"Switch Over" by Horsegirl

 

We missed out on the first album by Chicago's Horsegirl, but what we have heard from the Chicago trio's upcoming second album Phonetics On and On have got us totally onboard to cover it. The release date if February 14 via Matador Records. Do you want to know why we're excited? Check out "Switch Over" below. There is an appealing VU vibe, but there is so much more going on in their songs.

Two other singles were released previously:  "2468" ; "Julie".

Horsegirl are Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece.

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Bandcamp Phonetics On and On

Various links for Horsegirl and the album

X (if you must ...)

"jamcod" by The Jesus And Mary Chain

 

We are confirmed fans of Glasgow legends The Jesus and Mary Chain, even several times having spent days listening to every song on a B-sides and rarities compilations titled The Power of Negative Thinking. Accordingly, we are quite excited by this week's news that Jim and William Reid will grace 2024 with a new album Glasgow Eyes at the 40th anniversary of their first single.The announcement of the album and the release of its first single, "jamcord", came on November 29 -- the anniversary of the release. We are told to expect classic J&MC chaos, intensity, and clever pop touches, while supplementing to foregoing with additional influences. But rather than engaging in predicting the future, we will just commend "jamcord" to your ears. The track looks back at the band's 1999 breakup while clear eyes and scorching intensity.

Glasgow Eyes will be out February of March of 2024 via Fuzz Club. There also will be a UK and European tour in 2024.

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Bandcamp for Glasgow Eyes

Various links to pre-order Glasgow Eyes

Red Pants - Not Quite There Yet

 

There were some good albums dropping this week, and we will get to as many as we are able in the next few days. Our first pick is the thrilling Not Quite There Yet by Madison, Wisconsin band Red Pants. A duo consisting of Jason Lambeth and Elsa Nekola, the project has had a busy half decade together with two previous full length albums and a few shorter releases. Elsa provides the drums and some vocals; Jason does most of the rest. They make cute videos, sometimes with Jason's daughter in an acting role.

As revealed on Not Quite There Yet, Red Pants has a style but aren't locked into a narrow genre. Their songs are characterized by chugging or droning guitars with a sturdy rhythm high in the mix and some deft hooks. But from that foundation they deliver diverse tunes that can variously call to mind The Bats, Velvet Underground, Sebadoh, Yo La Tengo or Blonde Redhead. Yeah, it is indie rock, but it is good indie rock -- well written, sincerely performed and, moreover, it is intelligent and still sounds fresh. We like this one a lot (but we still probably won't wear red pants).

Not Quite There Yet is out now in digital and vinyl formats via Meritorio Records.

Jason's Twitter

Jason's Website

Elsa's Website

Bandcamp for Not Quite There Yet

Blue Ocean - Fertile State

 

What's your personal poison? Noise pop? Shoegaze? Jangle? Post punk? One or more of the foregoing? May we humbly suggest that you can get all of that, as well as memorable melodies and a full load of energy on Fertile State, the debut album from Oakland, California's Blue Ocean. The tracks are distinctly drawn but sufficiently varied that the band is hard to pigeonhole. For our tastes the more aggressive shoegaze/noise pop tracks have the greatest initial appeal. But some of the others, such as "Take A Care", suggest that the band may thrill us mining other musical veins in future releases.

Fertile State is out now in vinyl, CD and digital formats via Slumberland Records.

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Bandcamp for Fertile State

Various relevant links

"Witching Hour" by Red Pants

 

We always are happy to share new music from our Badger State friends Red Pants. The band is Jason Lambeth and Elso Nekola, a duo who put their own twist on the kind of music we all loved from Blonde Redhead and Sonic Youth. The new song is the buzzing pop/rock "Witching Hour" and it is the first single from their upcoming album Not Quite There Yet.

Not Quite There Yet will be released on October 27 via Meritorio Records.

Jason's Twitter

Jason's Website

Elsa's Website

Bandcamp for pre-order of Not Quite There Yet

"Fertile State" by Blue Ocean

 

Oakland, California trio Blue Ocean is capable of ferocious noise and melodic pop, and they deliver both in the same song, creating very satisfying noise pop and shoegaze. They got our attention in 2021 with a collection of EPs released by Paisley Shirt/Dandy Boy. They now are preparing to release their debut album on October 13 via Slumberland Records. Get a week,s worth of energy from the title track: "Fertile State".

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Special Friend - Wait Until The Flames Come Rushing In

 

Paris-based duo Special Friend has a special talent for taking indie rock and morphing it through their own version of noise pop and slowcore. The result on their new album Wait Until The Flames come Rushing In is a tapestry of music that evokes familiar feelings but seems fresh and warm. At times we were reminded of The Pastels and Galaxie 500, and at times of Yo La Tengo. Since we featured the two singles from the album earlier this month (link) we have streamed a few other tracks below, picked to show the variety of the songs on the album. Special Friend is a dynamic band that deserves our ears.

