SILVERBACKS – ” Fad “

Posted: June 29, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Promising new Dublin five-piece Silverbacks are releasing their debut album, “Fad”, on July 17th via Central Tones. they have shared another song from it, “Up the Nurses,” via a video for the track. The band self-directed the video, which features lots of tinfoil and computers.

Bassist/vocalist Emma Hanlon had this to say about the song in a press release: “I love Blondie and Kilian [O’Kelly] overheard me singing along to them one night. A few days later he surprised me with our very own new wave jam ‘Up the Nurses.’ The song talks about ‘amour fou’ (‘mad love’) and the unwanted adoration someone receives for the care they’re giving someone.”

Vocalist/guitarist Daniel O’Kelly had this to say about the video: “With everyone in isolation we set ourselves the challenge of building our own weird world. In the video two amateur radio enthusiasts help an astronaut return to his galaxy queen. We all had a basic tin foil spec and story to work from and everyone then shot their individual parts. It’s loosely inspired by Be Kind Rewind and their resourcefulness.” . When  Fad was announced the band shared a new song from it, “Muted Gold,” via an amusing video for the track.

Girl Band bassist Daniel Fox produced Fad.  The band features Daniel O’Kelly (vocals/guitar), Kilian O’Kelly (guitar/vocals), Emma Hanlon (bass/vocals), Peadar Kearney (guitar), and Gary Wickham (drums).

A previous press release further described the album and its themes: “Debut album Fad represents the sound of a band trying to make sense of a noisy and disjointed world—one that competes for your attention at every turn. For them, it has come to be a symbol of what it feels like to try and absorb the world through both fleeting moments in front of screens, and prolonged obsessive periods filled with focus. They pull apart pop-culture in search of new meaning, whether it’s a nod to The Simpsons (‘Fad 95’), imagining a lost John Hughes film (Klub Silberrücken), spiralling downwards into youtube deep-dives (‘Pink Tide’), or making sense of youth culture through The Urban Dictionary (‘Grinning At the Lid’). Much in the same way that modern life can be defined by its unpredictability, Silverbacks colorful, vivid and exuberant songs dismantle their source material and end up in places that you don’t think they will.”

Latest single of our debut LP Fad. Preorder our debut album ‘Fad’ released on Central Tones

BAD MOVES – ” Untenable “

Posted: June 29, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Back in 2018, Washington D.C. rockers Bad Moves, who’ve been at it since 2015, among the Washington D.C. bands of the moment. Two years later, their placement on such a list remains more than worthy. They released their punchy debut album Tell No One that year on Don Giovanni Records, which alerted us to their appearance at 2019’s SXSW. Tell No One thrived on shreddy power-pop, and it appears there’ll be plenty more where that came from on Untenable. Bad Moves make music about begrudgingly growing up and then finally treating adulthood like a party. Their punk music may be a protest of boredom itself.

On this record, the band has leaned into the outer edges of their influences, expanding their power-pop umbrella to include hints of folk, garage rock, and ’90s “indie” while still keeping the hooks tuneful and sticky. Lyrically, the band explores the myriad anxieties of modern living

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Out May 29th, Untenable is the sophomore full-length by Washington, D.C.’s Bad Moves. On this record, the band has leaned into the outer edges of their influences, expanding their power-pop umbrella to include hints of folk, garage rock, and ’90s “indie” while still keeping the hooks tuneful and sticky. Lyrically, the band explores the myriad anxieties of modern living — from heady questions of self-definition and identity to day-to-day matters, like labour precarity, climate change, social media, automation and the surveillance state.

