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Doug Tuttle

Sometimes life and the drama that comes with it can twist you up into a giant mess that seems impossible to unravel. Then, out of the blue, something great will come along and completely change your attitude. That something for me is Doug Tuttle’s recently released, debut, self-titled LP. Tuttle’s use of shimmering, jangly guitars, bits of what sounds to me like organ, crashing cymbals along with his slow as cold molasses vocals combine to make an album of songs that will help you forget your troubles for at least the thirty-seven minutes it takes to get from start to finish. Doug Tuttle’s LP is out now on Trouble In Mind. I highly recommend it.

Doug Tuttle – With Us Soon from S/T (2014)

Doug Tuttle

Trouble In Mind

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Ruined Fortune

Ruined Fortune | Ruined Fortune | 3hive.com
Ruined Fortune | Ruined Fortune | 3hive.com

Ruined Fortune is the duo of Angela Garrick and Australia’s Nic Warnock. Both have played in several other projects, including Southern Comfort, Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys and Model Citizen to name a few.

Their heavy, thick-sludge version of rock ‘n’ roll is right up my alley. Check out the bottom-heavy chug of “In A Hole” below, it’s one of the standout songs on the album. Their debut self-titled LP is out now on Hozac Records. Get yourself a copy today. Enjoy.

Ruined Fortune – In A Hole from S/T (2014)

Ruined Fortune

Hozac

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Travel Check

Travel Check is a four-piece garage rock band out of Paris, France. I stumbled across their Bandcamp page while searching for something new to listen to. Their fuzzy vocals and guitars along with driving beats are quite intoxicating, and grabbed my attention immediately. Check out “La Gravière” (below) to hear their fuzzed-out goodness for yourself.

They just released their newest 7 inch 66$ with Howlin’ Banana Records and on their Bandcamp page. I highly recommend it.

Travel Check – La Gravière from 66$ (2014)

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Morgan Delt

Shimmery guitars, wacky background noises and reverb for days are just some of the elements that make California native Morgan Delt’s self-titled debut LP a psychedelic masterpiece. Delt cites artists like The Byrds and Love, along with Curtis Boettcher and West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band as influences and he wears those influences proudly on his sleeve throughout his new album.

“Obstacle Eyes” (below) is just a taste of the goodness contained in this release. It’s sunniness is sure to break you out of your winter funk. Morgan’s new album comes out  January 28 on Trouble In Mind Records. Enjoy.

Morgan Delt – Obstacle Eyes from S/T (2014)

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Vertical Scratchers

Vertical Scratchers is the Los Angeles duo of John Schmersal (ex-Brainiac/Enon, live Caribou, and Crooks on Tape) and Christian Beaulieu (ex-Triclops!/Anywhere). Their excellent debut LP Daughter of Everything is 15 songs, all under 3 minutes, of frantic, yet light and jangly guitar playing alongside a grooved-out, driving rhythm section.

Schmersal’s voice matches up well with his guitar playing, while Beaulieu’s drums drive the songs on both “Turn Me Out” and “These Plains” (below). Daughter of Everything releases February 25 on Merge Records. I highly recommend it.

Vertical Scratchers – Turn Me Out from Daughter of Everything (2014)

Vertical Scratchers – These Plains from Daughter of Everything (2014)

Merge Records

Vertical Scratchers

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Wooden Shjips

After relocating to Portland, Oregon from San Francisco, Wooden Shjips are back with their newest release Back To Land with Thrill Jockey Records. Check out the mesmerizing, fuzzy, keyboard/guitar driven, psych’d-out title track below. It’s 5 minutes of head-nodding goodness.

Back To Land is a solid release and is quickly rising up my favorite albums of 2013. I highly recommend it. You can get the album in whichever format suits you from Thrill Jockey.

Wooden Shjips – Back To Land from Back To Land (2013)

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November Mixtape

Here are 15 tracks that are sure to meet your fancy. Featuring hits from Monster Rally, The Chemical Brothers, Black Lips, The Hold Steady, Pixies, La Luz, Bill Callahan, First Base, The Limiñanas, The Velvet Underground, Epicycle, Troubadour Dali, The Undertones and Elvis Perkins In Dearland. Enjoy.

November ’13 from simco1974 on 8tracks Radio.

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La Luz

Lo-fi + surf guitar + 4 part harmonies + a bit of fuzz = Seattle’s La Luz. After putting out a single and an EP, La Luz have released their debut LP, It’s Alive on Hardly Art. Have a listen to the super cool “Big Big Blood” and “Pink Slime” below, they are sure to warm your bones during the upcoming winter months. It’s Alive is available now on Hardly Art’s site.

On a sad note, La Luz were just in a really bad accident, here is what Hardly Art has to say about it… “While on their way back to Seattle to play a sold out Neumos date, the members of La Luz were in a severe van accident that resulted in ruined gear, personal injuries, merch loss, and a totaled van. For anyone interested in making a donation to help the band get back on their feet, please click here or use the donation button below.”

Buy their new LP, you won’t regret it. If you can, send a little money their way, I’m sure they can use all the help they can get.

La Luz – Big Big Blood from It’s Alive (2013)

La Luz – Pink Slime from It’s Alive (2013)

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First Base

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)

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Drunk Tigers

With influences like The Replacements attached firmly to their sleeves, Virginia’s Drunk Tigers pound out three solid songs on their new cassette EP, out now on Funny / Not Funny Records. Opening track “Taillights” (below) is packed with power chords and pounding drums, and is the standout song on this short but sweet release. Hopefully there will be a full length release soon. You can get yourself a copy directly from Drunk Tigers’ Bandcamp page or on cassette (highly recommended) from Funny / Not Funny. Enjoy.

Drunk Tigers – Taillights from S/T (2013)