Friday, September 15, 2023

Maple Glider - "Two Years"

Photo by Bridgette Winten

Maple Glider, aka Australia's Tori Zietsch, continues to release mesmerizing singles ahead of her album release. The latest is "Two Years," which is the most pop leaning song we've heard from her so far. "Two Years" is the kind of song that slowly morphs tempo and style. Most songs build to a larger sound as they go on, but Maple Glider takes the opposite approach with this one. It starts off as a mid-tempo folk-pop song and ever so slowly the song seems to strip itself apart until it is just bare bones and mostly folk. Instead of getting more intense by getting louder, "Two Years" uses it's quiet to get more intense.

Tori Zietsch says of her new single:

“I remember having the need to write this song at the moment I was experiencing these uncertain feelings, but being unable to do so in private. This was a time of life where I got swept up into the clouds, and didn’t feel the ground for a long time. Even listening to the song now I can feel the self-doubt in my lyrics, the indecision in the music, the attempt to find the sweetness amongst what was ultimately an incredibly claustrophobic experience.”

You can listen to "Two Years" below. I Get Into Trouble is due out October 13 via Partisan Records. For more on Maple Glider, check out the artist's website.

downtalker - "All My Friends Are Dead"

Photo by Alexa Noe

We're not so big that we have to bring you any music we don't want to. If we're writing about something, it's because we genuinely like it and we want to spread it to as many people as possible. Sometimes something comes to our attention that we're a little extra excited about, and currently that band is downtalker.

downtalker are a Boston band that's described as "post-punk disco." If you can imagine that, you can pretty much sum up their new single "All My Friends Are Dead." The song is just perfectly cool, and has all of the angst of post-punk with the fun of disco. You know the kind of song you could either mosh or dance to? This is one of those songs. (Well, maybe not mosh in 2023, but in the 90's this would inspire moshing.) downtalker are going to be a band you'll want to keep an eye on, because they have a ridiculous amount of potential.

Darin Thompson (lead vocals, synth, bass, guitar) says of the new single, which is about his seven years of sobriety:

"Music is part of my recovery and part of my healing now and I'm hoping that by being honest about my life, all my experiences will shine a light on this disease and also make others feel like they are not alone. We aren't alone. We have each other."

You can listen to "All My Friends Are Dead" below. The song is available as a single via Iodine Recordings. For more on downtalker, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook. They'll be making their live debut on September 22 opening for Fiddlehead at Royale.

Will Butler + Sister Squares - "Stop Talking"

Photo by Alexa Viscius

Will Butler's latest musical project is going by the name Will Butler + Sister Squares, and it's one of the more fascinating projects we've heard in a while. Their latest single, "Stop Talking," has a little bit of the indie sleaze thing going for it, just minus the sleaze. It's a clean and smooth sounding dance track even if it's a little too mellow for much dancing, and it has a Pulp meets David Bowie vibe (which is never a bad thing) with some Polyphonic Spree thrown in. It's an organic blend of dance music that stays rooted to rock music despite being very pop adjacent.

Will Butler says of the new single:

“This is one of the ‘dream songs’ on the record. Emotion in dreams; dreams in reality; tired and confused. ‘Stop talking; there’s nothing to say’; not sure if it functions as a dismissal ‘Stop!’, or as a sign of love ‘You don’t have to say it; I already know’; I think, like a lot of communication between people who love each other—a little of both? Like, this song is full of fear; someone expressing fear to their partner, and the partner being like, ‘There’s nothing to fear, and also, shut up, quit being crazy.’ That’s not exactly it, but there’s something of that here.”

You can watch the video for "Stop Talking" below. Will Butler + Sister Squares' self-titled album is due out September 22 on Merge Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on the band, check out Will Butler's Instagram. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


