Posted on

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)

Posted on

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)

Posted on

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

Posted on

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)

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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)

Posted on

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)

Posted on

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)

Posted on

Dim Peaks

Dim Peaks is a four-piece band out of California. They play a smooth, quiet style of indie rock that is instantly captivating. Check out “Reason” (below), the combination of Niilo Smeds dry vocals and the tinny sounds coming from his guitar, make the song one of the standout tracks on the album.

They recently released their new LP, Time of Joy, with Gold Robot Records. You can buy it at Dim Peaks’ Bandcamp page or get it on vinyl from Gold Robot, either way you need this album in your collection. Enjoy.

Dim Peaks – Reason from Time of Joy (2013)

Posted on

Bent Shapes

Bent Shapes | Feels Weird | 3hive.com

Bent Shapes | Feels Weird | 3hive.com

Bent Shapes are a three-piece band out of Boston. They pound out a great mix of fuzzy meets jangly garage rock that’s sure to get you bouncing in your seat. They recently released their debut LP Feels Weird with Father / Daughter Records. Check out the noodly guitars, driving beat and vocal delivery of “Behead Yrself, Pt 2” (below), it will blow your mind! It’s one of my favorite songs right now, I can’t get enough of it.

You can snag yourself a copy of Feels Weird from Father / Daughter or from Bent Shapes’ Bandcamp page. Be sure to check them out on tour in a city near you as well.

Bent Shapes – Behead Yrself Pt. 2 from Feels Weird (2013)