Niek

New album: Heather Evans || Songs I Didn’t Think About

By / / Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

Can anyone tell me what is so special about Marquette (Michigan)? The only conclusion of my Google search is that it looks like a gorgeous place to live, especially in the fall. But that doesn’t explain the disproportiate amount of good music coming out of there.

Somehow, the band Liquid Mike is involved in all of these releases. Liquid Mike, I believe, is a volcano waiting to erupt in terms of international acclaim – a new record will be out soon. But the quality of the members’ solo work is impossible to overlook as well. It’s no surprise we wrote about Michael Maple’s solo work, Raymond Little’s extremely fun recent record (Those lyrics!). And now it’s Heather Evans’ turn.

Songs I Didn’t Think About is an 8-track mini album produced by her Liquid Mike bandmate Michael Maple.  Evans immediately grabs your attention in album opener I Hope Heaven’s Just a Porch, combining palm muted acoustic guitar work with poetic lyricism. “Watching the sunrise over the seedy motels on the west side of my hometown // Wondering what my friends are doing // They live all around the world now.” Those are just the first couple of lines on the record, and they make you want to pull up the lyric sheet when listening to this record – something I recommend strongly by the way.

Both Evans’ lyrics and vocal delivery remind me of Courtney Barnett at times (i.e., listen to A Lot Like You), but Heather Evans has a more alternative folk/country sound. It’s also quite easy to imagine how effective songs like Jobs, Just Me And You and My Hair would be in a powerpop or punkrock version.

Go give Songs I Didn’t Think About  a try. Oh, and the comments section is open for theories about Marquette.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Hutchie || Some Other Way

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Let me introduce you to Hutchie, a band of three featuring members of Le Saboteur, Ol’ Doris, and BUGS. Some Other Way is Hutchie’s debut (mini)album, and it is comprised of eight rockin’ indiepunk tracks. Hutchie are a band that writes songs out of necessity, and their song touch upon the relational and deeply personal (Seat Next 2 U and The Summer Your Dog Died), as well as dealing with societal developments (Out Here). “This is a record full of disappointment, sadness, addiction, and isolation, sure. But’s that’s balanced against an equal dose of love, lust and hopefulness,” singer Michelle Pannell explains.

Feeling out of step with world has fueled angsty and true music for decades. But Some Other Way sounds brighter and more melodic than you’d expect based on that quote. This doesn’t sound like an angry record, but there is definitely a sense of urgency and true emotions oozing through these songs. Yep, I am enjoying this one a lot.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Bubblegum Lemonade || Never Have I Ever

By / / Indie Pop, Jangle Pop, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

The good news: everyone’s favorite twee power poppers Bubblegum Lemonade have come out of pandemic hibernation with a new three song single. The best news: It is the lead-up single to a new full length called Jangleadelica that will be out later this year via Matinée Recordings.

Bubbblegum Lemonade sound in particular good shape on Never Have I Ever and non album cut At The Pool. Extremely infectious, positive mood inducing quality pop from Scotland that should put a smile on your  face if you long for the up tempo midcareer material of Belle And Sebastian.  The digital single is available for streaming in loads of places and out now through Matinée Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Matinée Recordings

Album premiere: Charlie Reed || Eddy

By / / Indie Pop, Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

Today, we premiere a special record from a special band. Risen out of the ashes of Uh Bones, meet Charlie Reed aka the Chicago all-star cast that is Luke Trimble (Uh Bones), Colin Croom (Twin Peaks), Nick Beaudoin (Spread Joy), Nora & Nolan Chin, Tyler Bixby (Spread Joy), and Justin Vittori (Diviño Niño). Their debut LP Eddy is out tomorrow (July 21) through Earth Libraries. You can stream the record in full below.

…

Album premiere: Charlie Reed || EddyRead More »

New album: Gentlemen Rogues || A History Of Fatalism

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

Anytime Gentlemen Rogues (Austin, Texas) puts out a new release, they have my eyes and ears. And that even applies when the release technically consists of previously released tracks. This week, the band released A History Of Fatalism, which combines their A History So Repeating and Fatal Music EPs. Both EPs were remixed and remastered, and most importantly: pressed on vinyl for the first time.

It’s a joy to revisit these songs. There is a throwback quality to the guitar-driven powerpop of Gentlemen Rogues. They have that same knack for creating polished yet powerful songs as Bob Mould and Superchunk. And although I wouldn’t call Gentlemen Rogues punk, there clearly is some punk energy to their sound. If you are looking for some quality rockin’ powerpop, pick this one up. You get three bonus tracks with the digital stream (and vinyl download). Of the three I like Fuck And Run the most – a song I at first misheard as Fuck Enron and only later discovered to be a Liz Phair cover. Sigh.

