Olden Yolk - "Cotton & Cane"

Photo by John Andrews

Olden Yolk are back with a new album and single. "Cotton & Cane" sounds like an upbeat version of The Velvet Underground. It has some of the otherworldly qualities and psychedelic groove of their work with Nico, but more cheery and modern. The band says about the song/video:

“The woman who once lived in the house was an art collector, and there were these haunting paintings and ancient artifacts lining the halls. For us it was a space to reflect on all that had happened over the year and all that we were moving towards. At the time we started writing ‘Cotton & Cane,' Shane was thinking about his relationship with his father, and the lyrics of the song started to take on the tone of a conversation between them. Less than a week before we went into the studio, Shane’s father passed away, and the song’s meaning began to unfold completely; the confusion, the awe, the complex picture of his entire life. P. Nick Curran shot the film in the current alien wasteland that is the Los Angeles hills, unearthed and burnt from recent fires and torrential downpours.”

You can watch the video for "Cotton & Cane" below. Living Theatre, Olden Yolk's second album, will be out May 17 on Trouble in Mind. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Olden Yolk, check out their Facebook and Twitter. Current tour dates are below the video.

Thu. April 25 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Lodge Room w/ Chris Cohen
Thu. May 16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right (Record release show)
Fri. May 17 - Boston, MA @ Lilypad
Sat. May 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Jerry’s On Front
Sun. May 19 - Washington, DC @ DC9
Wed. May 22 - Atlanta, GA @ 529
Thu. May 23 - New Orleans, LA @ Santos
Sat. May 25 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk
Mon. May 27 - Nashville, TN @ TBD
Tue. May 28 - Louisville, KY @ Odeon
Wed. May 29 - Detroit, MI @ Outer Limits Lounge
Thu. May 30 - Chicago, IL @ Hideout
Wed. May 31 - Grand Rapids, MI @ House Show
Fri. June 7 - Sonoma, CA @ Huichica Festival
Wed. June 19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon (LA record release show)
Thu. June 20 - San Francisco, CA @ Make Out Room
Fri. June 21 - Portland, OR @ Turn Turn Turn w/ Adam Torres
Sun. June 23 - Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
Sat. Oct. 12 - Portsmouth, UK @ The Festing
Sat. Oct. 13 - Exeter, UK @ The Cavern
Mon. Oct. 14 - Brighton, UK @ Komedie Studio
Tue. Oct. 15 - London, UK @ Lexington
Wed. Oct. 16 - Bristol, UK @ Louisiana
Thu. Oct. 17 - Birmingham, UK @ Hair & Hounds 2
Fri. Oct. 18 - Manchester, UK @ YES
Sat. Oct. 19 - Oxford, UK @ Ritual Union Festival

First Listen: New Releases from 29 March

Another slow week.

Artist: Laura Stevenson
Album: The Big Freeze
Quick Description: Newest album from a favorite here and elsewhere.
Why You Should Listen: Laura Stevenson continues to pull together compelling record after compelling record.
Overall Thoughts: The Big Freeze is ultimately an exercise in managing expectations. Stevenson comes from a punk background, she hit our radar with some great indie pop in “Master of Art,” and some of her best songs have been more upbeat and louder on a whole. This new album is very introspective and, in many cases, definitely isn’t shielding anything from the meaning or intentions behind the music. This does not make for a bad album; in fact, it’s a very good one. But my struggle, on first listen, was trying to balance what I want from Laura Stevenson compared to what this album is. This is more her Sea Change, in a sense, and it absolutely works (and the soaring harmonies alongside some stark instrumentation is just gorgeous), but it just requires some recentering of our expectations to fully appreciate what we’ve received this week.
Recommendation: A great listen.

