Killer Hearts - "Get Some"

A lot (if not most) of the music we cover here tends to be of the hipster variety. It's thoughtful, contemplative chin stroking music. But we do like to rock out just as much as everyone else. For that we have the new single from Houston's Killer Hearts. "Get Some" is just a big rock song. It reminds me a lot of what 80's rock bands would have sounded like if they decided to be less image and more about the music. Imagine if Supersuckers went a little glam and you have an idea of what "Get Some" sounds like.

You can listen to "Get Some" below. Skintight Electric, the upcoming album from Killer Hearts, will be out on Spaghetty Sound Records "hopefully in 2020," according to the press release. For more on Killer Hearts, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Sam Lynch - "Good Year"

I don't think there is another song as minimal as "Good Year" that is as powerful. Vancouver's Sam Lynch crafted "Good Year" with almost no instrumentation. The vast majority of the song is just Lynch's vocals. For the first half it's virtually just her voice with occasional piano. Slowly strings start to edge their way in, but without taking over the song. Even when the song isn't as minimal as it is in the beginning, you're so locked into Lynch's voice that you barely even notice.

Sam Lynch describes the inspiration for "Good Year": "I started writing this song a long time ago, and it has since become a little flicker of light for me. I witnessed someone very close to me hold so strongly to the belief that everything would be okay, even when all signs pointed to the opposite; I've found so much comfort in repeating her words over and over— it will be good.”

You can watch the video for "Good Year" below. Little Disappearances, the upcoming album from Sam Lynch, will be out this Fall on Birthday Cake. For more on Sam Lynch, check out the artist's website.

Annie Taylor - "Where the Grass is Greener"

Photo bu Piet Alder

Switzerland four piece Annie Taylor are set to release their debut album, and after listening to "Where the Grass is Greener" you're going to be marking the release day on your calendar. "Where the Grass is Greener" has a chilled out California vibe, combining classic 60's southern Cali with a modern indie rock and folk sound. It's reminding me a lot of a more straight forward version of Pavement's "Range Life."

Vocalist Gini Jungi explains the inspiration for the song: "'Where the Grass is Greener' began to take shape in Palm Springs, California, after I accidentally attended a drum circle evening, which unexpectedly turned into an evening of unexpected fun, and somehow I felt peaceful and relieved after that levitating night."

You can watch the video for "Where the Grass is Greener" below. Sweet Mortality, the debut album from Annie Taylor, will be out September 4 on Taxi Gauche Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Annie Taylor, check them out on Facebook.

Throwing Muses - "Frosting"

Photo from Facebook

The legendary Throwing Muses keep getting more and more intriguing as time goes on. Their latest single, "Frosting," is perfect for long term fans of the Rhode Island natives. It has the same intensity that classic Throwing Muses has, albeit a little more laid back than they were thirty years ago. It's nearly impossible to keep your sound this intense while being more laid back, but the Muses somehow pull it off. Plus, the slight sound of discordant noise lingering behind the entire track is some of the grooviest noise you would have ever thought possible. 

You can watch the video for "Frosting" below. Sun Racket, the upcoming album from Throwing Muses, will be out September 4th via Fire Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Throwing Muses, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Devon Kay & the Solutions - "Oh Glorious Nothing"

Ska-punk might be the most maligned genre in existence. It's something we're supposed to listen to as teenagers and then abandon completely, embarrassed and hoping no one ever brings it up. Devon Kay & the Solutions might change that. Their latest single, "Oh Glorious Nothing," is bouncy ska-punk. Like, ridiculously bouncy. It has all the fun from ska that we enjoyed in high school and college, but with a more grown up, adult sound. I mean, sure... anything that is ska or punk is going to make you feel a little silly when you're in your 30's and 40's, but "Oh Glorious Nothing" is the closest we're going to get to ska-punk made for adults. 

You can watch the video for "Oh Glorious Nothing" below. The song is available now on A-F Records via Bandcamp. For more on Devon Kay & the Solutions, be sure to check out their website.

Aaron Perrino - Dystopian Demos

In the wake of the end of The Sheila Divine (although maybe not, since Aaron Perrino announced he will still use the name and the band was listed for this year's obviously cancelled Boston Calling), Aaron Perrino has finally released some music as a solo artist. Dystopian Demos doesn't sound like The Sheila Divine at all. Some of the songs on the EP have more of a pop sound and less of a guitar. "The Sun Will Grow" and "Dylan the Villain" have a lo-fi New Wave feel to them. "A Love Uncertain" sounds a little more like newer Sheila Divine, but still not quite exactly the same. "Virus Got Me Doing Vaporwave" is nearly an 80's style electronic ballad. 

