Sharing the sharing.
18 years after breaking up, the original members of Medicine are back together with a brand new album, To The Happy Few, which was recently released by Captured Tracks. Check out the sunshiny wall of noise “Long As The Sun” below. It’s loud, and tight, like they never stopped playing together, a perfect song for your end of summer mix.
The dense, lo-fi, garage rock of Chicago’s Heavy Times has had me captivated for the past several days. Their recently released 3rd LP, Fix It Alone out on Hozac Records, is an 18 songs in 33 minutes frenzy of jangly garage rock, heavy fuzzed-out lo-fi and in your face punk rock that will leave you exhausted and wanting more. Check out the :41 second blast of “Future Creeps” along with the fuzzed out “In My Sleep” below, both songs are killer and represent the album well. Head over to Hozac’s site and snag you a copy before they are gone, I highly recommend it. Enjoy.
Heavy Times – Future Creeps from Fix It Alone (2013)
Heavy Times – In My Sleep from Fix It Alone (2013)
The Melodic, a 4 piece, folk-pop band out of South London recently released their debut EP, On My Way, with Anti. Using instruments like the Charango, Melodica and Kora (most of which I have never of heard of ), The Melodic have created a fresh new addition to the folk genre. Title track “On My Way”, is instantly captivating from it’s very first notes. The music has a happy melody, sure to cure even the sourest of moods. The boy/girl vocals are fantastic, light and airy. It’s one of my favorite songs right now. Check it out below.
The Melodic – On My Way (radio edit) from On My Way (2013)
I’ve been a huge fan of San Diego’s TV Girl ever since I stumbled upon their self-titled EP on their Bandcamp page back in 2010. Their blend of electo-indie-tropical-surf-lo-fi pop music is very addictive, like eating potato chips, you can’t just listen to one song.
They are realeasing their new EP Lonely Women today. It’s so damn good. It’s been on repeat almost non-stop since they sent it to me. You can sample their coolness below on “She Smokes In Bed”. The driving beat of this song is sure to get your head bobbing up and down. You can buy the new EP digitally or on cassette at their Bandcamp page, I suggest that you do, it may become your favorite release of the summer. Enjoy!
TV Girl – She Smokes In Bed from Lonely Women EP (2013)
North Carolina’s all female garage punk band Barren Girls formed back in 2011. After catching the eyes and ears of Merge Records at a show back in September, they recorded this 4-song EP in their cotton mill practice space. The EP blows by at pretty scorching speeds, with only one song clocking in at over 3 minutes. Alter Ego (below) is the shortest song on the EP, it’s also the most powerful. It’s short blast of strained vocals and hi-energy music sounds like the bands rhythm section is in an all-out race to the finish with guitarist/vocalist Carla Wolff. You will definitely need to catch your breath when it’s over. Enjoy.
Barren Girls – Alter Ego from S/T EP (2013)
Dungeonesse is the electro-pop side project of Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak and John Ehrens of White Life. While the music is a night and day difference from Wye Oak, Wasner’s unmistakable voice is as strong as ever. Their self-titled debut with Secretly Canadian came out in May. It’s a definite summertime album, perfect for cruising around town with the windows down, and the volume cranked up. Check out the slow-jam vibe of “Nightlight” followed by the more up-beat “Shucks” below, you’ll be glad that you did.
Dungeonesse – Nightlight from Dungeonesse (2013)
Dungeonesse – Shucks from Dungeonesse (2013)
I’ve been sick with some damn virus for the past week. I’ve tried all kinds of things to get better, and so far I’m still feeling pretty lousy. Thank goodness for Glenn Jones’ new album on Thrill Jockey, My Garden State. This chilled-out, timeless guitar album has been just the medicine to get me through the long days of couch surfing and feeling like trash. Standout track “Across the Tappan Zee” (below) shows Glenn’s skills on the Banjo, along with Laura Baird’s banjo skills as well. I love this song and can’t get enough of it. Check it out. I hope you dig it as much as I do. Enjoy.
Glenn Jones – Across The Tappan Zee from My Garden State (2013)
Halifax, Nova Scotia musician Samuel Hill has been recording music as The Everywheres since 2012. The music is a warm, shimmery, swirling guitar filled, psych-pop album with just the right amount of fuzz, reverb and as Father/Daughter describes, “peyote induced tambourines”. Check out opening track, “Unfortunate Direction” (below), to see what I mean.
The Everywheres self titled debut will be released through Father/Daughter Records on June 25. It’s a must have.
The Everywheres – Unfortunate Direction from The Everywheres (2013)
Los Angeles quintet Young Hunting spent two years traveling all over California, recording their debut LP Hazel in various garages, living rooms, Joshua Tree, even inside a ranger’s station. The hard work and time spent has really paid off. Hazel is a laid back, reverb soaked, pop album. It’s the perfect album to play while kicking back on the porch sipping your favorite beverage. Check out “Maze” and “Baby’s First Steps” below, you’ll be glad that you did. Hazel will be released June 4th on Gold Robot Records. Snag yourself a copy on vinyl while you can. Enjoy.
Young Hunting – Maze from Hazel (2013)
Young Hunting – Baby’s First Steps from Hazel (2013)
I had no idea who Keaton Henson was two days ago, until I received a text from my cousin Ben, “Holy shit man, I am getting my world rocked right now by Keaton Henson’s album Birthdays. I feel like I am not worthy enough to listen to this singer-songwriter, and I am guaranteed to go to Hell, if there is such a place, because I am just learning about him. It’s the most simple but elegant music, with some of the best lyrics I have heard in a long time.”
After reading Ben’s text, I jumped on Spotify and listened to Birthdays for myself. It is just how Ben described, “…the most simple but elegant music…”. Check out “You” (below), one of the standout tracks from the album. The song consists mostly of 24 year old Henson’s soft, but powerful voice, accompanied mostly by guitar, with a few more stringed instruments sprinkled throughout. Birthdays was released by Anti at the beginning of April. It’s an intense album. I highly recommend it. Thanks for the tip Ben.
Keaton Henson – You from Birthdays (2013)