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Gentle Ivanhoe Death Skulls – “Green Hang Ten”

December 21, 2017

Stockholm-based Gentle Ivanhoe Death Skulls serves up a fresh take on indie rock-meets-dream pop with their single “Green Hang Ten.” The song combines lo-fi vocals, a formidable bass line, ambient synths, and fuzzy percussion to fill out a shoegaze-inspired sound fronted by prominent guitar tracks. It’s the kind of track that’s totally unique in execution, but has a crowd pleasing element that’s got a little something for everyone. Since their 2016 outset, the band has released two singles including B sides, with a debut album set for release next spring on Shiny Happy Records. In the meantime, dig in to “Green Hang Ten” below and check out Gentle Ivanhoe Death Skull’s other tracks on bandcamp.

Cooler Release Single off Buried

December 20, 2017

Emotive Buffalo trio Cooler packs a lot of punch in the fleeting yet effective  “Buried,” a touchstone for the confident avoidance of life’s burdensome trials and tribulations. The lyrics point to a mind overpacked with anxiety brought on by a grueling, task-filled day ahead. The narrative fastens itself to the desire for a simple alternative capable of upending such a mindstate, its chorus announcing the line “I wanna spend my day buried in your sweater.” With cool assertiveness and distortion-laced power chords abounding, “Buried” harkens back to Exile in Guyville-era Liz Phair. A high spot of the track is its simmering down into an acoustic bit shortly after the two-minute mark, which is rejoined by surrounding instruments in a seamless flash. Cooler’s brand new EP, on which “Buried” will appear, is due out January 12th through Admirable Traits Records.

Ruler – “Easy Life”

December 19, 2017

Seattle’s Ruler fits into the city’s historic music scene with years of pent-up ambition that pours through in their single “Easy Life.” The brainchild of frontman Matt Batey, Ruler supplies clarion vocal melodies, garage-rock inspired guitar lines, and drum tracks built for precision. There’s a definite light-hearted breeziness to the track, sending out a ‘let the good times roll’ spirit that immediately makes your day a little brighter. Despite the project’s recent inception, Batey is no stranger to Seattle’s musical bounds, spending the last 12 years fronting bands and cranking out releases. Those years spent cultivating a sound and building up a catalog seem to pay off here, where clever song structure and instrumentation plays tongue-and -cheek in a way that’s not overly obvious, but subtly addicting. This is Ruler’s third single release, with a debut album coming soon via Barsuk Records.

Typhoon – “Rorschach”

December 19, 2017

Typhoon is an octet (!) from Portland, OR whose latest single has us in somewhat of a tizzy. “Rorschach” is a great starter point for the group’s unique post-pop approach, acting a single which is actually a snippet of a greater movement (titled Floodplains) that the band released back in October. The full album, titled Offerings, will be out in October… Until then, start digesting the intricate guitar work, intimate vocal delivery, and left-field instrumentation that “Rorschach” has to offer. Fans of Manchester Orchestra, Dear and the Headlights, or Floodplains is currently on Spotify, be sure to add “Rorschach” to your playlist.

Fuzzystar – “Superhero”

December 19, 2017

Andy Thomson, of Edinburgh, has released the indie-pop showpiece “Superhero” through Satellite Records under his pseudonym Fuzzystar, a christening that provides a nod the way of groups Big Star and Mazzy Star. Marked by a luxuriant guitar sound, manic but deliberate drumming and unruffled singing, the song purveys a lesson to keep one’s head up through rough patches while conserving a reasonable amount of self-awareness. “Superhero” also lyrically ties itself to its title with reference to such tropes as Kryptonite. The music video, picturing Thomson and his band performing inside a warehouse, can be watched below.

HEPTAGRAM – “Here, Now”

December 19, 2017

HEPTAGRAM’s fresh-out tune “Here, Now” augments its transcendent sound with lyrics concerning the reality happening in the moment and the feeling of reaching contentment and strength. The official music video is breathtaking, depicting aerial views of piers, sandy beaches and red-stricken countrysides before showing a panoramic view of a beachfront. It’s an apt visual representation of the song’s meditative power. The tune and its accompanying video, watchable below, draw from the natural environment of HEPTAGRAM’s mastermind Daniel Ivanov’s upbringing in Bulgaria.

Still Parade – “Kindness”

December 19, 2017

If one were to be fed with the information that Still Parade’s “Kindness” sustains an electronic drum beat at its core, they might feel inclined to expect four minutes of heartless machinery ahead. Instead, they would be treated with a track containing remarkable emotional substance. Its even-tempered, keyboard-based groove can be easily described as beautiful and nostalgia-inducing (despite the first line ironically being “pushing the past away”). Niklas Kramer, hailing from Berlin, is the musician responsible for such wholehearted and inviting wonder, arranged from unfinished efforts during a bout with writer’s block. Kramer’s next full-length album is slated to be released in 2018.

