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Artsick

Artsick | Fingers Crossed | 3hive.com
Artsick | Fingers Crossed | 3hive.com

“Is this new All Girl Summer Fun Band?” my wife asked during my first spin of Artsick’s debut album Fingers Crossed. That is one of the highest compliments any band can receive from her – she loves AGSFB. The only higher compliment from her would be “is this new Dance Hall Crashers?” Neither of Annie’s favorite bands have released anything new, but this Oakland 3-piece does share some musical similarities – female-fronted, guitar-driven, jangle-punk with bright vocals and vocal harmonies.

Fingers Crossed is a stunner and another solid release from Slumberland. It comes and goes quickly, clocking in at just around 28 minutes, but it demands a re-spin the second it’s over. Check out “Ghost of Myself” and “Fiction” below for a taste. Fingers Crossed is out now on Slumberland Records. You can snag it on all formats via their Bandcamp page. We will also have it available on vinyl in our store. Enjoy.

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Soichi Terada

Soichi Terada | Asakusa Light | 3hive.com
Soichi Terada | Asakusa Light | 3hive.com

This post would be better had Sam or Sean written it. Their knowledge of electronic music is vast and I only dabble in the genre. However, I am really digging Soichi Terada’s Asakusa Light so here we are.

For those who don’t know (like I didn’t), Soichi Terada is a Japanese electronic music composer who’s been making music since 1989. His latest album Asakusa Light is jam-packed with groove and pulsating beats throughout, it’s a real head-bobber. Please check out “Double Spire” and “Takusambient” (below) and let his music speak for itself as it is way better than the writing in this post.

Asakusa Light is out now via Rush Hour and is available on vinyl and digitally through Terada’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

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Nathan Womack

Nathan Womack | Past But The Dream | 3hive.com
Nathan Womack | Past But The Dream | 3hive.com

Nathan Womack is one half of the fabulous Paces Lift & Ben Bounce project, as well as the guy behind the Wax Thématique label. He also just released his debut single Past But The Dream. Taken from samples found while crate digging in Bangkok, Thailand and Guangzhou, China, Nathan has constructed two killer tracks full of funk, soul and groove. You can check out both tracks below, I highly suggest that you do.

Past But The Dream is available now on vinyl via Wax Thématique’s website and digitally via their Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

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Partner Look

Partner Look | By The Book | 3hive.com
Partner Look | By The Book | 3hive.com

Melbourne-based Partner Look consists of German sisters Ambrin and Anila Hasnain and their partners Dainis Lacey and Lachlan Denton. Their debut album By The Book is 12 tracks of incredibly catchy jangle-pop, mingled with hints of post-punk and just a touch of added twang for good measure. I was lucky enough to receive an early preview of the album and I have listened to it at least once a day since – I can’t get enough of it.

The band just released their third single “Right Here” today and we are pleased to be able to share the video for it below. They had this to say about the song: “‘Right Here” takes inspiration from the sound associated with Melbourne via Geelong label, Anti Fade. Referencing the paintings of Albert Tucker and the broadway flop Leonardo The Musical, “Right Here” draws upon a patchwork of corruption, greed and loss that lead to Australia’s involvement in Nauru and it’s inhumane treatment of refugees. Dainis stole the song name from one of Lachlan’s songs.” You can listen to their previously released singles (and you’re going to want to) “Rodeo Tragic” and “Partner Look” as well.

By The Book is being released on February 4 via Trouble In Mind and Spunk/Osbourne Again. We will have it for sale on vinyl in our store or you can cop it from Trouble In Mind’s Bandcamp or from Spunk Records/Osbourne Again Records in Australia.

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seablite

seablite | Breadcrumbs | 3hive.com
seablite | Breadcrumbs | 3hive.com

San Francisco 4-piece seablite are back with more of their shimmery, shoegazy magic with their new 7-inch single out now digitally via their Bandcamp page and on vinyl from Emotional Response. You can spin both the A-side and B-side below. Enjoy.

