Doom metal masters The Atlas Moth released their latest album, The Old Believer, via Profound Lore Records earlier this week. It is the band’s 3rd full-length album.
You can catch The Atlas Moth at Bottom Lounge on August 10th with Boris & Subrosa.
Philadelphia
Posted on:
New Alex G LP Available for Streaming
Lo-fi wunderkind Alex G, a.k.a. Alex Giannascoli, just share his new LP DSU, which is streaming over at The Fader. The album officially come June 17 via Orchid Tapes. He’ll also be heading out on an extensive U.S. tour next week with labelmates Elvis Depressedly that will close out in Philly on Sunday, August 17 at The Fire.
NYC
Posted on:
Album review: American Dischord – Songs for Sinners
(Photo by Keith Johnson)
“I don’t need your forgiveness for my goddamned sins.”
American Dischord shoves its collective middle finger up your pretentious ass with a new LP entitled Songs for Sinners. Self-described as “hard-hitting rock ‘n roll straight for the bowels of Hell currently claiming Kansas City as our promised land,” this “punk and soul” trio blazes through seven tracks of cataclysmic punk rock in just under fifteen minutes.
AMDX runs the punk rock playbook to a high level, reminiscent of The Misfits, NOFX, and Rancid, amongst others. The lyrics are fuming, often political, and so far up your grill they’re ripping out molars. Urging you to “sing, sing, sing all you sinners!” in a song of the same name, the scream-sung vocals tow a perfect line of grating attitude and sing-along sensibility, not unlike the harder moments of The Offspring’s catalogue.
Musically, it is delightfully more than just your typical three-chord punk slop. AMDX plays with structure and whips out just enough song tricks to keep the two-minute punk anthems from sounding all the same. The trio of musicians makes the style of music they play work for them, with individual playing that gets spastic and free in all the right spots, but never seems superfluous.
The anchor of these two-minute pressure cookers is the epic-by-comparison three-and-a-half minute “Op Rev.” One of the more furious and politically themed songs on the record, AMDX parallels off the old tried-and-true Gunpowder Treason story, commanding anarchy and a rise against the bullshit that lives in our news feeds every day.
All put together, you listen over and over again as you pound your steering wheel or keyboard along with fervor. Of late, the band has been regionally playing all over the place. If bashing your pompous neighbor’s face open with a can of whatever beer was cheapest that day is your thing, check out American Dischord.
—Zach Hodson
Zach Hodson is a monster. He once stole a grilled cheese sandwich from a 4-year-old girl at her birthday party. He will only juggle if you pay him. I hear he punched Slimer right in his fat, green face. He knows the secrets to free energy, but refuses to release them until Saved by the Bell: Fortysomethings begins production. He is also in Dolls on Fire, Drew Black & Dirty Electric, and Riot Riot Riot, as well as contributing to various other Kansas City-based music, comedy, and art projects.
NYC
Posted on:
Too Much Rock Singles Series Vol 3: Josh Berwanger Band – Oh Bis!
Josh Berwanger Band gets us ready for summer with a new single release as part of the Too Much Rock Single Series. The series—curated by Sid Sowder—has local bands doing one side with an original song and one side with a cover song chosen by the band. Berwanger’s single is the third volume in the series (the first two by Schwervon! and Rev Gusto).
The A-side is a Berwanger song called "Oh Bis!" to which he helpfully adds a spoken word postscript explaining the origin of the song. The song itself hearkens back to ‘80s power pop and chugs along with some subtle changes in the rhythm. It’s a classic "Woe is me" teen angst song and sounds great in the car with the windows down. The B-side is a cover of an obscure 1979 single by The Jags, which sounds like a great lost early Elvis Costello rocker. Its infectious chorus of "I’ve got your number / written on the back of my hand" complete with handclaps is impossible not to like.
I’m a fan of their recent album Strange Stains. To my ears, this is the best local pure power pop band out there now. Get ’em while you can. These 45s are limited editions.
—Barry Lee
Barry is host of Signal To Noise, which airs on KKFI 90.1 FM every Sunday at 8 pm. He spends his weekdays being station manager of KKFI.
