Alex Lahey - "Am I Doing It Right?'

Photo by Callum Preston

Now this is what we love about Alex Lahey. Her latest single, "Am I Doing It Right?," dances right along the edge of pop and alt-rock. It's huge hooks, fuzzy guitars, and a perfect shout along chorus. It somehow lives in both the worlds of mid 90's alt-rock/power pop and the pure pop of the early 2000's. Normally something this centered in pop wouldn't appeal to me, but that's the joy of Alex Lahey: Even us curmudgeonly old guys that hate pop can't help but get sucked into the song. 

Lahey says about "Am I Doing It Right?": "Being a musician is considered a weird job without any explanation necessary, but one of the strangest parts about being a musician is that there is absolutely no set pathway you’re supposed to follow to get where you want to go. This song reflects on being thrust into a lifestyle and going with it while feeling like others are looking over your shoulder to make sure you’re doing all the right things by you and everyone else. It’s like fighting a losing battle while loving every minute of it.”

You can listen to "Am I Doing It Right?" below. The Best of Luck Club, the new album from Alex Lahey, will be out May 17 on Dead Oceans. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Alex Lahey, check out her website. Current tour dates are below the song.

Mon. May 13 - Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast

Wed. May 15 - Belfast, UK @ Empire Music Hall

Thu. May 16 - Dublin, IR @ The Grand Social

Fri. May 17 - Liverpool, UK @ Arts Club

Sun. May 19 - Leicester, UK @ The Cookie

Mon. May 20 - Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach

Thu. May 23 - London, UK @ Oslo

Thu. June 6 - Adelaide, AU @ The Gov

Fri. June 7 - Perth, AU @ Rock Rover

Thu. June 13 - Brisbane, AU @ The Tivoli

Fri. June 14 - Canberra, AU @ The Basement

Sat. June 15 - Sydney, AU @ Metro Theatre

Sat. June 22 - Melbourne, AU @ Forum Melbourne

Fri. Aug. 9 - Sun. Aug. 11 - San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands

Tue. Aug. 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour

Wed. Aug. 14 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar

Thu. Aug. 16 - Austin, TX @ Antone’s

Sat. Aug. 17 - Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co.

Mon. Aug. 19 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl

Tue. Aug. 20 - Nashville, TN @ Exit / In

Thu. Aug. 22 - Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall

Fri. Aug. 23 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

Sat. Aug. 24 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s

Sun. Aug. 25 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott

Tue. Aug. 27 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

Wed. Aug. 28 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club

Sun. Sep. 1 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret

Tue. Sep. 3 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge

Alex Lahey - "Don't Be so Hard on Yourself"

Photo by Callum Preston

Alex Lahey's 2017 album I Love You Like a Brother was beloved by both me and Jeff, which is surprising since it was more poppy than I normally like. Last week she started teasing new music, and we're thrilled that we now have "Don't Be so Hard on Yourself." If you loved I Loved You Like a Brother, we've got some great news for you. "Don't Be so Hard on Yourself" is more of the same, but possibly better. It's almost unbearably catchy, with these huge fuzzy guitars, and a saxophone solo that might be trying to outdo "Careless Whisper." Even if you hate music more on the pop side, you owe it to yourself and everyone you know to check out "Don't Be so Hard on Yourself."

You can watch the video for "Don't Be so Hard on Yourself" below. The Best of Luck Club, Alex Lahey's second album, will be out May 17 on Dead Oceans. You can pre-order your copy here. For more on Alex Lahey, check out her website. Tour dates are below the video, but unfortunately only in her home country of Australia. 

Thu. June 6 - Adelaide, AU @ The Gov
Fri. June 7 - Perth, AU @ Rock Rover
Thu. June 13 - Brisbane, AU @ The Tivoli
Fri. June 14 - Canberra, AU @ The Basement
Sat. June 15 - Sydney, AU @ Metro Theatre
Sat. June 22 - Melbourne, AU @ Forum Melbourne

Durand Jones & The Indications - "Morning in America"

Photo by Rosie Cohe

Durand Jones & The Indications just nail the whole neo-soul thing. Their latest single, "Morning in America," sounds like it could have been released in the 60's. The only truly modern aspect is the hip hop drum beat and a fuzzed out indie rock guitar solo to end the song. Despite it's calm and chill vibe, "Morning in America" is an overtly political song. It's written by drummer Aaron Frazer, the band says about the song:

"The lyrics speak to how many of us feel every day in this time of political and environmental uncertainty— flitting between anger, despair, anxiety but ever returning to a sliver of hope that there’s still a path forward.

