Shy FX
“We Just Don’t Care”
Oceana
“Can’t Stop Thinking About You”
MisterWives
“Machine”
Osvaldorio
“Spend the Whole Night”
Le Galaxie
“Pleasure”
Doctor
“Only You”
Velvet Winter
“Crystal Heart”
Tag: Pop
The Noise Floor: Wild Holiday
by Chris Nunley
Staff Writer
Call me a crotchety old man, but I long for the days of how music was released before the almighty EP.
I mean I get it, attention spans aren’t what they used to be thanks to glorious technology. The way music is produced and distributed for the consumer massive has become more dizzying than the heady days of Chip Kelly coaching the “Quack Attack” offense. (“We’re gonna get up to the line and just run a play! JUST run a play! GO-GO-GO!”) Yeeeeaaahhhh… the toxic side effect of this trend is that a lot of sludge gets released into the world.
This is sort of the case with Wild Holiday’s two EP’s I Was Abducted Last Night and Television Diary. Had someone burned these 9 songs between the two releases onto one CD and given it to me, I would’ve just assumed it was all from one album. And they should be in my opinion. There’s a grainy cohesiveness within the body of work that would pass as a full length record. I guess I’m just annoyed that I had to click on two separate links to listen… yes, I’m being crotchety.
Starting with IWALN, this batch of songs hauntingly reminds me of why I’m thankful I live in the 602 and not the 206 anymore. The dank chiptune charm of “I Took Acid At A Friend’s House” and lo-fi indie “Thinking About My Funeral” sound like what happens when vitamin D deficiency sets in and you’re looking out to overcast skies from your overpriced bedroom window.
“Everyday Is The Worst Day of My Life” could very well be an ode to coffee and its effects during the work week, while “Video Games In The Attic” makes for the perfect transition to the follow-up EP.
Television Diary was more interesting to me thanks to the noisy and dark “Graveyard I, II, & III” tracks. Truth be told, they kinda pissed me off that they were so short because they had the potential to evolve into more expansive compositions. But…not my circus, not my fleas.
The gloomy yet beautiful “Basement Song” is the most clean sounding, giving us the chance to really hear the tortured vocals of the project’s lone member, Alec West.
The surfer-esque “Planetary Expedition” drowns out the doom and gloom with fuzzy guitars and saturated drums, as our protagonist rides the crest of psychedelic wave “searching to get high”.
Although I wish these two EP’s would be one LP, this is solid work from the Memphis-to-Phoenix transplant. The variation in volume, texture and distortion with all the tracks has a nice Julie Ruin feel. It’s what folk-y bedroom lo-fi should sound like, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now hurry up and make another record! Just get to the studio and make another record! GO-GO-GO!
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Check out Wild Holiday on Facebook and Bandcamp.
Songs from the Reading Room: koleżanka
koleżanka (Kristina Moore joined by Arky and Winter Calkins) joined us at the Reading Room and shared these lovely songs with all in attendance, which now includes all of you as well. Both tracks will appear on their much anticipated debut album Vessel, which is due out in June. But before that, catch them live on Tuesday May 16 when they open for Silver Ships at the Trunk Space.
In the meantime, allow their experimental/electronic/noise pop to wash over you and succumb to its beauty. Check out both koleżanka videos below.
koleżanka
“Flyfishing/Snow Cone Summer”
koleżanka
“Pageant”
7 Flavors of Folk
by Carly Schorman
Senior Editor
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Old Nobodaddy
I like my folk music tall, brooding, and murderous which, thankfully, is waaay different from how I like my men. Well, all except the tall part, I guess. Old Nobodaddy sounds like his roots run deep, down into the sludgy wetland woods of Louisiana, but it’s New Orleans he currently calls home. “Bury the Hatchet” offers listeners back-porch gospel subtly refined so as not to lose that salt-of-the-earth feel. This is gospel for the for the soulless and god-fearing alike. Give “Bury the Hatchet” from Old Nobodaddy a spin below…
Ola Sweet
All you music fans who prefer your Americana mellow and bluesy, make sure you check out Ola Sweet. This Boise quartet has a retro rock vibe that calls to mind 70s dad-‘staches and snap-down shirts. And, I mean that in the best way possible. Ola Sweet isn’t just another Band of Horses/Black Keys revivalist act. There’s something earthy and authentic that comes through in their sound on “Strange Lately” that has me hooked. Take the single for a spin below…
Jessica Frech
Jessica Frech comes to us from the indie-folk side of the spectrum with her new single “Already Won”. The song possesses an effervescence in its sound that will lift your spirits as the lyrics empower you to face the challenges of your everyday. Frech has a lissome voice that lends itself well to the uplifting charge of “Already Won”. This artist has already developed a bit of a following for her quirky folk-pop but you’ll hear a more serious, but never sullen, sound on this new single. Give “Already Won” a listen below…
John Timothy
The SoCal songwriter has a straight-from-the-heartland sound that could easily be at home in Nashville or Amarillo, but it’s Los Angeles where John Timothy resides. Timothy’s alt-country style has a rusted edge that adds to the authenticity of his sound. This song “was recorded in conjunction with ‘Words Uncaged’, a graduate class that worked with inmates on Life Without Parole at Lancaster State Penitentiary,” so maybe that authenticity is also derived from the narrative recounted in the lyrics. Whatever the case may be, “The Longest Line (Daniel)” by John Timothy is a powerful number that will continue to resonate long after you listen.