You can see Josh Berwanger Band this weekend at Boulevardia, in the West Bottoms. They play at 6:15 p.m. on the Chipotle Homegrown stage. Facebook event page. They’ll also be playing Lawrence Field Day Fest on June 28 at The Bottleneck at 11:00 p.m. Also, watch for Too Much Rock’s fourth volume of the Single Series to come soon!
Here’s a video of an in-studio performance for 90.9 The Bridge of the song “Mary,” recorded at Weights & Measures Soundlab.
Nashville
Posted on:
Friday Feature: Album Review of Lulu Mae’s “Mean River”
Hopefully you had the chance to catch Lulu Mae on May 16th for their album release show with ELEL and The Oak Creek Band, as that may have been the last time to catch them live for a long, long time. However, they had the wherewithal to release a new album on May13th to tide fans over in the wake of their abscence. While it is a great momento to keep under your pillow to keep your tears of Lulu Mae longing from soaking into your mattress at night, its also a beautiful listen. Read on to learn more. -Terra James-Jura
NYC
Posted on:
Album review: Scruffy & the Janitors – Anglo
(Photos by Jaime Russell, Anthem Photography)
I am, at my very core, a pessimist. Always have been, most likely will always be; it is a deep-rooted personality flaw that I cannot seem to shake. Now, I’m not one of those “the world is a shithole, what does it all mean?” people—I don’t care about that. We are all going to die; it is a fact, so let’s have a good time, I say.
No, my pessimism comes from my love of music and the decline in quality of what is being released into the world the last few years. This “music,” its lack of drive, power and imagination only feeds my negativity. However, I have noticed a shift of late, a move that brightens me. I smell a return of rock n roll and St. Joseph’s Scruffy & the Janitors have fired off the latest shot with Anglo, their sophomore (and most cohesive) effort to date.
It has indeed been a good time for local music. Red Kate, The Bad Ideas, Radkey, The Sluts, Josh Berwanger Band, Black on Black, Muscle Worship, The Big Iron, and many others have released top-notch rock n roll over the last 14 months, and Anglo is no exception. Powered by “Shake It Off” and the most recent single, “Dirtleg,” Anglo is a slice of bar rock that has been knocking at the door, just waiting to join the party; S&tJ want to play with the cool kids and now they are.
Compared to their lo-fi/zero budget debut, Pino, a couple years ago, Anglo is a giant leap ahead in sonic quality and level of song. Time spent onstage (Scruffy had standout sets as part of MidCoast Takeover, had a prime spot at Middle of the Map Fest, opened for Gringo Star and J. Roddy Walston & the Business, and are opening for Kongos at The Midland on June 30. All of this—before heading to Toronto for NXNE (the Canadian SXSW) and a mini-tour—has brought out confidence that has been lying just below the surface, ready to rear its head to the world and stomp on its throat.
S&tJ have found their groove. “Nehemiah” is the funkiest track they have laid down to tape and features Teriq Newton’s most Hendrix-inspired guitar shots. A solid, flying high, blues jam from outer space. The track “Ms. Crucio” comes on like The Hives, Benjamin Booker, and Foo Fighters locked in a room with wild dogs for a minute and a half. Quick call-out to a triflin’ woman, it’s fierce, in-your-face, and fun. The bowel shaking bass from Steven Foster and pounding courtesy of Trevin Newton on drums don’t hurt the situation.
“Dirtleg” is the best song Cage the Elephant wishes it wrote. Aggressive, self-deprecating, longing to be gone but just can’t move on. You see a theme here? Stuck somewhere you don’t want to be with a woman that drives you nuts is a common theme in blues-based music; the story is as old as time: I really hate this woman but she won’t go away.
“Shake it Off,” the current gem getting heavy play on 96.5 The Buzz, is the middle finger song of a record packed with screw you songs. It is a quick shot to the face. “Shake it off / cause it ain’t only me / no we were never friends / I wasn’t letting you slide,” a chorus that stops just short of calling someone out by name, spitting in their face. There is venom wrapped in top-notch drumming, rock steady bass lines, and some of the best local guitar work around. That’s where some of the best music comes from, doesn’t it? Hate, dissatisfaction, displeasure with your situation, life screwing you? Art comes from pain, pain comes from living, living is better than the alternative.
