Sharing the sharing.
Cincinnati bruisers Motorbike are back with their sophomore LP, Kick It Over. We’re pleased as punch to premiere the second single from this ferocious garage punk album, “Afraid of Guns.”
At just two minutes, “Afraid of Guns” is a pummeling of razor-sharp guitar, machine-gun snare, driving bass, and snarling vocals. Check it out below and prepare to be blown away.
Kick It Over drops on March 21 via Feel It Records. You can get it from us too. Either way, you should get it. Enjoy.
GAYTHEIST, the renowned Portland-based trio, has made a powerful comeback with their latest album, The Mustache Stays. This marks their first release since 2020’s How Long Have I Been On Fire? and features 10 new hard-hitting tracks, plus an insane cover that packs an equally forceful punch.
From the opening track “Shelved” to the closing “Brave The Swarm,” the trio delivers 32 minutes of relentless, heavy post-hardcore, mingled with some sludge and stoner punk. This album demands to be played on repeat and I highly, highly recommend it.
We’re excited to bring you an exclusive opportunity to listen to the entire album before its official release on Friday, February 21st. Check it out below.
The Mustache Stays is available via Hex Records’ Bandcamp page and from us as well. Hit the links and grab yourself a copy.
Upcoming GAYTHEIST dates of importance:
Feb. 28th– record release show- High Water Mark- Portland, OR
March 1st– record release show- Southgate Skatebar- Seattle, WA
March 8th– FREE in-store performance at Ronald Records, Vancouver, WA
March 9th– FREE in-store performance at Music Millennium, Portland, OR
March 22nd– Airport Tavern, Tacoma, WA w/ High On Fire
May 8th– Revolution Hall, Portland, OR w/ The Jesus Lizard
These are certainly challenging times, and it’s easy to get caught up in the negativity that surrounds us. I’ve been struggling with this myself, constantly dwelling on everything from political turmoil to personal uncertainties.
However, I had a surprisingly uplifting experience this morning. While driving to work, I listened to the new album, How Lucky To Be Somebody, by Portland, Maine’s little oso, and it was truly transformative. For 36 glorious minutes, the jangly guitars, dreamy vocals, and driving rhythm section swept away all my anxieties. Thank goodness for music!
little oso’s How Lucky To Be Somebody is out now via Repeating Cloud. It’s a charming* record that reminds me of bands like Camera Obscura and The Umbrellas, to name a couple. Check out one of their standout tracks, “Other People’s Lives” (below), and get your hands on this record. Enjoy.
*©samaman inc.
I’ve been listening to Smalltalk’s new EP as if on repeat the past few days, and it’s a nostalgic trip for me. The entire EP takes me back to the early ’90s when bands like Veruca Salt, Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins, and Velocity Girl were making waves. The Savannah, GA band calls their sound “griddy gaze,” which hits the nail right on the head.
Please check out “snaggletooth” below. You’ll be glad you did.
as if is out now on Candlepin Records. If you’re into physical media, Candlepin has a few cassettes left—don’t sleep! I highly recommend this EP. Enjoy.
Mark my words, Montreal’s Prism Shores are going to take the indie-pop world by storm with ten new tracks of jangly, power-pop-leaning tunes that are mingled with just enough gaze to put smirks on the faces of even the saddest of indie rockers.
Check out “Overplayed My Hand” and “Holding Pattern” below for a taste.
Their new album is called Out From Underneath and it drops on Friday 01/17/2025 via Meritorio Records. DO NOT SLEEP!
Slippers is the new project of Los Angeles-based artist and musician Madeline BB. Her debut LP, So You Like Slippers?, is ten charmingly (thanks Sam) snappy, jangly, twee-as-fu** power-pop tunes that only get better with each and every spin. Check out “XTC 1000” and “The Bus” (below) for a sample.
So You Like Slippers? is out now via Lame-O Records. You should get it! I love Slippers the band, I hate slippers the slippers. Enjoy.
Sasha Bolof’s new album, Tabitha, is 10 tracks of fuzzed-out, warm, guitar-driven tunes based on the lives of ten fictional (or are they) characters. It’s like a dream-pop / shoegaze / post-punk / art-rock hodgepodge, but unlike the definition of a hodgepodge, Sasha blends these styles seamlessly, like they all belong together.
Check out “June,” “Jane,” and “Michelle” (below) for a sample of how rad this album is. It’s the perfect album to close the summer with.
Tabitha is out now via Cruisin Records. Go get it. Enjoy.
Teenage Tom Petties’ set out to “make a 90’s-era power-pop record” on their third album in as many years (and only 9 months after their sophomore release, Hotbox Daydreams, and second self-titled album). I say they achieved that goal (and then some), as much of the guitar work and vocal harmonies throughout the record remind me a lot of 90’s-era Flaming Lips and Fountains of Wayne.
TTP is highly addictive, like Pringles. It’s a head-bobber from start to finish, that’s for sure, featuring eleven melodic, power-pop bangers. Check out “Tuff Top” and “Dumb Enough” (below) for a taste.
Teenage Tom Petties is out now via Safe Suburban Home. Enjoy.
Oakland band What’s Important are releasing their latest album, bloodsoaked castle, today. Their PR refers to their sound as “mutant pop,” and their Bandcamp page calls it “castle pop.” I don’t know what either of those genres / sub-genres mean. What I do know is that bloodsoaked castle contains some glitchy, pop punk meets electro pop goodness. Check out “i think about it a lot” (below) for a taste.
bloodsoaked castle is out now via Cherub Dream Records. Get it. Enjoy.
Glasgow band Nightshift are back with their latest album, Homosapien. It’s eleven tracks of melodic, slowed-down (to a near slowcore pace) post-punk. The added instrumentation, like accordion, melodica, violin, and trombone, is highly effective and gives Nightshift’s sound a new level of depth. Check out “Sure Look” (below) for a taste.
Homosapien is out on Friday (07/26) via Trouble In Mind Records. Judging from the singles it should be a good one. Enjoy.