Walt Disco Share Cut Your Hair

Remember when you first listened to “Danger! High Voltage” by Electric Six? It was like all the garage rock energy had been filed into a dancefloor ready ball of fun. Well, Glaswegian outfit Walt Disco are aiming for similar territory with their latest single Cut Your Hair…only instead of garage rock, they’re channeling in that sort of angular post-punk that’s quite similar to other Glasgow natives Franz Ferdinand. Admittedly, this one’s a touch more dramatic, at least in the vocal delivery, though it also has a little bit more experimental twists in the musical element. Anyways, you should have fun on a Wednesday locked inside your home. The band have a debut EP scheduled for later this year, so keep your eyes peeled.

Rules Return with Wendy

Back at the beginning of this pandemic we were introduced to the literature-influenced synth pop act Rules; their first single was an homage to Haruki Murakami. This time round, they’re reimagining JM Barrie’s Wendy, telling the story through sparkling pop. I like how the shimmering synth work sort of hangs back; it definitely swells in your ears, but it doesn’t get int he way for the performance of Iiti Yli-Harja’s vocal performance. She comes in with a hint of 80s pop nostalgia coming across like a more rehearsed Tiffany; there’s just this extreme frivolity in her voice, and I can’t pull away. The group release their self-titled debut this August courtesy of Soliti Music.

Most Likely Drop Surprise Album

Sam Houdek is one of our favorite Austin musicians; he plays in all the bands you love and have loved (including ATH Records alum Growl)…most recently as a member of Why Bonnie. But, he’s also quietly been working on his own solo stuff as Most Likely, spending the last few years finishing up the various tunes that make up his debut self-titled LP. Some of the song’s we’ve been privy to previously, like standout jam “Steve,” but I definitely have found that “Corner” is one of the special tunes in this collection. It’s always great seeing someone you believe in drop something so wonderful, so spend a few minutes with Most Likely today.

Gary Olson Shares Some Advice

About a month ago we were treated to the first single from the forthcoming Gary Olson (Ladybug Transistor) LP, and now we’ve got another number, which might be even better than our first listen. Honestly, my first few runs through, I thought about how accessible his songwriting was, despite my tendency to claim indie superiority; it’s the sort of track that I could play for my mum and dad that would surely charm them. In the casual pop, you’ll find some really great arrangements working too, which seems to be the staple of a lot of the stuff Gary’s worked on as of late; I loved the horn section coming in just after the 3 minute mark…felt like a very B&S nod. The self-titled album is out on May 29th via Tapete Records.

Royal Target Share Sitting Alone

As I sit here alone on my couch, figured that its the perfect time to write about this great new track from Royal Target…oddly titled after my current situation. For me, while I’m sure we’re all relating to the sentiment, I think we can also find ourselves getting lost in the song itself. I love the way the guitars turn over and over, playing between that gentle jangle and circular pop swirl that’s so enticing. It almost has this subversive nature in its subtlety, creeping inside your brain and hitting all those emotional sensory notes that make a tune memorable. Surely you’ll enjoy.

Another Rabbit Island Tune

If you’ve been reading over the last month or so, you’d likely notice how much I’m enjoying the music coming from Rabbit Island. Amber Fresh originally recorded the music in an empty kitchen for her family back in 2013, but the song’s have recently been remastered and set for release as Songs for Kids. The songs, like the one below, are so simple in their presentation, providing both a sense of intimacy and wonderment as Fresh teaches life lessons through song. This one feels like the perfect way to start off the week, as its providing instructions on how to have a nice day. Songs for Kids is available via Bedroom Suck Records.

Lithics Share Title Track Tower of Age

Those of you scrambling to get your hands of angular no-punk better be ready for the new LP from Lithics; it’s a collection of 13 jittery pseudo-pop rockers like the album’s title track, “Tower of Age.” One of the best things about this song, like many on the album, is the band doesn’t waste any time; their newest single starts immediately, tossing out sharp guitar stabs that step aim to dodge the spoken lyrical delivery of Aubrey Hornor. Things get frayed near the 30 second mark, momentarily shattering the momentum before the solid rhythm section takes the song back on track. Frantic and thought provoking in a quick burst, closed out by the fading of Hornor’s voice in your speakers; it’s another spot on single! Tower of Age is out on June 5th via Trouble in Mind Records.

Destroy Boys Share Honey I’m Home

With a couple of LPs under their belt and tours with Mannequin Pussy, California’s Destroy Boys continue their rise with another great single in 2020 (they dropped “Fences” earlier). This track brings the band’s tenacity and spins it through this swelling pop lens of huge riffs and crashing cymbals. It’s one of the great things about good pop punk; you can hear the anthemic nature even with the discord swirling through your ear canal. Plus, you’re never going to go wrong throwing some soaring “oohs” in the background juxtaposed against a brash explosion like the one that occurs at the 2 minute mark. Fingers crossed we get a new LP this year!

The Golden Dregs Rework Hope is for the Hopeless

I think one of the great records of 2019 that was overlooked by most was Hope is for the Hopeless, the debut LP from the Golden Dregs; I know I wrote about several of the singles on these very pages. Well, a few months on, and Benjamin Woods (the artists behind the project) has decided to rework his title track with the help of London bunch Vogues. You still get Woods hearty baritone, but the guitar has been stripped and reworked with electronic production. Subtle beats and robotic backing vocals take the song into the more uplifting territory Woods hoped we’d all noticed on the original version; I don’t think those sweet jazzy horns were present either. If you haven’t heard the original version, you can do listen to the whole LP HERE, and stream the reworked magic below!

Evan Myall Shares Forever Mine Video

Evan Myall has spent the better part of the last decade in Sleepy Sun, but we’re here to focus on his solo work today, as he readies the release of a new LP in May. It’s a pretty gentle pop ballad, working with a steady bounce from the drum beat and a nice melodic vocal that winds its way around the instrumentation. I loved that the string arrangements, building in the song’s lushness, came in almost instantly; they gave the song this depth and elegance that permeates through its entirety. His self-titled album is being released on May 8th via Royal Oakie.

 

1 308 309 310 311 312 854