One of the most unexpected reunions in recent memory, Boston's favorite choral meets pop/hair/thrash metal favorites Bang Camaro have released a second single off their upcoming album. "We Know You Know" is just a perfect Bang Camaro song. The band have always taken gang vocals to a whole new level, but somehow this one amps it up even more. This one goes back to just before hair metal went fully pop. There is just the slightest edge to "We Know What You Know," perhaps even some dalliance into punk. And, of course, there are some killer 80's style guitar solos showing up. If you've always had a soft spot for bands like Motley Crue and Twisted Sister, and also love choral music, you probably already love Bang Camaro. Even if you don't think this will be your thing, this group has ended up surprising a lot of open-minded music fans.
You can watch the video for "We Know You Know" below. The song will be included on Bang Camaro III which doesn't seem to have a release date. For more on Bang Camaro, check out the band's Facebook.
Molosser Crude are a Swedish duo consisting of Tess on drums and vocals and Jahn on electric guitar. They started off as an acoustic duo called Molosser with down-tuned acoustic guitars. Molosser Crude is an offshoot of that project, but instead of acoustic, this is a hard rocking power duo. Their new single, "Twin Moons," is a blistering stoner/blues rock track recorded live in studio. You're going to hear a lot of other heavy blues duos in this like The White Stipes and Black Keys (early albums only), but Molosser Crude also delve into the heavy stoner rock of bands like Queen of the Stone Age. If you're into any of those bands, you should check out "Twin Moons."
You can watch the live performance video for "Twin Moons" below. The song is available as a single via Bandcamp. For more on Molosser Crude, check out the band's website.
Last month we brought you "Mystic Light" from Cat Clyde. We loved the modern roots meets early rock and roll/doo wop sound and compared it to Pony Hunt and Hurray for the Riff Raff. For Clyde's newest single, she strips down her sound to the bare elements. It's mostly just Clyde's voice and piano with some strings or other instrumentation. Being so bare bones, you would assume it would be a pretty straightforward singer/songwriter or folk song, but "I Feel It" isn't exactly your average straightforward song. While it may be at parts, it meanders into a more alt-folk song throughout with odd instrumentation or what sound like loops popping in here and there. Cat Clyde is becoming an artist we can't wait to hear more from.
You can watch the video for "I Feel It" below. Down Rounder is due out February 17 on Second Prize Records. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Cat Clyde, check out the artist's website.
Hailing from Sweden, The Dahmers don't truly sound like what you'd expect a band called The Dahmers to sound like. The band's latest single, "Black Widow," may have plenty of punk edge to it, but it's a much more glammed up sound than grungy. The band I'm reminded most of is Cheap Trick. The song has that big, huge power pop rock and roll sound you would associate with a 70's rock band like Cheap Trick, but it's filtered through some horror rock vibes and 80's synth rock. It's a weird amalgam of sounds that doesn't end up quite as weird as it sounds like it would be. But, if you like straight up Swedish rock and roll, you're going to get into The Dahmers.
You can listen to "Black Widow" below. Ghouls in the Garage will be released on Spaghetty Town Records and Ghost Highway Recordings later this year. For more on The Dahmers, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.
Fucked Up's upcoming album (the one written and recorded in a twenty four hour period) is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated releases of 2023. The latest single, "I Think I Might Be Weird," shows off what might become the album's sound: It's a more straightforward rock song that may even lean into pop a bit, except for singer Damian Abraham's vocals which are just pure hardcore. This should not work at all, but somehow the abrasiveness of the song fit perfectly with the melodies. There are even vocal harmonies going along in complete opposition to Abraham's vocals. "I Think I Might Be Weird" is this crazy blend of mid 90's mainstream alt-rock mixed with hardcore mixed with modern indie pop, and it's glorious.
Damian Abraham talks about his songwriting process for One Day:
“It almost felt like it might be the last time I’d ever get to record vocals for anything. What do I want to say to friends who aren’t here anymore? What do I want to say to myself? There was a lot of inner reflection going on, and after retreating into the fantasy world with Year of the Horse, this record is like we’re returning to real life.”
You can watch the video for "I Think I Might Be Weird" below. One Day is due out January 27 on Merge Records, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Fucked Up, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Thu. Jan. 26 - Calgary, AB @ Big Winter Classic - Broken City Fri. Jan. 27 - Saskatoon, SK @ Winterruption - Louis’ Sat. Jan. 28 - Edmonton, AB @ Winterruption - Starlite Room Thu. Mar. 9 - Bristol, UK @ The Fleece Fri. Mar. 10 - Exeter, UK @ The Cavern Sat. Mar. 11 - Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach Sun. Mar. 12 - Sheffield, UK @ The Leadmill 2 Mon. Mar. 13 - Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny Tue. Mar. 14 - Glasgow, UK @ Room 2 Wed. Mar. 15 - Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute Thu. Mar. 16 - Nottingham, UK @ Bodega Social Club Fri. Mar. 17 - Brighton, UK @ Patterns Sat. Mar. 18 - London, UK @ Lafayette Thu. Apr. 27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas Fri. Apr. 28 - New York, NY @ Brooklyn Made Sun. Apr. 30 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage Mon. May 1 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom Wed. May 3 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Thu. May 4 - Indianapolis, IN @ Hifi Fri. May 5 - Cincinnati, OH @ Woodward Theater
Cincinatti's Mol Sullivan has been making music for about ten years, but she's about to release her first studio album. The first single, "A Little Hello," is one of the most unique slices of indie pop we've heard in a while. The song is an upbeat indie pop song that is reminding me a lot of Juliana Hatfield (both Sullivan's voice and the way she delivers the phrase "give it a spin"), but a far poppier version. (It's kind of like a hybrid of Juliana Hatfield and newer artists like Lucy Dacus.) As pop as the song may be, Sullivan injects just enough of an indie rock edge into "A Little Hello" to keep it from being too pop for some of us snobbier listeners. There are also the occasional country twang flourishes that give the song an entirely different vibe. This is a fun song that is going to win over a lot of people.
