First Listen: New Releases for 31 August

Here comes the last third of the year...

Album of the Week:

Artist: Riley Pinkerton
Album: Nothing Ever Is
Quick Description: Debut full-length from a favorite here.
Why You Should Listen: We've been a fan for a while, and her previous releases have been great.
Overall Thoughts: My favorite listen of the week is this rootsy album. It’s rare that an album can feel both vulnerable and fragile while also basically being in your face. So many great songs on this album that we’ve been waiting on since her EP landed a few years back, and the end result is something that feels familiar without feeling derivative.
Recommendation: Absolutely worth your time this week.

Artist: Juanita Stein
Album: Until the Lights Fade
Quick Description: New album from a compelling indie artist.
Why You Should Listen: It both fits in with some of the alt-rock throwbacks while still feeling new and different.
Overall Thoughts: I had a couple of Juanita Stein’s songs hit the Spotify playlists recently, and songs like “Forgiver” really grabbed me and made it one of the more anticipated listens of the week. The end result here is a solid indie/alt album with a lot of great moments throughout. A little more challenging than most recent listens in this area, but it has more than enough accessibility to at least get you on board.
Recommendation: Give this a shot.

Artist: Emma Blackery
Album: Villians
Quick Description: Poppy YouTuber's debut album.
Why You Should Listen: It's quirky and different without being strange.
Overall Thoughts: Going in, I did not know that EB was a fairly noteworthy YouTuber, which makes this pop album both make more sense and also makes it a little more incomprehensible. There’s a sense of being in character throughout much of this that turned me off, but I also can’t ignore how addictive a lot of these songs were. If you have a pop itch that needs some scratching, give this a listen.
Recommendation: Worth your time.

Artist: Muncie Girls
Album: Fixed Ideals
Quick Description: British alt-rock.
Why You Should Listen: Lots of fun here to go along with some messaging.
Overall Thoughts: I do love my female-fronted alt-rock, and this definitely scratches this itch. The songs have hooks for days, it is a tight and punchy affair, and there is little to complain about on a whole. One of my favorite listens of the week, and one I look forward to spending more time with it on a whole.
Recommendation: A must-listen.

Artist: Aaron Lee Tasjam
Album: Karma for Cheap
Quick Description: Garage rock!
Why You Should Listen: This does something a little different and special.
Overall Thoughts: The 70s rock/garage revival that’s been hanging on doesn’t excite me much these days, but I want to specifically call out this album as being pretty compelling from top to bottom. An album that isn’t working so much from pretense or a visible aesthetic, this just feels a lot more sincere and straightforward.
Recommendation: Worth it if you’re into this sort of thing.

Artist: Courtney Hartman and Taylor Ashton
Album: Been on Your Side
Quick Description: Roots duo with a solid listen.
Why You Should Listen: This sounds a lot like things you already enjoy.
Overall Thoughts: There seems to be an influx of roots duos popping up with a sort of thing that is reminiscent of the Dave Hawkings/Gillian Welch collaborations. Do they all work? No, but this one definitely seems to work better than most. This album leans in quite a bit on the stark, minimalist instrumentation and production to be able to provide a unique and different experience.
Recommendation: It’s a compelling listen on a whole, and one to keep an eye on.

Artist: Amos Lee
Album: My New Moon
Quick Description: Soulful, rootsy rock music.
Why You Should Listen: Amos Lee has a great combination of voice and instrumentation.
Overall Thoughts: I’ve liked Amos Lee since I tripped up on “Cup of Sorrow” however long ago. This new album is really doing it for me on first listen; great melodies and compelling instrumentation is what drives this forward and makes it work. If you like the more soulful side of the roots game...
Recommendation: ...this is worth it.