Johnny Stimson
Songwriter and self-proclaimed time traveler, Johnny Stimson, will take you from anguish to acceptance on his new single, “I’ll Be Fine”. Stimson’s emotive voice drives this pop-infused indie-folk single with its heart-wrenching realness. The track is stripped down to just the vocalist and his guitar, but it suits the self-revealing lyricism quite nicely. Check out “I’ll Be Fine” by Johnny Stimson below, and if you like what you’re hearing, delve further into the online musical offerings of this Dallas artist here.
The Solars
For those of you who feel you might have been born in the wrong era and would have been better suited to prancing through fields with the Flower Children of the 1960s, we have the band for you. The Solars from Boston (MA) craft a folk rock sound chalk full of nostalgic for the days of Jefferson Airplane and Jethro Tull (organs included). Their meandering single “Potter’s Field/Dockery” is a dynamic journey of sound and sight; of rich harmonies and oscillating energy. Hit play below to take the trip that is “Potter’s Field/Dockery” with The Solars.
The Four Corners Quartet
“I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages”
For those of us in Arizona (where we’re based), the “Four Corners” refers to the northeast region of our state and its surrounding areas that all meet in an intersecting, four-corner border. In the case of The Four Corners of Quartet, however, the moniker refers instead to the Four Corners of the Globe from whence the participating musicians originated: Jordan, the United States, Palestine, and the United Kingdom. The quartet is not just a meeting point for people of different cultural backgrounds, but a merging place for various musical traditions, including middle-eastern, jazz, western classical, and American-folk. Sink into the orchestral folk of The Four Corners Quartet and their song, “I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages”.
6 Rad Radio-Ready Singles
by Carly Schorman
Senior Editor
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Pink Slip
Kyle Buckley, also known as Pink Slip, made the jump from Atlanta to Nashville, but his sound still holds some of that ATL slink in its slick production. “Said it All” comes to us from Pink Slip’s debut EP – Pink Hotel – which dropped last month. Pink Slip sets the soulful vocal stylings of featured artist Estef against some contemporary R&B bounce on “Said it All”. Make sure you give “Said it All” by Pink Slip a listen below and then delve into Pink Hotel (available here).
