Formerly known as Jerry Tropicano, Danny Nellis' newish incarnation, Charles How l , has finally released his long awaited debut 73, Surf Trem via Lo Recordings . Although I've written about this song before, I wanted to bring it up again because I think it's a worthwhile endeavor. Before the name-change to Charles Howl , one of my favorite shows that I ever saw in London was Jerry Tropicano opening up for The Castillians and although I never thought I'd say this, ramshackle as it was, [...]
If you, like myself, have been waiting years and years for this TV Colours release, savoring over their split 73s that were just never going to be enough, wondering when, why and how it would get into your hands - our time has finally come. With big thanks to Dream Damage Records & our favorite French label XVIII Records , we can now listen to Bobby Kill's genius through TV Colours debut album, Purple Skies, Toxic River . The [...]
To celebrate the start of the season, and to celebrate my brilliant idea to draft Chris Davis of the Orioles to like, four of my fantasy teams, I bring to you this wonderful mix that has nothing to do with baseball and has everything to do with being songs that I have been listening to a lot recently. Enjoy. 01 Unwed Teenage Mothers - Forever Until You Are Bones 02 Hypocrite in A Hippy Crypt - Freak Me Out 03 Ooga Boogas - It's A Sign 04 The [...]
I can't even begin to pretend to know whats going on in the Eddy Current Suppression Ring scene, but I do know that Mikey Young's Ooga Boogas returning for their second album is a great thing. Joined by Leon Stackpole, Richard Stanley and Per Bystrom, the group has recently released their self-titled follow up to 20082s Romance and Adventure and it has captured my heart from the first listen. The album is a genre-melting affair, there's definitely some garage rock, some Fall influence and even some Talking Heads-y [...]
Sometimes, as a blogger, you run into a release that you like so much, it's difficult to figure out what song to talk about. Of course, this is a problem I like to have, and I'm having it bad right now with Unwed Teenage Mother s' F orever Until You Are Bones 73 from the good people at Hiss Lab . Four tracks long, this 73 of quick hits is one of my favorite things I've found in a while. Each track [...]
Manchester's favorite left-handed people in a band, the Bell Peppers , just released their debut cassette called Saved By The Bell Peppers out via Captured Cats at the beginning of the month. And the second best part about it, is that their genius digital debut EP Cooking With The Bell Peppers. It's been a while since we last heard from them, with the mp3 of Golfshack and the Bell Peppers have been [...]
Pitchfork's Laura Snapes tumbled this Paris Review article written by the incomprehensibly awful Natalie Elliott entitled " Festival Guide: A List of Don’ts for the Lady Music Writer " and I had to take a moment to tell this bitch to fuck herself and to fuck her stupid, condescending, completely unnecessary festival guide for 'lady music writer' because obviously. Highlights include instructing women "not to be fun" although, I would surmise in her opinion, being a woman isn't fun especially when you bow down and let all the terrible, patriarchal bullshit color your view of [...]
About a year ago now, I finished one of the best things I've probably ever written, my dissertation that I cunningly wrote on Bob Dylan . This allowed me for months to sit in my little cave of a room (this is a lie, it was a big room) in the dark and listen to Bob Dylan under the guise of working on my paper. I promised back then that anyone who is interested in such a paper (the beginning is really theory heavy, fair warning) would be able to. I never lived up to this promise. [...]
I feel kind of like a kid getting away with something super mischievous, though I'm only posting spoken word on my here garage rock and roll blog. Warsan Shire is #everything . That is what you need to know. This incredible woman is a Kenyan born Somali poet who currently resides in London, and I've found her writing to tap into Audre Lordes vision of the erotic, the embodiement of finding joy in all of our works and then in all facets of life. That's not to say that [...]
For their humble beginnings as a cover band, Olympia, WA duo The Maxines , comprised of Matt Murillo and Kelly Norman, manage to make some pretty ergonomic, primitive fuzzy goodness. Their 2012 EP Drugstore (via K Records ) packs a hefty punch for being as economical as it is, four tracks and each clocks in under two and a half minutes, and is a bit of a kick in the pants. Sticking to primal beats and basic blues structure, you'd probably find some comparisons to famous male/female blues [...]