Bad Moves “Untenable” released Don Giovanni Records

BECCA MANCARI – ” The Greatest Part “

Posted: June 29, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Becca Mancari returns with her new album The Greatest Part. Mancari explores her childhood experiences on the single “First Time,” and it focuses on her religious upbringing. The lyrics are raw and intrepid, peeling back old scars to explore the emotional and psychological turmoil Mancari weathered growing up gay in a fundamentalist Christian home, while at the same time examining the ties that continue to bind her to the family she loves. This image is the opening line of Becca Mancari’s “First Time,” a somber song that takes an intimate look at the true story of Mancari’s coming out to her parents. A lot of people were introduced to Becca Mancari as a member of Bermuda Triangle alongside Brittany Howard, but Becca had also released her debut solo album Good Woman right around the same time Bermuda Triangle put out their first single, and Good Woman proved Becca was a worthwhile artist in her own right. It’s one of the past few years’ true gems; an alt-country record with an indie rock edge and truly timeless songwriting.  Becca hasn’t abandoned her folk/country roots, though, and the fusion of all of these sounds makes for an album that breaks down even more musical boundaries than Good Woman did. The sounds that Becca experiments with on this album are new, but what hasn’t changed is how impactful her song writing and delivery is. She still has a knack for wrapping powerful storytelling in warm melodies, and delivering each word in a way that captures your attention and doesn’t let it go.

Powerful and explicit, yet warm and nuanced, the song is an excellent encapsulation of the record it’s from: Mancari’s sophomore album, The Greatest Part, which dropped on June 26th via Captured Tracks. Recorded with producer Zac Farro (of Paramore fame) at The Fatherland Studio in Nashville, the record is a tremendously beautiful, intimate and expressive personification of Mancari’s artistry as a whole.

Mancari first splashed onto the indie scene as a solo artist in 2017 with the release of her debut record, Good Woman. At the same time, she was a member of Bermuda Triangle, a supergroup featuring Mancari along with Jesse Lafser and Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard. At that point in time, Mancari was going hard and fast — she was doing a ton of touring and was fighting a seemingly uphill battle trying to sustain her career. There’s backing vocals on “First Time” and “I’m Sorry” by Julien Baker.

The instrumentals echo hesitantly until the steady guitar solo offers something concrete in all her wandering. The music video then cuts to shots of same-sex couples, symbolizing that she found chosen family with people like her The Greatest Part is more of an exercise in joyous catharsis. The meaningful lyrics are expertly juxtaposed by charmingly catchy melodies and ethereal indie rock dreamscapes. In short, if you listened to this record without paying too close of attention to the lyrics.

Captured Tracks debut from Becca Mancari.

TENILLE TOWNES – ” The Lemonade Stand “

Posted: June 29, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Tenille Townes. The Canadian-born country singer/songwriter and musician, first reached our ears a few years ago with the arrival of her hit song “Somebody’s Daughter,” which landed on many best-of-the-year lists. Her debut album The Lemonade Stand is finally here, after releasing a preliminary EP earlier this year, The Road to the Lemonade Stand. “The Lemonade Stand is a collection of songs that mean so much to me and are the way I see the world in this season of my life right now,” Townes said in a statement. “I want this music to be like a gathering place, where people can come and be filled up. I hope this record reminds people of who they are, that they are not alone, and reminds them of their dreams. You guys today is the day that I get to tell you that my debut album ‘The Lemonade Stand’ is coming out on June 26th!!. I really am just so excited I can’t even stand it as I’m typing this out to you. And this is what the cover of the album is!!! I can not wait for you to have this whole record in your hands to listen to in your kitchens or your cars or your headphones and I hope it makes you feel comforted, cheered for, seen and heard like there’s somebody sitting next to you going through the same things. I hope it makes you feel like a dreamer too. Because this record is the dream I had when I was a seven year old kid singing along to music in the backseat. She would really be freaking out right now ha.

This record is the dream that I had when I was a seven-year-old kid singing along in the backseat of the car. She would really be freaking out right now.”

I’m so proud to be from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada and so thankful for all the ways it has shaped me and shaped my music. The community and love that surrounded me growing up will forever be the anchor of who I am. I will always hold on to home and hope to carry forward that spirit in my music.