Addie Hamilton
Those kids who always seemed to possess a clear understanding of their calling early on (and had the talent to boot) always irritated me a little. They should have to fumble around with self-identity like all the rest of us, goddammit. Addie Hamilton is one of those. A teenage love affair with her grandmother’s record collection turned into a life’s work early on for Hamilton and now, at 21 years old, she already kicking out radio-ready gold with her new single, “La La La”. There’s a kittenish tinge to Addie Hamilton’s voice will put you in the mood for a Gatsby-style bash, champagne and flappers included, of course. Those jazzy vocals harken back to that record collection of Hamilton’s youth which included classics from Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman, and Eartha Kitt. Give “La La La” by Addie Hamilton a listen below…
Naah
This chill chip-pop track from the Swedish artist known as Naah can turn your morning commute into the right kind of attitude adjustment if you need a little more shoulder shimmy in your day. Naah will help with that. “Worth It” creates a fun but zen atmosphere that will leave you feeling mellow. This is just the first single from the two track release, of the same title, so consider delving further into the offerings of Naah (available here). But, first, check out “Worth It” below…
Flannel Albert
This catchy new single from Flannel Albert (aka Albert Joo) could see some series spins at those backyard barbecues this coming summer. Flannel Albert , originally from Portland, jumped coasts and took his melodic rhyme style to Brooklyn, but I can still detect a bit of that West Coast easygoing attitude on “aok”. The track has an old school, kickback atmosphere and that video-game-reminiscent sound that starts off the single only adds to that nostalgia. Flannel Albert dropped this track while gearing up for tour. “aok” marks the first single from his forthcoming tape so keep watch for that release this Spring. In the meantime, check out “aok” below…
Lex One
Lex One might have earned his chops in the Miami underground hiphop scene, but it looks like he’s ready break mainstream. And this new single, “Let’s Get Lost”, will only help the cause. Lex One delivers a steady stream of lyrical musings on love and lust on “Let’s Get Lost” while Hellz Poet provides the super catchy hook. Get lost with Lex One below…
Tim Hox
With a little help from 17-year-old vocalist Julia Rose, producer Tim Hox shaped out this club-ready moombahton number. Hox lays down a beat to get you moving while Rose has an alternatively smokey and lithe voice that will have you reaching for repeat. If Reggaeton is up your alley, “One Big Race” might be your new jam. You just might have so much fun on that first listen that you don’t notice the goal-oriented message that lies in the lyrics, but we all might benefit from paying attention. Give “One Big Race” a listen below…
7 Indie Pop Videos for the Afternoon Re-Charge
B O K E H
“Don’t Leave the Fire”
Pale Rivers
“August 6th”
Flagship
“Midnight”
John Adams
“See You Again”
Freddy Hale
“Troublemaker”
Anna Wise
“Balance in All”
Galen Crew
“Fragrance”
Milo Surf: Before the Gnar
by Joe Golfen
Staff Writer
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The only bio description on Milo Surf’s Bandcamp is a simple phrase: “I can’t surf.”
That funny bit of winking self-deprecation is actually the perfect introduction to Milo Surf, a project by Gilbert songwriter Joshua Capati [of Phantom Party fame]. The music is all surfy echo pedals and snoddy vocals, with plenty of revealing personal details and a wry sense of humor.
“Cherry Bomb” starts the record with a 55 second blast of surf punk perfection, giving way to “Stellarphonic Melancholy,” the standout track from the EP. A full-throated croon that sounds a bit like Nightmare of You, finds Joshua Capati singing, “I glamorize/The science of suicide/’Cause it crossed my mind/I got some new wounds for the Sun rays to cauterize.” It comes off a lot more melodramatic than it looks when written down.
Any song that can match reverb guitars with a “ohh ohhs” has my seal of approval, and “Orange Crush” is as sweet and bubbly as the soda that bears the same name. Plus it contains the line, “I’m so sorry that I’m not attractive/I wrote this song in hopes of making things happen.”
“Liv” plays with punky doowop while name dropping Dr. Who, Weezer cassette tapes and Tempe Town Lake, and “Maybe Baby” is a classic pop song Buddy Holly would write if he lived by the beach.
Milo ends the EP with a somber rendition of the The Everly Brothers’ “All I Have To Do Is Dream” which sounds much more wistfully when delivered in Capati’s croon over a softly strummed surf guitar. It’s a sweet ending to a quick fun record. Check it out below.
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Joe Golfen has been writing about music since 2007, appearing in the Arizona Republic, Phoenix New Times and Tone Audio Magazine. He also plays guitar and sings for desert psych band The Lonesome Wilderness, and plays the organ in power-poppers The Breakup Society.
