Latest Posts

Babe Lewis – “New Growth”

April 8, 2023

Babe Lewis, the solo project of Virginia based multi-instrumentalist Joseph Harder, is here is with an infectious indie-pop track, “New Growth,” and it is bursting with youthful wonder and a lust for life. Harder brings the powerful, positive, and poppy sonics with acoustic strumming; vocals delivered with a cool slacker vibe; lyrics that excite all the senses; percussion that tickles and pops while it pumps with a rhythm of an excited heart beat; and it’s all rooted with an lively smooth electric bass line. The song captures the spirit of wonder and pushes it right into your soul and down to your toes. Harder shifts and moves the instrumentation, keeping the effervescent feeling present and ever-tantalizing – the perfect example of this is the short burst of synth that leads into a delicious buzzy guitar solo. Harder’s goal for the song is clear and executed with such joy you won’t[...]

Dead Slow Hoot – “The Moistest Beak”

April 8, 2023

London based four piece Dead Slow Hoot has just released a new track (check our previous feature on them here) – the alt-country “Moistest Beak” rocker has a bittersweet warmth and poetic lyricism that you’ll love. Distorted lead guitar plays an infectious melody while a clear toned backing guitar bends and wails like pedal steel, creating a ambiance of large factory spaces and aged industrial humming while accents of banjo add a flannel warmth to the track. The imagery is pushed further with the measured, warbly vocals that sing of unchanging machinery that is proudly resilient to the outside world. Ancient stories and making mistakes that create unforeseen yet fruitful outcomes, all of which evoke images of youth in a small rural town with stubborn history that imprints as much as it needs to be rebelled against. “Moistest Beak” culminates with a crescendo, a powerful finale washes you in big open[...]

The Creepy Crawlies – “Frozen Lake”

April 4, 2023

Los Angeles is the land of dreams and The Creepy Crawlies are just that – coming in hot (and cold) with their new single “Frozen Lake.” They don’t make you wait through an intro… Their Kinks-vibe vocals come right in along with distinguished guitar leads and tasteful drums that make you want to keep listening. If you’re a fan of The Strokes or The Yardbirds you’re bound to love T.C.C. “Frozen Lake” gives you the good vibes we’re all searching for right now. About the song, Chris of T.C.C says: “‘Frozen Lake’ is an upbeat ode to feeling like your own worst enemy caught in a spiral of depression and isolation. A cheerful cry for help from under the ice. The lyrics are *insanely* relatable and if the vocals don’t pull you in, the guitar tones will.” You can find “Frozen Lake” on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, or Soundcloud. The[...]

Nathan Connolly – “Fires [feat. Simon Neil]”

April 4, 2023

“Fires” is the debut single off of Nathan Connolly‘s upcoming album The Strange Order of Things. You may already be familiar with Nathan from his turn as Grammy-nominated Snow Patrol’s guitarist, as well as his previous project Little Matador, but Connolly finally struck out on his own for this groovy indie rock jam. “Fires” features a guest appearance from Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro (as well as shared songwriting duties) and the duo brings the gravitas you would expect: powerfully layered guitars; big melodies; and uplifting, heartfelt lyrics. If “Fires,” along with his previous work, is any indication, not only will this be a fantastic album but certainly one worthy of an addition to your summer playlist. Keep an eye out for Strange Order of Things out on 4/21 through Third Bar Records. In the meantime you can hear “Fires” on Spotify and stay tuned for more updates on Nathan Connolly’s[...]

French Alps Tiger – “Heavy”

April 4, 2023

Swansea, UK based three piece French Alps Tiger brings not only a dandy of a single with “Heavy,” but also an EP collection of their singles entitled Switch Off All the Time. In their own words: “[Switch Off]’ is described as “Tapping into guileless, primal feels that we didn’t know were there, we’ve cut the shit and smashed out the sounds and words that best plunge us into that childlike wonder, fitting for an inceptive release, to catch you up on what a fuckup we’ve made of our lives so far.” Releasing a sort of “greatest hits” for such a young band is a ballsy move and certainly worthy of a listen. If you only listened to “Heavy” you’d only be getting part of the picture; this subdued, dirge-y indie gem certainly shines on its own but as part of a whole it stands out as a strong shoegaze-laced endcap[...]

