Sharing the sharing.
Chicago 4-piece Negative Scanner beats you into submission with their ferocious brand of post-punk. Guitarist/vocalist Rebecca Valeriano-Flores’ Jello Biafra-esque howl blows minds and melts eardrums. Dig the blistering single “Would You Rather” (below) – you will be glad that you did.
Negative Scanner’s self-titled debut is out now on Trouble In Mind Records. It’s one of 2015’s albums not to miss.
Negative Scanner – Would You Rather from S/T (2015)
There is so much music out there it’s impossible (obviously) to hear it all, and it’s really easy to miss out on a gem. One of those gems I missed on last year is The Paperheads excellent album Africa Avenue. It’s killer blend of spacey synths, pounding drums and jangly/crunching guitars sound like they came straight out of the 60’s.
You can sample their psych-pop goodness on lead track “Africa” below. Africa Avenue is available to buy now from Trouble In Mind and I highly recommend that you do.
The Paperhead – Africa from Africa Avenue (2014)
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)
Chicago’s Verma pound out some serious psychedelic jams on their newest LP Sunrunner. The buzzing guitars and throbbing bass lines play nicely with the constant wind like noise blowing through all 7 songs on the album. Check out the mind-numbing album opener “Regolith” below for a little taste of what to expect. Sunrunner is available now from Trouble In Mind Records. Enjoy.
Verma – Regolith from Sunrunner (2014)
Former Gris Gris singer, Greg Ashley’s new album (and first with Trouble In Mind) A Generation of Slaves is a smooth slab of lo-fi goodness. Mixing jazz and folk with hints of country to create 9 songs that you will find yourself revisiting over and over again.
The male/female vocals and honky-tonk piano on “Misery Again” (below) combine to make it one of the best tracks on the album. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. A Generation of Slaves is out now and available from Trouble In Mind. I suggest you get your hands on a copy as soon as you can.
Greg Ashley – Misery Again from Another Generation of Slaves (2014)
Sometimes life and the drama that comes with it can twist you up into a giant mess that seems impossible to unravel. Then, out of the blue, something great will come along and completely change your attitude. That something for me is Doug Tuttle’s recently released, debut, self-titled LP. Tuttle’s use of shimmering, jangly guitars, bits of what sounds to me like organ, crashing cymbals along with his slow as cold molasses vocals combine to make an album of songs that will help you forget your troubles for at least the thirty-seven minutes it takes to get from start to finish. Doug Tuttle’s LP is out now on Trouble In Mind. I highly recommend it.
Doug Tuttle – With Us Soon from S/T (2014)
Shimmery guitars, wacky background noises and reverb for days are just some of the elements that make California native Morgan Delt’s self-titled debut LP a psychedelic masterpiece. Delt cites artists like The Byrds and Love, along with Curtis Boettcher and West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band as influences and he wears those influences proudly on his sleeve throughout his new album.
“Obstacle Eyes” (below) is just a taste of the goodness contained in this release. It’s sunniness is sure to break you out of your winter funk. Morgan’s new album comes out January 28 on Trouble In Mind Records. Enjoy.
Morgan Delt – Obstacle Eyes from S/T (2014)
2013 was a great year for music. Below are my top 20 albums of 2013 and mix of my favorite songs from those albums. Happy new year!
20. BOOM! – Get A Grip (Burger)
19. Dim Peaks – Time of Joy (Gold Robot)
18. The Limiñanas – Costa Blanca (Trouble In Mind)
17. Lloyd Cole – Standards (Tapete)
16. Bill Callahan – Dream River (Drag City)
15. RUMTUM – Mystic Wonders (1320)
14. Crocodiles – Crimes of Passion (Frenchkiss)
13. The Go – Fiesta (Burger)
12. Johnny Marr – The Messenger (Sire)
11. Mikal Cronin – MCII (Merge)
10. Gap Dream – Shine Your Light (Burger)
9. Veronica Falls – Waiting For Something To Happen (Slumberland)
8. Eleanor Friedberger – Personal Record (Merge)
7. Jacco Gardner – Cabinet of Curiosities (Trouble In Mind)
6. Kurt Vile – Wakin On A Pretty Daze (Matador)
5. Yo La Tengo – Fade (Matador)
4. Wooden Shjips – Back To Land (Thrill Jockey)
3. Monster Rally – Return To Paradise (Gold Robot)
2. Thee Oh Sees – Floating Coffin (Castle Face)
1. Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (Jagjaguwar)
Maston (Frank Maston) is a California-based multi-instrumentalist. He recently released his first proper album, Shadows on Trouble In Mind. Maston played all instruments on the album (except for the harp, played by Ana Caravelle).
I have been listening to, and enjoying this album for several weeks now, but have been struggling to find the right words to describe it. The best I can come up with this, a psychedelic, surf, pop rock album that sounds like it could have been recorded in the 60’s. Check out “Young Hearts” below, It’s damn good, and a great example of the entire album.
Maston – Young Hearts from Shadows (2013)
Jacco Gardner is a multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire from Hoorn, Netherlands. His incredible debut LP, with Trouble In Mind, Cabinet of Curiosities, hit record stores today. Jacco’s talents shine on this record as he plays all the instruments on the album (including organs, mellotron, flutes, and harpsichords), except the drums, which were handled by Jos van Tol.
Clearly influenced by late 60’s psychedelic bands like The Zombies and The Left Banke, Gardner’s music is a magical ride back in time. Check out the sugar-sweet, harpsichord driven track “The Ballad of Little Jane” below. It’s Beatle-esque melodies and vocal delivery is so addicting, you’ll repeat the song at least 3 times. Also below, is a video of Gardner performing “The Ballad of Little Jane” live. Enjoy.
Jacco Gardner – The Ballad of Little Jane from Cabinet of Curiosities (2013)