Sat. Sept. 23 - Brooklyn, NY @  Zone OneTue. Oct. 3 - Los Angeles, CA @ ZebulonWed. Oct. 4 - San Francisco, CA @ The IndependentFri. Oct. 6 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi StudiosSat. Oct. 7 - Seattle, WA @ BarbozaSun. Oct. 8 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore CabaretTue. Oct. 17 - Boston, MA @ Deep CutsWed. Oct. 18 - Montreal, QC @ Bar le RitzThu. Oct. 19 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's PalaceFri. Oct. 20 - Detroit, MI @ Loving TouchSat. Oct. 21 - Chicago, IL @ Sleeping VillageSun. Oct. 22 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog ShopTue. Nov. 7 - Riga, LV @ PalladiumFri. Nov. 10 - Berlin, DE @ PrivatclubSun. Nov. 12 - Aarhus, DK @ VoxHallTue. Nov. 14 - Rotterdam, NL @ RotownWed. Nov. 15 - Paris, FR @ CafĂ© de la DanseThu. Nov. 16 - Brussels, BE @ BotaniqueFri. Nov. 17 - London, UK @ ICASat. Nov. 18 - Dublin, IE @ Whelan'sThu. Nov. 30 - Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCAFri. Dec. 1 - Washington, DC @ DC9Sat. Dec. 2 - Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall

L7 - "Cooler Than Mars"

Photo by Robert Fagan

L7, the iconic 90's band that fit and didn't fit in any of the genres of the day (grunge, metal, riot grrrl, punk, alt-rock, etc.) is back with a new single that comes from a completely unexpected place. "Cooler Than Mars" calls for action on climate change, but it's the sound that's surprising. Instead of a punk/metal/grunge song, "Cooler Than Mars" is more of a New Wave or electronic song. It's groovy and chill without sonically punching the listener's teeth in. It's much closer to a bizarro Blondie than we've heard L7 go before, but it still has enough L7 attitude to still sound like them.

Singer/guitarist Donita Sparks says of the new single:

“The song was inspired by the ongoing catastrophic news of climate change, and the strange passions of billionaire space cowboys to explore and exploit the outer limits of our stratosphere. Seems to me such obsessions and resources should be totally focused on healing The Big Blue Marble. I feel like there is nothing “out there” that is as mind-blowing as the biodiversity of what we have here on Earth. Because we’re cooler than Mars, damnit.”

You can watch the video for "Cooler Than Mars" below. The single is available here with a portion of proceeds going to Oceana. For more on L7, check out the band's website. Upcoming tours dates are below the video.


9/16: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

9/17: New York, NY @ Gramercy Hall

9/18: Washington, DC @ Black Cat (Sold Out)

9/21: Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Festival

10/2: Los Angeles, CA @ Venice West (Sold Out)

10/3: San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

10/5: Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival

10/7: Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s

Thursday, September 14, 2023

The Persian Leaps Cover The Smiths

Photo by Rouse Productions

There are a million covers of The Smiths out there, so props to The Persian Leaps for choosing a lesser known song to cover. "Jeane" was originally the B-side to "This Charming Man," and since it might be the closest The Smiths got to power-pop, it might be the perfect song for The Persian Leaps to cover. The Minneapolis band gives it a sheen of fuzzy guitars and makes it sound much more 1994 than 1983. It's more along the lines of bands like Guided By Voices and The Lemonheads than 80's New Wave, but it still sounds enough like The Smiths to make it an obvious cover of theirs.

You can listen to The Persian Leaps take on "Jeane" below. The song is available as a single on Land Ski Records via Bandcamp. For more on The Persian Leaps, check out the band's website.

Big Thief - "Born for Loving You"

Photo by Noah Lenker

There are a lot of bands doing the indie rock meets Americana thing these days, but no one nails it quite like Big Thief. The band just released a new single that is the pinnacle of the genre. "Born for Loving You" is a cheery and breezy song that lands right in between indie rock and folk. Buck Meek's trademark guitar gives the song the perfect level of fuzzy twang, and the song is perfect for both holding onto the last days of summer and welcoming fall. The song just sounds like a hug can feel, and if you can't get into "Born for Loving You," you may need to check to see if you have a soul.

You can listen to "Born for Loving You" below. The song will be the B-side to the "Vampire Empire" 7" due out on October 20 via 4AD, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Big Thief, check out the artist's website.

FEEP - "Salem"


When a band takes their name from a 1960's horror host, you kind of expect them to release at least one Halloween song. Boston's FEEP have delivered with "Salem." Their latest single is a groovy and spacey garage rock song. It's that kind of song that sounds like a vintage 1960's garage rock song, and even has that novelty horror vibe to it, but with a modern indie rock thing going on. It's filled with fuzzed out guitars and hypnotic keys, and is just a fun song to listen to. 

You can listen to "Salem" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp. For more on FEEP, check out the band's website.