We so often divide ourselves by our differences. Acknowledging those differences is crucial; listening to those different from us is crucial. But viewed solely through that lens, we are fragmented and few. When we look at the country along economic lines, however, a different picture emerges. Suddenly people of all of colors, in every part of this country, can find themselves on the same side, united by a shared struggle to simply survive in the richest nation to ever exist.

This song was inspired by The Poor People's Campaign, a movement started by Martin Luther King Jr. shortly before his assassination. It functions today as a nonpartisan organization that promotes intersectionality and inter-movement unity as a tool of addressing systemic injustices."

You can watch the video for "Morning in America" below. American Love Call, the new album from Durand Jones & The Indications, will be out March 1 on Dead Oceans/Colemine Records. The album can be pr-ordered here. For more on Durand Jones & The Indication, check out their website. Current tour dates are below the video.

Fri. Jan. 25 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso-Noord
Sun. Jan. 27 - Cologne, DE @ Artheater
Mon. Jan. 28 - Berlin, DE @ Lido
Mon. March 18 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Tue. March 19 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Thu. March 21 - Santa Fe, NM @ Tumbleroots
Fri. March 22 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Sat. March 23 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah — SOLD OUT
Mon. March 25 - Tustin, CA @ Marty’s On Newport — SOLD OUT
Tue. March 26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom — SOLD OUT
Wed. March 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom — SOLD OUT
Thu. March 28 - Santa Barbara, CA @ SOhO Restaurant & Music Club
Fri. March 29 - Oakland, CA @ The New Parish — SOLD OUT
Sat. March 30 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent — SOLD OUT
Mon. April 1 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
Tue. April 2 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Thu. April 4 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
Fri. April 5 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Sat. April 6 - Kansas City, MO @ recordBar
Sun. April 7 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room  
Tue. April 9 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Wed. April 10 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Thu. April 11 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Fri. April 12 - Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
Sat. April 13 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Sun. April 14 - North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival
Tue. April 16 - Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
Wed. April 17 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fri. April 19 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
Sat. April 20 - Uncasville, CT @ Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Resort
Sun. April 21 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
Mon. April 22 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Wed. April 24 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Woodward Theater
Fri. April 26 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
Sat. April 27 - Oxford, MS @ Double Decker Arts Festival
Sun. April 28 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Sat. May 11 - Bloomington, IN @ Indiana University w/ Neko Case
Sun. Sep. 15 - Telluride, CO @ Blues & Brews Festival

A Place to Bury Strangers - "There's Only One of Us"

Photo by Clemens Mitscher

Just when you think you have A Place to Bury Strangers pegged as one of the premier punk/metal/noise rock bands around, they surprise us all with their newest single, "There's Only One of Us." Sure, the song is still noisy and falls into the art rock category, but it adds a heaping amount of post punk and new wave. It has a distinct The Human League meets Sonic Youth feel to it. It's almost pure new wave, except for the level of noise that permeates the entire track, slowly building and rescinding until it threatens to take over towards the end of the song. Yeah, we're 100% in on this one.

You can watch the video for "There's Only One of Us" below.  A Place to Bury Strangers's new album, Pinned, will be out April 13 on Dead Oceans. For more on the band, check out their website. 

A Place to Bury Strangers - "Never Coming Back"

Photo by Clemens Mitscher

Goddamn, how am I not completely obsessed with A Place to Bury Strangers? Their latest single, "Never Coming Back," is just about everything I love about music. 

First: It's loud. And noisy. Like, really loud and noisy. The song is filled with barely controlled chaos, like the band is trying to reign it in, and failing. When it does explode... it's just glorious.

Second: It doesn't really fit into any one particular genre. It's too metal to be punk, and it's too punk to be metal. Plus, it's artsy as hell, so it can't be either one of them anyway. But, it's also structured, so it can't just be art rock. It's a mess. In the best way.

Third: Did I mention that it's loud?