Of note:

* Ian Fisher - Idle Hands (Interesting, deeply confessional singer-songwriter effort)
* Magic Shoppe - In Parallel (Grungy, infectious rock)
* Mogwai - KIN (Another film score that works really well for this act)
* Son Volt - Okemah and the Melody of Riot
* Alice Temple - The End
* Anna Calvi - Hunter
* Helios - Veriditas
* American Trappist - Tentanda Via

EPs:

* Iron and Wine - Weed Garden

Also out:

* Big Red Machine - Big Red Machine
* Saintseneca - Pillar of Na
* Wild Nothing - Indigo
* Summer Magic - Sharks and Other Things

Live Shows: Fantastic Negrito and Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, The Middle East, Cambridge, MA 8/29/18

Photo by Ken Sears

I'm a late comer to the Fantastic Negrito phenomenon. I know a lot of people have been insanely into him, but it never quite clicked for me until Please Don't Be Dead was released earlier this year. I had been toying with the idea of going to his show at The Middle East, but once Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys were added to the bill, I knew I had to check it out.

It's impossible to discuss Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys's performance without bringing this up: Earlier in the week, one of the co-owners of The Middle East retired due to sexual assault allegations. This informed the band's performance. They chose to go ahead with their performance while many other bands had cancelled theirs in order to use it as  forum to discuss the allegations. They also donated their guarantee and all merch sales to the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, and each band member had the organization's website written on their arms (www.barcc.org). The band still put on a fantastic, if somewhat subdued performance. They seemed to tone it down a bit out of respect for their opening position on the bill, and focused more on newer, unreleased material.

Photo by Ken Sears

What can be said about a Fantastic Negrito show? If you haven't seen him live, it's simply a must. On stage he has an insane amount of charisma and pure charm to suck anyone in, regardless of musical taste. He's a combination of Prince and James Brown playing a soul infused version of old school rock n roll. It's the kind of music that you simply don't have a soul if you can't enjoy. During his show, I stood in amazement that I was watching him at The Middle East for $13, and it wasn't a sold out show. Him only playing small 550 person clubs can't be lasting much longer, and when he does graduate to much, much larger rooms, it will be much deserved. As soon as he took the stage with his backing band for "Bad Guy Necessity," he turned every person in attendance into a lifelong fan. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a performer this captivating. 

Friday Freebie: Nervous Dater - Don't Be a Stranger

When Weakened Friends recently announced their huge mega-tour, New York's Nervous Dater was set as the opener. Of course I immediately decided to check them out. If you didn't, then you really need to hurry up.

A great starting point is their 2017 release Don't Be a Stranger. It's this beautifully perfect indie rock record. If you're already into Weakened Friends, it will be pretty much impossible for Nervous Dater to not work for you. The bands each have their own sounds, but there is enough overlap to interest you. The album's opener, "Bad Spanish," might have been a frontrunner for song of 2017 if I had known of it. It's all indie rock attitude and distortion, while being settled in a groove with one of the catchiest choruses I've heard in years ("All right, I said, I'll bash your fucking head," if I heard it correctly...). "Pigeon Language" is an indie power ballad, if such a thing can even exist. "Vominos" might be the jangliest song in existence. It's just fast and fun. Every song on Don't Be a Stranger is a lesson in how to craft a perfect little indie pop rock song. 

You can listen to "Bad Spanish" below. Don't Be a Stranger is currently available for the "name your price" option on Bandcamp. If you choose the free option, be sure to at least give the band a follow on Facebook and Twitter. 

Salem Wolves - Shake

I'm not typically one to refer to a band's album as being both more mainstream and their best. I'm a pretty grumpy music fan, and to me more mainstream typically means it's a downgrade in quality. Shake, the latest album from Salem Wolves, shatters my music snob beliefs.

Shake is filled with arena ready garage anthems. The opener, "Cindi," is this burst of full force rock aggression but it still keeps an insane amount of melody and it's catchy as hell. "Centipede" almost has a psychedelic feel to it. Almost. "Die Like Dogs" is the closest to a classic Salem Wolves song, and is a fast out of control anthem. Plus, it has "die" in the title. "BDF" might be the song that ends up in commercials some day, and I mean that in the best possible way.

