Last Week’s Jams (2.12 – 2.16)

Sorry for taking off yesterday, but we’ll be honest, this site’s run by folks in the education field, so when we’re granted a rare day off mid-semester, you better believe we’re hanging with our families! But, here I am with hopefully a link to last week to set you up for this week. We covered perhaps too much music last week, getting 28 songs on the mark, and I was super stoked to hear that both Parsnip and Mammoth Penguins were back in business…with new albums heading our way. Plus, Kindsight gave us another sparkling single from their forthcoming LP via Rama Lama Records. I’m in on new Bolis Pupul, so we’ve got that, plus Unwed Sailor have a new release…there is maybe too much new stuff out there! Just take a listen!

Friday Album Streams: The BVs, The Infinites + More

It’s Friday, and the release schedule has picked up around these parts, and a couple of my favorite artists are dropping new LPs today. It’s definitely not an end-all-be-all list, but just wanted to give you something worth jamming to all day long. No need to get long-winded here, just offering advice for Friday.

The BVsTaking Pictures of Taking Pictures(Shelflife/KUS)

The InfinitesArchetypes(Meritorio Records)

Laura Jane GraceHole In My Head (Big Scary Monsters)

Idles TANGK (Partisan Records)

 

Last Week’s Jams (1.8 – 1.12)

While it may have only been a four day week in terms of work, we made sure we made the best of it for you, bringing you a slew of hot indie rock bangers. Slumberland had a great week, dropping new music from Umbrellas, and introducing us to Torrey too! We were stoked to share a new video from the BVs as well, flipping their style a bit to tease you with what’s in store going forward. Some Texas love for Infinites and Alien Eyelid was a must, with an added bonus being that our friends in Pale Lights dropped a compilation of rarities and singles on Friday. Stream below and find something to adore.

The BVs Share Taking Pictures of Taking Pictures

What I’ve always adored about the BVs is their adherence to building albums where each tune feels purposeful; there’s intent in the style and the placement of tracks. It seems like we’re nearing another bit of that with their latest LP, if we’re to compare and contrast this new single with their first. “Clipping” came out at the end of last year, arriving as this bounding piece of energetic pop. But, today, they share the title track of their new album, and it’s a much more pensive piece, building slowly, churning and turning in upon itself a reflection of the imagery that flashes through the video (created and animated by the band’s Fred). Pictures flash and fade away, with drawings moving like op-art, where you’re unsure whether its the song or the image moving…or both. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the 2:40 moment hits and the exuberant nature of the band begins to shine through; lyrics are delivered more quickly and the drums seem to have a bit more snap, shifting the tune ever so slightly, naturally creating this feeling of longing that I hope you’ll love. Taking Pictures of Taking Pictures will be out on February 16th via Shelflife/KUS!

Last Week’s Jam (12.4 – 12.8)

I know you’re all anxiously awaiting our year end collection of favorite songs, but we’re just not there yet! We did run our excellent Top Albums of 2023 last week, and while that’s getting all the headlines, there were tons of great new tracks to enjoy. I was particularly enamored with the new BVs tune, as you knew I would be, not to mention some deserved adoration for the brand new Lamplight track. Local friends Psychic Seatbelt dropped a new EP, so they’re getting some love here, and throwing in a Get Wrong tune to celebrate their EP from a week or so ago. Glad folks still put out music throughout the whole year, not just up until List Week.

The BVs Announce Taking Pictures of Taking Pictures

I’m a bit late to this one, and by that I mean that three days is entirely too late to share the joy of the new BVs track for you. We’ve always loved the group, but this new single has them taking their buoyant brand of pop to the top; I almost jumped right out of my chair and started bouncing about in my classroom. That crushing guitar line shoves you right through the door, with this faint since of longing hanging about in the tones, all of it making me feel like I’ve finally found a musical home. It’s energetic and magical and you’ll find that you can’t pull yourself away. I didn’t even realize how much the band were huge sports enthusiasts either…as you can see in this fun video! They’ll drop Taking Pictures of Taking Pictures via Shelflife and Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten on February 16th.

The BVs Share Fresh Single

I boarded the BVs train nearly a decade ago, an adamant fan constantly enthused by the way they’ve reimagined their sound through the years. While they’ve been fairly quiet the last few years, they aim to make a big splash, thus the release of this incredible new extended version of “Warp.” While their page and the announcement of this fresh 12″ includes nods to krautrock and Yo La Tengo, there’s definitely bits of this that drip with the latter years of New Order to me, right before it splits into the acknowledged Cure nods. I mean, I haven’t had this much fun listening to an 8 minute track in years, all of which hooks you before you even near the 5 minute mark where the vocals make their foray. I knew I’d love that part, but the build up was brilliant, and then to stick the landing? Genius. They release the Warp 12″ on August 25th via KUS.

WIAIWYA Releases Holiday Compilation

Our friends over in the UK will likely already be all over this one, but just wanted to make sure everyone was in the know on our end, as WIAIWYA just dropped an incredible holiday compilation titled 24. It’s 24 songs from some of the finest purveyors of pop music around; Pete Astor, Love Burns, the Orchids, the BVs, and a bunch bunch more of artists we’ve been covering on this site for some time. I have a feeling there’s a little something for everyone in this mix, so feel free to sample a tune or two below, then if you feel so inclined spread the holiday cheer by telling a friend!

The BVs Share I Hope There’s No Snow

It looks like the BVs latest single might have been wishful thinking, as I’ve seen several friends who have had to combat the snow this past weekend. Nonetheless, the song is a nice little driving pop ditty, steadied by a propulsive rhythm section. The guitars ring out, though they clearly seem to be dancing around the song’s core, sort of fluttering through the speakers like snowflakes falling to the ground. For me, the song gets the seal of approval with these deep vocal tones, occasionally accented by an unknown supporting vocal. It’s a seasonal ditty, sure, but hopefully it hints at the sounds to come as we await the follow-up to Cartography.

Top 25 Albums of 2019

This is the list you’ve all been waiting for, well, sort of. This is my Top 20 LPs of the year. Admittedly, there’s none of the high profile hitmakers on here, but that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy those albums. I loved Purple Mountains just as much as the next person, same with Weyes Blood, but in a pickle, would I choose it over that Martha LP? Uh, absolutely not. Plus, I ran a lot this year because I got tired of being fat, so the majority of this stuff is pretty upbeat and “runnable.” There’s no order because all are equal under my ears.

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