This is fine.
Last week I might have gotten a little carried away; my wife and newborn son were spending a lot of time resting, so I was just hanging out writing about songs all week…something a teacher, soccer coach, dad and label owner typically can’t do. So, this week’s playlist of last week’s hits might be a little longer than usual, but you’re going to be all the better for it. I hope you have a wonderful Monday my friends, and enjoy the jams here!
I’ve been posting a whole lot of singles and stuff this week, mostly because I like to over-indulge and see who is listening. No one, apparently. But, why not wrap up this week of working harder than I ever have before by sharing some cool records I liked that drop today? Yeah? Ok.
Smoke Bellow – Open for Business (Trouble in Mind)
If you’re into that new Dry Cleaning album (and you should be), then see how far this Baltimore outfit can take that sound…pushing to a weirder, albeit synthesized, world. Like Kraftwerk covering Dry Cleaning at a Halloween party for art school kids.
Sweet Nobody – We’re Trying Our Best (Daydream Records)
I’ve written about every single on this album, and could easily make comparisons to the likes of the Beths or Alvvays…all good things. If you’ve got a sweet tooth and need something to snack on, press play.
Hits – Cielo Nublado (Paisley Shirt Records)
You ever wonder what Sarah Records would sound like if they got transported to the future about 20 years? Well, pretty sure that Hits have given you the answer to that question, so if you’re looking for ramshackle pop, you’ve come to the right place!
TC Superstar – As Seen on TV
Austin’s dance party drop their latest record today; it’s 9 songs of catchy hooks ready for you to invite your friends over for the night to celebrate the joys of life. Stomp about until the neighbors complain about the noise.
Well, today might be the beginning of a little decline for the next few weeks, as you’re likely going to be pressing play on this just as I’m bringing Nathan Jr. Jr. into the world. But, like him, you are blessed with these incredible tunes that graced our site last week, all of which will enable you to recover from your Labor Day doldrums. Hopefully this week brings you a great many things!
Choo choo! That’s right, that’s the sound of the Sweet Nobody hype train rolling right through the ATH campsite. The Long Beach band’s newest single is a bit of a slow burner, pulling on you with Joy’s opening vocal display. Soon, she’s joined by the crashing waves of the rest of the band, and while the guitars are tethered to a bit of a pop jangle, you can also hear a bit of pure fuzz still buzzing on the edges here. I love how the band seem to walk that perfect line between indie pop and indie rock accessibility. Be sure to keep your eyes out for We’re Trying Our Best, out on September 17th via Daydream Records.
It was a bit of a slower week for us on the new music side of things, but we still had a few jams for from the last week of July. You’ll see some recurring artists here like Tummyache and Meatbodies but also new to us music like The Enigmatic Foe or Treeboy & Arc. It’s a shorter one this week so it should be great for your Monday morning or afternoon commute. Stay dry!
As of right now, the new LP from Sweet Nobody is shaping up to be this really decadent pop album, something you can’t help but listen to on repeat for hours on end. On their latest single, they combine these toe-tapping rhythms matched up with really crystalline guitar jangles, taking you straight into that indiepop territory I adore. But, while you’re likely to hear some pop similarities, I think Joy Deyo’s performance is stunning here; she moves beyond merely mimicry, hitting these notes that you’d expect to hear from a Sharon Van Etten or the like; it gives the whole single a fresh feel to it, keeping the band in our listening orbit. Look for We’re Trying Our Best on September 17th via Daydream Records.
A few weeks ago we shared a knockout track from Sweet Nobody, and they’ve turned around to drop another hit from their forthcoming We’re Trying Our Best. Admittedly, in the song’s first 3 seconds, they turn around and offer this sugary pop feel that’s akin to fellow popsters Alvvays. Then you get these subtle little dance guitar cuts, shuffling the mix just beneath the creamy delight of Joy Deyo’s vocals. Digging deeper, the song has a bit of insight into Joy’s struggle with a chronic genetic illness that led her to encourage her partner to find someone new so they wouldn’t have to deal with the struggles and pain. Luckily, it led to nothing, but it ties into the thematic elements coursing through We’re Trying Our Best; sometimes all you have is what you’re giving, and hopefully, those that truly love you come to that realization. Perhaps it’s one of the great things about indiepop, bringing dark narratives to bright music so we can all take part in the joys and sorrows of life. The LP will be available on September 17th via Daydream Records.
If you wanted to take the best of the Beths, Alvvays and Rosie Tucker, then toss into a mixing bowl, you might get the flavor of Sweet Nobody. Playing on the edge of dreamy pop, with introspective lyrical play, you’re sure to find their latest single rewarding. Personally, I can relate to the subject matter to, battling with your inner demons to fight through creative lows in order to get to the other side and create freely, no matter what you’re crafting. The song is the first single from the band’s We’re Trying Our Best LP, which is slated for release this September via Daydream Records.
