Cut the Kids in Half - "Mountains of Green"

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Photo by Stella Feinstein

Boston's Cut the Kids in Half are led by brothers Jack and Charlie Silver. The bad have a new single and video out, "Mountains of Green." This new song is a ramblin' sort of alt-country inspired song that leans heavily into the world of indie rock. It starts off a little twangy, but more on the alt-rock side of things. Jack Silver's vocals have a theatricality that matches its gruffness. The indie rock/noisier side of the song pokes its head out every so often, before it takes over with an epic horn-filled burst towards the end. "Mountains of Green" is a slow build single with a fantastic pay off. Cut the Kids in Half have one of the most unique and interesting sounds in Boston, so we're thrilled to be discovering them, and looking forward to where they go next!

Frontman Jack Silver says of the band's latest single:

“‘Mountains of Green’ is a song about desperation. It’s about this all-consuming desire for fame and fortune that causes people to abandon their dignity. The song is written from the perspective of someone searching for a way out of the typical, monotonous life; someone who believes that stardom will be their salvation. The lyrics are both grimly ironic (“Light a candle when I cross the stage/Don’t blow it out or I’ll blow my brains”) and tragically sincere (“Get me out of here/I’d rather die than disappear.”)”

You can watch the video for "Mountains of Green" below. For more on Cut the Kids in Half, check out the band on Instagram. 

On Repeat...

Minibeast - "High Sea"

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Somehow Peter Prescott of Mission of Burma and Volcano Suns has another band that I never knew about. Minibeast already released an album that I completely missed back in 2012, and they are currently at work on the follow up, Free Will. Based on a track from the upcoming album, "High Sea," Minibeast shares some common sonic ground with Mission of Burma, but with an added emphasis on the groovy side of things. It's basically the noise and dissonance of Burma but heard through a 60s surf groove, as if Frankie and Annette were punks. You can listen to "High Sea" below. Minibeast currently have a Kickstarter to help fund the final production of Free Will. You can get more information on that here . It should be out sometime in June.
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Midnight Peg - "Thirstland"

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Photo by Cecil Sykes Midnight Peg are an Edmonton, AB based band that are referred to as "madhouse punk." Their latest single, "Thirstland," is a just barely under control two minute burst of punk. You have guitar riffs that will make you think of At the Drive In, and somewhat spoken and yelled vocals which create a feeling of chaos throughout. This is a loud and angry track that is completely in your face. But, unlike most tracks this loud and punk based, "Thirstland" still keeps a sense of art in their music. Midnight Peg feel like a higher class of loud, angry punk rock. This one is great, with just enough of an emo undercurrent to make the song kind of melodic and almost palatable to a mainstream audience. You can listen to "Thirstland" below. Skinning is due out in October on Thousand Island Records. For more on Midnight Peg, check out the artist's website .
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The Beths - "Mother, Pray for Me"

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Photo by Annabel Kean For their latest single, New Zealand's The Beths have released "Mother, Pray for Me." This is a heartbreaking ballad consisting of Elizabeth Stokes' vocals and guitar with just the slightest hint of organ. It's a deeply personal song for Stokes, made obvious with how intimately the song comes across. It truly feels almost confessional, and it's quite simply beautiful. The Beths are most known for huge little indie rock gems perfect for bopping along to, but "Mother, Pray for Me" is quite the opposite. Stokes' vocals and lyrics are right up front on this one, and I can't imagine it any other way. Elizabeth Stokes says of her latest single: “I cried the whole time writing it. It's not really about my mother, it's about me — what I hope our relationship is, what I think it is, what it maybe actually is, and what I can or can't expect out of it.   “My mother is a first gen Indonesian immigrant, and very Catholic....
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