Shudder to Think - "Thirst Walk"

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Photo by Diona Mavis

I unfortunately missed it, but by all accounts the Shudder to Think show at Sonia last month was epic. Now the reunited alt-rock legends are back with new music. "Thirst Walk" is pure Shudder to Think greatness. It's a version of glammed up and power pop filled alternative rock with noisy guitars. At various points the song leans into one genre more than the others, constantly shifting its sound and never letting you guess what's next. There are even some unexpected 80's computer voices kicking around in the song. "Thirst Walk" even has a New Wave vibe going on without sounding even remotely New Wave, and kind of does the same with 70's psychedelia. Welcome back, Shudder to Think. I can guarantee I'll be as close to the front as I can get next time you're in New England.

Frontman Craig Wedren says of his band's new music:

“The new songs are the first of a trove of new songs we’re working on together, all of which feel very much like Shudder To Think. To keep things playful and raw-ish, we have been doing almost everything ourselves in my backyard studio (Pink Ape Studios, Los Angeles) with some remote overdubbing from our various home studios. What you hear is us, together, hard at play!” 

You can watch the video for "Thirst Walk" below. The single, along with "Playback," is out now on Dischord Records, and is available as a 7" here. For more on Shudder to Think, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram. Two remaining live dates are below the video.


Nov 10 - Brick & Mortar Music Hall - San Francisco, CA 

Nov 11 - Lodge Room Highland Park - Los Angeles, CA

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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