Special Friend is Erica Ashleson and Guillaume Siracusa. Wait Until The Flames come Rushing In is out now via Skep Wax Howlin' Banana Records and Hidden Bay Records.

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"Say Nothing" by Dreamcoaster

 

Well, last week was a tough week and this week will be a slog as well. But we currently are in a good mood after repeated plays of "Say Nothing", the new single by Brighton noise pop duo Dreamcoaster. The song is the title track to the band's next EP, which will be released September 1 via Dreamcoster's own label, Duck Race Recording Co. The guitars, melody and harmonies are right in our sweet spot. But we think pithy descriptions are the best, so our verdict on "Say Nothing" is guitar pop bliss.

Dreamcoaster is Jane and Andrew Craig.

dreamcoaster · Say Nothing

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Bandcamp for single

Bandcamp for EP pre-orders

Soundcloud for single

Spotify for single

"Bete" and "Selkie" by Special Friend

 

Skep Wax, Howlin' Banana Records and Hidden Bay Records are teaming up to bring indie pop fans a special treat in late June. The release is Wait Until The Flames Come Rushing In by Paris-based Special Friend. The album is the band's second, and we expect that it will deliver the noise pop for which the band is becoming known. If you like bands like Galaxie 500 with a touch of Glasgow's Pastels, you are going to love these guys.

The first two singles are out now and we have them below in video and streaming formats. "Bete" is sweetness itself and reminds us of the Pastels. "Selkie" hits our noise pop pleasure receptors perfectly, and who can resist a song take from a Celtic tale of seals that come ashore and transform themselves into seductive humans. We'll swipe right!

Special Friend is a duo consisting of Erica Ashleson and Guillaume Siracusa.

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Bandcamp for album pre-orders

Asta Rangu - ENTRTNMNT

 

We once followed a Dunedin, New Zealand surf pop band named Males. We didn't stop following them because they ceased to please us, we stopped following them because they ceased to exist (while we are capable of repeated pointless acts, even the gang at WYMA has some standards). However, we are happy to learn that Males' helium voiced songwriter, Richard Ley-Hamilton now devotes musical attention to Asta Rangu. And we can follow Asta Rangu because they have just released an album. ENTRTNMNT consists of eight tracks, the titles of which display a similar aversion to vowels. However, the music show no aversion to anything else except boredom. The astute pop sensibilities are evident, but the hooks and melodies ride a wide-scope synth backdrop on which bass and guitar swirl, reaching indie rock crescendos at one point and dream pop bliss in another. The arrangements are unpredictable but invariably interesting, and deliver a plentitude of noise without ever becoming grating. It is an excellent album and marks a band to watch. 

Asta Rangu are Richard Ley-Hamilton, Julie Dunn, Josh Nicholls, and Angu McBryde. ENTRTNMNT is out now in digital, CD, and cassette formats. See the Bandcamp link below.

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Bandcamp for album

Various links for Asta Rangu and the album

Man Behind Tree - 3

 

Man Behind Tree might be viewed as an ominous name for a band, but it only takes a few moments of listening to new album 3 to relax and give yourself to the superb jangle pop and power pop that this quartet creates. Although based in Berlin, sound of Man Behind Tree is classic Teenage Fanclub and west coast US guitar pop. And it is done with flair and style. If you are a jangle fan like us, this is your discovery of the week.

Man Behind Tree are Hans Forster (vocals/guitar), Tobias Suttner (vocals/guitar), Gregor Huttner (drums/vocals), and Graham McCarthy (bass/vocals). 3 is out now in digital, CD and cassette formats via Subjangle and Twaague (cassette). Members of the band also are, or have been, in Seaside Stars, Hanemoon, and Mincer Ray.

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Bandcamp for album

Kids On A Crime Spree - Fall In Love Not In Line

 

Today's words of wisdom are Fall In Love Not In Line. But unlike some advice which is dryly delivered by a humorous old coot, this gem arrives as the title of perhaps the best noise pop album we have heard in many years. With racing tempos, fuzzing & buzzing guitars, ace vocals and the most premium deluxe hooks you can imagine, Oakland trio Kids On A Crime Spree have given everyone a reason to comply with the album title by falling in love with the band and the album. We have given you three examples below. In choosing them we ignored the singles because, well, this album seems like a collection of hit singles anyway.

Kids On A Crime Spree are Mario Hernandez (bass/vocals), Becky Barron (drums), and Bill Evans (guitar). Fall In Love Not In Line is out now in vinyl, CD and digital formats via Slumberland Records.

Bandcamp for album

Slumberland Records page for album

Announcing: Upcoming album by Kids On A Crime Spree

Oakland's Kids On A Crime Spree is one of the best power pop/noise pop bands making music these days. Unfortunately, getting noticed in the biz is a bit difficult. And that is where we come in. We want all our readers -- yes, both of you, pay attention -- to know that the trio will release an LP titled Fall In Love Not In Line on January 21 via Slumberland Records. You don't have to just take our word for the band's quality as we have provided the three tracks from the album released to date below. "Goods Get Got", "All Things Fade", and "When Can I See You Again" are melodic, punchy, concise and warm, and they suggest good things for the album.