Fourth: There is a sense of danger and foreboding that's missing with most music now. Punk, metal, hip hop... it's all safe sounding. Rap is more of a fashion statement, and metal bands name themselves after Meryl Streep movies. A Place to Bury Strangers have a dark name, and the music sounds like one of their shows could be the story of how you ended up in jail/hospitalized.

Fifth: LOUD.

You can watch the video for "Never Coming Back" below. A Place to Bury Strangers's new album, Pinned, will be out April 23 on Dead Oceans. For more on the band, check out their website. 

Marlon Williams - "What's Chasing You"

Photo by Steve Gullick

I was blown away by Marlon Williams's debut self-titled album. It was my #9 release in 2016. Late last year he released "Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore," which was the first song off his second album, Make Way For Love. For whatever reason, it just didn't work for me and I assumed he'd be a one and done artist for me.

"What's Chasing You," the second single off Make Way For Love, is proving me wrong. It leans a little bit more on the torch song side of Marlon Williams with maybe just the slightest hint of the Americana sound and none of the indie rock feel his debut album had. The mix of all three was what drew me in, but "What's Chasing You" still works. It's this smooth soulful sound that is a total throwback to the 1950's with just enough of a modern slant to not end up being Sha Na Na. Plus, the video underscores the serious sound of the song with a shirtless Williams frolicking on a beach.

You can watch the video for "What's Chasing You" below. Marlon Williams's second solo album, Make Way For Love, will be out February 16 on Dead Oceans. It can be pre-ordered here. For more on Marlon Williams, check out his website. Tour dates are below the video.

Thu. Feb. 22 — Bristol, UK @ Louisiana
Fri. Feb. 23 — Manchester, UK @ Night & Day
Sat. Feb. 24 — Dublin, IE @ Whelans
Mon. Feb. 26 — Glasgow, UK @ King Tuts
Tue. Feb. 27 — Leeds, UK @ Community Room
Wed. Feb. 28 — London, UK @ Scala
Mon. Mar. 5 — Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus
Tue. Mar. 6 — Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
Thu. Mar. 8 — Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Fri. Mar. 9 — Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Sat. Mar. 10 — Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
Tue. Mar. 13 - Sat. Mar. 17 — Austin TX @ SXSW
Sun. Mar. 18 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Mon. Mar. 19 — Dallas, TX @ Three Links Deep Ellum
Wed. Mar. 21 — Nashville, TN @ High Watt
Fri. Mar. 23 — Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
Sat. Mar. 24 — Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
Sun. Mar. 25 — Boston, MA @ Great Scott
Tue. Mar. 27 — Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Thu. Mar. 29 — Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Sun. Apr. 1 — Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Tue. Apr. 3 — San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
Wed. Apr. 4 — Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram
Wed. Apr. 11 — Brussels, BE @ AB Club
Thu. Apr. 12 — Cologne, DE @ Yuca
Fri. Apr. 13 — Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord
Sat. Apr. 14 — Hamburg, DE @ Nochtwache
Sun. Apr. 15 — Copenhagen, DK @ Ideal Bar
Tue. Apr. 17 — Oslo, NO @ Cafe Mono
Wed. Apr. 18 — Stockholm, SE @ Kagelbanan
Fri. Apr. 20 — Berlin, DE @ Privatclub
Sat. Apr. 21 — Munich, DE @ Orange House
Sun. Apr. 22 — Vienna, CH @ Chelsea
Tue. Apr. 24 — Bologna, IT @ Locomotiv
Wed. Apr. 25 — Zurich, CH @ Bogen F
Thu. Apr. 26 — Besancon, FR @ La Rodia
Fri. Apr. 27 — Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere
Sat. Apr. 28 — Utrecht, NL @ Ekko

Shame - "One Rizla"

Post punk is typically the artsier, less aggressive form of punk. Nobody told Shame that. Their new song, "One Rizla," is a pretty chilled out post punk songs, with the ambient feel of dream pop and the fuzzed out bliss of shoegaze. But while that may sound like the song could drift into twee territory, it's far too snotty too be considered twee by any measure. In fact, the song builds so slowly in both speed and aggression that you won't be able to even notice it until the near scream filled ending. It's not an explosive ending, but more of a just barely controlled seething rage leaking out just enough. This song is enough to put their upcoming album into all of our Most Anticipated of 2018 lists.

You can watch the video for "One Rizla" below. Shame's debut album, Songs of Praise, will be out January 12 on Dead Oceans. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Shame, be sure to check out their website.