It's been a while since I've actively kept up with the blogosphere, and I have even let some of the bands that I always keep up with leave my keen sightline, and The Beets were unfortunately one. I recently wondered where they were and what they were up to. Turns out, they're just playing some live shows hopefully leading up to a new record (complete speculation based on Facebook 'research') but to tide us all over we have the spectacular 73 from Juan Wauters (leader of The Beets) aptly entitled ' Sanity ' because it's [...]
I guess I still want to be doing this. My return is imminent.
I'm still thinking about this interview with Merchandise that I was turned on to from Jane Pain . This quote is so relevant: Carson: "Even though I said it. We wrote in Pat’s answers for an interview. It was fun making him say whatever I wanted. But really, the DIY world needs to fucking check themselves because they have been getting away with righteous bullshit for a long fucking time. Man, I have met CEO’s of major labels that are much more humble than these assholes. The whole game has changed. And if you think you are [...]
Just heard the terrible news of the passing of Mess Folk 's ringleader, Phil Tarr. Thought I would take a moment to remember that Phil has brought tons of joy into my life through his music, so it is only appropriate to take a moment to remember his life. Below is my favorite Mess Folk song, and one of my favorites of the past few years, You're Too Pretty (I Wanna Kill You) which was like the light of my life at one point. I do hope that Phil is at peace, and we will always have [...]
Another day, another great band from Oxford, Mississippi. The Unwed Teenage Mothers are the project of Colin Sneed, whom you'll all know from Bass Drum of Death - one of our personal favorite bands. They've released a 73 four-song EP through Virginia label Speakertree Records , which is one of the must have records for the late summer. I remember reading John Barrett (also of Bass Drum of Death ) speak really highly of Colin's talents as a songwriter, and this effort, with its [...]
Recently got my hands on this awesome Dusty Medical Records release of Black Lips 2005 WFMU session - and naturally, it rules. It stirred up a lot in me that other music has failed to do recently, and this version of Freakout brought back visceral memories of getting pummelled, covered in beer, my hair inflated like 6 inches due to sweat at various Black Lips shows - and of course, revelling in it. mp3: Black Lips [...]
I tweet a lot about how summer is the perfect time for jazz, and excuse me for saying so but, garage rock belongs in the winter. These two strange bedfellows in my mind assist me in navigating the seasons and as I sit on my balcony with the normally-cruel English breeze swirling lightly around me, Nina Simone 's classic, suave rendition of My Baby Just Cares For Me is hitting all the right buttons. The innocent candor of the lyrics belies the sophistication and age of this 30s jazz standard, and Simone's vocals, though bordering on gruff [...]
Since Dusty Springfield needs no introduction of her own, I thought I would pass along my new favorite Dusty song off her Complete BBC Sessions from the early 60s. This 1966 version of You Don't Have To Say You Love Me , in addition to being the story.of.my.damn.life, features Dusty's striking and emotive voice, clear as can be. Like many of the versions Dusty & her band performed at the BBC, this contains a quicker tempo that serves the song well by adding heaps of glorious and much-needed drama. Dusty crooning ' Believe me ' just before [...]
I've been hemming and hawing over what to say about Audacity 's new album, Mellow Cruisers - mostly, about how strongly to convey the fact that I love this album and it is most definitely in my top 10 of 2012. Perhaps the best way would be to discuss at length my favorite track and how it is the epitome of what makes Audacity as amazing as they are. Dhaga , my favorite song off the album, and I go way back. In a story I [...]
It has been quite a while since I have had the opportunity to excessively praise Los Growlers on this blog, due to the Growlers front being all quiet for some time now. Avid NRBW readers will know that The Growlers are a perfect band who have never made one musical misstep and are shining paragons of what a band should be and create. Their new single Uncle Sam's A Dick b/w Drinking Song For Kydz will now be submitted as proof of my previous statement. Drinking Song For Kydz [...]
Nu Rave Brain Wave
‘The Terminator,’ starring Woody Allen
New Album: Freddie Gibbs – ESGN [Stream]
The New 06.19.13
“Is Burial actually Four Tet?” hoax resurfaces online
