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Cancers

I’m a huge fan of the early 90’s grunge music/Seattle scene. Bands like Mother Love Bone, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Skin Yard, Nirvana and Screaming Trees where my life through the end of high school and my early adult life. So when Cancers’ debut, Fatten The Leeches, showed up in the inbox and I read that the album was produced by the Godfather of grunge himself, Jack Endino, I had to check them out.

Cancers left nothing to be desired. Pounding drums, crunchy guitars and dreamy vocals. All the things that I love about grunge music. They get a damn big sound for just two people, check out “Moral Net” below for an example. When I listen to these guys it’s like I’m back in 1993 cruising to work in my P.O.S. Hyundai Excel with Skin Yard’s “1,000 Smiling Knuckles” up so loud it’s distorting the speakers.

Fatten The Leeches is available now on vinyl from Dead Broke Rekerds or digitally from Cancers’ own label Kandy Kane Records. Enjoy.

Cancers – Moral Net from Fatten The Leeches (2014)

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Lubec

Portland, Oregon’s Lubec is one of the the reasons I love writing for this site. There is nothing better than opening an email and having a gem (like their debut release THE THRALL) staring me in the face, daring me to click play. In this instance I am so glad that I did.

Lubec’s fuzzy, lo-fi, shoegaze meets garage-pop brand of music mixed with three-part vocal harmonies was instantly captivating and has been in heavy rotation since my first listen. Check out album opener “Almost Vince” (below) for a taste. THE THRALL is available now on cassette from Like Young Records and available digitally on Lubec’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Lubec – Almost Vince from THE THRALL (2014)

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Purling Hiss

Philadelphia trio Purling Hiss’ new album Weirdon is 11 tracks of fuzz drenched, poppy goodness. Check out toe tapper “Learning Slowly” (below) for a taste of the goodness.

Weirdon is available now from Drag City. You should buy it.

Purling Hiss – Learning Slowly from Weirdon (2014)

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Alvvays

Canada’s Alvvays (pronounced “Always”) bring a fuzzy, sugar-coated brand of indie pop that is almost impossible to stop consuming.

My favorite track from their self-titled debut (and one of my favorite tracks of the year) “Archie, Marry Me” (below) is a perfect example of their sweetness. I obsess over this song almost as much as Sean obsesses over Veronica Falls.

Alvvays self-titled LP is available now from Polyvinyl. I highly recommend it.

Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me from S/T (2014)

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Protomartyr

Detroit 4-piece Protomartyr’s sophomore release, Under Color of Official Right, and first with Hardly Art is an indie rock meets punk rock meets post punk hybrid of stabbing, angular guitars and bludgeoning drums. 14 tracks blasted through in 34 minutes definitely leaves you wanting for more.

I slept on this release for months. Don’t make the same mistake as I did, check these guys out now!

Protomartyr – Scum, Rise! from Under Color of Official Right (2014)

Protomartyr – Come & See from Under Color of Official Right (2014)

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Ladada

Ladada is the solo project of Virginia Beach native Josiah Schlater. By combining everyday sounds like eggs sizzling and water dripping with live instruments, Schlater has created a warm lo-fi experience that’s tough to beat. Ladada’s self-titled debut EP is out now on Gold Robot Records and available from Ladada’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Ladada – Comets from S/T EP (2014)

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Slow Magic

What better way is there to follow the face melting goodness of Wand than the dreamy electro-beats from Slow Magic?

There is not much out there about Slow Magic. What I can tell you is this masked man’s music is some super chilled-out, head-bobbing, beat-driven, seat-dance inducing electronica. Check out “Girls” below for a taste. Slow Magic’s sophomore release (and first with Downtown Records) How To Run Away, is available now through his Bandcamp page.

Slow Magic – Girls from How To Run Away (2014)

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Wand

Wand’s debut release, Ganglion Reef, is right up my alley. It’s fuzzed-out vocals and guitars, pounding drums, crashing cymbals and grimey synths throughout hit me right where it counts. Joining up with Ty Segall’s Drag City imprint GOD? is a match made in heaven and I can’t think of anyone more fitting to put this record out. Check out “Flying Golem” below then head over to Drag City and snag yourself a copy. Enjoy.

Wand – Flying Golem from Ganglion Reef (2014)

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Tyburn Saints

The newest release from New York’s Tyburn Saints, With The Night In Our Eyes, is a solid six songs of dark, haunting, post-rock meets electro-pop music that oozes the 1980’s. Check out the dark yet shimmery “A Way With Her” below. It’s my favorite track from the album. With The Night In Our Eyes is available to purchase from Tyburn Saints’ Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Tyburn Saints – A Way With Her from With The Night In Our Eyes (2014)

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Bishop Allen

Bishop Allen really shouldn’t need an introduction on this site. In fact, they have been mentioned a few times in previous posts. Needless to say, we are big fans of Bishop Allen’s infectious brand of pop music.

Five years removed from their killer release, Grrr…, Bishop Allen are set to unleash their fouth LP, Lights Out, to the masses on Tuesday (August 19). Lights Out picks up right were Grrr… left off, delivering 12 more solid pieces of indie-pop ear candy. Check out tracks “Start Again” and “Why I Had To Go” from Lights Out below, then get yourself over to Dead Oceans site and snag yourself a copy. Enjoy.

Bishop Allen – Start Again from Lights Out (2014)

Bishop Allen – Why I Had To Go from Lights Out (2014)