Alex Lahey - "I Haven't Been Taking Care of Myself"

Photo by Giulia McGauran

We've been loving every track from Alex Lahey's upcoming debut full length album, and for good reason. The Australian singer/songwriter specializes in the type of pop rock that used to be called alternative back in the mid-90's. Her latest, "I Haven't Been Taking Care of Myself," is this pleasant happy medium between her previous two singles from I Love You Like a Brother. It's not quite as poppy as "Every Day's the Weekend" and it's not as grungey as "Lotto in Reverse." Instead, "I Haven't Been Taking Care of Myself" fits snugly in between both of the previous songs. It has the insanely catchy pop hooks and upbeat chorus along with fuzzed out guitars. It's reminds me a ton of Letters to Cleo's Go! Plus, there's Lahey's amazing lyrics. I'm not usually much of a lyrics guy at all, but hers always just suck me in. "I Haven't Been Taking Care of Myself" centers around a possibly obsessive relationship and poor lifestyle choices, both of which tend to go hand in hand. Despite the negative subject matter, the song doesn't dwell on the negative and seems to be a declaration to turn things around, much like Colleen Green's I Want to Grow Up.

You can watch the video for "I Haven't Been Taking Care of Myself" below. Alex Lahey's debut album, I Love You Like a Brother, will be out on October 6 on Dead Oceans. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Lahey, check out her website. Her upcoming tour dates are below.

Tue. Oct. 26 - Brussels, BE @ Botanique Witloofbar
Fri. Oct. 27 - Rotterdam, NL @ V11
Mon. Oct. 30 - Cologne, DE @ Blue Shell
Tue. Oct. 31 - Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Musikclub
Wed. Nov. 1 - Berlin, DE @ Privat Club 
Wed. Nov. 3 - Munich, DE @ Kranhalle 
Sat. Nov. 4 - Stuttgart, DE @ Keller Klub 
Sun. Nov. 5 - Fribourg, DE @ Espace culturel Le Nouveau Monde 
Mon. Nov. 6 - Paris, FR @ La Mécanique Ondulatoire
Wed. Nov. 8 - London, UK @ Boston Music Room 
Tue. Nov. 9 - Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana 
Fri. Nov. 10 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club 
Sat. Nov. 11 - Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute 
Sun. Nov. 12 - Glasgow, UK @ King Tut's Wah Wah Hut 
Wed. Nov. 15 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott
Thu. Nov. 16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fri. Nov. 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
Sun. Nov. 19 - Washington, DC @ DC9
Wed. Nov. 22 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel - Underground
Fri. Nov. 24 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
Sat. Nov. 25th - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Wed. Nov. 29 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Thu. Nov. 30 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda
Sat. Dec. 2 - Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge
Sun. Dec. 3 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Tue. Dec. 5 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge
Wed. Dec. 6 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
Fri. Dec. 8 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo 
Sat.Dec. 9 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Mon. Dec. 11 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Tue. Dec. 12 - Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt
Wed. Dec. 13 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey

Alex Lahey - "Lotto in Reverse"

Photo by Giulia McGauran

While I absolutely loved Alex Lahey's last single "Every Day's the Weekend," it was despite how much of a pure pop song it was. With her latest, "Lotto in Reverse," I don't have that slight problem.

"Lotto in Reverse" is a pop song, sure. But it's a pop song the way most of my beloved mid-90's post grunge alternative music was pop music. It's incredibly catchy, and Lahey's voice is far too melodic to ever be anything but pop. However, there is just enough angst and noise in the music to keep it from being too sugary. The guitars are just crunchy enough with the slightest hint of 90's aggression to keep it interesting. Not to mention that Lahey is quickly becoming one of the best lyricists of her generation. (Must be something in the water down in Australia.) It's an absolute perfect noisy power pop song.

You can watch the lyric video for "Lotto in Reverse" below. Alex Lahey's debut album, I Love You Like a Brother, will be out on October 6 on Dead Oceans. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Lahey, check out her website. Her upcoming tour dates are below.

