Great Apes is the new project from singer/guitarist Brian Moss formerly of the Chicago-based post-punk band The Ghost. After The Ghost disbanded, Moss stretched his legs in the folk and country-leaning project Hanalei for a while but now returns to his more passionate and intense punk rock roots with the nostalgia-laced skate punk of Great Apes whose excellent debut 7" Sam's Song is out today on Say-10 Records. The single includes the surging and anthemic A-side, "Sam's Song" which re-introduces you to his distinct, gruff yet melodic voice. The B-side, "It's A Trans' World" is [...]
Record Store Day is tomorrow and if you don't know what that is, then you are terrible at being a fan of music! The organizers for Record Store Day have teamed up with almost every leading indie and even some major labels to release limited edition exclusives just for the occasion. Check out http://www.recordstoreday.com/ for the participating record stores and list of the exclusive releases. Here is a list of records I will be seeking out: Shabazz Palaces - Live At KEXP [...]
1. Maps & Atlases - "Winter" (Propulsive and melodic first single from the Chicago-based experimental art-folk/post-rock band's excellent new album Beware & Be Grateful out now on Barsuk. Check them out on their Spring-long tour now.) http://www.mapsandatlases.org/ Download: http://barsukmusic.blaireau.ne t/Maps&Atlases_Winter.mp3 2. High Strung - " ?Posible o' Imposible?" (Side-winding guitars and 60's-era psych-pop melodies mark the first single and title track from the Detroit [...]
Swedish tech-metal kings returned after a four year wait with their highly anticipated new album Koloss , released late last month on Nuclear Blast Records. After making a name for themselves with their progressive brand of speed metal and even forging a new metal scene altogether with the 7-stringed guitar-loving "Djent" sub-genre, the band has focus their sound with a more straight-forward groove-oriented sound, and all without losing their brutal edge. The stomping stand out track "I Am Colossus" still maintains a staggering rhythmic pulse but reigns in the blast beats and prog-rock tendencies for a [...]
This week, Brooklyn label Famous Class Records has released the first installment of their new 7" series, Less Artist More Condos, which was named after their former label partner, the late Ariel Panero. His Brooklyn-based concert series of the same name helped to shine the spotlight on some of his favorite bands and the label hopes to continue that effort with the new 7" series. The label selected the band for the A-side and then allowed the band to select the artist for their respective B-side. For the first 7", noise-gazers A Place To Bury Strangers [...]
1. Emily Wells - "Passenger" (Singer/composer Emily Wells released her gorgeous new album Mama this week on Partisan Records. The lush and intriguing arrangements were born from her classical music past but the raw emotion and skill - she played nearly everything on the record - have a unique and modern touch. Also look for remixes of album tracks soon from Teen Daze, Baths and Dan The Automator.) http://www.emilywellsmusic.com / Download: http://terrorbirddigital.s3.am azonaws.com/publicity/EW-03_Pa ssenger.mp3 2. Radiation City - "Find It Of [...]
Chicago's Baby Teeth are back with their highly-anticipated (especially by me) new album White Tonight . Self-produced and released on their own No Means No Music label, the trio's new album is again filled to the brim with their unique brand of keyboard-led 70's loving indie-pop and set to witty lyrics that deal with life and aging (not so gracefully) in the rock scene. "New Milk" opens the album with a bouncy midtempo rhythm, dizzying synth melodies and some Talking Heads-like background vocals to set the tone for the album. The title track and first [...]
The Long Island, NY-based pop-punk trio return with Tightrope Walker , an infectiously catchy new 2-song 7" single out now on Jump Start Records. Legendary producer J. Robbins (Jawbreaker, The Promise Ring) helped them pump up their bouncy brand of nostalgia-laced punk with even catchier power-pop melodies and tighter musicianship that only heightens the anticipation for a proper full-length album. The limited edition first pressing of 500 includes 100 copies on white vinyl and 400 on a very cool translucent red and includes a digital download of "Tightrope Walker" and "Anything You Never Heard" plus a [...]
1. Simone Felice - "New York Times" (The former member of The Felice Brothers released his self-titled debut solo album this week on Team Love Records. An accomplished novelist and poet, Simone is a great storyteller and his lyrics show attention to every detail. The music is a sparsely arranged set of soulful, gospel-soaked folk with guests from Mumford & Sons and a local girl's choir on the stunning debut.) http://www.simonefelice.com/ Download: http://team-love.com/home/wp-c ontent/uploads/2011/12/03%20Ne w%20York%20Times.mp3 [...]
The San Francisco-based band Magic Bullets are set to release their new EP Much Ado About today on Mon Amie Records. Sadly it will be their last as the band has decided to break up to pursue new musical directions after seven years together. The seven-song EP is a lasting testament to their emotion-packed 80's-inspired jangle-pop. "Unlearned" opens the album with the nostalgic sound of a cassette tape being put into a radio and follows with an upbeat and danceable track of reflection. "Time And Again" features tumbling drums and flickering guitars with [...]
