New EP: The Coloring || Night Before

By / / Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

The Coloring is a project by singer / songwriter / guitarist Josh Silva, who rightly sees music as an art, which he tries to give color, together with his friends, however they can. Four examples of this can be heard on the (digital) EP Night Before. This is indie rock like bands like OPM made about 20 years ago, with tempo changes, guitar outbursts and rap-like vocals. However, you can hear from the lyrics that it’s 2021. The song Phrases wonderfully arranges peoples favorite online phrases: “Busted. Period. I’m Dead. Fire. To Some extent. No worries. Just Kidding. Old School. And I’m Winning. Oh damn, Fam. It’s Lit . As good as one can get.” Like. 🙂

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: L.A. Exes || Get Some

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

I recently stumbled upon a performance of Best Coast on Letterman from ten years ago. L.A. Exes, a new band from L.A. (duh), made me think of that video. Not only because L.A. Exes play a similar brand of sunshine powerpop, but also because the songs on their debut Get Some are so insanely well crafted and infectious, I wouldn’t be surprised to see L.A. Exes touring late night television sooner than later. What makes L.A. Exes stand out from Best Coast though is how they incorporate ’60s girl group influences in their songs. Add in some cool harmonies and, in alignment with their name, snarky/cheeky lyrics about their exes, and you get a winning concept.

Get Some is the kind of record that could appeal to a broad audience. Songs like Skinny Dipping, Baby Let’s Pretend will steal the hearts of punks and power poppers whereas songs like West Keys and Get Some are full blown pop. And while the former are instant hits for me, I must admit I’m falling fall for the pop side as well.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp 

New single: Alvilda || NĂ©gatif

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

Nina, Eva, Sandra and Melanie make up Alvilda, a new jangly powerpop sensation from Paris, France. The press release namedrops The Shangri Las and Protex and that is spot on, because this four song EP is a perfect mix of both bands. Their bouncy songs are full of energy and a lot of fun, but also really well executed and sound strikingly authentic like this is some long lost late seventies gem. Alvilda mix ’60s girl group with ’70s Good Vibrations pop punk influences and je t’aime it a lot. It’s insane that these are the first recordings of the band. What a find by Alien Snatch! Let’s hope it’s the start of a prolific career.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: Mystery Girl || Mystery Girl

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

What better way to return from a short summer break with a record that is fun, catchy and rocks like crazy. Albany’s (NY) finest garagepoppers Mystery Girl recently released their first full length LP, which offers eleven glammy garagepop’n’roll nuggets. The record is the highly anticipated follow up to the band’s 2019 killer single Heartbreaker. The music of Mystery Girl is like a death match between sleazy guitars in one corner and pop hooks in the opposite, with one clear winner from the fight: the audience. I bet fans of Dirty Fences, Tough Shits and Barreracudas will go crazy for this one. Out now on Boulevard Trash (US) and No Front Teeth (UK).



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New EP: Melin Melyn || Blomonj

By / / Blues & Roots, Indie Rock, Psych / 1 Comment

Now this is fun and intriguing, extraordinary and eclectic at the same time. Or actually: this is fun and intriguing because it’s extraordinary and eclectic, but – different than usual with this description – also accessible, catchy, summery, and light-hearted. Welsh six-piece Melin Melyn (translated: Yellow Mill) is a psychedelic country pop band that naturally blurs the line between folk, rock, pop, surf, psych, and jazz, singing about weird tales of colorful characters and magical worlds in both English and Welsh. The music is just as eye-catching and exceptional as the cake in the cover photo, but also just as carefully constructed, cheerful and tasty – respecting the virtues of the past but determined to throw a party in the present. The six songs on debut EP Blomonj are all different, but all hits in their own way. Like they say: “Mwynhewch!” Enjoy!