Artist: Billie Eilish
Album: WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
Quick Description: Dark, weirdo pop music from one of the most buzzworthy artists of the moment.
Why You Should Listen: This is a very unique vision.
Overall Thoughts: It’s very tempting, in some ways, to see this album as a deconstructed pop album, but I don’t know. This is more Grimes than Taylor, with a delivery more akin to hiding under the covers than being in your face. For every song that feels glitchy and weird, there’s something more off-center but still mainstream (a song that samples heavily from “Threat Level Midnight” from The Office). It’s difficult to really pigeonhole what’s going on here, and that is likely-to-completely by design, and it’s absolutely something we’ll be hearing more about in the coming weeks and beyond. The buzz is undeniable, and it’s worth your time.
Recommendation: A must-listen.

Artist: Wet Dreams
Album: Wet Dreams
Quick Description: Grungy garage rock.
Why You Should Listen: This is a little different than the others.
Overall Thoughts: A countless number of garage rock-type albums slide through my weekly listens, and some are better than others but few tend to stand out. I do not know exactly why this specific album is working for me when others didn’t, but there’s a definite sense of something special here. The distortion is turned way up, and the album is lo-fi in many of the best ways. If you like this sort of thing, have a go at this one.
Recommendation: Worth a listen if this is your thing.

Artist: Heather Rose in Clover
Album: Canyons
Quick Description: Fun indie rock out of Providence
Why You Should Listen: This is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Overall Thoughts: There's something super familiar about this that I just can't place, but no matter - this is a really enthusiastic, upbeat indie record that I fell in love with fairly quickly. It's not reinventing the wheel by any stretch, but there's probably going to be enough here for you to find something to like.
Recommendation: Make some time.

Of note:

* Steve Earle - GUY (Concept/tribute effort with tons of great moments)
* Son Volt - Union (Some good and bad, but Son Volt is usually worth it)
* Russkaja - No One is Illegal (More fun Gogol Bordello-style punk)
* KARRYN - The Quanta Series (Weird but solid electronic music.)
* Cornelius - Ripple Waves
* Mekons - Deserted
* Chris Cohen - Chris Cohen

EPs:

* Bad Bad Hats - Wide Right
* Emilia - Pollinations

Also out:

* Jake Nakor and the Moment of Truth - In the Cut
* Quelle Chris - Guns
* Edwyn Collins - Badbea
* UNKLE - The Road Part II / Lost Highway
* How to Dress Well - One Train Hides Another

Allison & Moon - "Puppy Love"

Someday I'll be able to admit that there is some emo out there that I like. "Puppy Love," the latest single from Boston's Allison & Moon, is one of those songs that is going to make me admit it. When I first started listening to it, I was thinking of was to describe the song: Fast, upbeat, alterna-pop, power pop, shredding guitars, bouncy, surprisingly heartwarming yet sad and catchy lyrics... This is how I was going to describe the song. And then I saw that the tags at the bottom of the Bandcamp page included "emo." That's when I realized everything I described is the definition of emo. But even for those of us that were too old to get caught up in the heyday of emo have to admit it's not as bad as we wanted it to be. And "Puppy Love" is a great song, even if it happens to be emo.

You can listen to "Puppy Love" below. For more on Allison & Moon, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp. If you happen to be in the Boston area, catch them April 5 at the Union Tavern in Somerville and April 15 at ONCE Somerville with our friends Amanda White Band and The James Rocket.

Sebadoh - "stunned"

Being a near obsessive Sebadoh fan, I'll be sure to bring you anything new that Sebadoh releases. Yesterday they shared the second song of their upcoming album. "stunned" is a Jason Lowenstein song, which means it's as abrasive as you'd expect. It's a brief 2:30 blast of noise, but with the perfect amount of melody to make it still a listenable song. Lowenstein has always been a master of the aggressive pop song, and "stunned" shows that off perfectly. Plus, it has a great false stop right at the beginning, and I love a false stop.

You can watch the video for "stunned" below. Act Surprised, the new album from Sebadoh, will be out May 24 on Dangerbird Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Sebadoh, be sure to check out their website. 

