Ravagers - "Down That Road"

Baltimore's Ravagers are a punk band. Their latest single, "Down That Road," isn't pop punk, although it's definitely more pop than many other punk songs out there. It's a loud and fast song that is somehow still catchy as hell. It's more along the lines of a band like New York Dolls. While the song doesn't feel like an early punk song from the 70's, it's dripping with the kind of attitude and a little of the glam you'd get back then. "Down That Road" is the type of song they don't make any more... unless you know where to look.

You can watch the video for "Down That Road" below. Badlands is due out in September from Spaghetty Town Records. For more on Ravagers, check out the band's Facebook and Bandcamp.

Kid Gulliver - "Boy in a Bubble"

There's just something about power pop that I can never seem to get enough of. Kid Gulliver personify everything I love about the genre. Their latest, "Boy in a Bubble," is definitely a pop song with enough rock in it to keep it firmly in power pop. Plus, it has that hazy, swirling feeling to give it a dream pop and shoegaze feel throughout. That feeling is mostly from the guitar, which also gives us one of the most glorious guitar solos we've heard in a long, long time to close out the song. "Boy in a Bubble" is a great song that is going to suck you in as soon as you hear its opening riff.

You can listen to "Boy in a Bubble" below. The song is available as a single on Red On Red Records, and you can download it through Bandcamp. For more on Kid Gulliver, check out the band's Facebook.

Lou Barlow - "Over You"

We're already looking forward to a new Dinosaur Jr album this month, and now we have an upcoming solo album from Lou Barlow! The first single, "Over You," is a return to Barlow's lo-fi roots. His more recent solo albums are more on the folky side of things, and while "Over You" isn't quite along the lines of his ultra lo-fi early solo or Sentridoh music, it's definitely not the more polished acoustic sound we're used to at this point. "Over You" sits right in the middle of the two sides of Barlow's solo work, being folk-ish and weird lo-fi-ish. It's an ode to his time in California, giving that period of his life a fond send off.

You can watch the video for "Over You" below. Reason to Live is due out May 28 on Joyful Noise. You can pre-order your copy here. For more on Lou Barlow, check out his website.

First Listen: New Releases for 2 April

Artist: Moontype
Album: Bodies of Water
Quick Thoughts: I think I fell in love with Moontype when I first heard "Ferry" last year. It's a fuzzy, dreamy explosion of music that feels beguiling and direct all at the same time, and the album delivers on the same energy. I find it fills the void that's been waiting impatiently for a new Field Mouse album, so if you dig that sort of thing, don't miss this one.
Songs of Note: "Lush," "Ferry," "About You"

Artist: GRMLN
Album: Dark Music in the Sun
Quick Thoughts: GRMLN is maybe the first act I've seen in a while that seems to be trying to bring the early-aughts Strokes soundscape into the 2020s. "Superstar" could have been a b-side off Room on Fire for all I know. Still, it's solid garage rock and I'm here for it.
Songs of Note: "Superstar," "The Way it Ends," "Star Eye"

Artist: Dry Cleaning
Album: New Long Leg
Quick Thoughts: There's a rich history of post-rock acts that do more talking through their lyrics than singing, and Dry Cleaning is doing it really well. This is an album that's hard to categorize, but it also feels like that's intentional. It's not going to work for everyone, for sure, but it definitely worked for me.
Songs of Note: "New Long Leg"

Artist: The Natvral
Album: Tethers
Quick Thoughts: I spent a good deal of time trying to figure out exactly why The Natvral felt familiar, and I think it ultimately reminds me of Langhorne Slim, but with a more rock attitude. It's a solid album from start to finish with a few songs that stuck with me on first listen, but if you're into this sort of thing you'll find a ton to love.
Songs of Note: "Sun Blisters," "Stay in the Country"