A History Of Fatalism is out now through Snappy Little Numbers and Rocket Heart Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Snappy Little Numbers || Rocket Heart Records

New album: Aggi || Aggi Hates You (Completely)

By / / Indie Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

If you, like me, have never heard of Aggi, you shouldn’t feel bad. The short-lived Indonesian band released just ten songs spread out over four singles between 2013 and 2016. All of the releases have long been out of print and hard to find. Fortunately, Jigsaw Records have released the complete output of the band on one handy CD.

Jigsaw Records head honcho Chris MacFarlane discovered the band when he was trading records with HeyHo! Records. “One of that label’s final releases in 2014 was the College Friend cdep from Aggi and the second I heard it, I was FLOORED, to say the least. I mean c’mon, three songs in under 4½ minutes that sounded exactly like vintage Henry’s Dress?! How have I NOT found my new favorite band??” I can totally relate to that touch of awe from first discovering the music of Aggi. Call it tweepunk, call it noisepop or call it C86-core, the indie pop of Aggi is primitively fun and sweet.

Buy the CD through Jigsaw Record, you won’t regret it.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Sino Hearts || Lightening The Darkness

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Last time we checked in with The Sino Hearts they released a compilation with the best tracks of their first two records. For me that offered the best of both worlds, because neither record was perfect but both contained some killer tracks. Now, the Bejing band (who moved to Berlin recently) returns with their third album called Lightening The Darkness. Mark this record as the moment where The Sino Hearts fully live up to the expectations raised by those killer tracks. To be honest, The Sino Hearts exceed my expectations. I’m blown away by how good this record is.

Whereas the band’s previous output was very much Exploding Hearts influenced – never a bad thing, it’s almost like The Sino Hearts finally found a sound of their own. Like a writer finding his or her own voice, The Sino Hearts brand of powerpop/garage/rnr/’70s punk is more effective than before, and you won’t find any filler on Lightening The Darkness. It’s hit upon hit. Goodbye Tonight. Passing Shades. Stranglehold On My Heart. Falling Out Of Love. All hits, and those are the first songs on the record! Or what about Commotion Of Love?

Lightening The Darkness is a must have. Out now through Topsy Turvy & Otitis Media.

Add to wantlist: Discogs || Soundflat

New EP: The Dumpies || Roberto Clemente

By / / Punk / 2 Comments

An EP with more songs (6) than minutes (5)? Short attention spanners rejoice! The Dumpies return with their latest EP, which they of course again named after a sports icon. After tackling Bill Laimbeer, Jim Thorpe, Zola Budd, Mark Spitz, and Billie Jean King, this time it’s Roberto Clemente – the first Latin-American player to be inducted in the Baseball Hall Of Fame.

I am kinda surprised the band didn’t pick a Hockey player for this one since these songs have more in common with the short agressive and speedy shifts of a bunch of fourth liners than the leisurely pace of a baseball game. The short punk bursts of The Dumpies sound good to me though and fun as (w)(h)ell. The longest track on Roberto Clemente is a blistering cover of Shang-a-lang’s Commotion. Extra credits for cutting twenty seconds of the already fast original.

Roberto Clemente is out now on 7″vinyl at Hovercraft Records.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Hovercraft Records

New album: The Rubs || Dust

By / / Power Pop / 2 Comments

There was an insane amount of interesting releases Friday – which we hopefully get to catch up to soon, but I got distracted when I noticed Joey Rubbish applying a mobile AED to revive the heartbeat of AM radio. And so here I am, taking a fourth consecutive spin of Dust, his latest release under The Rubs moniker. Still not satiated.

It’s been five years since Impossible Dream, and although The Rubs is an one man band, that’s a long time. But clearly Joey Rubbish used the time wisely. Dust is goddamn perfect and clever in all of its powerpop glory. With songs like I Want You, Dana, I Don’t Wanna Wait and What Did I Do, Rubbish proves that pop perfection is not limited to 3-minute songs. And with Hang On To Me, he shows that Thin Lizzy is still very much alive today. Meanwhile, the amount of hooks in these 44 minutes is simply staggering.

If you listen to just one record today, make it this one. Dust is out now through Hozac Records.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Hozac

New album: Neil Brogan || Things Keep Getting In The Way

By / / Indie Pop, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

A solo record by Neil Brogan of Sea Pinks, Girls Names and Cruising fame? That doesn’t just sound good on paper. Things Keep Getting In The Way offers 30 minutes of smooth jangle guitars, laid back vocals, and simply great melodies. Admittedly, this isn’t the first solo release by Brogan – there is a lot to discover on his Bandcamp page, but to my knowledge it’s the first solo release with a physical (CD) release. That makes sense, because I think it contains the best of his recent recordings. Brogan has a knack for writing tunes that make you feel good. The combination of his voice and the clean jangle guitar riffs has a soothing effect.

Things Keep Getting In The Way is life summarized in six words, but Brogan makes it sound like the world is alright after all (or will be). There even is a song on here called I’m In A Good Mood. Same, Neil. Same!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Scroll to Top