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Courtesy

Courtesy | Check The Milk | 3hive.com
Courtesy | Check The Milk | 3hive.com

I’m not really sure how to accurately describe Courtesy’s sound, but it’s somewhere in the realm of: wonky, electronic pop with some heavy-ass beats and grooves for days. Their most recent album, Check The Milk has the wonk dialed back just a bit (versus their last album Slow Bruise), but there is still plenty of it with the heaviness and grooves cranked up to 11. CTM is one hell of a record – like seriously good – and I can’t recommend it enough.

Check out the album opener “Shell Sock” (below) for a taste. It’s so good and a great example of what to expect from the rest of the album. I just snagged the LP from them and I can’t wait for it to arrive so I can blast it throughout the house.

Check The Milk is out now via Seasick Records and is available digitally and on wax from their Bandcamp page. You want this record. You need this record. Enjoy.

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Heavy Seas

Heavy Seas | Heavy Seas | 3hive.com
Heavy Seas | Heavy Seas | 3hive.com

I will never forget when I heard Chicago’s Heavy Seas for the first time. I was listening to a 2021 releases playlist (that I add interesting looking albums to over the year) while driving home from work and their song “Everything Breaks” started playing. I immediately reached for my phone (bad form, I know) to see what I was listening to and I’ve been hooked ever since. In fact, this is my most listened to album in the last two months – yes, I do keep track of that stuff.

Heavy Seas recorded their new album Everything Breaks with J. Robbins (!!!) and it sounds every bit like a J. Robbins produced album. The heavy, driving rhythm section, alongside howling guitars reminds me so much of early Sense Field and other bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Jets To Brazil, it’s almost like being transported back to the mid 90’s / early 00’s.

Check out “Everything Breaks” and “Monuments” (below) for a taste of how good this album is – a top 10 album of 2021 for me for sure. Everything Breaks is out now via Sell The Heart Records, Rad Girlfriend Records and Little Rocket Records. Find it. Buy it. Enjoy the hell out of it.

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Backhand

Backhand | Danger, Thy Calling | 3hive.com
Backhand | Danger, Thy Calling | 3hive.com

Backhand have been shredding ear drums and tearing up the stages of Salt Lake and Utah Counties for a little over a year now, they have also released 4 EP’s in that span, including their newest (and strongest) titled Danger, Thy Calling.

Danger, Thy Calling conjures the spirits of bands like Minutemen and early Replacements with bits of added craziness like Idles in there too. I am pretty certain Mr. Owens is channeling the late D. Boon during several moments on this EP.

Give the equally menacing “Everywhere Men” and “Think! Think! Think!” spins below, then get yourself to their Bandcamp page and give these hard working fellas some of your hard earned money. You won’t regret it, I promise.

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The Rebel Set

The Rebel Set | Modern Living | 3hive.com
The Rebel Set | Modern Living | 3hive.com

Phoenix quartet The Rebel Set have returned with 12 fried crispy, psych/garage rock tunes on their brand new album Modern Living. Modern Living was recorded by the garage rock master Matt Rendon at Midtown Island in Tucson and a top secret “pandemic hideaway”. This album is a blast from start to finish, pogoing all the way through its 34 minute run time. The band claims “The soundtrack to your summer has arrived” and I agree.

Check out “Going Out In Style” for a taste below. Modern Living is out on Friday (May 28) via Outro Records and is available on vinyl (if your fast) and digitally via The Rebel Set’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

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FACS

FACS | Present Tense | 3hive.com
FACS | Present Tense | 3hive.com

Chicago trio FACS are barely a year removed from releasing their incredible Void Moments and are already back with another brooding masterpiece titled Present Tense.

From its opening track “XOUT” to the final “Mirrored”, Present Tense bludgeons the ear drums with pounding drums, shrieking guitars and chugging bass lines. This album is meant to be played loud. Check out second single “General Public” (below), it’s a great example of said bludgeoning.

FACS has quickly become one of my favorite bands and Present Tense doesn’t disappoint; it’s their strongest release yet and a sure contender for album of the year. Present Tense is out now via Trouble In Mind Records. We will also have it available at the 3hive Record Lounge. DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS ALBUM.