Sharing the sharing.
With 12 songs in roughly 26 minutes, songs about girls and more songs about girls, Toronto’s First Base are a pop punk band in every way. After releasing several singles and EPs over the past few years, First Base has finally released their debut self-titled LP with Hozac Records. Check out “You Can Come Over” (below), it’s pure teeth rotting candy for your ears. Snag yourself a copy now. Enjoy.
First Base – You Can Come Over from S/T (2013)
L’anarchiste is one of Salt Lake City’s best bands going right now. What started as a solo project of Rob LeCheminant, has grown into a six-piece multi-instrumental juggernaut. Their new EP, The Traveler, has a bit of everything, from driving rhythms and hand claps, to slow, dark, heavy jams. Check out the slow-build-before-eruption track “Juneau” (below), I guarantee you will dig it. The Traveler is available to stream in full and buy from L’anarchiste’s Bandcamp page. I highly recommend it.
L’anarchiste – Juneau from The Traveler (2013)
I’m comfortable enough with my lack of indie cred to admit that I had no idea who Superchunk was during their heyday in the 90’s. It wasn’t until the early 00’s that I heard them for the first time. I have been a huge fan ever since.
I Hate Music, Superchunk’s tenth full length album over their illustrious 20 year career, releases Tuesday on Merge Records. It’s an excellent album, sure to please the longtime fan and grab a hold of those who are new to their music. Check out “Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” (below) it’s a 2 minute, high-energy, power pop ride that ends way too soon. It’s classic Superchunk and you will like it.
Superchunk – Me & You & Jackie Mittoo from I hate Music (2013)
The Melodic, a 4 piece, folk-pop band out of South London recently released their debut EP, On My Way, with Anti. Using instruments like the Charango, Melodica and Kora (most of which I have never of heard of ), The Melodic have created a fresh new addition to the folk genre. Title track “On My Way”, is instantly captivating from it’s very first notes. The music has a happy melody, sure to cure even the sourest of moods. The boy/girl vocals are fantastic, light and airy. It’s one of my favorite songs right now. Check it out below.
The Melodic – On My Way (radio edit) from On My Way (2013)
I’ve been a huge fan of San Diego’s TV Girl ever since I stumbled upon their self-titled EP on their Bandcamp page back in 2010. Their blend of electo-indie-tropical-surf-lo-fi pop music is very addictive, like eating potato chips, you can’t just listen to one song.
They are realeasing their new EP Lonely Women today. It’s so damn good. It’s been on repeat almost non-stop since they sent it to me. You can sample their coolness below on “She Smokes In Bed”. The driving beat of this song is sure to get your head bobbing up and down. You can buy the new EP digitally or on cassette at their Bandcamp page, I suggest that you do, it may become your favorite release of the summer. Enjoy!
TV Girl – She Smokes In Bed from Lonely Women EP (2013)
Dungeonesse is the electro-pop side project of Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak and John Ehrens of White Life. While the music is a night and day difference from Wye Oak, Wasner’s unmistakable voice is as strong as ever. Their self-titled debut with Secretly Canadian came out in May. It’s a definite summertime album, perfect for cruising around town with the windows down, and the volume cranked up. Check out the slow-jam vibe of “Nightlight” followed by the more up-beat “Shucks” below, you’ll be glad that you did.
Dungeonesse – Nightlight from Dungeonesse (2013)
Dungeonesse – Shucks from Dungeonesse (2013)
Halifax, Nova Scotia musician Samuel Hill has been recording music as The Everywheres since 2012. The music is a warm, shimmery, swirling guitar filled, psych-pop album with just the right amount of fuzz, reverb and as Father/Daughter describes, “peyote induced tambourines”. Check out opening track, “Unfortunate Direction” (below), to see what I mean.
The Everywheres self titled debut will be released through Father/Daughter Records on June 25. It’s a must have.
The Everywheres – Unfortunate Direction from The Everywheres (2013)
Los Angeles quintet Young Hunting spent two years traveling all over California, recording their debut LP Hazel in various garages, living rooms, Joshua Tree, even inside a ranger’s station. The hard work and time spent has really paid off. Hazel is a laid back, reverb soaked, pop album. It’s the perfect album to play while kicking back on the porch sipping your favorite beverage. Check out “Maze” and “Baby’s First Steps” below, you’ll be glad that you did. Hazel will be released June 4th on Gold Robot Records. Snag yourself a copy on vinyl while you can. Enjoy.
Young Hunting – Maze from Hazel (2013)
Young Hunting – Baby’s First Steps from Hazel (2013)
Mikal Cronin is back with MCII, his second album and first with Merge Records, out on May 7. It’s killer harmonies, fuzzy, shimmery guitar tones, piano, viola, violin and even slide guitar, all add up together to destroy the sophomore slump jinx that plagues so many musicians and bands. “Weight” (below) is my favorite song on the album. It starts off with a delicate piano intro, which is quickly buried by layers of pounding drums and shimmery/scuzzy guitars. “Shout It Out” (also below) starts out with some noodling guitar, which builds into a frenzy during the first chorus and never lets off from there. Do not sleep on this album, it will blow your mind. Download the songs below, load them onto your favorite listening device, crank them up and enjoy. This is the album of the summer.
Mikal Cronin – Weight from MCII (2013)
Mikal Cronin – Shout It Out from MCII (2013)
It’s been pretty cold where I live. Mother Nature has been teasing us with hints of spring for the past few weeks. Giving us a warm day followed by a week of cold days. The forecast looks to be in our favor, finally, with consistent warm days coming up in the forecast. The warm, almost tropical sounds of Cayucas debut album, Bigfoot, has been the perfect soundtrack to get me through these cold days. Check out the driving beat, shimmery guitars and Zach Yudin’s echoed vocals on, opening track, “Cayucos” (below), It’s the perfect song for that summer mix tape, and is just a taste of Bigfoot‘s awesomeness. Be sure to snag Bigfoot on April 30, from Secretly Canadian.
Cayucas – Cayucos from Bigfoot (2013)