Blomonj is out now digitally and on 12″ colored vinyl through Bingo Records. RIYL Kaizers Orchestra, The Zutons. The Golden Dregs.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp 

New album: The Arctic Flow || Lost You Long Ago

By / / Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

We can now add The Arctic Flow’s new LP Lost You Long Ago to the impressive list of compelling jangle pop releases of 2021. For his solo project, American singer-songwriter Brian Hancheck has once again produced a set of fine guitar songs. In Soft Arrows he apologizes with his sultry, dreamy voice – “I’m sorry to waste your time” – but that’s not necessary: these 11 tracks are a good pastime that the musician can be proud of (in fact, the more you listen to it, the better this music gets). Stream the full album below.

Lost You Long Ago is out now digitally, on cassette and CD through Sunday Records.

Add to wantlist : Bandcamp || Discogs || Sunday Records

New album: Late Runner || Nothing’s Real Anymore

By / / Indie Pop / Leave a Comment

Late Runner aka Asger Tarpgaard is a Danish singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist who makes beautiful indie folk / pop songs. After hearing his first single I Wear Shades at the beginning of this year, we were already looking forward to it, and the just released debut album Nothing’s Real Anymore does not disappoint. Although the opening track is titled Spring (in its video you can see how carefully the backing band takes care of a perfectly balanced sound, the pedal steel alone is worth it), this is ideal autumn music, for gazing gloomily out the window at the falling leaves, or for relaxing in an easy chair and dreams about the tale of Dragon Girl & Cactus Man. Watch the video for the standout title track below.

Nothing’s Real Anymore is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Crunchy Frog Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: LittleBoy || QuarterLife

By / / Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

Anyone who wants to, can nowadays record songs and share them with the world, but not everyone has the talent and perseverance to do so convincingly. Zach DeZago Adams succeeded. While the New Yorker is still young – before work and children hijack his life, as he expects – he shows that you can get a lot done in music and media on your own. As LittleBoy he writes, plays, records, produces, and sings everything himself, and he does it in a way that is somewhat reminiscent of the early work of Car Seat Headrest. This is appealing, guitar-driven lo-fi indie rock with searching lyrics. “Why am I writing this song?”, Zach asks in Can’t Last. The answer is as simple as it’s true: so that you and I can listen to it. Stream the ten tracks of LittleBoy’s new album QuarterLife below.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Darrin Bradbury || Artvertisement

By / / Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

American folk satirist Darrin Bradbury has released his third album, Artvertisement, in which he tells 12 tragicomic stories in 27 minutes and 46 seconds. Tempo (up, down), styles (folk, country, rock, punk), and instrumentation (electric and acoustic guitars, synthesizer, drum machine, piano) of the songs vary, but it’s the lyrics that steal the show. Each track opens with a telling line that represents another extraordinary thought from the singer / songwriter that sets the tone for the next 2-3 minutes, in which quotable observations, some name-dropping and sometimes a remarkable conclusion follow, before the next fanciful thought comes from the speakers. I won’t claim that the music will stand the test of time, but for now I’m having a great time with this record. RIYL Craig Finn, Courtney Barnett, Jeff Rosenstock.

Out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP through ANTI- Records.

Add to wantlist: ANTI- Store || Bandcamp

New album: Chris Acker || Odd, Ordinary & Otherwise

By / / Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

Like so many of us, country-folk singer / songwriter Chris Acker also took many steps during the long period of isolation during COVID quarantine. “I started taking walks to neighborhoods that I’d never been to because there wasn’t much to do,” he says. “It felt like falling in love with New Orleans in its in solitude, just by wandering around and randomly meeting people.” He started spending the rest of the time with bandmate Nikolai Shveitser, drinking beer and making music together in a fury of creation that came without the pressure of having to perform outwardly to an audience. It led to third full-length release Odd, Ordinary & Otherwise. The 13 original songs, arranged and performed with the Growing Boys, are sensitive, personal, honest, and elegant. Beautiful stories, delivered professionally.

Odd, Ordinary & Otherwise is out now digitally, on cassette, CD and vinyl LP through Gar Hole Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Gar Hole

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