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Ripper

Ripper’s newest EP A.D. came to my attention via an email from their label Land Ski Records. Their description of Ripper’s sound is what really caught my attention, “…Dead Kennedys, Germs, Sonic Youth, and The Beach Boys”. There’s definitely some Protomartyr-esque post-punk mixed in there as well.

Standout track “On The Curb” (below) is heavy as hell and the chorus reminds me (somewhat) of pre slap-bass, 80’s era, Suicidal Tendencies. The entire EP makes me want to blow the dust off my skateboard and go thrash some curbs with it blaring in my ears.

A.D. is out now on cassette and digitally through Land Ski Records and Lawn Chair Records. Enjoy!

Ripper – On The Curb from A.D. (2015)

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Fuzz Ghost

Nashville’s Fuzz Ghost, bring the fuzzed-out, surf style, garage rock on their debut, self-titled EP. Check out the heavy, slow burning, Ty Segall-esque, “Sunshine” (below), for a taste of this EP’s goodness.

Fuzz Ghost’s EP is available now on cassette and digitally through Ongakubaka Records. I highly recommend it.

Fuzz Ghost – Sunshine from Fuzz Ghost EP (2015)

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Lasso

Lasso is the solo (mostly) project of Tucson multi-instrumentalist/beat maker Andy Catlin. He covers about every genre imaginable throughout his seven release discography, including psych, pop, electro, hip hop, pop and rock. His newest release, Into The Lasso, is a kind of groovy, psych-pop meets hip hop beats hybrid. Check out the Money Mark-like album opener “Pepper”, it’s a great example of what this guy can do.

Into The Lasso is available now from Lasso’s bandcamp page. While you are there be sure to check out his other releases, you will not be disappointed.

Lasso – Pepper from Into The Lasso (2015)

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November Mixtape

15 solid gold hits, including the new single from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. Enjoy.

Descendents – I’m Not A Punk [sst]
PEARS – Snowflake [fat wreck chords]
Poster Children – 0 For 1 [reprise]
The Lodger – A Free Period [slumberland]
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Hell [painbow]
Young Hunting – Blue Dream [self]
Grandaddy – Summer… It’s Gone [v2]
Okkervil River – Piratess [jagjaguwar]
Sheraf – Zero [six tonnes de chair]
Panthatone – I Say [self]
Lasso – Listzenwotha [self]
Milo – Souvenire (feat. Hemlock Ernst) [ruby yacht]
Tiger Waves – In Retrograde (feat. Jana Horn) [self]
FUZZ – Sleestack [in the red]
Library Voices – Bored In Berlin [nevado]

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The Mantles

San Francisco’s The Mantles are back with their newest pop masterpiece, All Odds End. Check out the throbbing bass lines and jangling guitars of “Hate To See You Go” (below) it’s a great example of the album’s psych-pop goodness.

All Odds End is out now and available via Slumberland Records. This album belongs in your collection. Enjoy.

The Mantles – Hate To See You Go from All Odds End (2015)

The Mantles FB

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Library Voices

Back in 2011, before I was a contributor, I read Sam’s glowing review of Library Voices’ practically perfect sophomore album, Summer of Lust, and have been hooked on them ever since. You can understand my excitement when I saw their upcoming third release, Lovish, in my mailbox.

Lovish has a bit of a darker/heavier vibe than it’s predecessor, but don’t let that fool you, it’s a solid pop album. Check out the first single and opening track, “Oh Donna” below. It’s a standout track for sure, with it’s lush vocal harmonies throughout the chorus and some killer Yes-esque (don’t kill me for that comparison, just go with it) organ rounding out the end of the song.

Lovish comes out on November 6 via Nevado Music. Get to your local record store and demand that they carry it! Enjoy.

Library Voices – Oh Donna from Lovish (2015)

Library Voices FB

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The Staches

Swiss garage rockers The Staches pack a hefty one-two punch of chugging bass lines and distorted, psyched-out guitars on their new EP III. Album opener “Crocodile” (below) is a great example of their garage-psych goodness.

EP III is out now on Six Tonnes De Chair Records. I highly recommend you getting your hands on a copy.

The Staches – Crocodile from EP III (2015)

The Staches FB

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Woolen Men

Portland, OR 3-piece, Woolen Men, bring their lo-fi brand of punk rock, on sophomore release Temporary Monument, and shove it right in your face. By the time you can catch your breath you are 6 songs in. The tempo is slowed a bit on the organ-driven track “After The Flood” (below) which makes it one of the standouts on the album.

Temporary Monument is out now and available via Woodsist Records. Go buy this record!

Woolen Men – After The Flood from Temporary Monument (2015)

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Band and The Beat

Band & The Beat is the new project of husband and wife duo Tracy Shedd and James Tritten. Using only analog synthesizers and an analog drum machine, they have created quite the infectious dream-pop sound.

Dig on the warbly synths and lo-fi vocals of their first single “Buoy” below. Hopefully there will be many more songs from these guys in the future. Enjoy.

Band & The Beat – Buoy (2015)

Be sure to catch Band & The Beat on tour in a city near you:

Oct 14 . Durham NC . The Pinkhook . w/ Jphono1, Schooner (solo)
Oct 17 . Raleigh NC . Slim’s . w/ Jason Herring & The Mystery Plan
Oct 18 . Chapel Hill NC . Local 506 . w/ Nuns (Oklahoma)
Oct 19 . Knoxville TN . Pilot Light . w/ Bark (mems. of Tim Lee 3)
Oct 20 . Nashville TN . The Basement – 8:00pm – New Faces Nite
Oct 20 . Nashville TN . The 5 Spot – 10:00pm – $2 Tuesday
Oct 21 . Nashville TN . The Basement East – New Faces Nite
Oct 22 . Athens GA . Flicker
Oct 23 . Charlotte NC . Petra’s . w/ Jason Herring & The Mystery Plan
Nov 1 . Durham NC . Duke Coffeehouse . w/ Free Pizza (Boston MA)
Nov 7 . Chapel Hill NC . The Cave . w/ Tim Lee 3

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The Reverberations

Portland, Oregon’s 4-piece, garage rock stompers, The Reverberations’ debut EP, Lost In Time, is 3 solid tracks of fuzzy, 60’s era, garage-rock-psychedelic goodness. Stream their fuzzy, psych-pop title track below.

Lost In Time is being co-released by Hidden Volume Records and Spain’s KOTJ Records and is available now from both their Bandcamp pages. Go and snag yourself a copy, you won’t be disappointed.