7 Chill Electropop Singles
XYLØ
The L.A. duo behind XYLØ consists of Chase Duddy (producer/drummer/songwriter ) and his younger sister, Paige (vocalist/songwriter). The pair have me wondering what my brother and I might have accomplished if we spent all that time arguing over the remote control cultivating those music skills. I still don’t think we’d be able to nail the funky fresh sound of XYLØ’s brand of electropop. “I Still Wait for You” is kickback and feisty all at the same time. Expect some serious playlist placement for this single. Give it a spin below…
Kan Wakan
SAIGO, the featured vocalist on Kan Wakan’s new single, provides wavering vocals that have an almost James Blake feel in their ethereal delivery. Gueorgui Linev, the L.A.-based artist who performs as Kan Wakan, uses SAIGO’s voice like another instrumental layer rather than the focal point of this track. The end result is fluid and beautiful; more like a dream you unexpectedly find yourself in during an afternoon’s doze than that verse-hook-verse one expects from a radio hit. According to the artist, “‘Still Feather” ruminates on our industrial daydream; the precarious union of technology and prosperity.” That industrial element remains subtle on “Still Feather” but very present in the brooding atmosphere of this meditative piece. Listen for yourself below…*
ARY
The Norwegian singer-songwriter known as ARY released this single shortly after Valentine’s Day. “Childhood Dreams” sets some meditative songwriting against a background with some real bounce. The lyrics drive at striking a balance between one’s ambitions and one’s personal life. But, when a person has ambitions, the matter is often personal so, Grrrrl, I really get you on this one. “Childhood Dreams” from ARY was released through Petroleum Records and is available for your listening pleasure below…
Jocelyn Alice
Jocelyn Alice is a rising talent in her native Canada and it looks like she’s ready to cross the border into the American charts. Her new single, “Bound to You”, definitely marks her as someone you might want to keep an eye on. Her nimble voice has some Big City sass while the emotive power says Small Town sincere. Make sure you check out “Bound to You” by Jocelyn Alice so you can someday say, “I heard her when…”
Biyo
The Nashville duo known as BIYO dropped this super chill single a little over a month ago. Combining eletropop with R&B elements, Biyo creates a sleek number that could easily make the radio rounds. The shifting soundscape that supports the single builds in energy without ever going full on rowdy so this is a great track for those at-home playlists rather than club-scene-crunk. Give the single a spin below…
White Night
The cross-continent duo fuses together 80s synth pop elements with contemporary modes of song construction for a fresh sound. Yes, I’m talking about White Night and their new single, “Close”. Dreamy vocals float over a vibrant aural landscape that changes in color and texture as you move from start to finish. White Night is the undertaking of Willi Leinen and Elizabeth Boardman, one based in Berlin and the other in San Francisco. Thankfully, the band has found ways to overcome the challenge of physical divide to create such captivating music. Listen to “Close” by White Night below…
Phil Good
“Growing Up” marks the second single from L.A.-based artist known as Phil Good (formerly of DRESSES). Phil Good might not be his real name, but his sound has an authentically emotional core that is subtle and powerful in the same breath. And, that’s because it feels real, unlike a lot of the overly emotive drivel out there. I bet everyone who listens to “Growing Up” has either been on this side of the conversation or its implied prequel. Either way, you’ll relate. Give “Growing Up” from Phil Good a listen below…
* This segment was corrected. Originally, we stated that Kan Wakan provide the vocals for his single, but SAIGO was actually the featured vocalist on this track.
Crystal Cities: Who’s Gonna Save Us Now
by Joe Golfen
Staff Writer
The debut EP from Sydney trio Crystal Cities is a dreamy affair, even if some of those dreams turn pretty dark.
The great lead single, “Who’s Gonna Save Us Now”, is one of those troubled dreams, built on dark synths and minor key guitar lines. But it also has a sense of the majestic to it, with insistent drums and breathy vocals from Geoff Rana.
Despite this dark opening salvo, the Australian group’s EP is actually a pretty sunny affair. Musically anyways.
“Cut Me Loose” takes the album in that direction, with the noodly guitar twinkle and soft falsetto of a Real Estate record. The sense of worry always permeates all that sunshine however, like when Rana sings “Words come out wrong/when I’m with you,” dropping the falsetto into his real voice for that second line, adding a great sense of menace.
“Good Life” keeps the mellow vibe going, this time adding a great fuzz guitar and the kind of chorus that lasts for days. “Talking To Myself” keeps the trend going, maybe one song too many like that in a row.
“Tell Me Know” is a welcome change of pace, a slick, driving britpop number that sounds a bit like The Kooks, and Rana going back to that breathy register. The chorus finds the return of that noodly guitar work, but in this different context, it turns out to be an interesting twist.
Closer “Binary Eyes” sounds like classic U2, though where you’d expect a world-conquering chorus, Crystal Cities takes things in a mellow, dreamy direction. Though the chiming build up in the last minute of the song would definitely make The Edge proud.
With their first EP, this Aussie three-piece has set themselves up for success, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised that they end up being huge sometime soon.
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Joe Golfen has been writing about music since 2007, appearing in the Arizona Republic, Phoenix New Times and Tone Audio Magazine. He also plays guitar and sings for desert psych band The Lonesome Wilderness, and plays the organ in power-poppers The Breakup Society.
7 Eclectic POP Music Videos
Colten Hood
“Come Over”
William Bolton
“Be My Bae”
Julices Grant
“I have to leave you”
Polock
“Oh I Love You”
Marble Empire
“Twenty”
Rockster
“Runaway”
The Green Children (Embody Remix)
“Dreamers”
