Tag: pop

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.

Darkbird Drop Pop Hit

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A few years ago, when we were throwing one of our ATH vs SOTO SXSW shows, we had Darkbird on the bill, and since then, we’ve been keeping tabs on one of that shows standout performers. This week, they’ve got this incredible bouncy pop tune ready for you all, produced by Walker Lukens, so you know there’s going to be hooks galore. I mean, the driving synth lines definitely feel like they’re here to provide you with the necessary energy, just bouncing and pumping your fists in the air as you sing along with your friends. I’m not always a straight pop fan, but when its this good, you can’t really turn away from it can you? No! So just turn it up!

Mt Misery Share Taken by the Tide

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There’s something really special in store for those that are willing to take some time to sit back and listen to Mt. Misery. The Hartlepool act have this very casual pop style going on, somewhere that toys with the modern guitar pop sounds of Real Estate, though looks upon the melodic nature of some of the best in Aussie pop; it’s sort of a cross between jangling indiepop and every band you’ve been told to love. Their take is perfect, and I love the fact that the vocals have this distinctive clarity that lets you ride with the melody on your back and a smile on your face. Once Home, No Longer is out June 25th via Prefect Records.

Listen to Melby’s Latest Single, Concorde

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When it comes to crafting creative pop music, I can’t really think of too many operating like Melby, save for maybe Sun June. They have this natural ability to kind of lock into grooves and subtle pop inflections, riding them until the mood strikes and they switch directions. Here, there’s almost this calming lounge vibe, a late night pop croon for you, but then it kind of snakes its way into more dangerous territory, picking up a slight pace and sort of rocking you to a close. Like a great boxer, bobbing and weaving, in and out of grooves and melodies, delivering the ultimate pop knockout.

Jesper Zacco Shares Dream Single

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I’ll admit to not knowing much about Jesper Zacco, prior to this debut single for famed Labrador Records, but I’m fully on board with what he’s doing in this brand new single. The song opens with a careful vocal lurking behind some careful notes…ringing notes, synth echoes and atmospheric washes; it’s like a mischievous character playfully lurking around trees in a foggy forest. But, that mystery unfolds in the chorus, delivering this momentary clarity; it’s this sort of subtle warmth that I remember washing over me when I had early records by Nada Surf on, or maybe even the Wrens. Jesper will be releasing his debut this September, so we’ll keep you posted!

Kevin Hairs Shares Brand New Single

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As I’m catching up on what might be the last Bandcamp Friday, I totally missed that our friend Kevin Hairs dropped a brand new 3 song single for your ears (sorry Kevin!). On the “Stay Mild, Man-Child” you get this deliciously crunchy riff, almost putting Kevin in garage rock territory, though, of course, its balanced by his softened vocal delivery. “Knight School,” however, tosses Hairs back into solid indiepop territory; it’s got those jangling notes with a velvety voice hiding beneath the song’s surface; I think this one might make Glenn Donaldson a little jealous. On “Worry is My Love Language,” you get hints of misty surf channeled through the adoration of late 80s indiepop; it’s the sort of song that has you staring out at sea, dreaming of things to come. Grab ’em all now!

Girlfriends and Boyfriends Share Dirty Words Video

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The great thing about the cycle of an album is that you sometimes need a little reminder to go back and enjoy things, like when this video popped up from the recent Girlfriends and Boyfriends LP. Earlier this year (February to be exact) the Vancouver outfit released Fallacy of Fairness, a record drenched in nostalgia, but the sort you don’t mind revisiting. Synth stabs and jangling guitars abound, giving you this sort of middle ground between the Smiths and the Go-Betweens. The video seems fitting for that nod, with shots of the band spliced with the antics of what I can only assume is the most dangerous moped gang in Canada. Put your dancing shoes on folks; its time to swing and flail about your home office with a big old grin upon your face!

Verandan Share Open Sea

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We’re over a year or so into this pandemic, and we’re all tired. For me, the Zoom meetings, the lack of interaction with my students, etc just drains me, so this tune from Verandan (who I adore) is perfectly fitting, both in sonic feel and thematically. To paraphrase Ville Hopponen, the tune’s about putting work behind you at the end of the season and sailing off into the unknown…be it tragedy or adventure…you take it all on openly. Interestingly, the music feels similar, to me. It begins with pushing the musical boat out to see and raising the sail, catching a gust and moving a little quicker. But, the seas are mostly calm here, so you’re carefully cutting through the sea to an unknown destination. This single comes to you courtesy of Soliti!

Quivers Share Hold You Back Single

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Remember when you bought that first (or second) Camera Obscura record, and then they came in and blew you away with Let’s Get Out of This Country? Well, I do, and those are the same vibes I’m getting listening through to the singles on the next Quivers LP. For instance, take their latest single “Hold You Back;” it’s got a punchy drum stomp, with Sam weaving and wrapping his vocal notes around every corner. But, those bits were already there on their debut, We’ll Go Riding on the Hearses, but, with this LP, it’s all about those little arrangement details that make you swoon at the band’s feat. Strings hit you immediately here, then they come in and out of the song to build a deep texture that you only get with the best pop songs. Oh, and if you want the real special bit, wait for Holly and Bella to sweep you away with dreamy vocals around the 2:45 mark. Golden Doubt hits on June 11th via Bobo Integral. There’s a video version HERE too!

The Sheeps Share BBI (These Days)

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Long ago the Sheeps were part of the Austin scene, though they’ve since moved on to North Carolina; its a bummer that they’re not, as I’m pretty sure I’d be fighting off folks to release their music. They’ve got this sort of timeless pop vibe going through their tunes, something you’d expect to find going on in a hazy den somewhere in the late 60s. Of course, the band’s indifferent to your presence, so locked into what they’re doing here, offering a heavy croon and some poppy backing tracks to lift it up a bit into that sort of nu-paisely style. This track just sort of feels like I need it right now, like we all need it…or at least that’s where my brain is at!

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