Undercut – “Take the Wheel”

December 19, 2017

The commanding lead single from newly banded-together alternative rock trio Undercut’s eponymously titled EP, “Take the Wheel” opens up to a shimmering ambience before ringing in piercing drums and bass. The vocals aren’t rough, but they’re acerbic. About a minute and a half in, the track makes excellent use of a false ending, which keeps the listener on their toes without abolishing momentum. The breakdown and guitar solo a minute later make for a segment suggestive of the group members’ previous associations with grunge and heavy metal. “Take the Wheel” should be viewed as a paragon for anyone seeking to reclaim control of their livelihood.

Jinka – “Shock Mounted”

December 19, 2017

“Shock Mounted,” with simplicity and grace, captures a feeling of freedom in the dark, post-breakup abyss. Transylvanian producer Jinka allows her new single to float on an unorthodox, jaunty dance rhythm, complete with head-turning vocal effects and subtle doses of bass and synth. The tone of the song sounds so nonchalant and charged up, seemingly adverse to its subject matter but also an admirable, hard-to-attain emotional response to heartbreak. It all adds up to a hooking electro-pop track.

The Tins – City Lies

December 18, 2017

Buffalo mainstays The Tins’ have released the 4-song, 13-minute EP City Lies, a sure-to-be timeless offering of warmth and introspection. “Lifeline,” the introductory track, is couched in a sweltering texture that should mesmerize with its yearning harmonies and swaths of plush instruments, which hold onto a Tame Impala-esque dreaminess in the sense that it simultaneously comes across as relaxed and penetrating. The song conveys the spirit of hedonism by way of its plea to be brought to “the place where the sun will rise again,” an expression of escaping despair. The soothing title track is a slow-burning acoustic number encasing lyrics of welcoming opportunity and thankfulness, detailing a city lying wide open before the narrator. “City Lies” utilizes intriguing studio treatment without being weighed down by overproduction, giving it a raw but full sound. The EP’s penultimate tune “Meditation Song” is reminiscent of either Big Star or Elliott Smith, or[...]

Western Scene – “Going Back”

December 16, 2017

LA indie rock band Western Scene provide a sun soaked followup to their first EP with a new single, “Going Back.” Channeling ambient rock soundscapes similar to M83, the band blends together soaring vocal melodies with running guitar lines and crisp percussion, providing momentum while giving the track a bright, uplifting feel. It’s the ideal soundtrack for taking in the world around you, from a lazy drive down the coast to a beginner’s anxiety-inducing skydive towards the ground. The song’s lyric video takes this feeling and runs with it, stitching together scenes from Google Street View as each setting slips by. This is Western Scene’s fourth single release since their 2013 debut EP, with word of a sophomore album on the horizon. Take in “Going Back” in all its golden panoramic glory below.

Corniglia – “But It Wasn’t That Long Ago”

December 16, 2017

Dreamy shoegaze duo Corniglia wistfully reflect on the past in their new single “But It Wasn’t That Long Ago.” Hailing from Perth, Australia, the band combines stirring, psychedelic guitar lines with languid vocals to make for a calming, yet emotive experience. Lead songwriter Matt channels his work in physiotherapy into the narrative, capturing a deep-rooted despondency that’s all too relatable via lead vocalist Chloe’s fluid croons. This track in particular, written about a battle with Alzheimer’s, grapples with the passage of time while smoothing things over with soothing melodies and ethereal sound quality. Not just a song, but a full and gripping experience both sonically and emotionally. Listen to “But It Wasn’t That Long Ago” below, and take in more of the Corniglia has to offer via their past releases here.

L.A. Salami – “Generation L(ost)”

December 15, 2017

Don’t be fooled by the moniker L.A. Salami – he’s actually a prolific songwriter from London. His latest music video for “Generation L(ost)” is a series of live clips that bring his frantic and urgent indie rock to life. In summation, lyrically the track is “about feeling lost during the journey of finding yourself,” whilst the accompanying video “is what you do whilst on that journey.” Do yourself a favor and check it out below. If you like Salami, he’s got you covered… You can purchase/stream/enjoy his music via a variety of platforms, all located here.

The Whiskey Circle – “Sweet Darlin”

December 15, 2017

The Whiskey Circle just released a new album called Into The Valley, and their first single, “Sweet Darlin” is getting us amped. This is a guitar-driven banger if we’ve ever heard one, pairing jangly tones, angelic female vocals, and big pop hooks. About the song, the band says: “It’s about all the things you do throughout the day to take your mind off being away from your significant other and how you long for their return. It’s about that young, foolish big love that has no bounds and inspires.” Here is the link to The Whiskey Circle’s Bandcamp. Be sure to stop by.

Holy Golden – “Arrival”

December 15, 2017

Holy Golden are a spacey duo who juxtapose dream-pop vibes with lo-fi garage sentiment. We’d like to draw attention to their latest single, “Arrival,” which has been rubbing us in just the right way all week. The duo is more formally known as Leslie Schott and Andrew Valenti; their compositions have drawn comparisons to groups like The Cranberries, The Cardigans, and Cocteau Twins backed by grungy acts like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Holy Golden has an entire website where you can learn more about them… Check it out here.