Tue. Oct. 26 - Brussels, BE @ Botanique Witloofbar
Fri. Oct. 27 - Rotterdam, NL @ V11
Mon. Oct. 30 - Cologne, DE @ Blue Shell
Tue. Oct. 31 - Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Musikclub
Wed. Nov. 1 - Berlin, DE @ Privat Club 
Wed. Nov. 3 - Munich, DE @ Kranhalle 
Sat. Nov. 4 - Stuttgart, DE @ Keller Klub 
Sun. Nov. 5 - Fribourg, DE @ Espace culturel Le Nouveau Monde 
Mon. Nov. 6 - Paris, FR @ La Mécanique Ondulatoire
Wed. Nov. 8 - London, UK @ Boston Music Room 
Tue. Nov. 9 - Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana 
Fri. Nov. 10 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club 
Sat. Nov. 11 - Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute 
Sun. Nov. 12 - Glasgow, UK @ King Tut's Wah Wah Hut 
Wed. Nov. 15 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott
Thu. Nov. 16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fri. Nov. 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
Sun. Nov. 19 - Washington, DC @ DC9
Wed. Nov. 22 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel - Underground
Fri. Nov. 24 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
Sat. Nov. 25th - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Wed. Nov. 29 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Thu. Nov. 30 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda
Sat. Dec. 2 - Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge
Sun. Dec. 3 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Tue. Dec. 5 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge
Wed. Dec. 6 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
Fri. Dec. 8 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo 
Sat.Dec. 9 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Mon. Dec. 11 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Tue. Dec. 12 - Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt
Wed. Dec. 13 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey

Marlon Williams - "Vampire Again"

We absolutely loved Marlon Williams' debut solo album last year. In fact, it was my #9 album of 2016. You can imagine how thrilled I am to have new music from the New Zealander. Sure, it's only one song for now, but it's quite the song. 

"Vampire Again" starts off like even more of a torch song than we're used to from Marlon Williams. After the initial opening, it goes into what we're expecting from him: a combination of 60's doo wop and current folk. Then the guitar starts changing and evolving as the song goes on, to the point that at the end it's more of a squelching almost noise rock sound, which is Williams' trademark and what I absolutely love about his sound. Somehow the noisy guitar adds an almost funk element to the song, which was an unexpected and welcome addition.

You can watch the video for "Vampire Again" below. The single is available now via Dean Oceans. You can get a copy here. For more on Marlon Williams, check out his website. His current tour dates are below.

Fri. Aug. 11 - Boulder, CO @ Triple A Festival

Sat. Aug 12 - Sun. Aug. 13 - Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Folk Festival

Tue. Aug. 15 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant #

Wed. Aug. 16 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown #

Fri. Aug. 18 - Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre #

Sat. Aug. 19 - Bellevue, CO @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre #

Mon. Aug. 21 - Kansas City @ Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland #

Tue. Aug. 22 - Springfield, MO @ Gillioz Theatre #

Thu. Aug. 24 - Tulsa, OK @ Cain's Ballroom #

Fri. Aug. 25 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues #

Sat. Aug. 26 - San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre #

Mon. Aug. 28 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues #

Tue. Aug. 29 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's #

Sat. Sep. 2 – Rutbeek, NE @ Tuckerville Festival

Tue. Oct. 24 – London, UK @ Omeara

Wed. Oct. 25 – Paris, France @ Espace B

Thu. Oct. 26 – Berlin, Germany @ FluxBau

Sat. Oct. 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ London Calling Festival

Mon. Oct. 30 - New York, NY @ Rough Trade

Wed. Nov. 1 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake

Thu. Nov. 2 - Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge

Fri. Nov. 10 – Auckland, NZ @ Point Chev RSA

Sat. Nov. 11 – Welllington, NZ @ San Fran

Sun. Nov. 12 – Christchurch, NZ @ Blue Smoke

Wed. Nov. 15 – Sydney, Australia @ Oxford Art Factory

Thu. Nov. 16 – Melbourne, Australia @ Howler

Fri. Nov. 17 – Mullumbimby, Australia @ Mullumbimby Music Festival

# = with City and Colour

Alex Lahey - "Every Day's the Weekend"

Photo by Giuilia McGauren

Alex Lahey has one true amazing talent that's perfect for a singer/songwriter. Despite the ability to sing and rhyme words, she's is brilliant at writing fantastic cheesy love songs. You know the type of song that's just goofy and corny enough that you're embarrassed by how much you love it, but you can't help it because it's just so much fun and just so... good? Her latest single, "Every Day's the Weekend," is basically if Taylor Swift started out with indie rock instead of country. And was Australian. Being a middle aged man, I shouldn't love this song as much as I do. But it's just so good that I can't help it. It's fast and happy and just soaked in sugary love. And that's what makes it so perfect.

