Vessels is a UK-based post-rock outfit whose new LP, Helioscope, can be found on Cuckundoo Records. “The Trap”, enclosed below for sampling purposes, treats the listener to sonic soundscapes with rapid, potent percussion and spacey guitars that find a comfortable compromise somewhere between Mogwai and Battles. Read More »Vessels [Feature]
The Coathangers know how to craft a mighty infectious hook, be it strummed wildly on a gritty, grungy guitar or screamed near illegibly into a microphone. “Hurricane”, the first track off the band’s forthcoming LP Larceny & Old Lace, is a perfect example of this mastery. Let’s face it – a song like this proves that The Coathangers know how to have a good time. A song like this is precisely what you’d want to hear live at a party. A party with lots of beer and lots of cool people. These girls know it, and they enjoy giving you want you want. Read More »The Coathangers: Hurricane [mp3]
Hunx And His Punx clashes the 50s style girl group doo-wop pop with punk rock in the first song off their recent LP, Too Young To Be In Love. “Lovers Lane” is definitely influenced by classic teenage tragedy songs like Jan And Dean’s “Dead Man’s Curve” and Wayne Cochran’s “Last Kiss” and even The Shangri-Las “Leader Of The Pack”. Read More »Hunx And His Punks: Lovers Lane [mp3]
German Error Message is a lo-fi experimental folk band fronted by Paul Kintzing. Though the band has been around since 2004, it wasn’t until more recently that they’ve started releasing music. And with their self-titled EP in 2008, the flood gates opened. The subsequent debut LP, To Carry Alongside, was released in early 2010, followed by a January 2011 release of and EP called SPPLIT and a February 2011 release of After The Warmth.
Read More »German Error Message [Feature]
As wintertime gives way to the warmer days of spring and summer I find myself craving music reflective of the change of seasons. I want to hear upbeat, energetic, light-hearted songs. Thankfully there’s the music of Garret Jones. Working under the moniker of Mister Suit, Jones creates music that just exudes sunshine. A little bit retro and deliciously uncomplicated, Mister Suit’s tracks are the perfect pick-me up. Read More »Mister Suit [Feature]
One part a spoken whisper, another a harmonically sung tune, Howe Gelb‘s vocals are near mystical in their folk simplicity. These are vocals that, despite their light playful nature, can send chills down your arms. And, being a master of his trade, Gelb backs his voice with expert performers and well-crafted lyrics. “4 Door Maverick” could be a country song for all it’s talk of the 70’s Ford, but it ends up a flamenco-influenced folk song courtesy a troupe of gypsies. Read More »Howe Gelb: 4 Door Maverick [mp3]
“Shredder” lives up to its name, but I honestly wouldn’t expect anything less from Jeff the Brotherhood. The band exudes the shred mentality with wild infectious guitar riffs epic in their near simple, slushy nature backed by heavily beat drums. And they take it to the next level with the inclusion of keyboards. “Shredder” matches the personality of everything off 2009’s Heavy Days, an album that came in at #10 on my year end list.
Read More »Jeff The Brotherhood: Shredder [mp3] I really fell in love with the weirdness behind Chad VanGaalen‘s last album, Soft Airplane. Many songs had strange electronic… Read More »Chad VanGaalen: Sara [mp3]
The HHBTM team has sent me two lovely little packages in the past few months, the second of which arrived just last week. I figured it was high time to give them coverage… in list form! HHBTM, if you’re not familiar with the label, is short from Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records, and they’ve released several favorites over the years; bands like Patience Please, Fishboy, The Superions, Bunnygrunt, Casper And The Cookies, Velcro Stars and Eux Autres. Their singles club even includes the likes of Apples in Stereo and Of Montreal. Not to mention, the crew plays a major part in Athens Popfest. Read More »Six new Singles by HHBTM
In the fall of 2009, Seattle punk band Virgin Islands gave us their debut EP after only a short time of existence. That EP, despite only containing four tracks, demonstrated the type of skill and songwriting prowess one could expect from a seasoned band with years under their belt. So it’s with great anticipation that we receive “No Doctor”, a track off Virgin Islands’ new album Ernie Chambers Vs. God. Read More »Virgin Islands: No Doctor [mp3]