Savagery – “Void”

April 4, 2023

I’m going to be completely honest with you, dear reader, I know next to nothing about the (presumably) one-person act known as Savagery. Honestly though, it’s kind of refreshing to have an artist present their music and just leave it at that. Here’s what I do know: Savagery seems to be composed of one person who has a strong understanding of composition. Their dulcet tones intersperse throughout a carefully curated midi-flavored track, layered with subdued guitar/drums/bass that create a sort of low-key, electronica/shoegaze-y mix. As described upon receipt of this track, this is “pop music, gone awry” (an apt description of shoegaze, to be sure). “Void”, along with the rest of Savagery’s tracks would be a good fit for someone who enjoys the amalgamation of sounds from bands like Beach House, Porches, or even Cocteau Twins. Be sure to delve into the mystery of of Savagery on their Soundcloud, Spotify,[...]

American Trappist – “Seg Fault”

April 4, 2023

01000001 01101101 01100101 01110010 01101001 01100011 01100001 01101110 00100000 01010100 01110010 01100001 01110000 01110000 01101001 01110011 01110100 00100000 00101101 00100000 00100010 01010011 01100101 01100111 00100000 01000110 01100001 01110101 01101100 01110100 00100010 Philadelphia-based American Trappist bring us a fun alt-90’s inspired single “Seg Fault;” so named for when a computer program loses track of memory and tries to write or read from an inaccessible part of memory or segmentation fault. [The computer based title is also the reason I so cleverly started this blog in binary (computer code 1’s and 0’s)]. The title fits well with the theme of changing over time, yet trying to maintain your sense of self, without losing who you originally are. The discordant intro sets the stage while meandering yet thoughtful guitar provides the perfect backdrop to Joe Michelini’s focused wailing that evokes Dinosaur Jr. or Pixies, with perhaps a dash of Deerhunter. Be sure to[...]

Tonton AI – “Vamos todos dançar”

April 1, 2023

This one is sure to put some pep in your step. Be sure to play this bumping jam as loud as you can over the nicest speakers you can find because you really can’t help but dance to this beat. “Vamos todos dançar” is from Paris, France-based musician (and producer, and DJ, and record label owner) Alexis Camous’s project, Tonton Al. This could very easily be the music for a slick movie opening or an ironic, self-aware dramedy on HBO. Barring that though, this tightly produced track will easily be at home in your headphones, a pumped up shower song, or on the dance floor. While a bit difficult to put into terms of “indie music this sounds similar to,” fans of Saint Motel, Matt and Kim, or even the raucous sound of LCD Soundsystem would certainly find things to enjoy from Tonton Al. You know the drill: Soundcloud, Spotify,[...]

Doug Holmes – “Spare Me Lonesome Days”

March 28, 2023

One man act Doug Holmes brings us a heartfelt thinker of a song by cataloguing the cruel passage of time on “Spare Me Lonesome Days.” His guitar gradually builds and adds additional layers as the song crescendos, but keeps a dirge-like beat that considers the shared experiences betwixt father and son. Holmes captures that America-based malaise that exists in a lot of us, especially being from the Buffalo, NY/rust belt area (like me). If you grew up with parents with decent musical taste, you might be familiar with Bruce Springsteen’s more story-based efforts (not just Born to Run), which this track definitely reminded me of. Not to mention the late great Chris Cornell’s more soulful performances (“Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart” immediately comes to mind). Be sure to check out “Spare My Lonesome Days” on Soundcloud, Spotify, or Apple Music. Please be sure to let us know via Twitter what[...]

Mother Sun – “Yellowbee”

March 28, 2023

Take a deep breath and hold it in, because this hits nicely. “Yellowbee” from Mother Sun is a chilled mellow high of a song that will absolutely pick you up and float you away to wherever you find yourself the happiest. Ostensibly, lead vocalist Doherty’s musings on a colony of bees, the delightful layering of repetitive (yet delightful) synth, guitars and *checks ears* an improvisational saxophone throughout?! I listened to this song three or four times and I heard something a little different each time; this is a track that rewards repeat listenings. I particularly enjoyed the simple yet effective chord progression that was employed throughout that made me feel like I was part of the hive. Fans of Porches or Panda Bear (or Animal Collective, for that matter) would feel at home with “Yellowbee,” as well as many of the tracks Mother Sun have laid down already. Be sure[...]

