If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Nicole Cecile Holland Summer is just around the corner, so it's the perfect time for the latest single from Penny & The Pits. The band led by Penelope Stevens (bass and keys for Motherhood) recently released "Pool Party," a new single based in surf rock... but not quite a true surf rock song. It has guitars usually associated with surf rock, but tuned just slightly differently. It's an oddball song steeped in the world of indie rock, but much groovier than you typically get with that genre. "Pool Party" has a kind of The B-52's meets Colleen Green sound, which I never knew I wanted, but Penny & The Pits have proven it's something we all need. You can watch the video for "Pool Party" below. Liquid Compactor is due out June 27 on Forward Music Group, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Penny & The Pits, check out the band on Instagram . 

Photo by  Nick McKinlay Julia Jacklin's debut single, "Pool Party," is good. Really good. In fact, it's ridiculous how good this is. A 25 year old from Australia shouldn't be able to nail the Americana thing this well, but she somehow has. It's this stunningly smooth alt-pop-country song, that just mesmerizes for its entire four minute length. I've listened to this song about thirty times over the past few days, and I can't quite define what makes it so good and captivating. It's completely familiar and isn't truly breaking any new ground, but somehow it sounds completely fresh and unique. It just is good, and that's all it needs to be. For more information on Julia Jacklin, check out her website and Facebook . Make sure you watch the video for "Pool Party" below, or, at the very least, listen to the song. I can't imagine you regretting it.