Friday Freebie: Tanya Donelly - Demos with Joe Harvard

As a tribute to the late Joe Harvard, Boston area musician (although recently relocated to Asbury Park, NJ and co-founder of Apache Studios, Tanya Donelly has offered up a collection of demos he produced for her. These songs were originally intended for The Breeders but all ended up on Belly's 1993 classic Star. The ten songs on Demos with Joe Harvard are complete bare bones, just Donelly's voice and guitar, with some lap steel played by Harvard and some guitar by Kim Deal on "White Belly" and "Feed the Tree." "Feed the Tree" is particularly interesting in how raw it is. The guitar chords are the ones we know and adore, but it's almost grungey in how fuzzy it is. I always love hearing the original composition of my favorite songs, and Demos with Joe Harvard is a great way to hear songs we've loved for twenty six years in a new way.

You can listen to the demo version of "Feed the Tree" below. Demos with Joe Harvard is available for a free download via Tanya Donelly's Bandcamp. To check out Joe Harvard's musical legacy, check out his Bandcamp.

Doug Tuttle - "I'll Throw It All Away"

We've been enjoying Boston area musician Doug Tuttle's solo work for a while now, and his newest single won't be changing that. "I'll Throw It All Away" continues Tuttle's psychedelic bedroom singer/songwriter dream pop vibe, and you'll get no complaints from us on that. "I'll Throw It All Away" adds in a bit of country twang into the equation, sounding a bit like Brian Wilson trying on a cowboy hat. It's a fantastic blend of indie rock meets Americana, and is perfect for regular readers of our site.

You can listen to "I'll Throw It All Away" below. Dream Road, the fourth album from Doug Tuttle, will be out May 31 on Burger Records. For more on Doug Tuttle, be sure to check out his website.

Izzy Heltai - "Marching Song"

Photo by Emma Kate Rothenberg-Ware

I stumbled on Izzy Heltai at the Freshgrass Festival, and the 22 year old Northampton, MA local was a highlight at a festival featuring talents such as Rhiannon Giddens, Flogging Molly, and I'm With Her. His newest single, "Marching Song," shows why. It's a stunning folk song, gorgeous in its simplicity while still feeling epic. It's quiet and personal, and feels like you're sitting in a room with him singing, despite there being a full band backing him. It may sound organic since Heltai's upcoming EP was recorded using vintage amps and microphones. "Marching Song" may have some mainstream appeal, but I may be detecting the hints of a Neutral Milk Hotel influence here. This is the singer/songwriter genre done to complete perfection.

You can listen to "Marching Song" below. Only Yesterday, the new EP from Izzy Heltai, will be out April 19. For more on Izzy Heltai, check out his website. Current tour dates are below the song.


April 12 - Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
April 13 - Equinunk Historical Society, Equinunk, PA
April 14 - The Shea Theater, Turners Falls, MA
April 19 - Common Folk Gallery, North Adams, MA
April 20 - Urban Farm Fermentory, Portland, ME
April 28 - The Parlor Room, Northampton, MA
May 2 - Casa Del Popolo, Montreal, QC
May 3 - Bar Robo, Ottawa, ON
May 4 - The Garnet, Petersborough, ON
May 5 -Burdock, Toronto, ON
May 7 - Sitwells Coffeehouse, Cincinnati, OH
May 9 - Sacred Springs Kombucha, Grand Rapids, MI
May 10 - The Root Note, La Crosse, WI
May 11 - Picasso's, St. Charles, MI
May 13 - Miner Brewing Company, Hill City, SD
May 14 - Black Tooth Brewery, Sheridan WY
May 16 - The Laughing Goat, Boulder, CO
May 17 - La Plaza Inn, Walsenberg, CO
May 18 - Little Horse Books, Fort Collins, CO
May 19 - Little Toad Creek Brewery, Las Cruces, NM

Reese McHenry - "Bye Bye Baby"

If you were as enamored with Reese McHenry's first single off her upcoming album as we were, just wait until you hear the follow up, "Bye Bye Baby." The new song is another firey garage rock anthem. I think that's what we're always going to get with McHenry. But, while her voice was front and center in "Detroit," "Bye Bye Baby" sees it take a bit of a backseat to the bouncy, fuzzy, almost twangy guitars. Of course, with a voice like McHenry's it's impossible to take away from it completely. But if you want killer garage rock, Reese McHenry is exactly what you're always going to need.

