Wireheads Share Killer Bee

Dammit if this song from Wireheads hasn’t seeped into my subconscious, haunting all my listening for the rest of the day. When I first heard this track, I immediately felt like it sounded like what the Television Personalities could have evolved into had they come of age in the last few decades. There’s this brilliant bit of light jangling, , but it’s totally relaxed on the couch jangling, like it knows just how cool it fucking sounds. While the indifference is enchanting, the seduction comes in the way the vocals combine to churn out these little sparkling melodic diamonds for your ears. If you think this song is as rad as I do, then by all means, grab their new LP, Potentially Venus from Tenth Court on June 23rd.

Mope City Ready Population 4

I remember when I first stumbled upon Mope City back in 2019 when they were prepping New From Home; I was really taken aback, feeling like there wasn’t anyone creating this sort of slow-core dramatic rock n’ roll. Obviously, I’ve been a bit more in tune with that the last few years, but Mope City is still one of my favorite acts blending these darkened musical narratives. Before they release Population 4, the band have tossed out a little teaser, which feels ominous in its opening moments; the first bit of playful vocal interplay also adds a hint of danger. Still, despite the gloomy nature, the band somehow manage to favor these brief little moments of pop structure that give you just enough of a taste to keep you thirsty for more. The album will be out via Tenth Court later this year!

Friday Album Streams: Zack Rosen, RPPs, Connections + More

The Spring generally means you’re just going to have to throw down a lot of money and grab record after record after record, so let us throw a few suggestions, or just give you some great stuff to stream, as its Friday, and who really wants to work on a Friday.

Zack RosenSYZYGY (Chimera Music)

A struggling artist gone before his time; these songs remind us of the gifts he left behind.

The Reds, Pinks & PurplesThe Town That Cursed Your Name (Slumberland/Tough Love)

No one on this planet is writing songs as powerful as Glenn Donaldson.

ConnectionsCool Change (Trouble in Mind Records)

If you need a record without a throw-away tune, this is the one.

The SproutsEat Your Greens (Tenth Court)

Australia has a new supergroup, and you have a new favorite band.

Mary Anne’s Polar RigMakes You Wonder (Rama Lama Records)

A shapeshifting masterpiece of pop and rock, like if the YYYs, still had that risk factor.

Dippers Announce Clastic Rock + Share Tightening the Tangles

After switching their name up from Thigh Master to Dippers, the band helmed by Matthew Ford have really upped their productivity. An eponymous EP dropped in late last year, but now we’ve got news of a fresh LP, Clastic Rock. With that, we get a slew of sharp guitar work hitting your speakers from the get-go; it’s almost as if they aim to knife through, hitting with such rapidity that things almost feel more buzzsaw than angular. When you hit the chorus, it almost subtly passes you by, as Ford’s vocal maneuvering hides the hints of structural song changes. Plus, the group are about to make their way to the States for a mini-tour and SXSW, so keep your eyes out! If you’re into buying great music, then be sure to grab Clastic Rock from Tenth Court/Goner Records on June 23rd.

The Sprouts Release Debut Single

You need look no further than the band members of The Sprouts to know I’m going to be on board; you’ve got folks from Dippers (Thigh Master), Permits and Chook Race, all rocking and rolling as a brand new animal. The lot all gathered in Melbourne to bang out a collection of songs set to hit at the end of March, so let’s check this sample. You get churning guitar notes, not quite rocking the jangle, but offering up this sort of Aussie swing that certainly excites. Multiple voices overlap throughout to remind us of the joint affair…and the power of singing with your best mates. Then we get the added bonus of a fiery little solo guitar riff to close out the track in fashion. Sign me up as a fan! Eat Your Greens is out on March 24th via Tenth Court.

Stream There’s No I In Spice World from Spice World

I know there are tons of great releases spread out through 2023 already, but I’ve already got There’s No I In Spice World penciled into my Top Ten of the year, and it’s only the 3rd week of January. To be fair, I’d put it there on the back of my favorite tune “Mountain Pony 20” alone, which I’m pretty sure I’ve played nearly 1000 times already. The band manage to walk this line between weary pop and energetic jangling pop. “Useless Feeling” offers that more upbeat churn you’ve come to expect from the current crop of Aussie outfits; the chorus is sublime tossing the steady beat into this joyous dual-vocal euphoria. You’ll find more explorative tracks like “Snake Oil” or “What a Pity What a Shame,” but regardless, you’ve got to stick out ’til the end to play “Dying to Go” at least a handful of times with a smile on your face. Spice World‘s new album is out today via Tenth Court/Meritorio.

Spice World Share Mountain Pony 20

There’s something in Australia’s water that makes the heartfelt songwriting just tug at your heart strings, something that just feels so utterly human and relatable. Such is the latest track from Spice World, which sounds like this huge lament about the trials of falling in love; it feels pained, but also reflective, learning from the mistakes we all make. The slow accents from the group draw out the song’s power, totally immersing you in this intimate performance that almost feels like voyeurism, to a degree. The band has yet to hit a wrong note, so expect to fall head over heels in love with There’s No I in Spice World, out in January via Tenth Court/Meritorio.

Thigh Master Change Name to Dippers + Prep EP

After years of fielding questions about the band name, Thigh Master has decided to pivot for their next release, and will now and forever (maybe?) go by Dippers. The Aussie outfit have a new record on the horizon for 2023, but in the meantime, they’ve got a new EP of tracks that didn’t quite fit into the new album. Matthew’s voice here feels really heavy, almost like he’s channeling his own version of Calvin Johnson with a bit of Mark Sultan, with an added melody built in behind via the backing vocals that I assume are Innez. There’s something here that seems ready for a live setting, as if its tamed just a bit in the studio, ready to unleash a riotous stomp when the band play it out live…which they’ll do when they hit the States in March. Looking for a Sphere EP is up for Pre-Order right HERE.

Spice World Share Useless Feeling

If you haven’t boarded the train to Spice World, might beg you to join, as the band seem set on releasing a pretty timeless record at the start of next year. There’s something in the vocals that brings about this striking familiarity, like a friend’s on your porch detailing their latest yarn. It provides this naturalness that’s been drawing me in like some sort of crazy pop tractor beam. Behind those vocals, you get a steady tapping of the feet, like bouncing a baby on your knee as guitar notes flirt with jangling. It all comes together perfectly when you hit that chorus, adding in the backing vocals to maximize the saccharine core that makes this group so endearing. There’s No I in Spice World drops to the world on January 20th via Tenth Court and Meritorio Records.

Spice World Share Dying to Go/What a Pity What a Shame Single

It’s hard not to get overly excited when you hear the immediate infectiousness from Australia’s Spice World. That drum beat dropped in behind the guitars on “Dying to Go” and I just felt like I had been welcomed into a party with all my best friends; there’s this natural freedom to the track, rambunctious and fun, tethered to a hook all the while. Then they slip in and slow things all the way down on the flip, getting a little more of a look-in to the band’s ability to switch speeds mid-album. And speaking of album, the band are using this double single to announce There is No “I” in Spice World out on January 20th via Tenth Court and Meritorio Records.

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