You can watch the video for "Every Day's the Weekend" below. Alex Lahey's debut full length album, I Love You Like a Brother, will be out October 8 on Dead Oceans. You can pre-order your copy here. For more on Alex Lahey, check out her website.

Bleached - "Can You Deal?"

Photo by Nicole Anne Robbins

One of our favorite 90s throwback artists are back. Bleached have a new EP called Can You Deal? due out on March 3. The title track is exactly what we want from Bleached. "Can You Deal?" is poppy and catchy, but with a plethora of 90s alternative noise behind it. I always see them described as punk, but to me they're more dream punk. They have all the swirling guitars and spacey melodies of dream pop, but just a little more aggression than that moniker would allow for. 

In addition to the Can You Deal? EP, Bleached are releasing a Can You Deal? zine. The zine will feature contributions that define a who's who of the current genre ignoring indie scene including Alice Glass, Lizzo, Kate Nash, Tegan Quin, Allie Hanlon, Sadie Dupuis, and more. Bleached's Jennifer Clavin had this to say about the project:\

I create music and art because I need to. To express, to bond, to reconcile, and to connect. And to use my voice. To have it received with such a generic labeling as "girl band" and consistently referenced as "female fronted" is insulting and reductive.  The title track to this EP, “Can You Deal?” is about this experience. Last year we released a deeply personal full length album titled Welcome The Worms. It was a record about being in an emotionally abusive relationship. It was a record about getting spun out on drugs and alcohol. It was a record about totally losing myself in order to find myself.  It was also our most ambitious body of work yet, with guitar work and guitar sounds and production we had only dreamed of until then.  And yet to this day I am still fielding interview questions that have more to do with my gender than with the art I am creating. Somehow the conversation usually derails into some variation of the following question: "What is it like to be a girl in a rock band?". And the ensuing story will define us based on our sex. Why is gender pointed out in nearly all coverage of our band? Labeling me as a woman in a band just puts me in a box, and doesn’t allow everything else I am to be seen and heard. It's 2017, Can You Deal with women playing rock and roll yet? 

You can pre-order the EP here, and the zine here. Make sure you listen to "Can You Deal?" below, and head over to their website for more on Bleached.

Alex Lahey - "Wes Anderson"

Photo by Kane Gibbered

Judging by my regular taste in music, Alex Lahey's "Wes Anderson" should be just a bit too pop for me. But, somehow it just hits this bizarre itch for me. It somehow combines Go! era Letters to Cleo with later Pulp. I'm not usually a lyrics guy, so it's even weirder that this song is connecting on such a deep level for me. "Wes Anderson" is a pure upbeat love song, so there are some fairly corny lines like "Every day with you's my lucky day," but then there are these nuggets ("You're the best night's sleep I've ever had" is my favorite) that are as perfect as anything Evan Dando wrote in "Mallo Cup." (I have no idea why all these Australians are popping up and crushing it with 90s alt rock nostalgia, but I will never complain about this.)

Alex Lahey's debut EP, B-Grade University, is out now on Dead Oceans. You can watch the video for "Wes Anderson" below. For more on Alex Lahey, check out her website. She's leaving Australia for a tour soon, so find her dates below the video.

Mon. Feb. 13 — London, UK @ Roundhouse w/ Tegan & Sara
Tue. Feb. 14 — Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall w/ Tegan & Sara
Wed. Feb. 15 — Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy w/ Tegan & Sara
Fri. Feb. 17 — Glasgow, UK @ O2 ABC w/ Tegan & Sara
Sat. Feb. 18 — Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institution w/ Tegan & Sara
Sun. Feb. 19 — Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street w/ Tegan & Sara
Mon. Feb. 20 — London, UK @ Old Blue Last
Sat. March 11 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
Sun. March 12 — San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Tue. March 14 - Sat. March 18 — Austin, TX @ SXSW
Mon. March 20 — Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Wed. March 22 — Washington, DC @ DC9
Thu. March 23 — Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
Fri. March 24 — Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade NYC
Sat. March 25 — New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
Sun. March 26 — Boston, MA @ Great Scott