with a subtle little jangling bounce, you get that perfect opening for a solid pop number. Lyrically, the song deals with themes of having faith in yourself, having faith in the process of life and where its leading you as the warm breeze hits you in the face. Solid way to start off a Friday.

Le Pain Share Troisime Groupe

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Let’s face it, everyone wants to be Stereolab this year, or last year, or really, just period. And why not. But, imagine taking some of the more psychedelic and progressive movements of the aforementioned French outfit, and just replacing them with high octane pop moments. This is exactly what Le Pain are doing with their debut single, sort of exchanging the elements that might have made Stereolab weird or inaccessible (to some), then flipping it by going pure pop. You get hints of other like-minded acts like Alvvays, as the vocals are coated in this sugary sweetness that’s certainly undeniable. Pretty bold opening statement from the young outfit, if you ask me.

Love, Burns Shares New Tunes

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I have it on good authority that Love, Burns, the solo project of Phil Sutton (Pale Lights) has a full length ready to go. But, in the meantime, he’s teasing his fans with three non-album tunes, and personally, if these are the non-LP tunes, can you imagine how great a record this will be? “She Will Leave, Unless,” feels like a lesson on the bygone days of pop, that innocent sunshine in the window as you make breakfast to set off on your day, starring softened jangles. “Say What You Mean” seeps in with a little more swagger, sort of that late 60s almost pscyh where the whole band is wearing cliche black sunglasses, but with better songwriting. Still, the 3 new songs don’t peak, for me, until you get to “The Push and Pull of the Great Outdoors.” I love how stark and naked the tune feels, mostly Phil and guitar until a bit of tambourine shimmies near the 2 minute mark. Man, you better love eat this up pop fans!

Pleased To Meet You: Tears to Go

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In a way, I hope you’ve all met Tears to Go, though the project is brand new. It’s the solo work of Elena Sestelo, who was once part of When Nelda Became Punk (Shelflife); she’s just announced Patronizing Self-Help, the debut album. Our first listen gives us the title track, with Elena’s voice taking on a slightly dreamy brand, with the musical element leaving lots of space for the song to swell. Used to Sestelo’s immediacy from her previous work, I found myself pleasantly surprised with how carefully this song unfolds; the piano notes are hit with purpose, like an emphatic stomp on our souls, as angelic backing vocals are layered to create this otherworldly experience. If you dig what you’re hearing, then you’re going to want to check back in the Fall when the debut is released courtesy of I Need Some Company Records.

Stream Eggs on Mars Brighter Now

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Friday I was a little lazy, so I didn’t get this new EP up from Kansas City’s Eggs On Mars, which should definitely have been giving a little shine on the day. My favorite thing about the group is that they’re creating this bouncing indiepop, though its spun with a Midwestern sensibility, which seems to be a geographically overlooked bit of bops. Personally, I love “All That I See,” offering up this really sublime chorus that seems like this masterful mix of Beach Boys and 90s alt radio. These are 7 pop ditties that inevitably turn into little eagworms burrowing deep into your consciousness; it’s the cleanest, sincerest pop you’ll hear today. Brighter Now is out courtesy of Subjangle Sounds.

Deliluh Announce Share Amulet Single

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Felt like we should really dig into Monday with some down-trodden no-punk; so its perfect that I’ve got this new track from Deliluh hanging out in my inbox. The band left Toronto for Europe, and their forthcoming release is a continuous document of their journey. We find the band operating with minimal beats, occasionally warped with cascading notes and slightly volume raises. It’s a study in patience for most, with the band only flaring up twice in the song’s 7 minutes to give you something more pronounced. But, that’s just it! They don’t need to captivate us with overt hooks and the like; they’ve already done it all here, and thus I’m transfixed. This tune appears on a new 10″ for Tin Angel, out in August.

The Chairman Dances Share New Single

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The Chairman Dances are one of those bands that you treasure, keeping to yourself, except, when you can’t, because you want everyone to enjoy. You’ll find this single on the forthcoming LP, the Strength of Your Arm, which comes out at the end of July. For me, this song flirts with branding itself as sort of an indiepop tune, though you could easily just file it under a mellow brand of exploratory indie rock. The vocals are feathery, with light jangling bits coursing through the tune; I’ll be honest, however, as I feel there’s some resemblance here to the early charms of Death Cab, with the group really working to build in some textural elements throughout.

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