You can watch the video for "A Little Hello" below. A Little Hello, the EP, is due out February 3 on Ruination Record Co. For more on Mol Sullivan, check out the artist's website.
shame are quickly becoming a favorite of ours. We simply can't resist good, heavy post punk, and shame deliver that in excess. The UK band's latest single, "Six-Pack," cranks up the noise and aggression, but also goes heavily psychedelic. This is a loud and extremely fuzzed out song with guitars that sound like they are having a tantrum. "Six-Pack" is a delicious burst of guitar noise punctuated with Charlie Steen's vocals that are just dripping with animosity. If this sounds like your type of thing, it's going to be impossible not to adore this song.
Charlie Steen says of the new song:
“‘Six-Pack’ is essentially the opposite of a Room 101; instead it’s a room where all your wildest desires can come true and will be showered upon you. Be it commodities, self-obsession, foods and B-lister celebrities, it’ll all be there if you want it to. You’ve done time behind bars and now you’re making time in-front of them. It’s time to make up for anything you’ve lost or wasted, it’s time to get it all.”
You can watch the video for "Six-Pack" below. Food for Worms is due out February 24 on Dead Oceans, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on shame, check out the band's Facebook and Twitter. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Fela Kuti is one of those artists I'm embarrassingly unfamiliar with. Ezra Collective might help change a lot of that with their new single, an instrumental cover of Kuti's "Lady." This is a thrilling Afrobeat/jazz track that will be perfect for fans of Ezra Collective and fits right in with their November 2022 album Where I'm Meant to Be. It's the type of high energy that we don't normally associate with jazz, but we really should. Ezra Collective take the bones of the original and inject it with their own energy. It's also the perfect reminder that we need to start getting into Fela Kuti, since we don't have any good excuses not to at this point in our lives.
Bandleader Demi Koleoso says of the cover and original:
"When I was a child my Dad had a collection of Fela Kuti CDs he would play in the car; at the time I didn’t know who what it was, but I always knew it was my favourite music to listen to. Fast forward two decades and nothing’s changed - Fela remains my musical hero and a foundational inspiration for Ezra Collective. From our very first gig we’ve been playing tribute to his music. To now be able to celebrate his legacy on a vinyl is a dream come true. Thank you to Kinetika Bloco for being a part of the horn section. The original remains unbeatable, but I hope this remix makes you dance as well.”
You can listen to Ezra Collective's version of "Lady" below. It will be out physically on yellow 7" vinyl on January 13 with another Fela Kuti cover: "Shakara." Also out on Friday is a reissue of Fela Kuti's album Shakara. For more on Ezra Collective, check out their website.
Last year, Bailey Miller released her debut album, Still Water. While that album took he two years to release, the Cincinnati based artist already has a sophomore album coming out next month. "cul-de-sac," the first single off that album, goes a little more experimental folk than Still Water did. It's more of an organic sound, although it does have the same ambient sound to it. This falls somewhere between a folk festival and the chill out room at a rave, although it does share the same vibe with both. "cul-de-sac" is a beautiful song that shows an artist making her own way with a sound familiar and uniquely hers.
You can listen to "cul-de-sac" below. love is a dying is due out February 10 on White Sepulchre Records. The album can be pre-ordered though Bandcamp. For more on Bailey Miller, check out the artist's Instagram.
Lonney Holley is a musician, writer, and artist out of Birmingham, Alabama. His story alone is worth paying attention to, but the acclaimed creator began making music in 2006, and he has a new record out via Jagjaguar this spring. We are excited to share a pre-release track from this album today, the song "Oh Me, Oh My," featuring backing vocals by former R.E.M. frontman and lyricist Michael Stipe. According to the label:
Oh Me Oh My features both kinetic, shortwave funk that calls to mind Brian Eno’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts and the deep space satellite sounds of Eno’s ambient works. There are also elements of Laurie Anderson’s meditations, elements of Gil Scott-Heron’s profound longform soul, elements of John Lurie’s grabbag jazz, and yes, elements of Sun Ra’s bold afrofuturism. But Oh Me Oh My is a triumphant sonic achievement of its own.
The title track itself, posted below, is haunting while still feeling bright and relevatory. Stipe's vocals set up a foundation for Holley's voice to rest upon and allow his lyrics room to grow and be present. The instrumentation is similarly haunting; while the Eno comparison is more than valid, my mind went to R.E.M.'s Up with the ethereal drone beneath the piano and bass. It's a compelling listen that grew on me on repeat listens, and one that stuck with me long after it was through.
Lonney Holley's new album, Oh Me Oh My, is out on March 10 on Jagjaguar. It's produced by Jackknife Lee (R.E.M., Snow Patrol, Bloc Party), and features contributions from a range of artists including Moor Mother, Bon Iver, and Sharon Van Etten. You can visit Holley's website and check out "Oh Me, Oh My" below.
