NYC

Electro-soul NYC trio JIL plays Mercury Lounge on 12/2

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Despite a number of high-profile perfomances with the likes of Pusha T and Dev Hynes, electro-RnB act JIL have kept a relatively low profile up until now. With a lack of information out there about them, the trio has let the three tracks released to date do all the talking – and they certainly have lots to "say." The band’s sound is a head-bopping mix of distorted synths and guitars, booming percussion and the soulful, pristine vocals of their anonymous singer. Latest single "All Your Words," (streaming) sounds like a dark, tempestous sea thrashing about, while unexpectedly serene vocals seem to offer safe haven above its rough waves — and a vantage point to stare at the chaos below. JIL can’t release new material soon enough. Maybe you can hear some when they take the Mercury Lounge’s stage on 12/2. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber 

Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s December Record of the Month: Welcome – Slaughter Beach, Dog

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Jake Ewald, well-known as one-fourth of Modern Baseball, steps into the spotlight on his first full-length album as Slaughter Beach, Dog. Suitably titled Welcome (Lame-O Records), Ewald’s ten-track confessional holds nothing back. Each melody and each emotion is unfettered and nostalgic without apology. Like the grownup and more articulate version of your favorite band from undergrad, Slaughter Beach, Dog’s dream-pop adjacent anthems will melt your heart with ease.
 
Opening with the self-aware ‘90s throwback “Mall-rat Semiannual,” Welcome’s strength lies in Ewald’s ability to build an entire universe within a matter of seconds. Like a lyrical rendering of an intricate diorama, the album’s first track unfolds with earnest inflection, sway-worthy riffs, and a romanticism reminiscent of Pavement’s “Gold Soundz” meshed with Modest Mouse’s “Dramamine”. The directness of “Toronto Mug” is perfectly mirrored by the its brevity, while “Monsters” feels like the song you wish you wrote about yourself, depicting with precise rhythm what it means to be haunted by the shortcomings of others as well as your own.
 
“Bed Fest” plays out like the soundtrack to a mumblecore flick at its climax – bittersweet and subtle – awash in acoustic chords and swelling snare, ending in trippy reverb as Ewald croons, “You can’t stay here.” “Forever” and “Jobs” are pragmatic snapshots of the millennial plight framed by poppy backbeats and relatable proclamations like “I think that we’re better off just believing in ourselves, but that’s just me.” A sweet but solemn love song, “Politics of Grooming,” effortlessly bleeds into “Drinks,” a wistful theme for lovers not quite over their past, but unafraid of diving headfirst into the future, hand in hand despite misgivings. Like a premature epilogue, “Toronto Mug II” is lo-fi in all the right ways, serving as a welcomed primer to the album’s instrumental exit, “Essex Street.”
 
Staying true to its namesake, Slaughter Beach, Dog’s latest slew of songs will remind you of where you came from and who you really are. – Dianca London

Portland

Blue Skies for Black Hearts does X-Mas

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Now that December is just a few hours away, let’s break out the Jesus birthday jams. Now in it’s 9th volume, XO for the Holidays is a compilation put out by Portland and Detroit based PR firm XO Publicity. This year, XO for the Holidays presents the rocking power pop of Blue Skies for Black Hearts doing a Christmas classic.

We all miss David Bowie terribly and Bing Crosby‘s influence is undeniable, so hearing Blue Skies for Black Hearts taking on their 1977 holiday hit "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" brings about a true sense of joy. 

Frontman Pat Kearns’s vocals fittingly encapsulate much of what Bowie and Crosby were serving in their original rendition, but with his own twist of course. His recently released solo record, So Long City, showcases his vocal talents further.

Listen to all of XO for the Holidays here, and give Blue Skies For Black Hearts’ take on "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" below.

Portland

Stream: Dowager – ‘Title Track’

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It’s refreshing to see that the screamo-emo-hardcore stylings many of us grew up enjoying, though often denied, is again becoming a popular genre. Local trio Dowager have been receiving much and well deserved press as eclipsing purveyors of this musical class, especially with their long awaited and recently released Title Track EP.

Title Track, which came out the day after November’s notorious food fest, is five songs worth of formulaically aggressive screamocore that translates into an addicting experience in headphones and on stage.

Dowager’s all-ages release show for Title Track will be this Saturday at Black Water with the bewitchingly darling Bashface, Seattle’s Curse League and one of the best band names to come out of 2016, Dranky Skelerton (members of Robot Boy and Don Quixote). 

If you haven’t been doing this already, stream Title Track again and again until the weekend.