You can listen to "Die Like Dogs" below. Shake, the new album from Salem Wolves, is available exclusively on their Bandcamp. For more on Salem Wolves, check out their website. If you're in the Boston area, you can see them on September 15 playing with Ash at Brighton Music Hall, and on October 4 with King Khan & The Shrines and Gabriella Cohen at Sonia in Cambridge.

Oh Pep! - "What's the Deal with David?"

Photo by Ebru Yildiz

Comparing Melbourne's Oh Pep! to Tegan and Sara is an obvious choice. Both are female duos that play similar styles of music, but for me it's a more personal connection.

The first time I discovered Tegan and Sara was when they opened for Ben Folds at Clark University in 2000 (?). The performance was just them, and I assumed they were more of a folk duo. Sure their songs were poppy, but folk pop. Later when I heard "Walking with a Ghost" I was surprised to find out that they were much more pop than folk.

That's where I stand with Oh Pep! I first discovered them at the Green River Festival in 2016. They were playing a more folk based pop sound. I expected this when I heard their new single, "What's the Deal with David?," but the new song is almost pure pop. As I'm not the pop guy of the blog, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I still enjoyed the song. It's upbeat and impossibly catchy, even for the grumpiest of middle aged indie rock fans to enjoy.

You can watch the video for "What's the Deal with David?" below. I Wasn't Only Thinking About You..., the second album from Oh Pep!, will be out October 26 on ATO Records. It can be pre-ordered here. For more on Oh Pep!, check them out on Facebook and Twitter. Current tour dates are below the video.

Nov 02 - Supersonic - Paris, France+
Nov 03 - Botanique - Brussels, Belgium+
Nov 04 - MTC - Cologne, Germany+
Nov 05 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands+
Nov 07 - Molotow - Hamburg, Germany+
Nov 08 - Ideal Bar - Copenhagen, Denmark+
Nov 09 - Kantine am Berghain - Berlin, Germany+
Nov 11 - Chelsea Club - Vienna, Austria+
Nov 13 - Kranhalle - Munich, Germany+
Nov 14 - Mascotte - Zurich, Switzerland+
+with Middle Kids

Summer Magic - "A Certain Little Chord"

When a band is called Summer Magic, August 31 is a strange time to release a new album, especially when your sound mirrors your name. Maybe Kevin Bachmann is a prophet, since here in the northeast we're experiencing some of the hottest days of the year as kids start going back to school.

Summer Magic's latest single off the forthcoming Sharks and Other Dangers, "A Certain Little Chord," is more of the summery power pop we loved with "Hey!" The main difference between the two singles is the latest has a darker feel hidden behind the upbeat chorus and keyboards, which makes sense as the song is about a family falling apart. On second thought, maybe "A Certain Little Chord" is the perfect goodbye to summer for everyone.

You can listen to "A Certain Little Chord" below. The new album from Summer Magic, Sharks and Other Dangers, will be out August 31. For more on Summer Magic, be sure to follow the band on Facebook.

First Listen: New Releases for 24 August

A much busier week than we've been used to!

Artist: Jain
Album: Souldier
Quick Description: Second album from the French pop singer is better than the first.
Why You Should Listen: Jain is odd and unique and fun all at once.
Overall Thoughts: I forget how I tripped up on Jain's last album, but she has a very unique style that is very appealing. Her new album is somehow better than her previous efforts, with "Flash (Pointe Noir)" being an instant classic and a song, "Inspecta," that is sampling Inspector Gadget? I'm in. This is probably my favorite listen of the week, and there are too many fun things going on here to ignore.
Recommendation: A solid pop release with a lot going for it.