Kids On A Crime Spree are Mario Hernandez, Becky Barron, and Bill Evans.

Bandcamp for album

Various links for album

"Keep It Together" by Pip Blom

Wednesdays can be difficult for me. Work is piled up and work days surround me. So I look to an aural shot of energy. Today's choice is aptly named for my situation: "Keep It Together" by Dutch band Pip Blom. With an extra dose of energy and bubblebum served with attitude and a wink, it is just what I needed.

The single is out now, and if you like it you will be happy to learn that it is taken from the band's upcoming album, Welcome Break, which will be out October 8 via Heavenly Recordings.
 

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Bandcamp for "Keep It Together"

Various links for "Keep It Together"

Various links to pre-order Welcome Break

"Bottom Feeders" by Tim Cohen

About two months ago we featured "Rave On" by Time Cohen of The Fresh and Onlys and Magic Trick. Although release date still is five weeks away, we have a new single entitled "Bottom Feeders". A thrilling slice of surfy noise pop, it fuels our Saturday night.

You Are Still Here is Tim Cohen's sixth solo album, and will be released in vinyl and digital formats on March 26 via Bobo Integral.

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Various links for Bottom Feeder

Bandcamp for album

Twitter for The Fresh and Onlys

Bandcamp for The Fresh and Onlys

Bandcamp for Magic Trick

Half Japanese - Crazy Hearts

 

With Crazy Hearts we find Jad Fair's Half Japanese project four decades and nineteen albums into their career. While the band has long been known for their default tendency to create noisy music, they more recently have given more emphasis to pop sensibilities while still living large in the garage rock/psychedelic pop channels. Crazy Hearts is not only a good example of that transition, it is an excellent pop album boasting varied songs, a generous spirit, and a vulnerability that seems more pointed with Jad's talk/sing delivery.

In addition to Jad Fair, Half Japanese is John Sluggett, Giles Vincent Rieder, Mick Hobbs and Jason Willett. Crazy Hearts is out now via Fire Records.

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Bandcamp for Crazy Hearts

Various links for Crazy Hearts

A Certain Smile - Bae EP

Portland, Oregon's A Certain Smile has given us three songs that amply demonstrate why they are a top class fuzz pop band. Bae EP begins with "Cherry Bomb", an aptly-named explosion of sound. The following "Honey Do" continues the hooky, fast-paced melodic rampage, and if the band stopped there, we would still be breathless and love this 7". But A Certain Smile provides a delicious, dialed-down change up with closer "Original Replacement".

Bae EP is out now in digital and vinyl formats via the Portland (formerly Seattle) Jigsaw Records.






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Bandcamp for Bae EP

"Turtleneck" by Elenin

We begin our musical Wednesday with Elenin, a five-piece shoegaze band from Jakarta, Indonesia.  Their chiming guitars and superb melodic sense are on fine display in "Turtleneck", a single released in February via Indonesian label Don't Fade Away Records.

Elenin are Ramadhina Dewi (vocals/synth), Aga Rasyidi (guitar/vocals), Yudistira Abjani (guitar/vocals), Adrian Rinaldi (bass/vocals), and Niko Bimantara (drums).



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Bandcamp for "Turtleneck"
Bandcamp for Don't Fade Away Records

Half Japanese - Invincible

Long running Philadelphia band Half Japanese has dropped their fifth album, and we think it is a good one.  Injecting a good bit more melody and structure into their trademark noise generation machine, Invincible lives up to its name in hinting that Half Japanese can, and should, continue their rock and roll production indefinitely.  Of course, Jad Fair still is Jad Fair, so the lyrical themes include horror movies and romance, all a bit free-wheeling and off kilter to be sure, but that just makes it more entertaining.  A sublime merger of the primitive and pop songcraft -- enjoy!

For Invincible, Half Japanese are Jad Fair, John Sluggett, Gilles-Vincent Rieder, Jason Willett, and Mick Hobbs.  The album is out now in vinyl, CD, and digital formats via Fire Records.








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Bandcamp for Invincible
Fire Records page for Half Japanese

Crabber - Bluesbusters

And now, from Hamburg, we present four-piece Crabber, with their debut LP Bluesbusters.  Providing hooks and jangle, but also offering some scruffy garage vibes and some rocking attitude, this is a set of songs that will erase your just-past-mid-week funk and paint your attitude with a fresh coat of here-comes-the-weekend.  So really, you can look at Bluesbusters as a home improvement product for your mental health.  And around here we are all about mental health -- and improvement -- so long as music and beer are involved.

Crabber are Olli, Uli, Jens, and Peter, and Bluesbusters is out now via Jigsaw Records.





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