Krust Toons: "Damn, Son!" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.

Reminiscing as a stage of grief, the new self-titled EP from Goodbye Max demonstrates an ongoing melancholy, with a sense of appreciation. Expressing regret over choices made and carrying the weight of those decisions afterward, there’s an innocent fragility to the bedroom-folk sound. Moving forward is such a difficult process, especially when the people from the past had such a meaningful impact/influence. It sometimes feels like living in the present discounts that importance; however, it’s just part of emotional evolution.

It’s a joy to see what happens when artists come together and collaborate on projects, especially when the outcome bears something like So Cool, the new split cassette from Blushed and Secret Nudist Friends, who happen to also share bandmates Matty Klauser and Missy Pidgeon. Coming from the DIY community of South Philly’s Tralfamadore, our July Record of the Month is out now via goodhowareyou records.

Pidgeon initially takes the reins with Blushed. It might not exactly be the first time you’ve heard these three tracks, which also appeared on the band’s debut DEMO EP. However, with the addition of guitarist Dan Leinweber (to Klauser on drums/percussion and Alyssa Milman on vox/bass) and recording/mixing help from Kyle Pulley and Jackie Milestone at The Headroom, these tracks have proven to be deserved of a revisit. Side A opens with “Weak,” a grunge-pop ditty that pulls at your heartstrings. The endearing yearning in its vocals captivates, drawing you in, before giving a playful smack across your face. It’s a good lead up to the rambunctious cheer of 90’s riot grrrl, gang sing-along – “Webcam,” which kicks things into another gear, while still hinting at the group’s ever-present lazy-day, surf sound. That sun-blistered imagery is fleshed out in Blushed’s final track, “It’s So Cool,” which is reminiscent of the bittersweet dichotomy that can found on Anna Troxell-led Creepoid recordings.

Handing the mic over to Klauser and his Secret Nudist Friends, which also includes Pidgeon on keys), Brian Hullihen (vox/drums/percussion), and Andy Slepman (bass/keys), there is a shift in sonics, as well as decades. Inspired by a plethora of artists, ranging from The Kinks, to The B-52, to contemporaries like Oh Sees, Klauser crafts soul-filled songs that often feel timeless. With “Something on Your Mind,” you can find a bit of that beloved, old time rock ’n’ roll that might feel absent from the airwaves these days, while “Triangle” comes at you from all sides, building from its math-y introduction, before letting loose and giving way to EP closer and Side B standout, “I Can’t Love Anyone”. Taking us on a psychedelic voyage of reverb, distortion and self-loathing, the anthem of the loveless hits home with a sobering gut-punch.

With So Cool, you’ll have a hard time deciding which side you like best. And that’s a good problem to have. – Alexis V.