Lala Lala Signs to Sub Pop

Sub Pop has a knack for signing artists on their way up the indie rock ladder, and Lillie West’s project, Lala Lala, should be no different. Today we get news that the artist has signed on with the legendary indie label, with the first single dropping today. Akin to most of the pieces coming out lately, you get some Melina Duterte production work, working with this nostalgic groove that lets West bop and crest atop the percussive snaps going through. The tune is reflection from Lillie as she looks back on the last two years of her life living mostly out of storage and bouncing around the globe; it’s all about coming to terms with huge decisions, and it never sounded so fun.

Flock of Dimes Back With a Stunner

Jenn Wasner is on a short list for me as one of those songwriters who can truly do no wrong in my mind, whether it’s with her mainstay Wye Oak or her solo project Flock of Dimes. The combination of her soothing voice and intimate approach to folk influence pop has always held a personal place in my soul. Today Wasner has this lovely new tune called “Long After Midnight” ready for all you fans under her FOD solo moniker. It’s just so dreamy. When the slide kick in about halfway through, so good.

This track is part of a new Flock of Dimes album entitled The Life You Save which is due out October 10th on Sub Pop. Pre-orders are live.

Tunde Adebimpe Shares God Knows

Perhaps it’s because we spent so much of our young adulthood listening to TV on the Radio singles, but any time I hear a song featuring Tunde Adebimpe I’m immediately transported to a place of happiness (which we all need right now!). That said, his new solo LP is starting to shape up like a really thoughtful blend of pop. In the opening minutes, he has you, letting his lyrics hang and fall on the last piece of each poetic line, setting up the tune to have a subtle bounce atop a quiet piano line. It’s his delivery there that’s really exciting, particularly the way he uses syllables to create an extra beat and layer of texture. Still, the pop sensation comes with a bite to it, as the whole song uses the refrain “God knows you’re the worst thing I ever loved,” commenting on the reflections of heartbreak. The Black Boltz is out on April 18th via Sub Pop.

Levitation Interviews: Pissed Jeans

Wow, hard to believe that we are already about to roll into November and it is once again time for Levitation Festival in Austin. Now this crew stands with the opinion that this is the best fest in town as we love the peeps who put it on, dig the venues, and generally vibe with the bands on the bill. This year is no different as our hype builds and things look to set off in downtown next week. We would of course fail at life if we didn’t try to prep you in some way so a few Levitation “Getting to Know You” interviews seems like a fitting kick off. Also more fitting, is getting to jumpstart this thing with one of my top bands of the entire weekend – Pissed Jeans. Hit the jump for band insights, tunes and set times.

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Alan Sparhawk Returns with White Roses, My God

Alan Sparhawk has been hinting at a new release on his socials for weeks, and we’re finally able to hear what he’s been working on for the release of White Roses, My God. Always shapeshifting in Low, Sparhawk here dives deep into electronica, evading proper vocals in favor of effects to create a more industrial, cold nature. Perhaps all of this is due to “a record borne of grief,” but even in that realm, Alan manages to build something thundering and powerful, though with that, those heavy synth notes do feel like anxiety is being piled upon the listener/artists. Definitely intrigued to see where the whole of White Roses, My God will take us; it drops September 27th via Sub Pop.

La Luz Shares Poppies

I’ve always enjoyed the work of La Luz, though admittedly I hadn’t given too much attention to their forthcoming record (I can only listen to so much music!). But, when I played “Poppies,” there was something truly majestic in Shana Cleveland’s vocal performance; I love how it begins slightly romantic, then rolls into something a bit more smoky and billowing. The song itself plays like a more transcendent brand of psychedelia, offering up a bit more hope in a sense, which works thematically as Cleveland says the song occupies “a sense of rebirth” after entering the world again following her cancer diagnosis and “trying to make sense of it all.” Definitely am more focused on New of the Universe, which drops on May 24th via Sub Pop.

King Tuff Shares Portrait of God Video

When I think of King Tuff, I tend to think of his heavy garage rock riffs and distinctive voice; it’s just a sound that was super memorable during his earlier periods, not to mention some great live sets. But, with his new record, he’s taken the fuzz down a bit, or perhaps turned it up and left the heaviness at home. In his latest single, the song takes on more of a pub rock vibe, kind of stomping through the verses with this crooning bad-assery. But, when the tune opens up in the chorus, it turns more towards a kind of open bit of psychedelic pop, taking on more melody than I admittedly expected. It seems like the gaps between releases have allowed the songwriter to mix it up a bit, so I’m excited to see where Smalltown Stardust lands when it drops in January via Sub Pop.

Kiwi Jr Drop Night Vision Single

Kiwi Jr have a slew of really great records under their belt, so it’s no surprise they’ve got the support of Sub Pop. I spent a lot of time with both Football Money and Cooler Returns, so I’ve got high expectations for the forthcoming Chopper LP. This new tune sees the band kind of branching into this warm pop territory; it reminds me a lot of the last Strokes record (which I don’t mind); I think the fading vocal in the chorus hits just the right notes. It’ll be interesting to hear the whole of the record, as it seems like the band have less of a Pavement nod and a bit more polish this go round…still, a good jam is a good jam, and this is certainly one of those. Chopper is out August 12th.

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