Sharing the sharing.
If grimey, head bobbing, butt shaking, garage rock similar to bands like Black Lips, The Oblivians and Thee Oh Sees is your thing, meet your new favorite band (and mine) The Omecs. Check out the speedy, sludgefest “Infrared” (below) for a taste.
Their self-titled cassette is available from King Pizza Records. It’s been on constant repeat since it arrived in my mailbox. You can also get your hands on this release digitally from The Omecs Bandcamp page.
The Omecs – Infrared from The Omecs (2014)
Our mantra here has always been “sharing the sharing”, which is why you don’t see many Soundcloud, Bandcamp, etc. streams posted here without an MP3 to download. That said, The Courtneys new single “Mars Attacks” is too good not to post. Rules be damned!
The Courtneys are a lo-fi, garage-pop meets slacker-rock three piece out of Vancouver, British Columbia. If you hurry you can snag this 7″ from Hockey Dad Records before they are history. If vinyl is not your thing you can get the digital version from The Courtneys Bandcamp page.
I can’t help but think of The Velvet Underground during the opening seconds of “Ten Street” (below), one of Ultimate Painting’s ten standout tracks from their debut self-titled release. The VU-esque noodly guitar and head-bopping bass line throughout, combined with a fuzzed-out guitar solo at the end, really make this song shine.
Don’t miss out on this release, Jack Cooper and James Hoare (Veronica Falls) have created one of the sneakiest best albums of the year. Ultimate Painting comes out on October 28 and is available for preorder now through Trouble In Mind.
Ultimate Painting – Ten Street from Ultimate Painting (2014)
I’m a huge fan of the early 90’s grunge music/Seattle scene. Bands like Mother Love Bone, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Skin Yard, Nirvana and Screaming Trees where my life through the end of high school and my early adult life. So when Cancers’ debut, Fatten The Leeches, showed up in the inbox and I read that the album was produced by the Godfather of grunge himself, Jack Endino, I had to check them out.
Cancers left nothing to be desired. Pounding drums, crunchy guitars and dreamy vocals. All the things that I love about grunge music. They get a damn big sound for just two people, check out “Moral Net” below for an example. When I listen to these guys it’s like I’m back in 1993 cruising to work in my P.O.S. Hyundai Excel with Skin Yard’s “1,000 Smiling Knuckles” up so loud it’s distorting the speakers.
Fatten The Leeches is available now on vinyl from Dead Broke Rekerds or digitally from Cancers’ own label Kandy Kane Records. Enjoy.
Cancers – Moral Net from Fatten The Leeches (2014)
Portland, Oregon’s Lubec is one of the the reasons I love writing for this site. There is nothing better than opening an email and having a gem (like their debut release THE THRALL) staring me in the face, daring me to click play. In this instance I am so glad that I did.
Lubec’s fuzzy, lo-fi, shoegaze meets garage-pop brand of music mixed with three-part vocal harmonies was instantly captivating and has been in heavy rotation since my first listen. Check out album opener “Almost Vince” (below) for a taste. THE THRALL is available now on cassette from Like Young Records and available digitally on Lubec’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.
Lubec – Almost Vince from THE THRALL (2014)
Philadelphia trio Purling Hiss’ new album Weirdon is 11 tracks of fuzz drenched, poppy goodness. Check out toe tapper “Learning Slowly” (below) for a taste of the goodness.
Weirdon is available now from Drag City. You should buy it.
Purling Hiss – Learning Slowly from Weirdon (2014)
Canada’s Alvvays (pronounced “Always”) bring a fuzzy, sugar-coated brand of indie pop that is almost impossible to stop consuming.
My favorite track from their self-titled debut (and one of my favorite tracks of the year) “Archie, Marry Me” (below) is a perfect example of their sweetness. I obsess over this song almost as much as Sean obsesses over Veronica Falls.
Alvvays self-titled LP is available now from Polyvinyl. I highly recommend it.
Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me from S/T (2014)
Detroit 4-piece Protomartyr’s sophomore release, Under Color of Official Right, and first with Hardly Art is an indie rock meets punk rock meets post punk hybrid of stabbing, angular guitars and bludgeoning drums. 14 tracks blasted through in 34 minutes definitely leaves you wanting for more.
I slept on this release for months. Don’t make the same mistake as I did, check these guys out now!
Protomartyr – Scum, Rise! from Under Color of Official Right (2014)
Protomartyr – Come & See from Under Color of Official Right (2014)
Ladada is the solo project of Virginia Beach native Josiah Schlater. By combining everyday sounds like eggs sizzling and water dripping with live instruments, Schlater has created a warm lo-fi experience that’s tough to beat. Ladada’s self-titled debut EP is out now on Gold Robot Records and available from Ladada’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.
Ladada – Comets from S/T EP (2014)
Wand’s debut release, Ganglion Reef, is right up my alley. It’s fuzzed-out vocals and guitars, pounding drums, crashing cymbals and grimey synths throughout hit me right where it counts. Joining up with Ty Segall’s Drag City imprint GOD? is a match made in heaven and I can’t think of anyone more fitting to put this record out. Check out “Flying Golem” below then head over to Drag City and snag yourself a copy. Enjoy.
Wand – Flying Golem from Ganglion Reef (2014)