To any stoner reading this: White Fang‘s “High Expectations” is surely one of the sweetest sonic treats around. Despite drifting towards the colder vibes (deep vocals/fuzz/delay) of the post-punk era, it is a most inviting record, which precisely due to the band’s exploration of the post-punk sound, is so repetitive and catchy that from the very first listen, you feel like you already know every track. Careless and casual like a friendly jam session, each of the eight songs opens with a string solo, introducing the loop upon which it will be built before it kicks in/ virtually printing it onto your brain. So to everyone else, for the exact same reasons, it is I guess that song you want to get out of your head but won’t manage to, expanded to the length of an album; a lovely album sure, in its own magnetic way, but you were warned. The cover art should have had you warned; their Facebook page, too: these guys know their target demographic; ask their manager.

PS: Little round of applause for the very close runner-ups in the last ‘Artist of the Month’ poll. And guys, sorry about the choice of picture, it was too funny not to be spread.- Tracy Mamoun

‘And now, for something completely different‘: Portland-based fast-rapping duo The Chicharones, aka Sleep & Josh Martinez (joined by Dj Zone, in the pig head) who are as we speak ten days into their 43 shows across the US with the Vans Warped Tour ( which is showcasing this year more indie hip-hop talents than ever before! ).

Reformed three years ago, they released on June 19th their second full-length album in five months, which as it goes, drifted away from the comedy-hop schtick they specialised in to dig deeper into the witty social commentary that underpinned their previous records. ‘Swine Flew‘ sees the surf backings virtually disappear and the themes become slightly less mundane. This time ’round, The Chicharones are back to prove themselves as the hard working, sharp rhyming act lying beneath their (brilliant!) shoulder-popping silliness, with an improved live performance and beats more fitted to the genre, courtesy of Dj Zone. Don’t you worry though, it is still popping, and still pretty damn silly. Proving my point, here’s the music video for ‘Eggshells’, second single off ‘Swine Flew’:

See? So get ready to welcome them back to Portland on August 5th, as the Warped Tour concludes at the Rose Quarter Riverfront! Tracy Mamoun

Currently touring the US until the end of July, local garage-surf trio Guantanamo Baywatch were kind enough to drop a new album right before they headed South. "Chest Crawl", released May 22nd, features a screeching cover of Paul Anka’s ‘Diana’, some slimy doo-wop, sexually explicit themes de rigour (Massage My Taj?! Excellent!): take it or leave it, it’s deliciously trashy!

They’ve kept their instrumental 60s garage-surf recipe, its exotic touch of string vibratos (think Miserlou) and many a high-pitched slides, but went further back in time to the Golden Age of rock ‘n’ roll to find the vocals, more prominent than on their past releases. The result? A nonchalantly noisy take on 50s melodic patterns filled with pathos, "ooh oohs" and those Trashmen/Cramps bursts of nonsense which, if you can indulge lo-fi one more time, and don’t happen to cringe at the rolling sound of surf, should do the trick for some ol’ hip-shaking antics.- Tracy Mamoun

To the beat y’all! Portland’s MC Serge Severe is back with a new single, “Seasons”, off his forthcoming EP out on July 30th. Severe, Northwest Pacific answer to a scene smothered in its artifice, takes hip hop back to the basics of its 80’s heydays with his sharp rhymes effortlessly flowing over loops of funky jazz and soul instrumentals. No bling, no hype, no fluff, just a good beat, great samples and lyrics laid right. What more can you ask for, really? His old school feel-good raps, reminiscing Gang Starr’s style with a playful twist, keep it- to put it in his own words- “classic but so new”, a critical paradox vital to any artist engaging with retro aesthetics.

Entirely produced by Portland’s Zapata, the Silver Novelist EP introduces itself as a deeper take on Serge’s chilled-out signature. For those who fancy peeking further into the record, SS will be performing at The Hawthorne Theatre on July 23rd!- Tracy Mamoun 

However heartwarming it may be, however raw, I can’t say I’ve ever really found Americana fun; but then here’s something different. A band that humorously defines itself as “Amerockanagrass”, fully aware that even that would not suffice. Fronted by Kina Lyn Muir and her softly powerful vocals, Portland’s Twisted Whistle push the loose boundaries of American roots music a little further, retaining from the genre hardly much more than an instrumental formation and some themes here and there.

The particularity of the band’s music, beautifully conveyed in this album, lies in the many flavours they successively incorporate to their songs: exploring elements of bluegrass, Irish folk, prog rock, and rock ‘n’ roll, they set themselves aside a deep-seated musical tradition to offer up something just a little more exciting. Fundamentally versatile, their forthcoming debut “Through The Mill”, presents a unique and ever so refreshing variety of acoustic sounds. Released on the 7th of July, it will be welcomed with a performance and a party at Mt Tabor Theatre.- Tracy Mamoun

Portland-based Nasalrod are a pretty damn tight and heavy act, consisting of four former members of four different punk bands. Yet breaking onto a scene that may in times take itself too seriously with their sporadic skippy beats, soft interludes and other picking twists, they bring a new sound to the table with which they playfully keep the crowds entertained.