Artist: Flock of Dimes
Album: Head of Roses
Quick Thoughts: Flock of Dimes isn't reinventing indie rock here, but this is a familiar sounding record with hooks for days and days and days. Flock of Dimes specializes in songs that will get trapped in your head. I've been singing "Price of Blue" for weeks since it first dropped, and songs like "Two" and "Hard Way" give off a solid bit of Sylvan Esso vibes. This is easily one of my favorites this week.
Songs of Note: "Price of Blue," "Two," "Hard Way"

Artist: Major Murphy
Album: Access
Quick Thoughts: The harmonies dear god the harmonies. This is a gorgeous indie rock record with some truly tight musicianship and songs that really put in the work to go above and beyond. So many great songs on here, and I'm sure a few of them will become year-end favorites.
Songs of Note: "In the Meantime," "Unfazed," "Real," "Tear it Apart."

Artist: Ratboys
Album: Happy Birthday, Ratboy
Quick Thoughts: Ratboys is consistent, and consistently great. We love them here for good reason, but I didn't want to overlook this listen in a busy-ish week. There's a lot to enjoy here, so give it a go.
Songs of Note: "Space Blows," "Collected," "88 Fingers Edward"

Of note:

* Luca Yupanqui - Sounds of the Unborn
* Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END
* No-No Boy - 1975
* Lyla Foy - Fornever
* Hit Like a Girl - Heart Racer
* Otooman Turks - Ottoman Turks II
* Du Blonde - Homecoming
* The Orielles - La Vita Olistica
* La Femme - Paradigmes
* August, Yours Truly - In the Eyes of God
* Mello Music Group - Bushido

EPs:

* Extra Credit - It's Over
* Small Black - Driftwood Fire
* Nasty Cherry - The Movie
* Devil's Teeth - La leggenda di Chong Li
* Brin, Dntel, and More Eaze - Futurangelics
* TDJ - TDJ002
* Kishi Bashi - Emigrant EP
* Field Medic - Plunge Deep Golden Knife
* Foxes - Friends in the Corner EP

Live albums/Compilations:

* The Vaccines - What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? (Demos)
* 4AD: Bills and Aches and Blues

Also out:

* boys cruise - boys cruise
* The Drums - MOMMY DON'T SPANK ME
* Middle Son - How Could We Have Ever Been Good?

McKinley Dixon - "Chain Sooo Heavy"

Photo by David Muessig

The most intriguing things about the three singles we've heard from McKinley Dixon's upcoming album is how varied they've all been. The latest, "Chain Sooo Heavy," goes even deeper into free jazz than the previous two. On this track, the Richmond, VA hip hop artist destroys everything you expect with a hip hop song. From his flow, to his use of jazz, to the entire structure of the song... "Chain Sooo Heavy" is wildly unique and innovative. At times it sounds like fairly standard modern hip hop, and at other times it sounds like a stream of consciousness free jazz freak out. And others? I can't even describe it. His upcoming album is becoming a stronger and stronger candidate for album of the year with every song we hear from it.

You can listen to "Chain Sooo Heavy" below. For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her is due out May 7 on Spacebomb. You can pre-order/pre-save the album here. For more on McKinley Dixon, check out the artist on Twitter and Facebook.

Tristen - "Athena"

If you've been as into the music of Tristen as we have, you're going to absolutely love her latest single. "Athena" fits right in with Tristen's more recent musical releases. It falls into the indie pop category with just enough of a country twang to keep things interesting. What "Athena" adds in is some serious rock guitar. The entire song is dripping with some shoegazey reverb, but it's when the guitar kicks in for the chorus that it really takes off. It's a sound we haven't heard previously from Tristen, but it goes along perfectly with what we love from her.

In an email to fans, Tristen says of the new song:

"What messages lie within these myths for women? For how long have female characters been sculpted by the hands of men? In 'Athena,' co-written by Lera Lynn, I pounded out a major chord grunge song dedicated to the powerful Greek goddess of war, strategy, and men’s domains. I wanted to write a song for the girls--the Athenas--out there who are so often misunderstood. We worship Aphrodite over and over again--woman as sexual being, judged for her beauty, maneuvering with her seduction--but we rarely worship women who are powerful through their logic, wisdom and courage. These women are utilized but underrepresented. You know, nobody likes a bossy baby. Yet this archetype has been with us forever, and Athenas roam the Earth as mothers, friends and lovers, saving us time and time again."