You can listen to "By Bye Baby" below. No Dados, the new album from Reese McHenry, will be out April 12 on Suah Sounds. For more on Reese McHenry, check out her website.

The Abyssmals - "For All of Time"

Photo by Caitee Smith

I wouldn't ever expect to hear surf rock out of Schenectady, NY, but The Abyssmals somehow pull that off. Of course, it's not pure surf rock. They add their own upstate NY darkness to it. "For All of Time" sounds like if The Cramps decided to be groovy instead of being punk. There are definitely some punk elements to "For All of Time," but it's more of an undercurrent than a musical style. It's an update of 60's garage and surf rock, but filled with an edge and menace you might not expect.

You can listen to "For All of Time" below. Gospels, Hymns and Other Trash!, the new album from The Abyssmals, will be out April 19 on Five Kill Records. For more on The Abyssmals, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp. Current tour dates are below the song.

Sat April 6 - Jersey City, NJ - TBA w/ Sun Voyager, Daddies and Smock

 Sun April 7 - Kingston, NY - Tubby’s w/ Sun Voyager, Daddies and Smock

Sat April 13 - Troy, NY - The Hangar w/ Sun Voyager, Mystery Girl, and DJ Big Tex (ALBUM RELEASE)

Fri April 26 - Brooklyn, NY- TBA w/ The Rizzos 

Tue May 14 - Saratoga Springs, NY - RS Taylor Taproom w/ Paradox Saints

Sat May 18 - Oswego, NY - Art Barn

Thu May 30 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Desperate Annie’s w/ Shana Falana 

Sat June 1 - Montréal, CA - TBA w/ Shana Falana 

Sat June 15 -Kingston, NY - Tubby’s w/ Mystery Girl, The Young Skulls

Fri June 21 - Boston, MA - Dorchester Art Project w/ New Aura, Love Strangers, Mystery Gems

Sat July 13 - Albany, NY - Olde English Pub w/ Pony in the Pancake, Mystery Girl

First Listen: New Releases for 22 March

This weekend got away from me, so we're doing some quick hits:

Highlights of the week:

* Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet: While My Finest Work Yet probably doesn't reach the heights of some of his best work, this new album from Andrew Bird still succeeds in doing the trick in providing a classic Bird experience with a lot of solid songs and great moments throughout.
* Tamaryn - Dreaming the Dark: Solid pop music that caught me my surprise.
* Lambchop - This (Is What I Wanted to Tell You): I've avoided Lambchop for some time, and after finally diving in on this minimalist approach, I just don't know why it took me so long. A great listen.
* American Football - LP3: I'm so glad they're back. This is at least as good as you think it should be, and is probably better.
* Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves - Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves: A truly solid bluegrass release this week. One of the better ones of recent memory.
* Sleeper - The Modern Age: First album in 20+ years from this alt-rock group. Somehow completely missed them this whole time, and I loved this.
* Spiral Stairs - We Wanna Be Hyp-No-Tied: Might be a little divisive among Stairs fans, but I dug this.

Of note:

* Jenny Lewis - On the Line (A perfectly cromulent album that I will never choose to listen to again.)
* Ex Hex - It's Real (A good listen, but surprisingly reserved.)
* These New Puritans - Inside the Rose (Interesting electronic-style music.)
* Loose Wing - Loose Wing
* Emily Wells - This World is Too ____ For You
* Luther Dickinson and the Sisters of the Strawberry Moon - Solstice
* Strand of Oaks - Eraserland
* Lucy Rose - No Words Left
* Yawners - Just Calm Down

EPs:

* Pikelet - Goodbye (Sneaky great.)
* Babehoven - Solemnis (Good band name, great music.)
* LPX - Junk of the Heart
* OG Swaggerdick - Pow!
* Kelsey Bulkin - Leucadia
* Sun June - Younger
* Hate Club - A Clear Mistake

Also out:

* Wild Belle - Everybody One of a Kind
* Beat Circus - These Wicked Things
* Problem Daughter - Grow Up Trash
* The Sh-Booms - The Blurred Odyssey