Last Week’s Jams (1.27 – 1.31)

Well, the year’s fully in swing, as evidenced by the ridiculous amount of music we got to listen to, though we only managed to write about a mere 25+ tracks and albums. I’ll cop to the fact that the end of the week was the highlight, hitting with a new Lone Striker single on the same day we got The Laughing Chimes album out there. Buffet Lunch continued to flex their musicianship, while the Rishis offered a brand single from their next LP. New Tunde Adebimpe and La Securite had us on the trends, but in the end, I was just glad to hear new stuff from our friends in Seasonal Falls. What will be your favorite jam of last week?

Friday Album Streams: Gus Baldwin, Pink Chameleons, and More

The year is in full swing, and there are tons of great albums already hitting the streets, so wanted to throw my weight behind a few great releases. We’re all over the world today, with one of my favorite Austin artists, Gus Baldwin and the Sketch, getting their new LP out there. Then we bounce over to Finland with our friends Soliti releasing a new Pink Chameleons album. Jump over to Australia with Shrapnel then come home to NYC with Rosa Bordallo. Got those streams below for you.

Gus Baldwin and the SketchThe Sketch (Permanent Teeth Records)

Rosa BordalloIsidiro (Self-Released)

ShrapnelSedan Crater (Tenth Court)

Pink ChameleonsHarmony (Soliti)

The Laughing ChimesWhispers in the Speech Machine (Slumberland)

Last Week’s Jams (1.6 – 1.10)

You missed our weekly roundup, didn’t you? Well, Last Week’s Jams returns, circling back on an organized playlist to remind you of all the fun we had rocking out the previous week. Touched on some Austin stuff with Gus Baldwin and Matador Sphere, making sure we rep the home base as often as possible. The big battle of the musical week came from The Laughing Chimes and Sharp Pins, both going head to head for some incredible indie vibes that will dominate the landscape this year…or so I hope. Didn’t hurt that we also got to hear more from Prism Shores and Pink Chameleons as they prep their new releases. Dig in below and don’t be afraid to tell me what you loved.

The Laughing Chimes Deliver Cats Go Car Watching

With an earlier Sharp Pins tune, it’s now the Laughing Chimes turn to show us that the indie scene is in great hands with these young acts. We’ve watched the boys in this Ohio outfit grow over the last few years, under the tutelage of the great Slumberland roster, but this new song drops in this maturity that is simply insane. Personally, I’m in awe of the vocal inflections and their nod to some of the early post-punk vibes, though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the charm of those guitar jangles stretching out across the track didn’t give me a little warmth on this cold Texas morning. Plus, there’s tons of cat footage in this video (I think I see Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch). The new LP, Whispers in the Speech Machine is out on January 31st.

Last Week’s Jams (11.11 – 11.15)

After a fairly slow week, we hit it hard this week, bringing you a nice collection of great tunes, as we’re focused on that side while everyone else is scrambling to wrap up their year end lists. There was a heavy Austin contingent, particularly as we announced we’ll be dropping the new EP from Fantastic Purple Spots; Austin also brought us new stuff from Variety, Burgess Meredith, David Israel, and Being Dead. The Laughing Chimes made us realize that there’s still time left in 2024 for brilliant pop music, while Feeling Figures popped in with a video to remind us how great their last LP was. And, all of it kicks off with a great introduction to Lone Striker. Little bit of this, little bit of that, little bit of Dwight Yoakam.

 

The Laughing Chimes Announces Whispers in the Speech Machine

Everyone’s been raving about the return of the Cure this year, and sure, that record is pretty solid, if not because I’m constantly drenched in nostalgia, but, have you heard the Laughing Chimes? The band, while fairly new as an act, have consistently been reinventing the best of indie rock sounds from the 1980s and churning it into some of the best indiepop coming out today. On their album announcement, I’ve seen folks throw in shades of JaMC, but I kind of feel like the vocals have this underlying devotion to Grant McLennan, particularly in the way some of the notes hang in the air on single…and maybe even a slight nod in the video too. Regardless, put your nostalgia aside because Whispers in the Speech Machine is going to be the record you won’t forget; it’s out on January 31st via Slumberland Records.

The Laughing Chimes Share Two New Singles

Anyone with a hankering for indiepop sounds should already have the Laughing Chimes high upon your listening rotation, but in case you’re unaware, we’ll remind you with a nice new double AA single to stream today! The first of the singles has this kind of dole-wave sound to it, and I’m sure we could date that back to the early days of Felt or what not, but to me, feels a bit like the Ocean Party; it’s jangling in spots, but highlights the breezy vocals that filter through your speakers. Flip to the next tune and you’ve got a bit more blossoming energy that naturally springs from the opening bass line; guitars swirls and cymbals are shaking, all of it with this infectiousness that will make any pop fan swoon. For me, the tunes both have some strong vocal work that seems out of the ordinary in the modern scene, so I’m fawning over those moments (even including what I think is a new vocalist on the first track). These great hits brought to you by Slumberland.

Last Week’s Jams (10.30 – 11.2)

Last week was a bit of struggle. Had a bit of the post-Levitation exhaustion, plus that whole Halloween thing with my little kids. So, maybe not as on top of it as we usually are, though we filled in the latter bit of the week with some jams. We got to post incredible indiepop from the likes of The Laughing Chimes and Postal Blue, with an added bonus Rock n’ Recipe piece from Lightheaded. Good to see the announcement of Austin’s Wet Dip‘s forthcoming LP, so we made sure that was included in our coverage. Plus, since last week was Bandcamp Friday, we had tons of recommendations such as the Smashing Times, Erik Nervous, and more…just because it’s not a Friday doesn’t mean you can’t buy an LP!

The Laughing Chimes Share New Music

We were out and about on Friday when these fresh tracks from the Laughing Chimes dropped, and as always, the young band have an intoxicating sound that continues to blossom and wear varying shades. You get one fresh tune, and one that’s a cover of The Ocean Blue‘s “Ballerina Out of Control.” On their new tune, press notes jangling sounds with gothic undertones; I can hear bits and pieces of Felt in the guitar sound, and any number of darkened goth voices to spin in the vocal presentation. In terms of the cover, I love the way the vocal turns lighter, reflective and light, working to fit perfectly in between the sharp notes that ring from the guitar. It feels like trio is onto something really really special, so hopefully their label Slumberland keeps us in the loop!

Last Week’s Jams (9.5 – 9.8)

Just because we took Monday off last week, it didn’t mean we were taking it easy; I think I posted 11 things in one day, simply because there’s been so much great jams to get turned onto. Austin had tons of representation with TVs Daniel, Motorsports, Friday Boys, DAIISTAR and Feeling Small, but my own love for Spanish-language pop was made all the better with tunes from Melenas and Mint Field coming our way. Teenage Tom Petties were back for the attack, with a new album announcement. Plus, there’s some reissue news with Kath Bloom and Single Bullet Theory getting coverage. So yeah, music! Whoohoo!

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