Tag: stream

Art Pop from Beachniks

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I’ve heard rumors of Beachniks for some time, but I really haven’t been able to come up with too much information on the group.  That is until I stumbled across news that the band would soon be releasing their album In Color on Neotomic Records sometime early in the new year.  I can’t tell you how great their lead single is; it reminds me of the clever interplay that was always present on albums by Comet Gain…yet it still maintains a sense of harmony and artfulness, enabling me to act all smug when I listen to it.  Actually, I don’t even care about acting cool…this is just a great jam.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67394291″ params=”show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

WTF? Ducktails New Jam

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Man, I’m really stuck on the fence with this Ducktails track that just came out.  Matt Mondanile has added a posse of contributors for his newest record, The Flower Lane, but I’m not sure I’m sold on their collaborative appeal.  This tune has Dan Lopatin who uses some hipster-approved moniker, and while I appreciate the effortless keyboard work behind the song, I just don’t think it’s quite as enticing as the work done on Ducktails III.  I don’t mind loops and such, but in his early tape days, Matt was using guitars crafting this dense pop collage–seemingly not the case.  I’m not jumping off the fence entirely, but I’m approaching the January 29th release date on Domino with a little trepidation.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/69873592″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Great New Indie Pop from Alpaca Sports

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It’s been what, a few months since I last raved about Alpaca Sports?  Well, the group has a brand new 7″ on one of my favorite little labels, Cloudberry Records.  The 7″ has a few tracks we’ve previously covered, but this is by far my favorite the group has put to tape.  There’s a slight little orchestral maneuver hiding in the dark here, but it really helps to accentuate the jangling guitars and the warm voice of Andreas Jonsson.  Songs like this often seem really simple in the greater context of things, but not too many bands are pulling of the execution as like what you’ll hear below.  Enjoy.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/69816819″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Rad Rocker from Bird Skulls

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I’ve played this song on repeat at least ten times, and I can’t help but be transported back to my adolescence, fueled by angst and hooks.  In two minutes, one of the UKs hottest acts, Bird Skulls, blasts through with distorted guitars at breakneck speed.  It’s a bit of grunge, but a bit of punk rock, so in essence, it’s sort of like everything we all loved about the late 80s/early 90s.  You can get your hands on their new single cassette from the kind folks over at Art is Hard Records, and they’ll throw in a nice little winter hat to make your life warmer.  I’m glad people still make music like this.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67243715″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Jangling New Tune from Golden Grrrls

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The year of 2013 is shaping up to be quite a nice one already, and one of the leaders of the pack is Slumberland Records.  Glasgow’s Golden Grrrls get things going on February 26th with the release of their self-titled record, filled with eleven gems that will surely help wake you from your winter slumber.  For me, the interplay between male and female vocal parts is reminiscent of the purest time in indie rock, when melody and playfulness went hand in hand.  I also think you’ll like the way there’s just a hint of jangling guitars coming from the three piece as the drums bang out a steady groove to keep your toes a’ tappin’.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67451271″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Majestic Indie Pop from Northern Portrait

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Finally, the wait is over! After two years, the triumphant return of Northern Portrait is upon us.  Just one listen to this new single and I guarantee you’ll be foaming at the mouth with anticipation.  The song casually opens, with a faint beat in the background and a jingling tambourine…and then we’re off at the 35 second mark.  From that moment on, my body tingled with the pleasure of listening to perfectly crafted indie pop that’s hard to match.  It’s looking like 2013 is going to be a great year for the band, starting with the Pretty Decent Swimmers EP, which is a 10″ being put out by our dear friends at Matinee Recordings.  Yep, I’m in love.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/69270755″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Just Another Hit from Girls Names

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Personally, I couldn’t be more excited about new music from Girls Names.  For one, the band’s drummer Neil has won me over with his Sea Pinks project, but I like the darkened underbelly hinted at with Girls Names.  Apparently after releasing Dead to Me, the band began to rework their sound, which is completely acceptable, but none the less important to the group’s developing sound.  This tune is a good four minutes shorter than their previous leaked single, but I think you’re going to like the feel of the tune.  It’s got a wayward jangle, but there’s a wafting quality created by the guitars and the vocals that carries the mood of the ]track. If you dig what you’re hearing (and you should!) then you can pick up their new effort, The New Life, on February 26th from Slumberland Records.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/69080119″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

New Power Pop from Games

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For those of you clamoring to the era of late 70s rock n’ roll where glam met pop met punk, you’re going to love listening to Games.  I came across the band a bit back while catching up with the work of Hozac Records, but the rocking blog, Raven Sings the Blues, just tossed up this gem a few weeks ago so I’m forced to share.  On this track, the group has a softer edge, giving them a hint of refinement, as opposed to some of the other/faster groups that kick out the jams.  You can grab the self-titled debut from Games right now over at Hozac!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67067098″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

New Single from Teleman

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And out of the ashes of Pete and the Pirates comes Teleman.  Yep, I’m a little bummed there’s no more Pete and the Pirates, but this brand new single from the newer outfit is pretty special.  It opens slowly for the most part, using the vocal to really draw in the listener.  Moving along, it adds hazy bits of keyboards and a simple drum beat before carrying you off to a blissful pop state.  You can find this track on the group’s debut single, which will be part of the new Moshi Moshi Singles Club; it comes out on January 14th, so get those wallets ready.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68413511″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Quieted Tune from Bell Gardens

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Mondays are always a mix of emotions, battling between exhaustion and caffeine highs, so I figured it’d be best to wrap the day up with something soothing to send you off into the evening hours. Bell Gardens is a recording project between Kenneth J. Gibson and Brian McBride (the latter of Stars of the Lid, not USMNT Soccer fame), and their recent release, Full Sundown Assembly, is cinematic beauty.  Pop songs sprawl, aided by extensive instrumentation to back the structure of the tunes.  I see this as an American version of Spirtualized; it’s drenched in soulful songs, yet carefully accentuated by Gibson and McBride.  Perfect way to wrap up a Monday.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/04-Nowhere.mp3]

 

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