Artist: Whitney Ballen
Album: You're a Shooting Star, I'm a Sinking Ship
Quick Description: Debut from a new favorite here.
Why You Should Listen: Ballen is upping the singer-songwriter game here.
Overall Thoughts: Ken and I have both been enjoying the prerelease tracks, and I’m personally really happy that the full album is so good. A nice balance of solid indie rock songs, some quiet stuff, and some more energetic stuff, I get a real nice Laura Stevenson vibe from it. While I’m excited to hear more, I’m just as excited to spend more time with this one.
Recommendation: Make sure you give this a listen.

Artist: Grain Thief
Album: Stardust Lodge
Quick Description: Debut full-length from a local roots act.
Why You Should Listen: It's surprising roots music, lots of solid upbeat qualities to it.
Overall Thoughts: Along with having the best band name I’ve heard in a while, this debut makes me feel the way I did about Kingsley Flood when I first tripped up on them. I’m pleasantly surprised they’re local, love the way they’re playing the roots game, and there’s a ton of upside here.
Recommendation: One of my favorites this week.

Artist: Steady Holiday
Album: Nobody's Watching
Quick Description: Second album from the dreamy indie act.
Why You Should Listen: So far, everything Steady Holiday has done has been great.
Overall Thoughts: Steady Holiday has done some really interesting indie stuff over the years, and this one has a slightly different, raw feel to it that I’m kind of loving. If a song like “Words” can’t grab you, I have to wonder what is up. This is a great listen for those looking for something that isn’t quite lo-fi, but isn’t so glossy that it loses its heart.
Recommendation: A definite must-listen this week.

Artist: The Devil Makes Three
Album: Chains Are Broken
Quick Description: New album from the popular roots act.
Why You Should Listen: The Devil Makes Three is established enough where this should be an automatic listen.
Overall Thoughts: It’s been a while since I’ve listened, but I have to say that this seems a lot more accessible than what I’m used to or expect from them. A well-established and well-respected act on their own, maybe this one will take them to new heights, but for the rest of us we get a really fun, accessible, rootsy affair. I liked it quite a bit.
Recommendation: A good balance for this week.

Artist: Rubblebucket
Album: Sun Machine
Quick Description: Latest from the off-center indie act.
Why You Should Listen: Rubblebucket has a solid reputation for good reason.
Overall Thoughts: I think this is a good listen. I will put that out there. But part of what drew me to Rubblebucket initially was that they felt a little weird - not completely bizarre, mind you, just odd enough where there was something a little more fascinating going on. This album feels a little more straightforward, and while it's good, that does result in a bit of a disappointment for me on a whole. I'd love to see some of what drew me to them here, but that's okay.
Recommendation: Not the best of the week, but worth it if you're a fan.

Artist: Emily Kinney
Album: Oh Jonathan
Quick Description: Famous person's musical side, but good.
Why You Should Listen: It's solid poppy singer-songwritery stuff.
Overall Thoughts: Most people know her from The Walking Dead, but I've been listening to her music for a while and she has a very unique sound to her brand of singer-songwriter presentation that nearly always grabs me. This is probably my favorite effort of her's so far, and might even have the potential to put her on the map a little more musically.
Recommendation: Give this a listen.

Artist: Nothing
Album: Dance on the Blacktop
Quick Description: Infectious alt-rock.
Why You Should Listen: This is probably the most straightforward alt-rock we've heard in some time.
Overall Thoughts: I feel like Nothing presents itself as weirder than it is, because Dance on the Blacktop plays it about as straight as you can. It's a solid listen in a week full of them, but succeeds at being basically without pretense in an era with a lot of it.
Recommendation: Worth your time.

