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La Luz

Lo-fi + surf guitar + 4 part harmonies + a bit of fuzz = Seattle’s La Luz. After putting out a single and an EP, La Luz have released their debut LP, It’s Alive on Hardly Art. Have a listen to the super cool “Big Big Blood” and “Pink Slime” below, they are sure to warm your bones during the upcoming winter months. It’s Alive is available now on Hardly Art’s site.

On a sad note, La Luz were just in a really bad accident, here is what Hardly Art has to say about it… “While on their way back to Seattle to play a sold out Neumos date, the members of La Luz were in a severe van accident that resulted in ruined gear, personal injuries, merch loss, and a totaled van. For anyone interested in making a donation to help the band get back on their feet, please click here or use the donation button below.”

Buy their new LP, you won’t regret it. If you can, send a little money their way, I’m sure they can use all the help they can get.

La Luz – Big Big Blood from It’s Alive (2013)

La Luz – Pink Slime from It’s Alive (2013)

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First Base

With 12 songs in roughly 26 minutes, songs about girls and more songs about girls, Toronto’s First Base are a pop punk band in every way. After releasing several singles and EPs over the past few years, First Base has finally released their debut self-titled LP with Hozac Records. Check out “You Can Come Over” (below), it’s pure teeth rotting candy for your ears. Snag yourself a copy now. Enjoy.

First Base – You Can Come Over from S/T (2013)

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Monster Rally

Ted Feighan is back with Return To Paradise, his best Monster Rally release yet. Check out opening track “Orchids” (below), it’s a killer mix of old vinyl crackle, hip hop beats and pure tropical bliss. This album is solid, and does just as it’s title suggests. Return To Paradise comes out on October 29. You can get it on vinyl from Gold Robot or digitally from Monster Rally’s Bandcamp page. I highly recommend it. Enjoy.

Monster Rally – Orchids from Return To Paradise (2013)

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Drunk Tigers

With influences like The Replacements attached firmly to their sleeves, Virginia’s Drunk Tigers pound out three solid songs on their new cassette EP, out now on Funny / Not Funny Records. Opening track “Taillights” (below) is packed with power chords and pounding drums, and is the standout song on this short but sweet release. Hopefully there will be a full length release soon. You can get yourself a copy directly from Drunk Tigers’ Bandcamp page or on cassette (highly recommended) from Funny / Not Funny. Enjoy.

Drunk Tigers – Taillights from S/T (2013)

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HOTT MT

Los Angeles’ HOTT MT tag themselves on their Bandcamp page as “experimental, noise pop, surf, thai, gaze”. Those tags are all right up my ally, and while I don’t really hear the “surf”, these guys have all the “gaze” you could want and then some. HOTT MT have made the rounds in their short career as a band, collaborating with Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne and opening for such bands as Django Django, Bats For Lashes, Flaming Lips and Wavves.

HOTT MT’s debut album, I Made This, came out back in May on their Bandcamp page and on cassette with Burger Records. It’s a fuzzy, chilled-out album that will take away the stresses of life – for 24 minutes. Check out the spacey, slow-jam goodness of “Lil Saigon” below, I know you will dig it.

HOTT MT – Lil Saigon from I Made This (2013)

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Dim Peaks

Dim Peaks is a four-piece band out of California. They play a smooth, quiet style of indie rock that is instantly captivating. Check out “Reason” (below), the combination of Niilo Smeds dry vocals and the tinny sounds coming from his guitar, make the song one of the standout tracks on the album.

They recently released their new LP, Time of Joy, with Gold Robot Records. You can buy it at Dim Peaks’ Bandcamp page or get it on vinyl from Gold Robot, either way you need this album in your collection. Enjoy.

Dim Peaks – Reason from Time of Joy (2013)

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Bent Shapes

Bent Shapes | Feels Weird | 3hive.com

Bent Shapes | Feels Weird | 3hive.com

Bent Shapes are a three-piece band out of Boston. They pound out a great mix of fuzzy meets jangly garage rock that’s sure to get you bouncing in your seat. They recently released their debut LP Feels Weird with Father / Daughter Records. Check out the noodly guitars, driving beat and vocal delivery of “Behead Yrself, Pt 2” (below), it will blow your mind! It’s one of my favorite songs right now, I can’t get enough of it.

You can snag yourself a copy of Feels Weird from Father / Daughter or from Bent Shapes’ Bandcamp page. Be sure to check them out on tour in a city near you as well.

Bent Shapes – Behead Yrself Pt. 2 from Feels Weird (2013)

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L’anarchiste

L’anarchiste is one of Salt Lake City’s best bands going right now. What started as a solo project of Rob LeCheminant, has grown into a six-piece multi-instrumental juggernaut. Their new EP, The Traveler, has a bit of everything, from driving rhythms and hand claps, to slow, dark, heavy jams. Check out the slow-build-before-eruption track “Juneau” (below), I guarantee you will dig it. The Traveler is available to stream in full and buy from L’anarchiste’s Bandcamp page. I highly recommend it.

L’anarchiste – Juneau from The Traveler (2013)

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Superchunk

I’m comfortable enough with my lack of indie cred to admit that I had no idea who Superchunk was during their heyday in the 90’s. It wasn’t until the early 00’s that I heard them for the first time. I have been a huge fan ever since.

I Hate Music, Superchunk’s tenth full length album over their illustrious 20 year career, releases Tuesday on Merge Records. It’s an excellent album, sure to please the longtime fan and grab a hold of those who are new to their music. Check out “Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” (below) it’s a 2 minute, high-energy, power pop ride that ends way too soon. It’s classic Superchunk and you will like it.

Superchunk – Me & You & Jackie Mittoo from I hate Music (2013)

Joe’s original Superchunk post

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August Mixtape

Here is a new mixtape of 14 killer songs to end your summer with. Featuring BOOM!, TV Girl, Roman Ruins, Bent Shapes, Conspiracy of Owls, Heavy Times, Young Girls, Young Hunting, Jagwar Ma, The Garden, Cuckoo Chaos, Medicine, The Sufis and Night Terrors of 1927. Enjoy.

August 2013 from simco1974 on 8tracks Radio.