New album: The Umbrellas || The Umbrellas

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

It’s a good thing music is not a competition, because right now there is a staggering amount of frontrunners in the indie and jangle pop field. After a slow start to the year, we had top notch releases from bands like Massage, The Telephone Numbers, The Laughing Chimes, Quivers, Holiday Ghosts and many others. Add The Umbrellas to this list, because they just released a magnificent self-titled debut LP on the ever reliable Slumberland Records. Of all before mentioned bands, The Umbrellas arguably is the most twee. Fans of Sarah Records and bands like Comet Gain, Tullycraft and The Pastels likely will embrace The Umbrellas within ten seconds of album opener Lonely. Despite the dark undertones of the lyrics, this is feel good music. The Umbrellas’ music is made for summer, even when it’s raining.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Animal Steel || A Surefire Way To Get Sober

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Here is an example of how the artwork drew me in, and the music made me stay. A Surefire Way To Get Sober may be The Animal Steel’s debut album, but its members have been playing music since the ’90s. Unburdened by a need to be cool – they are dads nowadays, the record is simply a product of true passion and love. From the first couple of songs it’s clear that approach pays off for the band. They play a heartfelt blue-collar kind of punkrock that incorporates elements of emocore (think Boysetsfire) and orgcore (somewehere between Iron Chic and The Ship Thieves). Good music, good artwork, nice vinyl color. There are worse, much worse ways to spend your money.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: The Onesies || Sub-Urbia I

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

When I use a word like eclectic or mention that I’m intrigued by a band’s sound, it usually means I like the music but I don’t really understand it nor have the words to explain it. Both terms apply to Sub-Urbia I, the new (first) album by Charlotte (Carolina) band The Onesies. The band plays an experimental form of sunshine and jangle pop. Their songs sound like they cut cool parts from different songs by different bands, put them in a blender, and pasted them back together in short songs – the album is only 18 minutes long. There are no clear endings to most of their songs and often it’s like they skip all introduction and start somewhere in the middle. The result is a sound that is within a triangle of The Byrds, Beach Boys and Guided By Voices. Yeah, I’d call this electic and I AM definitely intrigued!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Dave Strong || Little Girl/I Would

By / / Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

Best known for his work in The Guts and as a contributor to releases by Palmer and Tommy And The Rockets and many others, here’s Dave Strong’s first solo single. And let me add DIY to solo: Strong basically did everything himself on this single, with his daughter Kyra on backing vocals. Both songs are very catchy and have a strong Leftovers/Kurt Baker vibe. Little Girl is a pop punk hit from the get-go, whereas flipside I Would is more restrained and classic powerpop oriented. It’s a strong first outing which make me curious about the next songs Strong will put out – He already has plans to follow up the single with an EP.

Remember how Geoff Palmer a couple of years ago was putting out a new song every couple of weeks just for fun? And how these songs ultimately culminated into his great solo debut Pulling Out All The Stops? I am kinda hoping his buddy Dave Strong will have a similar trajectory.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Lipschitz || Chevron

By / / Indie Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

The Lipschitz are an artsy punk duo from Chicago. I assume both members have six arms and four legs, there is just so much going on their new album Chevron. The music is loud and hyperactive; the guitar riffs are as weird as they are cool; the back and forth singing is hypnotizing, and the start-stop dynamics are like an irregular heartbeat that keeps you on your toes. In less capable hands this would have been an unlistenable mess, but with The Lipschitz at the reigns it becomes a thrilling form of orchestrated chaos. Chevron is out now on Company Businesses Inc on A LOT of color variations.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: The Yolks || Take Your Time

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

KILLER single to start your week off right. The Yolks aka Kings Of Awesome aka Masters of Lo-fi Powerpop return with two new hits. A-side Take Your Time has a bubblegum and soul vibe that fits the band perfectly. The flipside (Tell Me Now) is classic The Yolks material, and sounds like a lost track by the Nerves. In one word: HITS!

Out now in a limited run on Randy Records with 16 different color variations of the sleeve.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Sonny & The Sunsets || New Day With New Possibilities

By / / Country & Folk, Indie Pop / 1 Comment

Every time garagepop band extraordinaire Sonny & The Sunsets release a new album is a good time in my book. One of the things I love about the band is that none of their albums sound the same, but you still identify them instantly as a Sonny & The Sunsets record. New Day With New Possibilities, the band’s eight album, is no exception, although it is sonically similar to Longtime Companion (2012). Sonny again goes full country, fueled by a stay in a free recording studio where, instead of painting, he read old western paperbacks, went on walks, and wrote country tunes about “being alone, songs about failed men, some dark tales of longing.”

The returns are maximal. New Day With Possibilities is a very strong collection of darkly comedic, sad countrypop. Country perfectly matches the smart wordplay of Sonny Smith, who needs few words to evoke powerful images and break you heart. Perhaps the best illustration of this is the opening line of Earl & His Girl : “His name is Earl // You can tell from his girl // That he likes to hit women.” Or what about Love Obsession, with lines like ” and “I’m on the board of depression // And I’m up for re-election.” Like I said, anytime Sonny releases new music is a good time.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Rocks In Your Head Records

Shorter, Faster, Louder || July Hardcore Wrap-up

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Though the majority of my posts are punk and garage leaning, I also listen to music that push the boundaries and expectations of this blog. I am talking about music that is a bit more extreme in terms of length, speed, and loudness. It’s the kind of music that may scare or disturb some, or met with plain disinterest by others, but I believe are still worth checking out. Each month I wrap-up those releases in one post: Shorter, Faster, Louder.
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New EP: Sweet Teeth || Acid Rain

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock / 1 Comment

It’s a good release week for fans of heavy and melodic guitar driven altpop. Sweet Teeth are from Sweden but they have a very American sound that will appeal to fans of Bob Mould and Dinosaur Jr. The guitars are loud and layered, and the melodies strong on the band’s 7-song debut mini-LP. Have a taste of My Heart Is Big And Broken and Her, and let the Acid Rain wash over you.

Sweet Teeth features members from a wide variety of prominent Swedish acts such as Disfear, Year of the Goat, and Dollhouse. Fingers crossed this is the start of something bigger for the band.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Stay Put || Stay Put

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

In all honesty, there is a reason not to buy the debut 7″ of Plymouth (UK) band Stay Put. And that is its generic orange cover. It’s the only thing I don’t really care for. Anything else is pretty good to pretty great. With a release on Crew Cut Records, and a classic hardcore band name, I did not expect the band to sound like a ’90s alternative guitar band. But they do, not unlike a heavier version of the Lemonheads or a slightly lower paced version of early Superchunk. The vocals are buried a bit too low in the mix for my taste, but what a solid start from a very promising new act!


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Crew Cuts

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