Listen to the Road To The Lemonade Stand EP, featuring “Jersey On The Wall (Forgive Me I’m Just Asking)”, out now

JERRY JOSEPH – ” Days Of Heaven “

Posted: June 29, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Though less well-known on our side of the Atlantic, Jerry Joseph is a hugely respected songwriter, championed by the likes of Jason Isbell and Patterson Hood of Drive By Truckers. Indeed the Truckers are such fans of his work that Hood has produced Joseph’s upcoming album and the band have backed him on the new record.  Today, we’re announcing that the new album ‘The Beautiful Madness’ will drop on 21st August on Decor Records and we’re celebrating with this fabulous video premiere of ‘Days of Heaven’. 

‘The Beautiful Madness’ is not only produced by Patterson Hood but he also wrote the liner notes for Jerry’s first proper European release. It is Jerry’s unapologetic manifesto on “what in the hell is going on with the world written with concern only for shining a light on the truth. Sometimes he can hit you with a sledgehammer but usually it’s a slowburn, building with each line of vivid and raw lyrics as the truth of his stories are revealed.” The album was recorded at Matt Patton’s studio, Dial Back Sound, in Water Valley, Mississippi with the Stiff Boys aka all the Drive-By Truckers backing him up on the music for every song. It was also the first time the Truckers recorded with Jason Isbell since he left the band in 2007, Isbell playing slide guitar on the searing ballad ‘Dead Confederate’, which Hood says is “one of the best songs about prejudice and racial hatred that I have ever heard.

The album runs the whole gamut of Jerry’s songwriting from heavy ballads to rolling upbeat alt-country tunes to his darker than dark epic and brooding ‘Sugar Smacks’ which sees no stone left unturned on his take of the modern #metoo world.  He also pays tribute to David Bowie on ‘Black Star Line’ written around the first time he saw him in 1974 on the Diamond Dogs tour.  ‘The Beautiful Madness’ was written in Mexico, Marin Country, CA and South Africa, a small example of where Jerry’s wanderlust has led him. Jerry has spent years travelling the world’s more far-flung, under-explored locales and has experienced first hand the power of music to unify. This understanding inspired him to found NOMAD Music Foundation, a non-profit to provide music and instruments to children in war zones. He has travelled to Kurdistan and Afghanistan, where he has donated guitars to teenagers in refugee camps, giving them lessons and hope along the way.

The song which we’re premiering today, album opener ‘Days of Heaven’ builds into a driving exploration of yearning nostalgia.  This feeling is reinforced by the ‘found’ video footage interspersed with a recording of a live performance.  “‘Days of Heaven’ is taken from the title from a film I hadn’t seen in 30 years.” explains Jerry. “I wrote it in El Sauzal, Mexico. It’s about dealing with marriage or long term relationships, the extreme high and lows and, more interestingly, the middle of marriages. Patterson Hood came up with the  bridge, a whole cinematic prairie goodness that actually makes the song and lines, and makes me cry when I sing it. We cut it with the Truckers in three takes.” It’s some performance.  Joseph’s characterful vocal is buoyed by Drive By Truckers on top form.  Lyrically beautiful and personal, this showcases Joseph’s ability to craft a fine song.  And in these strange times,  it’s nice to absorb something joyful, uplifting and to hear someone sing out loud that, “These are the days of heaven.”

The brand new single taken from Jerry Joseph’s forthcoming album ‘The Beautiful Madness’‘ released August 21st, 2020 on décor records for Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand Cosmo Sex School for North America

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER – ” Let the Light of the World Open Your Eyes ” (Alive at Spacebomb) Record Store Day 2020

Posted: June 29, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Hiss golden messenger let the light of the world open your eyes

Limited edition on black vinyl. North Carolina folk rockers Hiss Golden Messenger re-record two of their original songs, “Cat’s Eye Blue” (from their critically acclaimed 2019 album Terms of Surrender) & B-side “Standing in the Doorway” at Spacebomb Studios with contributions from their in-house orchestra.I t’s the latest in the Alive at Spacebomb Studios series.