You can listen to "A Love Uncertain" below. Dystopian Demos is now available on The Sheila Divine's Bandcamp. For more on Aaron Perrino, check out The Sheila Divine on Facebook and Twitter.

First Listen: New Releases for 7 August

We're in the doldrums of summer, and the new releases this week (along with a few we missed) aren't ones I have a lot to say about, so some quick hits.

Highlights:

* Vanilla Sugar - She (If She Makes War and Poppy had a kid.)
* Allegra Krieger - The Joys of Forgetting (Solid, interesting listen.)
* Matt Pond PA - Songs of Disquiet (Awesome as always.)
* Marlowe - Marlowe 2 (Nearly as good as the first one.)
* Grain Thief - Gasoline
* Leila Moss - Who the Power

Of note:

* Jacknife Lee - The Jacknife Lee (Interesting release from the noteworthy producer.)
* Peggy Gou - Play Gou (Billed as a workout mixtape, it's a solid electronic sampler.)
* Pomplamoose - Lucid Dreaming Soundtrack
* Helvetia - This Devastating Map
* Jason Molina - Eight Gates
* Jody Glenham - Mood Rock
* Jenny O. - New Truth
* Washed Out - Purple Noon
* Mary Chapin Carpenter - The Dirt and The Stars
* New Fries - Is the Idea of Us
* Figueroa - The World As We Know It

EPs:

* Lights and MYTH - Dead End
* i_o - revolution
* Charlotte Rose Bejamin - Party City - Solo
* Isobel Campbell - Voices in the Sky
* The Fawns - TLA
* Claire Rosinkranz - BeVerly Hills BoYfRiEnd
* Gladie - Orange Peels

Also out:

* RVG - Feral
* Ra Ra Riot - Live in Kyoto 2010
* Mountain Man - Look at Me Don't Look at Me: Live at Saint Mark's Cathedral
* Jaye Jayle - Prisyn
* Alison Mosshart - Sound Wheel
* Kill Lincoln - Can't Complain

Mamie Minch - "Deep Footsteps"

Photo by Tamara Staples

I first discovered Mamie Minch at the 2012 (I think?) Freshgrass Festival, and became enamoured with her combination of folk and blues. It's been a long, long time, but Minch is finally releasing new music. "Deep Footsteps," the first album off her upcoming EP, is a perfect intro to Minch. It's a down home folk/blues/soul song. There's no pretense here, just a great song from a great musician. "Deep Footsteps" leans a little more to the blues side of the musical spectrum than folk, but with Minch's voice, it's kind of hard not to at least be a little bluesy.

You can listen to "Deep Footsteps" below. Slow Burn, the upcoming EP from Mamie Minch, will be out August 18. You can pre-order a copy via Bandcamp. For more on Mamie Minch, check out the artist's Facebook page.

Squirrel Nut Zippers Cover Jelly Roll Morton

Photo via Facebook

Squirrel Nut Zippers were by far the best band to come out of the 90's swing revival. Most others seemed to be more tongue in cheek or like caricatures of swing bands. Squirrel Nut Zippers always seemed to legitimately love the music they were playing, which is why they're still at it decades later. When you listen to their new single, "Animule Ball" (a cover of a 1938 song from Jelly Roll Morton), it's not a stretch to say that they're making the best music of their career now. "Animule Ball" is deeply rooted in jazz and ragtime, and it fits squarely in the current Americana craze going on right now. If you haven't listened to Squirrel Nut Zippers for the past twenty-plus years, you owe it to yourself to give this one a listen.

You can watch the Fleischer Studios inspired video for "Animule Ball" below. Lost Songs of Doc Souchon, the upcoming album from Squirrel Nut Zippers, will be out September 25. For more information on Squirrel Nut Zippers, be sure to check out their website.

Linnea's Garden - "Like the Patriarchy"

Back when Linnea Herzog announced the formation of Linnea's Garden after Powerslut disbanded, I assumed she was going to tone down the subject matter of her songs. Well... that is definitely not the case. "Like the Patriarchy," the latest single from Linnea's Garden is a noisy, dance friendly burst of power pop, with a chorus that includes "I wanna fuck you like the patriarchy." Other lyrics like "Lift me onto the sink 'til I can't even think" and "On the floor, want it more" show that Herzog is just getting started. Plus, "Like the Patriarchy" might be the catchiest song we've brought you in months. You're going to find yourself singing these lines to yourself while walking your toddler around the neighborhood or sending out work emails, so be warned.

You can watch the video for "Like the Patriarchy" below. The song is currently available on Linnea's Garden's Bandcamp. For more on Linnea's Garden, check out the band's website.