However improbable a hard enough middle-ground between punk and pop may seem, that is exactly where they stand. It’s fun like rock ‘n’ roll should be, experimental, surprising, and although the blend might in words sound like a long shot, it’s actually very effective! Roaring away like Tenacious D’s Jack Black, grimacing and gesticulating, lead singer Chairman’s stage antics alone are probably worth your while. But see for yourself, as they’ll be playing The Kenton Club for free this Thursday, and a couple of other shows around town during the first two weeks of July to celebrate the release of “Steward”, their first EP with current L.A-born drummer Spit Stix (out 7/1!).- Tracy Mamoun

Who cares that it was released in 2007? With the sun out and the 80’s coming back ever stronger, I’ll happily seize the opportunity of a vinyl re-issue to re-introduce a beautiful album. On the 17th of July, Polyvinyl Records will be releasing a limited gold edition (1000 copies, already available online) of Sexton Blake’s earlier project “Sexton Blake Plays The Hits”, eclectic set of thirteen 80’s classics revisited with a guitar, keyboards, bass and drums backing Starfucker founder Josh Hodges’ caressing vocals. If only to give those of you who are unfamiliar with the record an idea of the range that is covered, it features amongst others songs by Elton John, ELO, Bruce Springsteen and LL Cool J. So whether or not you’ve bought into the whole return of the vinyl collecting frenzy, this is still a chance to go and (re-)enjoy some of the decade’s emblematic tunes served with a warm, soothing Shins touch! 

On a side note, Josh Hodges’ indie-electronica brainchild STRFKR are currently recording, so we’ll be looking out for their new album!- Tracy Mamoun

Ok, it’s punk, BUT… combining the hostile aesthetics of the genre and the erratic vibes of free-jazz instrumentals with a thoroughly thought through production, Portland’s DIY specialists The Taxpayers truly are a tight act in disguise. Beginning as your standard “guitar, bass and drums” trio back in 2007, they would sporadically superpose onto their riffs some finger picking blues lines which were, looking back, the early stages of versatile sonic ventures to come.

Today, as the band has grown a few heads larger, recording with a banjo, sax, piano, horn, trumpet and accordion, The Taxpayers’ sound has further developed its skilfully confused signature, most present on the last full-length album “To Risk So Much For One Damn Meal”; yet as much as that record light-heartedly talked us through tales of a contemporary struggle, the teaser track and cover art of forthcoming “God, Forgive These Bastards” (dedicated to the memory of baseball pitcher Henry Turner) announce much darker and more deranged a colour.

Judging by the opening brass spits, those few already drawn away by the apparent lack of structure of earlier releases might as well stand back, while we amateurs of distorted frenzies welcome with excitement the new album, out this Saturday, June 23rd. Oh, and there will be a book too! – Tracy Mamoun 

Warning : it is probably too oppressive an atmosphere for the faint-hearted, but you sonic masochists may well appreciate this. Abusive juxtaposition of slow ominous guitar solos, shredding bass sequences and rabid spurts of slaughterhouse vocals come together into successive impressions of dramatic landscapes and mental turmoil. As they juggle between the heavy and the melodic, Portland’s eclectic trio Sloths explore a broad spectrum of unsettling sounds, ranging in influences from alt-rock to metal and hardcore. Only the darkest that is.

Whether you’re a fan of musical violence or simply one of those who fancy venturing out of their comfort zone, and loathe up to the very idea of “easy-listening”, you’ll be served with these sounds of doom. Game? Get down to the Kenton Club next Monday, or to Troubadour Studios the following Tuesday to check them out. – Tracy Mamoun

Destroy Nate Allen, Portland’s colourful folk-punk couple, released earlier this month an eleventh hyperactive package, "With Our Forces Combined".

Restless trip through fifteen tales of contemporary love and other most trivial matters, it playfully approaches those thematics dear to the young, broke and free : the Internet, sex, awkward accomodations, healthy living, ambiguous relationships and so on and so forth… hard not to identify with, you see. She can’t sing too well, neither can he, but who cares? They don’t, it only makes them go louder; and surely we don’t, for it just sounds all the more authentic, and the pair converses beautifully with that ever so touching Jack&Meg chemistry. Their music is at the same time pleasantly punk for not trying too hard and delightfully pop (believe me, I’d generally call that an oxymoron) with its catchy singalong lines and uptempo rhythms. Now stir in a few ska beats, a pinch of synth, simple guitar riffs and the odd sample and you’ve got yourself an effective sound bubbling with youthful spirit.

Never at rest, DNA are about to bounce back onto the roads for an umpteenth US tour under the summer sun, so get bopping out there, fall’s only ’round the corner! – Tracy Mamoun 

Soft yet upbeat and bubbling, hopeful in their world of angst… all up to the very name of the band suggests a fragile balance, which is how Glassbones‘ soothing sound fails to ever turn into background noise. 

Formed in 2010 in Portland, the quartet fronted by Colin Johnson blend on their much critically acclaimed debut EP “There’s Still Time Left”, released earlier this year, a polished ensemble underpinned with Johnson and Ricky Wilkins’ clashing guitars, and Mathieu Lewis-Rolland’s offbeat punk infused drums. Grunge in the depth of the vocals, as a subtle reminder of a not-so-long-lost 1990s scene, Glassbones are ready with this record in their back-pocket to reach out beyond the confines of their homeland. Let their effervescent waves of freedom tickle your ears whilst awaiting new shows to be announced! – Tracy Mamoun

With their sexual thematics and heavy odes to all ’em lecherous kids out there, it seems like California bred noise rock band Lunge may be gambling on a winning combination. The Kids Just Wanna Get Wet? Sure they do, don’t we all, so why not rave on about it loud and louder?

Now established in Portland, the trio specialise in an aggressive, deliciously explicit blend of punk rock and grunge influences, kicked up a notch right onto the edge of hardcore if only to keep your lustful granny out of the pit. Pure noise interacts with short, slow paced interludes, giving you two seconds to breathe only to dive straight back into the screaming, distorted aesthetics of the band’s sound. It’s quick and effective like a punch in the face, and to be fair, isn’t that what most punk purists and amateurs of heavier things are gagging for today? Get messy with them in July, and in the meantime, here’s right below a treat for your next-door neighbour! – Tracy Mamoun