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Released June 26th, 2020

M.C. Taylor: lead vocals, electric guitar, tambourine
Cameron Ralston: electric bass
Pinson Chanselle: drums, tambourine
Alan Parker: electric guitar
Daniel Clarke: piano
Angelica Garcia: background vocals
Kenneka Cook: background vocals
Erin Rae McKaskle: additional background vocals on “Cat’s Eye Blue”
Matt Douglas: tenor saxophone, alto saxophone

Violins: Adrian Pintea, Stacy Matthews, Meredith Riley, Treesa Gold
Violas: Molly Sharp, Wayne Graham
Celli: Jason McComb, Stephanie Barrett
String arrangements by Trey Pollard
Strings contracted by Treesa Gold

recordstore day

ANDREW BIRD – ” Panthology Songs II “

Posted: June 28, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Andrew Bird is an internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, whistler and songwriter who picked up his first violin at the age of four and spent his formative years soaking up classical repertoire completely by ear. As a teen Bird became interested in a variety of styles including early jazz, country blues and folk music, synthesizing them into his unique brand of pop. Since beginning his recording career in 1997, Bird has released 13 albums and performed extensively worldwide. He has recorded with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, appeared as “Dr. Stringz” on Jack’s Big Music Show, and headlined concerts at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and festivals worldwide.

This collection of six songs was recorded at home during shelter in place.
Released June 26th, 2020
All songs written, recorded + performed by Andrew Bird

FAT MATTRESS – ” Fat Mattress “

Posted: June 28, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Itching to do his own thing, Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding formed the band Fat Mattress in late 1968. Positioning himself as singer and guitarist, Noel recruited vocalist Neil Landon, drummer Eric Dillion and multi-instrumentalist Jim Leverton into the fold.

Released in August 1969, the British band’s self-titled debut album (Atco Records) fuses whimsical psychedelic pop practices with sunshine-spangled folk rock flourishes, bringing to mind select aspects of acts such as the Byrds, Traffic, the Idle Race and the Strawberry Alarm Clock. Peppered with phased vocals, the dizzy and dreamy “Magic Forest” was issued as a single and received airplay in a smattering of pockets across the globe. Cut of similar spacey seasonings, “Mr. Moonshine” tosses a brief jazzy jam into the pot as an added effect. Beat Club ’68 Noel Redding’s band after Jimi Hendrix Experience. Vocals by Neil Landon.

Mitch Mitchell, who completed the Jimi Hendrix Experience rhythm section with Noel Redding, and Traffic flautist Chris Wood work their mojo on the whirling psychedelic punch of “All Night Drinker,” while “I Don’t Mind” teems to the tone of jangly riffs, cheerful choruses and romping keyboards.

Fat Mattress performs “Naturally” on the TV show Beat Club 1969. Guitarist and vocalist Noel Redding founded this band 1968 during his time as bass player for The Jimi Hendrix Experience. After two albums the band split up in 1970.

At the time of its arrival, Fat Mattress drew mixed reviews. Those expecting the band to recreate the hard-edged intensity and improvisation of Redding had helped create in the Jimi Hendrix Experience were either surprised or disappointed by the dated psychedelic pop rock concepts casing the material. But in hindsight, Fat Mattress stands as an enjoyable effort. Steered by a certain mood, there’s also enough enterprising hooks and arrangements to make the songs memorable.

After a couple of personnel revisions, the band produced a second album, the aptly titled Fat Mattress II, which retained a lot of the same ingredients heard on the first recording. The album attracted little attention, and Noel Redding’s experiment with Fat Mattress ended.

