Last Week’s Jams, Today (4.4 – 4.8)

Here we are folks, another Monday. We’re starting off the week, as we always do, looking back at last week’s hits, just in case our five followers missed a song or two. We’ve got new indie pop stuff from Red Sleeping Beauty and Jeanines, plus new tunes from long-time ATH faves, Stephen’s Shore. Then there’s a new Chronophage album on the way, so we’ve got that covered here too. It’s a quick little way to breeze into your week here, starting things off nice and light. Enjoy!

Red Sleeping Beauty Drop Single w/ Amelia Fletcher

It’s hard to not fawn over a track that takes Red Sleeping Beauty‘s pop craftsmanship then throws in the marvelous support of Amelia Fletcher (Swansea Sound/Heavenly/Catenary Wires) on vocals. The thumping drumbeat gets us started, with a stuttering guitar line faintly toying in the background while the vocals enter pushing the accompanying guitar bits towards more of an outright jangle. When the chorus hits, the vocals get textured backing and the arrangements swell, building it into this indiepop gem that’s going to resonate with all sorts of pop fans. This glorious pop song comes to you courtesy of Matinee Recordings.

Red Sleeping Beauty Return with Second Time

Red Sleeping Beauty were meant to be joined on stage at last year’s Cologne Popfest by Mary from Even as We Speak, so they did the next best thing and got Mary to join them on a track for their forthcoming record. The song’s a masterful bit of driving synth pop, running with a heavy beat that seems built for late nights and neon lights. But, as much as the energy has this dance floor fit, Mary’s softness does a good job of keeping the tune elegant, giving it this confidence that shows signs of a huge record coming our way. This tune’s available now via Matinee Recordings, with the album to follow later this year!

Letting Up Despite Great Faults

While Mike Lee’s always hard at work in our ATH faves Fanclub, he’s recently gone back to recording tracks where we first fell in love with him, as the songwriter behind Letting Up Despite Great Faults. This song reminds me a lot of Red Sleeping Beauty, driving these hook-laden beats into your skull; they delight upon each rhythmic pulse and each bouncing step. Lee gets help on the vocals here from fellow Austinite Socha, and that textured vocal combination is a sure-fire win in my book. No word on how much new stuff we’ll get from the project, but we’re always grateful to hear Mike working on anything.

Red Sleeping Beauty Ready New EP

It’s barely been a few weeks since Red Sleeping Beauty dropped the highly recommended Stockholm, and all ready the group are turning around a few extra tunes to go with the Tonight EP/Single. I mean, it only takes an instant to be submerged in a pool of refreshing synth pop; the beats are light and playful from the get-go, driving forward with energy as the chorus comes to fruition. This band just continues to offer up these delectable pop treats that are primed for quick consumption; you’re not going to find too many folks crafting better pop than this trio. The Tonight EP will drop July 12th via Matinee Recordings.

Red Sleeping Beauty Celebrate Stockholm LP with New Single

Since their fabulous return, Red Sleeping Beauty have been working pretty hard on crafting delightful pop numbers, and today they release Stockholm, their new LP! At first this tune caught me off guard; it has a much deeper electronic pulse than the majority of the band’s work of late; it’s heavier and dark. But, the group are able to play upon that, working with melody that will never make you think of this track as a dark club banger. I mean, just listen to the chorus and delivery of the lines “New York City girls, New York City boys;” it’s the perfect balance of club hit and bedroom pop. I love this tune; find the album over at Matinee Recordings, out today!

Fresh Track from Red Sleeping Beauty

By now you’re aware of my infatuation with Sweden’s Red Sleeping Beauty, who’ve been kicking around for decades with delightful pop music. Today, they announce their new album, Stockholm, with a bright pulsing number that’s sure to start off your Friday in the right fashion. Kristina Borg gets the start here, and the chorus allows the rest of the band to join, briefly; I’m a big fan of the “ooh ooh” that follow the chorus. Lyrically, the song calls out Winter in Sweden, which seems to create an emotional darkness, atop the natural onset of long nights…but don’t worry, they see the promise in Swedish Summer. Stockholm will be available on April 12th via Matinee Recordings.

Red Sleeping Beauty Cover Zara Larsson

I have no idea who Zara Larsson is (though I remedied that with a quick google search), but I do know I love anything the Red Sleeping Beauty team pull off. They drive their synth-laden pop into overdrive on this cover, pulling back with the memorable chorus that starts with “I want you to ruin my life.” It seems like the perfect chorus for this band of pop enthusiasts, so it’s possible I might only hear it from now on as a RSB original. If you need a good pop song, I think you need this one real bad.

Listen to the Whole Red Sleeping Beauty EP

Well, I’m pretty sure that the world’s going to be a better place today, at least if this morning’s listen to the Always On Your Side EP is anything to go by. I mean, I can’t deny the catchy powers crafted by Red Sleeping Beauty this round. “Always on Your Side” is crafted with hook-laden synths and warm vocal melodies, then it’s immediately followed by the playful bounding of “Falling Out of Love.” That’s it. I can’t write about it anymore. It’s just too delicious. If, like me, you’re enjoying these four tracks, they’re available in a limited capacity via Sunday Records.

Red Sleeping Beauty Release New Single

Two things that I adore unite together in this joyful track from Red Sleeping Beauty; you get indiepop and you get an homage to soccer. This track is being labeled as the unofficial Swedish World Cup anthem, thus the title of the tune. Heavy on the beats and high on harmonies is a sure-fire way to get right into my listening rotation. Hopefully this track can hold you over until the World Cup kicks off in a few weeks…or until the band wraps up their new studio album, which is rumored to be out this Fall.

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