O Slow – “These Dreams”

March 27, 2023

Hailing from California and currently residing in Brooklyn, O Slow is multi-instrumentalist Jacqui Miranda’s solo effort that shines brightest when it’s at its darkest. “These Dreams” is a delightful masterclass in mixing wispy, haunting lyrics with a collage of sounds anchored by a steady piano throughout. Jacqui brings us into the tangled web of a transcontinental move and the accompanying mixed feelings associated with being the country mouse who moves to the big city. The melding of sounds and her voice evoke a comparison to bands like Beach House or even an alternate-reality Alvvays that leaned into darker tones. You should absolutely listen to “These Dreams” with a nice set of headphones (like I did) for the full effect. It was a good type of disconcerting that made me feel the unease Jacqui delivers throughout the track. You can hear this and more over on Soundcloud or Spotify. Also be[...]

bugcatcher – Slacker

March 21, 2023

Rochester act, bugcatcher, write big acoustic-indie tunes for little, yet important moments in their debut full length, Slacker. On the intro song, “Roller,” the project’s lead vocalist, songwriter and main member, Jake Denning, questions changes in his life while a tender guitar riff fades in and out. Responding with indifference, Denning’s voice echoes back onto itself with the vacant phrase “well okay, well alright,” as the instrumentation kindles the project’s gentle, slacker rock sound. Denning has multiple meanings for the title, as he feels there is “a malaise to the way the album flow[s], as it’s “generally pretty mid tempo,” yet he also said it took a long time for him to make, “maybe even too long.” He referred to its origins in late 2020, and how he moved around a couple times during its development. A dreamlike short-story-tune, “Daisy Vs The Grim Reaper,” was one of the first completed.[...]

Fieldrush – “Motorcycle”

March 20, 2023

Fieldrush is a San Diego-based trifecta who show that they understand how to craft a solid emo/alt-rock track in this year of our Lord 2023 with their latest track “Motorcycle.” This single brings something that sounds both familiar yet fresh; something about this three piece just feels right. Twinkly, tappy guitars, shuffling drums, and nimble basslines lay perfectly beneath their band-in-a-room vocals. The lyrics, specifically “Good friends move far away//Do you feel like they did now?” earnestly-delivered definitely awaken some feelings from earlier in life when I was the friend moving away (don’t worry, it happens when you get out of college too). Lead man Trevor Johnson brings some melodic guitar interwoven throughout that is reminiscent of bands such as Tiny Moving Parts, Modern Baseball, and Cloud Nothings, but forges ahead with his own identity without being beholden to forebears. Give “Motorcycle” among other songs a listen on Bandcamp or[...]

The Jürgen Clubs – “Soft”

March 20, 2023

Bringing a level of wit and self-deprecating pizazz that I can’t help but find infectious, Danish quartet The Jürgen Clubs‘ third single is… about the soft member of lead singer Magnus Grilstad. As he puts it: “The song is based on an evening when I wasn’t too proud of myself, and in the attempt to get a second chance, I invited her out to a restaurant while she’s on her way out the door. Of course she turned down that invitation a few days later. (Prior to the date, Magnus had skipped all of the day’s meals to avoid getting bloated, resulting in the alcohol suddenly hitting harder than expected).” With this in mind, it’s easy to appreciate not only the underlying theme but also the non-stop party vibe the band brings musically. With the bass and keyboard trading the spotlight multiple times, it brings a fun back-and-forth that wouldn’t[...]

Little Champion – “oops i got sad”

March 20, 2023

The on-stage moniker of Asheville native Dustin Goldklang; Little Champion‘s sound is that of a well-tuned indie rock bicycle. “Indie rock” is catch all term that gets thrown around, but Little Champion definitely fits the bill: self recorded, produced, and mixed (though this certainly doesn’t discredit anyone who can’t do all three). “oops i got sad” leads with warm guitars that crescendo along with Goldklang’s initial almost-whisper in the first third before backing off at the first bridge and guiding us along with the one-sided argument he’s having about (or with?) the malaise he’s feeling. Listeners of emo and/or folk-flavored indie would find a lot to enjoy, specifically Iron and Wine, heart-on-your-sleeve acts like Modern Baseball, or pop rocker Andrew McMahon’s previous project, Jack’s Mannequin. “oops…” is just one of nine tracks from Little Champion’s March 7th release Curiosity so I will say this: give it a listen. You can hear[...]