Arvid

Arvid is the solo project of Rochester, NY musician Luke Ross. Luke recorded Old Factory Living, for over 7 months to a 4-track in his attic. The result is a raw, solid album of lo-fi goodness. Check out “Stage Fright” and “Wasted” below for a sample.

Old Factory Living is available to stream/download from the Arvid Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Arvid – Stage Fright from Old Factory Living (2014)

Arvid – Wasted from Old Factory Living (2014)

The Courtneys

The Courtneys | Mars Attacks | 3hive.com

The Courtneys | Mars Attacks | 3hive.com

Our mantra here has always been “sharing the sharing”, which is why you don’t see many Soundcloud, Bandcamp, etc. streams posted here without an MP3 to download. That said, The Courtneys new single “Mars Attacks” is too good not to post. Rules be damned!

The Courtneys are a lo-fi, garage-pop meets slacker-rock three piece out of Vancouver, British Columbia. If you hurry you can snag this 7″ from Hockey Dad Records before they are history. If vinyl is not your thing you can get the digital version from The Courtneys Bandcamp page.

The Courtneys

Ultimate Painting

I can’t help but think of The Velvet Underground during the opening seconds of “Ten Street” (below), one of Ultimate Painting’s ten standout tracks from their debut self-titled release. The VU-esque noodly guitar and head-bopping bass line throughout, combined with a fuzzed-out guitar solo at the end, really make this song shine.

Don’t miss out on this release, Jack Cooper and James Hoare (Veronica Falls) have created one of the sneakiest best albums of the year. Ultimate Painting comes out on October 28 and is available for preorder now through Trouble In Mind.

Ultimate Painting – Ten Street from Ultimate Painting (2014)

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)

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)

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)

Paces Lift and Ben Bounce

Paces Lift & Ben Bounce | Quick Trigger | 3hive.com

Paces Lift & Ben Bounce | Quick Trigger | 3hive.com

After a 30 day “one beat from both of us everyday” challenge Seattle’s Paces Lift and St. Louis’ Ben Bounce created the framework for their new collaboration LP, Quick Trigger. Two years of mixing and fine tuning, their masterpiece Quick Trigger was ready for consumption. The result is fourteen lo-fi, psychedelic, beat driven tracks sprinkled with bits of spaghetti western and old vinyl crackle. It’s a solid release which has quickly risen to the top of my albums of the year list.

Quick Trigger is available now on killer looking “ox blood” vinyl with cover art done by none other than Ted Feighan (aka Monster Rally) from Wax Thématique. It’s also streaming and downloadable from Paces Lift’s Bandcamp page. Feast your ears on some of Quick Trigger‘s goodness below. Enjoy!

Paces Lift & Ben Bounce – Clot (Beerline) from Quick Trigger (2014)

Paces Lift & Ben Bounce – Delusions of Farley Granger from Quick Trigger (2014)

Silver Dapple

If you’re a fan of fuzzy pop music, Montréal’s Silver Dapple is the band for you. Their brand of grimey shoegaze is quite intoxicating. Hear for yourself (below) the title track from their new 4 song EP I Hate My Birthday. It is available to buy digital or on cassette from Silver Dapple’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Silver Dapple – I Hate My Birthday from I Hate My Birthday (2014)

(Pauses) from silver.dapple on Vimeo.

Denney and The Jets

Nashville’s Chris Denney has taken 70’s arena rock and mixed it up with bits of 60’s psych/garage, and a pinch of AM country gold to create his debut LP – as Denney and The Jets, titled Mexican Coke.

If Mick Jagger and Hank Williams were combined in some awesome accident of science, and Kiss was the backing band, their music would sound like Denney’s first single (below) from Mexican Coke, “Bye Bye Queenie”.

Mexican Coke was just released (April 8th) on Burger Records and Limited Fanfare Records. You can also stream/buy it from Denney’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Denney and The Jets – Bye Bye Queenie from Mexican Coke (2014)

Toui Manikhouth

Canadian singer-songwriter Toui Manikhouth’s 3 song EP, This Service, is very chill and quite elegant. His hushed vocals are barely audible over his guitar, which reminds me a bit of Elliott Smith.

Have a listen to “Flowers In Zara” (below) the standout track from the EP. This Service is available to stream/download (name your price) on his Bandcamp page. It’s very much worth a listen. Enjoy.

Toui Manikhouth – Flowers In Zara from This Service (2013)