The SOFT BOYS – ” Underwater Moonlight ” Classic Albums Released on 28th June 1980

Posted: June 28, 2020 in MUSIC
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Happy 40th, Underwater Moonlight! I can feel every inch of the time that’s passed since then. Then, as now, anxiety dominated the horizon and the world seemed to be governed by imbeciles. Underwater Moonlight! appeared only on vinyl (the digital future was a way off) and I took my copy out of its sleeve (lovingly photographed by George Wright) and looked in wonder at the Armageddon label. Richard Bishop, then an enthusiastic employee of Caroline Exports formed the label specifically to release the LP – and it was he who got the Soft Boys to New York that August for our only US tour. My sister Lal created the mannequins, who always felt like our alternative parents: she and my other sister Fleur helped George set up the photo, at dusk, on a Dorset beach. The whole record was made for about £700. The album was initially unsuccessful commercially, especially in the UK, where over half the sales were exports to America. the music on the album showed the influence of The Beatles, The Byrds and Syd Barrett.

The budget was love, not money. The record is our little contribution to rock’n’roll, to be placed reverentially in the pile with ‘Revolver’, ‘Younger Than Yesterday’ and ‘Piper At The Gates Of Dawn’: second generation psychedelia, and I’m very happy to see that it now has its niche in the rock grotto. Respect and love to Matthew Seligman, whose energy galvanized us into making this record – and thank you to everyone else who involved. Happy Sunday Morris Windsor and Kimberley Rew – many Thanks Robyn Hitchcock.

I discovered the musical phenomenon that is Robyn Hitchcock, but I eventually found my way to this gem. God bless The Soft Boys, and thanks to Robyn Hitchcock for making my musical rainbow even more colourful.

Today it’s hard to understand how the lightly psychedelic pop-rock of the Soft Boys was ever considered anything close to punk. Frontman Robyn Hitchcock is basically just Elvis Costello without the need to appear at every all-star jam. “Underwater Moonlight” sounds like the best bar band in the world playing hits from a world that’s better than our own. “I Wanna Destroy You” and “Queen of Eyes,” especially, should be radio staples,

The Soft Boys reunion in 1994 perform their classic song on the BBC – Mark Radcliffe show, featuring 7 members including Robyn Hitchcock, Kimberley Rew, and 2 bass players ... Matthew Seligman and Andy Metcalfe,

The Soft Boys
Robyn Hitchcock – guitar, vocals, rhythm bass
Kimberley Rew – guitar, vocals, bass
Matthew Seligman – bass
Morris Windsor – drums, vocals

“Underwater Moonlight” is the second studio album by English rock band The Soft Boys, released on 28th June 1980 by record label Armageddon.

VUNDABAR – ”  Either Light “

Posted: June 28, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Boston duo Vundabar released their fourth studio album earlier this year, “Either Light”. On the same day, they postponed the majority of their headlining tour in support of the album from March to July. The record comes at a difficult time for everyone, and the music industry taking an especially notable hit. In a world shrouded in darkness, Either Light serves as a beacon of hope, grappling with the existential nihilism on everyone’s mind with the help of twinkling guitars and frontperson Brandon Hagen’s unique vocal delivery.

Many rock bands make the pivot to synth-pop—with varying degrees of success. Though my perception of them is skewed by their scrappy, rambunctious live shows, Boston indie rockers Vundabar were actually the perfect candidate for this pivot, given that their previous albums had hints of surf, new wave and post-punk—all especially danceable forms of music. The band’s latest album, “Either Light”, which dropped earlier this year, sees them dive headfirst into the pop world—drum machines, sequencers, layered vocals, synths and all. When the sassy, melodic promo single “Burned Off,” came out a few months ago, I was blown away, but I hadn’t returned to the rest of the album until now. While “Burned Off” offers wonderfully over-the-top new wave vocals likely Brandon Hagen’s best and most emotive lead vocal performance to date “Petty Crime” is indie-dance-meets-punk-pop gold and “Never Call” has one of the most earworm-y riffs I’ve heard this year. As playful as it is, it’s also particularly wistful and mature in sound and sentiment, recalling Echo and the Bunnymen, Talk Talk and XTC at times—it’s a slick record, but it also has the girth of catchy, dynamic songwriting behind it.

‘Either Light’ out March 13th 2020 on Gawk Records

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