Scruffy & the Janitors do not hide their influences on Anglo. They do not try to get cute by disguising who they admire under layers of production to sound “new.” This is blues garage rock plain and simple: Son House, Skip James, Cage the Elephant, The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys and some punk touches are thrown in for good measure. Scruffy are one of those young bands that you know what you are getting when you put their record on: what you’ll get is rock n roll, no more no less. There is certainly nothing wrong with that.
—Danny R. Phillips
Danny has been reporting on music of all types and covering the St. Joseph music scene for well over a decade. He is a regular contributor to the nationally circulated BLURT Magazine and his work has appeared in The Pitch, The Omaha Reader, Missouri Life, The Regular Joe, Skyscraper Magazine, Popshifter, Hybrid Magazine, the websites Vocals on Top and Tuning Fork TV, Perfect Sound Forever, The Fader, and many others.
If you’re in St. Joe on Friday the 13th, you can catch Scruffy & the Janitors at the Anglo release party at First Ward House, with Cupcake and Rev Gusto. Facebook event page. They’ll be celebrating the release in Kansas City on Saturday, June 14 at recordBar with Heartfelt Anarchy, Domineko, and Rev Gusto. Facebook event page.
NYC
Posted on:
Weird Womb unveils video for ‘Tanned Tits’ – bound to please many
These guys are playing our Northside show tonight… watch the video, it makes a pretty convincing case.
NYC
Posted on:
Weyes Blood headlines The Deli’s B.E.A.F./Northside Rootsy Stage – tonight) at Spike Hill
Just by glancing at the name, it’s clear that ghost-folk Weyes Blood (formerly known as Weyes Bluhd) isn’t afraid to get experimental – and yes, “weyes” is indeed pronounced “wise.” Natalie Mering, formerly of Jackie-O Motherfucker, brings this sense of creativity and adventure to every aspect of her Weyes Blood project, which she started back in 2006. Mering’s work is textural and multi-faceted. She layers tape samples with piano and guitar to create spectral soundscapes. Complimented by her ethereal voice, these collages are hauntingly penetrating. The live experience is even more haunting and rewarding – waiting for a soon to be announced new album, don’t miss her tomorrow June 13 at The Deli’s B.E.A.F./Northside Rootsy Stage at Spike Hill. – Corinne Bagish
Chicago
Posted on:
Jody “Tired”
Jody is back with a new single, "Tired", produced by The-Drum. The track comes from the R&B groups forthcoming EP Oasis with is set to be released this July. The trio previously released the title track of the EP last month.
Chicago
Posted on:
Uumans “Flipping Out”
Uumans is the electronic/pop creations of Chicago native Matthew Mehlan. The singer/songwriter has spent the last ten years in Brooklyn with his band Skeletons, but is flying solo the wonderfully intricate new album Flipping Out. This music is filled dense layers of beats, effects, and distorted vocals. It is at once music for the future and the present.
Flipping Out will be released on July 1st via Shinkoyo.
Chicago
Posted on:
Secret Colours “Take It Slow”
Secret Colours have released a new video for their track "Take It Slow". The track comes from their latest album, Positive Distractions, which was release back in April.
You can catch Secret Colour later this month at Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival.
San Francisco
Posted on:
Travis Hayes Gears Up to Release New Album – Young Daze
San Francisco based indie singer/songwriter, Travis Hayes is gearing up to release his upcoming full length album, Young Daze, which is due for release on July 7th. Hayes pulls from 90s indie pop compositional styles, and mixes in thoughtful and creative touches to his emotionally honest songs.
His new album starts with a tightly wound and well produced instrumental intro that lasts the length of a pop track. Hayes takes small risks like this throughout the album, and does not stick to traditional pop structures even though his album has a very radio friendly sound. It’s great that he can blend quintessential American music styles that nod to artists like Tom Petty and John Cougar Melloncamp, while creating his own spin on his ballads, bringing a fresh and modern sound that shines through the sonic presence of his musical influences.
Don’t miss Travis Hayes’ album release event at Bottom of the Hill on July 11th. –je