Of note:

* The Frights - Hypochondriac (This was fun enough, but I would have been all about this if I were 16)
* DeVotchKa - This Night Falls Forever (I'm new to this band. Has a neat theatrical mood to it.)
* LAUREL - Dogviolet (Solid, dependable singer-songwriter stuff)
* Neil and Liam Finn - Lightsleeper (Pretty, but not transcendant)
* Lucie Silvas - E.G.O. (Good pop album this week)
* Simon Stalenhag - Music for DOS (Modern ambient for a digital age. Really good.)
* Ohmme - Parts
* Murder by Death - The Other Shore
* White Denim - Performance
* Olafur Arnolds - re:member

EPs:

* Ron Gallo - It's OK to Always Love Your Company Elsewhere
* Baeilou - Inside Under
* Bassnectar - Reflective (Part 3)

Also out:

* Nonpoint - X
* Basement Revolver - Heavy Eyes
* Interpol - Marauder
* Blood Orange - Negro Swan

Live Shows: Belly, Royale, Boston, MA 8/23/18

Despite being a fan of Belly since the early 90's, I never got a chance to see them live. They had called it quits before I was really going to shows, so I missed out. I've seen Tanya Donelly a bunch of times, but never Belly. I had to miss the 2016 reunion because of a family vacation. Luckily, it wasn't a one-off tour, so last Thursday I finally got my chance.

Belly currently tours in an odd way that works out for them. They don't have an opening act, but instead play two one hour sets with a twenty minute break in between. As much as I love an up and coming opener, can anyone really argue with two hours of Belly? And what a two hour show it was. If you haven't seen Donelly perform live for a while, you forget just how captivating her voice can be. In contrast to Donelly's angelic voice was Gail Greenwood headbanging through her set while playing bass, possibly left over from her time with L7. The band played with a large LED screen behind them, mostly displaying the Belly logo, but also other imagery and videos. This might have made it the most high tech show I've been to in years.

Seeing as Belly just put out a new album, Dove, one would expect for a large amount of the setlist to come from the new album. Out of twenty-two songs, ten were from Dove. The only shocking thing about the new songs is how well they stand up to the classics. Sure, the new ones didn't get the same reaction as the old ones, but we haven't been listening to them and attaching memories to them for two decades. But, god... the classic songs... You forget how great they can be. "Dusted" was a particularly great song played live. They did the megahit "Feed the Tree" midway through the second set, but it was the kind of crowd that was more excited for "Gepetto." "Super-Connected" brought back more joy than I could have thought possible. A Belly show in 2018 has enough nostalgia for everyone attending, while still being a great enough band to make the crowd care about their new songs.

Friday Freebie: The Tenth - Boys We Don't Know

A musical project from two actresses should be a complete nightmare. When I first heard about The Tenth, the musical project from Taylor Blackwell (Dolphin Tale 2, Magic City) and Harley Quinn Smith (Yoga Hosers, daughter of filmmaker/podcaster Kevin Smith), I didn't think there was any way it could be good. But, somehow it is. It's not Bob Dylan or Radiohead, but their debut EP, Boys We Don't Know, is a blast. Each song is about a different boy (complete with an intro track to explain the backstory). They describe it as bubblegum punk, and that basically describes it perfectly. It's fun, a little bratty, and we're way too old to be enjoying this as much as we are. If you care about the breakdown, Blackwell takes the lead for the first three songs, Smith sings the last, and they both provide backing vocals on the other's songs. 

You can listen to "Kyle" below. Boys We Don't Know, the debut EP from The Tenth, is available now for free on Bandcamp. If you don't toss them any cash for the download, be sure to at least give them a follow on Instagram.

Callow - "Always About the Ones Who Have It All"

Photo by Alanso Cat

San Francisco's Callow are self described as "noir folk." While the noir part is spot on, that description is greatly exaggerating the definitions of folk. Their new single, "Always About the Ones Who Have It All" is a dark, organic song that starts off incredibly slowly and slowly builds up intensity. It does seem to alternate between having a more quiet somewhat folk sound and a blustering and crashing noise base. It's like the classic quiet/loud/quiet formula brought to a disturbing extreme. It's the rare song that can make the folkies and noise rock fans satisfied.

You can watch the video for "Always About the Ones Who Have It All" below. Mothdust, the new album from Callow, will be out October 19. For more on Callow, be sure to check out their website.