Eli Paperboy Reed Covers Steely Dan


Steely Dan is in a bit of a resurgence lately. I can't say I've ever gotten the whole Steely Dan thing, but I do love when Eli Paperboy Reed turns a non-soul/R&B song into his own style, and that's what he's done with "Do It Again." The jazz rock classic is reworked as a classic soul song, which is what Reed has always done best. Steely Dan fans may enjoy this as a curiosity, but fans of Reed's and neo-soul in general are going to love this as just a killer soul song. That's one of Reed's superpowers: He can take a song you've never liked and turn it into gold.

Eli Paperboy Reed says of the new song:

"Sometimes it pays when things don’t work out. From time to time, I get asked to do things for movies, television and commercials. In this instance, I was asked to put my spin on Steely Dan’s 'Do It Again.' My concept (inspired by the sounds of my friend Nick Waterhouse), came fast. I took my Brooklyn crew into my favorite all-analog studio at the time, Stockholm Street Sound and we got to work. The powers that be, however, didn’t like it. I knew, however, that my friend, the legendary Soul DJ of WFMU’s Downtown Soulville, Mr. Finewine, would love it. What I didn’t know was that he would love it so much as to put it out on a 45, a 45 which sold out almost immediately!"

You can listen to Eli Paperboy Reed's take on "Do It Again" below. Hits and Misses: The Singles is due out October 20 on Yep Roc Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Eli Paperboy Reed, check out the artist's website.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Little Billy Lost - "Dance Angelina Dance"

Photo by Michael Naimo

One thing Boston seems to specialize in is garage music, and another is weirdo music. Those two styles slam into each other with the latest from Little Billy Lost. "Dance Angelina Dance" comes so close to just being a straight up classic garage rock song, but Little Billy Lost have their own unique take on the genre. The song is filled with a dark sounding version of glam, odd vocalizations, and hypnotic guitars. It's almost like if Frank Zappa tried to make straight up garage rock and got bored halfway through. At times "Dance Angelina Dance" sounds so much like garage rock prototype that the more unique parts surprise you just a little bit more.

Guitarist and vocalist Fred Pineau says of the new single:

“The song is a simple lyrical celebration of the experience we’ve all had of sitting in a bar, at a wedding reception, or some other gathering place and seeing someone walk into the room who immediately captivates us. It’s a simple exploration of one’s imagination projecting an image of a relationship forming in realistic and fantastical ways.”

You can watch the video for "Dance Angelina Dance" below. The single is available now via Code 213 Records. For more on Little Billy Lost, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook.

Dream Wife - "Love You More"

Photo by Sophie Webster

Dream Wife released the excellent Social Lubrication earlier this year, and have just released an unreleased song that didn't make the cut. (Considering we used to pay $10-$20 for these songs on imported CD singles, getting a streaming version is pretty sweet.) "Love You More" was inspired by bands like Pixies and Hole, and it definitely sounds like those inspirations. In particular, the drums are giving me some major Pixies vibes, as is the spacey feeling in the guitar. It's definitely more on the pop and New Wave side of those bands, like Trompe le Monde meets "Malibu" era Hole. It's a solid song that's an unexpected present from the London based band!

Dream Wife say of their new song:

“'Love You More' is not your typical love song, but a love song to the self and choosing to love perfectly imperfect bodies. It has a gritty underbelly, dealing with self-acceptance, body dysmorphia, disaster capitalism, climate collapse and depression. From the micro to the macro, the song explores the relationship between the self and both the body and the earth as experiences of home, as a vessel for feeling.”

You can listen to "Love You More" below. For more on Dream Wife, check out the band's website. Upcoming UK tour dates are below the song.


October 5th - Manchester, UK @ New Century Hall*October 6th - Birmingham, UK @ Castle & Falcon*October 7th - Bristol, UK @ Strange Brew (Matinee show)*October 7th - Bristol, UK @ Strange Brew*October 8th - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club*October 19th - London, UK @ Electric Brixton*November 4th - Brighton, UK @ Mutations FestivalJanuary 6th - Bognor Regis, UK @ Rockaway BeachFebruary 13th - Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor BachFebruary 14th - Nottingham, UK @ Bodega Social ClubFebruary 15th - Sheffield, UK @ Crookes Social ClubFebruary 16th - Glasgow, UK @ The GarageFebruary 17th - Newcastle, UK @ The Grove* support from Prima Queen & Ash Kenazi