Houston band Astragal’s debut LP Pure Cashmere came out back in April of ’22 and I am mad at myself for taking 10 months to finally listen to it. Pure Cashmere is solid from start to finish; if you enjoy Brit-pop, jangle-pop, shoegaze and post-punk, you are going to love this album as Astragal blends those genres masterfully together for its nearly 39 minute run time.
Pure Cashmere is out now via Astragal’s Bandcamp page. Go and buy it right now. Think of it as hopefully investing in a potential vinyl release of this album. Enjoy
Montreal duo Bodywash just released their new single “Kind of Light” into the world. It’s a lush, throbbing, dream-pop track mingled with enough gaze to make any fans of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins take notice. “Kind of Light” is out now on all the streamers via Light Organ Records. Enjoy.
SLC’s Nicole Canaan has just released her new single (and strongest to date) “Party Person” from her forthcoming album, My Own Two Hands.
Nicole’s voice is powerful on “Party Person” and shines alongside her shimmery guitar work. I know that I have already written this, but this is her best work yet and I am excited to hear the new album!
My Own Two Hands was produced and mastered by the über-talented Isaac Elmont and Bly Wallentine, respectively. It comes out on December 3 via UPHERE! Records. You do not want to miss it.
Palm’s new album Nicks And Grazes is packed with wonky guitar riffs and off-beat drum patterns throughout its 13 songs, which had my ears glued to the speakers from start to finish.
The band’s goal for this record: “We wanted to reconcile two potentially opposing aesthetics – to capture the spontaneous, free energy of our live shows while integrating elements from the traditionally gridded palette of electronic music.”
Mission accomplished.
Nicks And Grazes is the Philadelphia band’s debut release with Saddle Creek Records. You can listen to the first two tacks “Touch and Go” and “Feathers” below for a sample.
Nicks And Grazes is out now, go get your ears on it. You will not be sorry.
Toronto’s Alvvays have been taking the indie world by storm ever since the release of their self-titled debut back in 2014. Their catchy, melodic pop songs are like sugar to the ears, and they have constructing/executing damn-near perfect pop songs down to a science. Blue Rev, their brand new release and third album with Polyvinyl Records, is no exception. In fact, I dare to say that Alvvays has laid down the gauntlet on BR by daring to pull off their (damn-near perfect) pop formula for 14 songs this time, instead of 9 and 10 like on their previous releases.
Blue Rev is incredible from start to finish – no hyperbole here – it’s solid.
10 out of 10.
5 stars.
16 wooden nickels.
Whatever score makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. It’s a can’t miss, one of the best releases of the year for sure. Check out the available singles below for a taste.
Blue Rev drops on Friday (10/7) via Polyvinyl. We will have it in hand at our brick and mortar 3hive Record Lounge, but you’ll need to move quick, this will sell out fast. Enjoy.
Fairy Rust is Louisville 3-piece, Wombo’s latest album. It’s a rhythm-heavy effort with the bass guitar pretty much running the show throughout – which to this listener’s ears is FANTASTIC!
The album was written over the past two years and draws inspiration from fairytales by The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson. The group’s Bandcamp page states, “Fairy Rust… contemplates the spaces in-between, a meeting of the physicality of the land with the fluidity of the imagination….”.
On slow building “Below The House” (stream below), the vocals and guitar seem to chase the bass and drums around until the last minute or so when the guitar just erupts – this is a very solid way to write, record and mix a song. I love it.
There are several times during the album that Wombo reminds me of Primus. Don’t get it twisted, Wombo doesn’t sound anything like Primus, but their “each instrument shines on it’s own” (my statement, not their’s) without taking anything away from the cohesiveness of the song itself, and the amount of punch they produce as a trio just takes me to Primus. Listen to “Queens of Keesh” (below) for an example of what I’m rambling about. Maybe I am completely nuts? I don’t care, I am writing this post, not you.:)
Fairy Rust is an incredible album and up there as one of my favorite releases of the year. It is out now and available on wax and digitally via Fire Talk Records. Buy the record. Go see them live. ENJOY THE GOOD MUSIC.
Worthitpurchase are the trio of Nicole Rowe, Omar Akrouche and Eric Van Thyne. Their experimental electro-pop sound (think The Microphones, mingled with the smallest amount of Postal Service) is quite compelling throughout on their sophomore LP, Truthtelling. Give album standouts “Anne Hedonic” and “Deadbeat “ (below) a taste.
Truthtelling is a solid album that deserves your attention.
Truthtelling is out now and whichever format (analog or digital) you prefer via Anxiety Blanket and Citrus City. Enjoy.
Provo UT’s UPHERE! Records are releasing their new label comp filled with previously unreleased nuggets from bands like Backhand, Nicole Canaan, The Plastic Cherries and Homephone to name a few. All the profits go to help refugees in Ukraine, 50% to Save The Children and 50% to The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. This is a KILLER compilation and it’s for a VERY good cause.
Preorders are going on now at UPHERE!’s Bandcamp page, the cassettes ship to you on April 20, 2022.
To wet your whistle and encourage you to buy, check out The Plastic Cherries’ “Aquafina (Tape Mix)” below. Now get out your wallets and buy this cassette and support this very important cause.
Mexico City’s Howless have unleashed their debut LP To Repel Ghosts today and its a dream/noise-pop gem filled with all the fuzz, dreamy vocals and shimmery guitars that one album can handle. Check out “Levels” and my favorite “Unlucky” below for a taste.
To Repel Ghosts is out now and available on Cassette, CD and digitally via Static Bloom Records. Enjoy.