You can watch the video for "Athena" below. Aquatic Flowers is due out June 4 on Mama Bird Recording Co. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Tristen, check out the artist's website.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "The Killing of Georgie (Pt. III)"

Photo via Facebook

It's been interesting seeing the reaction of Bosstones fans to the band's new singles. The first two ("The Final Parade" and "I Don't Believe in Anything") have been fairly divisive, with fans either loving or hating the songs. For the record, personally I loved "The Final Parade" but didn't really care for "I Don't Believe in Anything," and I've seen others declare the exact opposite. For their latest single, "The Killing of Georgie (Pt. III)," fans seem to be united in appreciation for the song. It seems to be making even the crankier, older fans happy, which is interesting since it's definitely a more mellow, less raucous song than their early material. Maybe it's just that "The Killing of Georgie (Pt. III)" seems to embody the spirit of the early ska-core favorites, just an older, more mellow, middle aged version. Which pretty much describes us all at this point. Plus, it's hard to judge recorded music from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. They've always been a live band with albums that are more like souvenirs of the shows, so we'll see how all these songs are at a show... someday.

You can listen to "The Killing of Georgie (Pt. III)" below. When God Was Great is due out May 7 on Hellcat Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, check out the band's website.

Bill and the Belles - "Blue So Blue"

Traditionally, divorce albums aren't happy. The songs on the new album from Bill and the Belles are about Kris Truelsen's divorce. And they are sad songs. But, judging by "Blue So Blue," this isn't going to be a mopey album by any standard. Sure, "Blue So Blue" is called "Blue So Blue," and it's a song about being blue, but there is a certain tongue in cheek and irony with the song. It's an old timey folk song that throws way back to the first half of the 1900s, but with a modern sense of humor. It's a fun sad song, which are my favorite kind. It's like how The Smiths were sad, but with a sense of humor, only done as old timey folk.

You can listen to "Blue So Blue" below. Happy Again is due out May 21 on Ditty Boom Records. You can pre-order a copy via Bandcamp. For more on Bill and the Belles, check out the band's website.

Nicole Atkins & Marissa Nadler Cover The Fleetwoods

How familiar am I with The Fleetwoods? I had assumed it was a shorthand for Fleetwood Mac. Turns out The Fleetwoods were a late 50's/60's vocal/doo wop group. Their song "Mr. Blue" has been covered by the pairing of Nicole Atkins and Marissa Nadler. The pairing of Atkins and Nadler is perfect for a 60's doo wop song. Atkins has a more pop sound while Nadler's ethereal folk-ish music combines naturally for a song like "Mr. Blue." This new cover isn't a note for note perfect version of The Fleetwoods' original, but it's as close as you're going to get while updating the song for 2021. It's a gorgeous cover that is going to send you diving into the catalogs of Nicole Atkins, Marissa Nadler, and The Fleetwoods.

You can listen to Nicole Atkins and Marissa Nadler covering "Mr. Blue" below. Right now it's available as a single via Nadler's Bandcamp, but we can't help but hope this is the start of a larger collaboration. For more on Nicole Atkins, check out the artist's website. For Marissa Nadler, more information can be found here.

The Mistons - "World of Convenience"

Portland, OR's The Mistons make loud music. Their latest single, "World of Convenience," is going to sound familiar to us old fogeys. It's definitively post-punk, but it's the kind of heavy rock based post-punk. It's more Mission of Burma and Rites of Spring than Gang of Four. In a press release, they refer to their sound as "old timey," so now you feel roughly one hundred years old. It's truly this amped up and intense version of music that has been an underground favorite for decades, but now filtered through a filter by the younguns. The most shocking this about The Mistons are they are a duo making this much noise. 

You can listen to "World of Convenience" below. World of Convenience, the album, is due out May 21. You can pre-order a copy over at Bandcamp. For more on The Mistons, check them out on Facebook.