Retribution Gospel Choir, the arena-sized rock trio led by Alan Sparhawk of the more subdued indie-rock vets Low, returned this week with a new 7" EP, The Revolution , out now on Sub Pop. And in addition to the already low priced vinyl, they are offering up the digital download of the 4-song EP as a free download for the price of an email address. The stand out single "The Stone (Revolution!) starts out around the campfire with acoustic guitar then takes the riot to the streets with a hard-charging and anthemic chorus. [...]
1. La Sera - "Please Be My Third Eye" (Vivian Girl, Katy Goodman returned this week with Sees The Light , her second solo album under the La Sera moniker. Ditching the dreamy haze of her debut like a bad boyfriend for a more direct and poppier approach, the new album bristles with energy and charm.) http://www.myspace.com/iamkaty goodman Download: http://www.hardlyart.com/mp3/L aSera_PleaseBeMyThirdEye.mp3 2. Oberhofer - "HEART" (The 4-piece band [...]
Poor Moon is the new project from Christian Wargo and Casey Westcott of Fleet Foxes (and also of the criminally underrated Crystal Skulls), the band is rounded out by Ian and Peter Murray of The Christmas Cards. Their 5-song debut EP was released this week on Sub Pop digitally and on 12" vinyl and CD. The band takes their name from frontman Wargo's favorite Canned Heat song and their sound blends the warm folk of their parent band and the psychedelia of the 60's with a slight modern twist. The EP opens with the title track, [...]
Boston-based singer-songwriter Caleb Groh, who also has recorded under the moniker Happiest Lion, just released his new album Bottomless Coffee on his Bandcamp page this week for the low price of $5. The 14-track album features contributions from his friends in the Cincinnati psych-pop band the Pomegranates. His dusty and weary old-fashioned folk rock features his descriptive lyrics that focus on Biblical and historical figures, sung with a traditional folk narrative. Last October, he released an excellent 4-song EP titled, Down, Dakota! as a free download on his Bandcamp page. [...]
1. Tanlines - "Brothers" (Indie-pop duo released their excellent sophomore album Mixed Emotions this week on True Panther Records. They create an 80's inspired synth-driven tropicalia-laced dance music and the hypnotically catchy first single, "Brothers" is already my favorite song of the year.) http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Tanlines/138028506222803 Download: http://www.truepanther.com/mp3 /Tanlines_Brothers.mp3 2. Conduits - "Top Of The Hill" (The Omaha, Nebraska-based band's self-titled debut album hits you [...]
Margot And The Nuclear So And So's return today with a self-released new album Rot Gut, Domestic , their fourth overall. Produced by John Congleton (The Walkmen, Modest Mouse), the album follows in the footsteps of 2010's Buzzard with a raw sound centered on crunchy, distorted guitars and fuzzed out bass. While retaining the depressive wit and off-kilter pop sense, it is still a far cry from the folk-leaning chamber pop of their first two albums. The album opens on the ringing guitars and big crashing chords of "Disease Tobacco Free", [...]
Swimwear is the solo project of Tim Derricourt of the Australian indie-pop band Dappled Cities. His debut EP The Kissing Machine released in February, is filled to the brim with sparkling 80's-inspired dance music and the pop hooks you would expect. The 4-song EP opens with the infectious disco beat of "Nowhere To Run" followed by the delirious and delicious dance party on "Knocks". Mixing live instruments like guitars with synths and drum machines, Tim blends the organic with the electronic on the bouncy and swirling "Highs And Lows". The closing [...]
1. Spoek Mathambo - "Put Some Red On It" (For Father Creeper , his second album and first for Sub Pop, the Johannesburg born Spoek Mathambo is leading a band and has blended electro-rock, grimey rap, post-dubstep and more for a hybrid sound that is truly next level and just as varied as his home country's various cultures.) http://www.spoekmathambo.com/ Download: http://assets3.subpop.com/asse ts/audio/10995.mp3 2. Bishop Morocco [...]
The Late Great Slow Country is the debut album by the Queens-based indie-folk band Slow Country. The two songwriters in the band, Boyd Shropshire (from the under-rated Human Television) and Chase King each bring their own unique style to shape the band's brand of melodic country-leaning psych-folk. They and their label Wonderland Archives have put up the excellent album as a free download on their Bandcamp page. And if you like what you hear, you can also order the limited-edition screen-printed LP as well! Download The Late Great Slow [...]
1. Yellow Ostrich - "Marathon Runner" (Alex Schaff's solo bedroom project is now a fully formed trio, and the fuzzy guitar-led anthems on their sophomore album and Barsuk Records debut, Strange Land are both nostalgic and new, with Alex's imaginative lyrics dueling with the guitar for the spotlight.) http://yellowostrich.com/ Download: http://barsukmusic.blaireau.ne t/YellowOstrich_MarathonRunner .mp3 2. Ceremony - "Adult" (Continuing and expanding on the more mature sound of Rohnert Park [...]
Atlas and the Anchor
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