We’re really not sure what to make of Phedre’s self-titled debut. Goth, pop, greek mythology and a little hip-hop (seriously) mix in the band’s strange, lo-fi fantasy world. The band describes themselves as “three lovers from Monaco, raised in a cave of gold”, and we believe it. Actually, we’d bet the real story is more bizarre than that, but we’ll leave that to your imagination. For now, dig Phedre’s excellent debut…
Earlier, we featured Phedre’s “In Decay”. Grab it free.
This is cool. Last we heard from Brooklyn sextet White Rabbits, they had this indie rock sound with a strongly rhythmic, almost tribal, edge to it. We liked they’re sound. But we’re impressed with the new, dance-noise direction they’ve taken on “Temporary”, a single from their forthcoming LP, Milk Famous (due March 6). To be honest, we dismissed the song when we noticed it was featured at Rolling Stone, but when we saw that Sterogum had it posted, we decided to give it a spin, and we’re pleased to say we hardly recognized what we heard…
Chattanooga rockers Moonlight Bride have a new EP, Twin Lakes, on the way featuring a noisy-restless edge and indie pop trimmings. It’s noise pop. And we like where it’s headed. You’ll have to wait until February 28th to pick up Twin Lakes, but you can dig the album preview below and stream the EP at the band’s Facebook.
And, for the record, we do like it when bands do pictures where they chop of their heads. Heads, faces or whatnot usually bring bands down a notch until you really get to know them.
There’s a strange, droning geometry at work in Dustin Wong’s odd approach to songwriting. Rather than a series of brush strokes, Wong seems to strategically apply paint to a brush and then drag that brush along along the canvas until the paint runs out. It’s fresh. We’re impressed. And we’re looking forward to hearing the rest of his forthcoming LP, Dreams Say, View, Create, Shadow Leads (due February 21).
Asymetrical, mathematical and high-strung, Jesus Lizard and Melvins echo throughout, Melt Cry Sleep, the latest by Minneapolis prog/punk trio Buildings. Typically, music like this collapses under its own weight and bores us to shit after about 15 minutes, but Buildings’ strategic sense of humor, chemistry and Rube Goldberg approach to songwriting throughout Melt Cry Sleep kept us interested from start to finish. On a totally meaningless, and mostly unimportant note, we’d like to point out how cool it is that Buildings left commas out of the name of this album.
Former White Stripes frontman Jack White is scheduled to release his solo debut, Blunderbuss, on April 24th. But in the meantime, we have the pretty cool “Love Interruption” seven-inch to keep us company. Late last month we heard the very cool A-side…
“Love Interruption” by Jack White
Now we have the decent B-side, “Machine Gun Silhouette”…
Both songs sound like rootsy road blues to us, which is kind of cool. But We’re dialing back our expectations for Blunderbuss at the moment.
No, it’s not fair to compare bands like this. And it’s really not a competition. But the best way to describe Tennis is as a band that The Cults should have been. You like The Cults. But you probably like The Cults because you haven’t heard a band of good (rather than decent) musicians doing dreamy retro pop with more richness and songwriting skill. That should change about… now. Meet Tennis. We’ve been anxiously awaiting this Colorado duo’s Young and Old LP since the (totally rad) “Origins” single was released late last year. As it turns out, Patrick Carney produces. Wait. Black Keys haters. Before you jet, producing Tennis’ Young and Old is one of the coolest things he’s done since Rubber Factory. Stream it here.
For the past few years, Fresh & Onlys guitarist Wymond Miles has been working on zoo material “thematically based on the concepts of eschatology, anthroposophy” and a bunch of other words we don’t understand. But we do like the first single, “Hidden Things Are Asking You To Find Them”, from his debut EP, Earth Has Doors. What’s particularly cool about this track is that it doesn’t immediately sound like a Fresh and Onlys outtake. Miles has taken care to carve out his own, more atmospheric and mystic sound, which we like. Stream it…
Danish chamber pop ensemble Choir of Young Believers are set to followup to their 2008 debut, This Is For the White In Your Eyes, with Rhine Gold (due March 20th). So far we’ve heard “Nye Nummer Et” and “Patricia’s Thirst”. So far we’re mostly impressed. Both songs are a little anxious to be loved, but their complex arrangements, adroit song structure and sticky melodies are hard to dismiss.
Download “Patricia’s Thirst” [Stereogum]
Download “Nye Nummer Et” [Stereogum]
Earlier we posted “Saint Nothing” (stream) from Grizzly Bear guy Daniel Rossen’s forthcoming solo debut, Silent Hour / Golden Mile (due March 19). We were left pretty much speechless (actually, we couldn’t stop gushing over the song… it was embarrassing) by it’s slow-staring, vacant beauty. Now we’ve got a much different, much fuller song that gives us the sense that this EP is going to blow us off our feet.
“Silent Song” by Daniel Rossen
Nicolas Jaar – With Just One Glance (f. Scout LaRue) – mp3
Ceremony – Hysteria – free mp3
A$AP Rocky – Pretty Flacko – free mp3
Asher Roth – Choices (f. Action Bronson) – free mp3
Blonds – Kite – free mp3