Los Angeles duo Double Life are channeling all the goods from 90’s post-hardcore, including powerful, groove-heavy drums, spacey vocals, chunky bass lines, and fuzzed-out guitar. Their first single and title track, “Indifferent Stars” (below), reminds me of bands like Jawbox and Failure with a bit of “Seven”-era Sunny Day Real Estate-like ferocity.
Double Life’s self-released, 3-song debut EP, Indifferent Stars is, out on January 24. It will leave you wanting for more. Here’s to hoping for more! Enjoy.
Still Ruins’ dreamy, debut S/T EP was and is just what I needed to get me out of the funk I’ve been in caused by some brutally long days at the day job.
The Oakland trio’s use of shimmery synths to cut through their manufactured fog of fuzzed-out bass lines and vocals, creates an effective blend of post-punk and new wave That I enjoyed the hell out of. Fans of bands like Tears For Fears and Choir Boy should definitely take notice.
Still Ruins’ S/T is out today via Smoking Room. I give it 16.5 out of 20 corn dogs. Go nab it, get out the fog machine and some mood lighting and crank it up. Enjoy
Mexico City’s Malcría do not pull any punches on their blistering 8 songs in 15 minutes new album Fantasías Histéricas. It’s an onslaught of relentless hardcore punk (like early Suicidal Tendencies on speed) that demands to be spun on repeat.
Montreal’s Feeling Figures touch about every “indie” genre on their debut long-player, Migration Magic, which is out now on K/perennialdeath. There’s garage punk (“Dream Death”), jangle pop (“Across The Line”), the noisy Sonic Youth-ish “Sink”, and even a saloon-style piano ballad (“I Should Tell You”). Not to mention that every song is covered in an infectious direct to VHS grime.
Migration Magic is rad from start to finish. There’s really no other way to say it. I wish I would have gotten to it sooner, it would have been in my top releases of the year for sure. I am sorry I slept on it!
Go buy Migration Magic from the Figs Bandcamp page or from us right now. Enjoy.
Roman Ruins (aka Graham Hill) is back with a brand new single, “Drum Machine”, as well as announcing a new album (his first since 2014’s incredible Source of Pride), entitled Isotropes.
“Drum Machine” is a head-nodding affair, full of many layers of sound and texture, coupled with Hill’s ghostly vocals. This single could be, possibly, considered a tad on the bedroom-pop side of things, except for the incredible amount of depth contained within. In fact, the album cover describes what Hill is doing on this track (I assume the rest of the album as well) perfectly.
Isotropes is coming in February via Gold Robot. You can spin “Drum Machine” in all the usual places, including below. Enjoy.
L.A.’s Mo Dotti is back with a brand new single, “For Anyone And You”, as a teaser for their upcoming LP release in 2024. The track is an in-your-face shoegaze-pop song slightly reminiscent of the heavier, more upbeat MBV stuff. It’s a rad track and I’m excited for the new album to come.
Mint Field are a duo out of Mexico City, Mexico. Their new album Aprender a Ser (Learning To Be) is a shimmery ride through bits of dream pop, shoegaze and trip hop (that’s a bit of a stretch, but I’m going with it). The slightly blurry, yet shiny image used for the album cover describes their sound better that I ever could. If I were to rate this it would be 5 wooden nickles!
Aprender a Ser is out on Friday 10/27/2023. You need this album in your life. You can check out the singles “El Suspiro Cambia Todo”, “Nuevo Sol” and “Orquídea” below. They represent the album well. Enjoy.
Glasgow’s Dancer are back, nine months removed from releasing their self-titled EP back in February. Their new EP, As Well, is five more tracks of sharp-edged, jangly, post-punk-ish goodness. Get a load of “Chill Pill” and “Pulp Thriller” below; you’re going to dig them if you don’t already.
As Well is out now on cassette and digitally via Gold Mold Records. I’m super stoked on it. I know you’ll be stoked on it. Go and get it, and enjoy.
New Jersey band LIGHTHEADED is releasing their latest cassette EP, Good Good Great!, on Friday, (10/13/2023). It’s a fantastic 20 or so minutes of five shimmery, jangle pop tracks that are sure to keep you warm—in your heart—on these cooler autumn days. Check out “Mercury Girl” and “Love Is Overrated” (below) for a taste.
Flooding is a three-piece band out of Kansas City, Missouri. They are releasing their new album, Silhouette Machine, today (09/29/2023).
Listening to Silhouette Machine is like watching a horror movie, even more so after the initial shock and surprise of album opener “Run”. We know the person running from evil on the big screen is headed for their ultimate demise, and we anticipate the shock of it happening even though we know it’s going to happen, and it’s still thrilling and works every time—it’s a tried and true formula. Silhouette Machine works just like that. Most of the songs have a soothing, almost ethereal beginning, and you know what’s coming. Then they strike and pummel your senses with a brutal onslaught of heavy guitars, drums, and Rose’s incredible shredded vocals. It works every time. I love it.
Check out “Run”, “Muzzle”, and “Transept Exit” below for a little example. As I was told regarding this album “don’t sleep”. Go get it. Silhouette Machine is out on vinyl via The Ghost Is Clear, on cassette via Manor, and digitally via Flooding. Enjoy.
