The No Ones Hit the Spot

I’ve long followed I Was a King, and they’ve been fortunate to work with some great folks, but they’ve upped the ante by forming the No Ones, which includes two members of the band, as well as Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey (REM and the Minus 5, respectively). Together, they’ve recorded a beautiful look into the best pop music has to offer. There’s a familiarity to Frode’s voice; it’s been a constant in my listening rotation since I first came upon IWaK. In under two minutes, you’ll find beautifully textured harmonies that hold a natural sparkle, and the only bummer is that it will leave you thirsting for more. You’ll have to wait until June 23rd to hear the whole Sun Station EP on Coastal Town Recordings…with a rumored LP to follow later in the year.

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You Should Be Into Agent Bla

A few weeks ago news started to bubble about Agent Bla, the latest, and possibly youngest, act to bring great music out of Sweden. They recently released THIS VIDEO, which reminded me to go spend more time with their self-titled debut. Still, I’m struck by the band’s early single form the record, “(Don’t) Talk to Strangers;” it has this swirling dreaminess that adheres to my personal pop aesthetic, including powerful vocals that are sure to have you taking notice of these youngsters. Their album will be handled in the US by Kanine Records, who’ve got a pretty good resume with dreamy pop bands like Fear of Men; it hits on June 9th.

New Music from Critical Dad

In case you didn’t catch on with last year’s Slack Capital release, we’re big fans of Austin’s Critical Dad. Just recently the band uploadedsixbrand new gems you’ll want to enjoy…especially if you’re inclined to rock. I’m personally partial to the furious off-kilter rock of “Symbiotic Relationship,” especially with it’s moment of brief respite near the 2 minute mark before wrapping up things with a ferocious attitude. This is punk rock, blended with a little bit of distortion, a lot of weird and the slightest hint at pop music…it’s all yours for the NYP option!

New Music from Sam Coffey and The Iron Lungs

Looks like today’s going to be a day for rock n’ roll, and this poppy bit of punk rock from Sam Coffey & the Iron Lungs is perfect. They kick out an anthemic style akin to our local favorites Basketball Shorts, filled with huge hook-laden riffs and lyrics to scream at the top of your lungs. What separates the group from their peers, at least in this number, is the chorus, touching up the tune with just a hint of clarity. They’re releasing their self-titled debut on Burger/Dine Alone on July 28th…and it’ll probably be filled with infectious numbers that’ll stick in your head for some time.

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Scottish Pop from True Gents

While my love of the last few years has clearly been my fascination with the Aussie scene, the pop music of Scotland has always been near and dear to my cliched heart. Today I’d like to introduce you to True Gents, a new act to my ears that draw from a huge swell of sounds, though most notably the pop sort that you’ll hear on this tune. The opening moments are quite nice, almost with a vibe akin to Arab Strap, though much more positive; there’s some quiet strings and children playing beneath the front of the mix, so keep your ears close to the speakers. A slight pick up comes after the two minute mark, pulling in drums and amplifying the strings just a touch. Look for the band’s new release, Blood Moon, to come your way soon.

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Striking Song from The Golden Dregs

Art Is Hard Records continues their run of great hits with their 2017 Postcard Series by releasing this stellar tune from The Golden Dregs. This song hits somewhere in the realm of Bill Callahan or Silver Jews, yet it definitely has its own story to tell. The deep tones of the vocals drew me in immediately, followed by impacting lines like “I wish that I was sacred/I wish that I was right.” The only thing that bums me out about this song is that there’s just one, as I could easily let my day get carried away listening to this band.

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New Hooks from Nathan Oliver

Nathan Oliver enters the setting of this song in the most simplistic fashion, throwing out monosyllabic “bah bahs” in quick succession; it serves to immediately grab the listener’s ears, bringing in an immediate sense of joy. Oliver then moves to a steady pop croon, related to the realm of old indiepop; while it’s settling, it jumps into a more emphatic burst during the chorus as drums crash and vocals are hurled through your speaker. I love the balance between a slight heavy edge and the natural pop sensibility that Nathan’s using…particularly in the last minute of the tune. He’ll be releasing Head in the Sand, his new LP, via Potluck Foundation on June 9th.

The Districts Announce Album, Share New Music Video

Philly band The Districts shared this single a few months back, but this time around, they’ve got not only the news of their upcoming album, Popular Manipulations,and this spooky new music video to accompany the track. “Ordinary Day” was a great track to begin with, balancing an acoustic, folksy sound with harder alt rock, but now we’ve got a cult-ish music video to watch. It features lots of plain masks and banality– I suggest you take a few minutes and watch it below, and then try to forget about your own “Ordinary Day.”

Popular Manipulationswill be out August 11thvia Fat Possum Records.

 

 

The Cherries Drop New Album of Lo-Fi Pop

I can always count on Jigsaw to throw something my way that immediately lands in my listening rotation, and The Cherries are going to do just that. There’s a definitive lo-fi styling, but I think the band’s innate pop sensibility shines through more than anything. Harmonies unite to create infectious melodies throughout, often overlapping and trading places the way the best pop music does. Oh, and it sounds like the band’s having a helluva time bouncing through this number, so why not bounce along? Grab the band’s Self-Titled 2 right now!

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Brand New Bonzie Tune

I’m really fascinated by Bonzie, both for her accomplishments at such a young age and her craft. On this track, there’s atmospherics surrounding straight-forward guitar work. It adds a layer of depth to a simplistic formula, furthered by added strings as the song progresses. I really love the slight little vocal inflections she adds into this number, continuously accented by the strumming and the textured touches she included in the recording. She’ll be releasing her new album, Zone on Nine, on May 19th, which should leave listeners with a promise of great songwriting for years to come.

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