Back in May, this little gem of a 7″ was released on HoZac Records. The name of the band is FUNGI GIRLS, and this one looks like it’s their debut 7″ record. Neither of the songs from this single were featured on their full-length, so these tracks from the 7″ are about as new as it gets when it comes to Fungi Girls. This 7″ is also about as dynamic as they come, because each side sounds like a different band playing completely different styles of music, but they still manage to do it all with their own unique sound.
The 7″ starts off with a song called “Turquoise Hotel”, and it’s a spastic mess of gritty sounding guitars, constantly rolling drums, and bouncy bass lines. They have a bit of the surf rock sound mixed in as well, but it’s not entirely noticeable at first; you gotta listen a couple of times. If you’re curious, check out their Myspace – it’s the first song they have up there. Now if that song wasn’t enough to catch you off guard, flipping over to the B-side will hopefully do the trick. It’s called “Doldrums”, and it’s completely different from “Turquoise Hotel”. Right away it starts off with a bluesy guitar shuffle, and then the drums join in on the fun. This track is certainly a groovy one, as it brings to mind types of music like swing and jazz. This one was definitely put on here to get you up and outta your seat and dancing along to the beat. Towards the end of the track some jazzy sounding piano (I’ve been informed that it’s a Jaguar guitar being played through a Fender amp) comes into the mix, and shortly after they wrap it all up. You can check out “Doldrums” right below.
Doldrums –
My Rating: 9/10 Genre/ Tags: Lo-Fi, Psychedelic, Experimental Rock Turquoise Hotel 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Turquoise Hotel
2.) Doldrums
Velvet Davenport is the moniker of the one-man band led by Parker Sprout, who hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has other people fill in certain positions when it comes to recording, but it’s still all about Sprout. I am to understand this cassette came out sometime during 2009, and since then Velvet Davenport has gone on to release some other material. There’s a 7″ single from the awesome Shdwply Records called “Get Out”, and then there’s a full-length CD called “Happy Ending” that was also put out by Shdwply, which I’m having difficulty finding any solid information on.
This cassette tape doesn’t last very long (it’s pretty short – only about 13 minutes), but it’s packed with these trippy, hazy, sun-shining jams that bring to mind the likes of Syd Barrett and his solo efforts, or even his early work from Pink Floyd. There’s a song called “Lemon” on the cassette, and it’s a gorgeous mix of heavenly guitars and shimmering sound effects, and Sprout howls over the mix in a somewhat monotone fashion – probably the most defining moment when it comes to comparing to Barrett. But whether you think that or not, these sunny songs are bound to put a smile on your face. Listen to the tracks below, and then check out the other tracks they have for you up on Myspace.
Lemon –
Drop –
My Rating: 7/10 Genre/ Tags: Psychedelic, Acoustic, Pop Lemon Drop Square Box: Tracklist:
1.) One
2.) Lemon
3.) Drop
4.) Two
5.) Square
6.) Box
Hey guys. So I know the last Jacuzzi Boys post wasn’t that long ago, but you gotta blame the Jacuzzi Boys. There music is just so damn addicting. Before this week I had never really listened to them; I had only seen their name in various spots across the interweb. Now I’m going out of my way to find all of their 7″ records, and I just purchased their full-length “No Seasons” last night from Florida’s Dying. My efforts in finding all of their records probably won’t pay off, because I’m pretty sure a few of them have been out of print for awhile now, but hey, it never hurts to try. The full-length came out sometime during 2009 after the success of all of their earliest 7″ singles. For that, you gotta commend them, because not every band gets that far.
The LP starts off on a great note with the hectic song “Blow Out Your Lights”, as it sets the tone for the rest of the party-time madness that’s about to unfold. Next up comes the oddly titled “Smells Dead”, and I don’t think somebody would make a song about something smelling unless it really bothered them. I think that’s the case for this song too; lead singer Gabriel tried everything to make the smell go away too – he lit candles, he opened windows, but it still smells. Coming up next would be the third track called “Fruits”. Like most of their songs, this one is dominated by a crafty guitar hook that is sure to sink in and keep you coming back for third and fourth listens. Drummer Deigo goes a step further in the song by adding in his cowbell and it works great for the song.
Up next comes “Island Ave.”, which I’m sure you’ve already heard if you know the Jacuzzi Boys. This was the featured song on one of their 7″ that came from HoZac Records back in 2008. They re-recorded the song for the full-length, and it sounds fantastic. The second half of the song is when the fun really starts, as guitarist Gabriel makes his guitar squeal over the buzzy, ground shaking bass of bandmate Danny. Quickly following up “Island Ave.” comes the album-titled song “No Seasons”, and surprisingly enough it’s the shortest song on the LP. The bass lazily guides you through the song as lead singer Gabriel let’s us know that he “Ain’t got no seasons at all”, and suddenly the song is over. But it plays seamlessly into the next song “Komi Caricoles”, which was a B-side song from their earliest 7″ record “Ghost Ghost”. This one kind of sounds like a lazy island jam, and about 3/4 of the way through the song suddenly picks up speed out of nowhere and forces you to tap along to the beat.
“Komi Caricoles” marks the midway point of the album, which means there’s about six more tracks to listen to. This entire half of the album is certainly worth your time, but some tracks stand out more before the rest. For example, the fun lyrics of “Planet of the Dreamers” when Gabriel repeats “Cosmo grass, pig made out of glass” (??). Although I’m not entirely sure that’s what he’s saying, it makes for a fun sing-along. Another one worth hearing from this side would be the guitar-driven “Dock”, which is another garage rock great with an addicting guitar hook, or the final track “The Park (Dig It), which gives you the feeling you’re on a spinning, never-ending merry-go-round. I think that’s all for today guys, but you should really check out these songs below if you’ve never listened to the Jacuzzi Boys before. Thanks for coming by, and enjoy your day.
Island Ave. –
Komi Caricoles –
Planet of the Dreamers –
My Rating: 9/10 Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Psychedelic, Lo-Fi No Seasons: Tracklist:
1.) Blow Out Your Lights
2.) Smells Dead
3.) Fruits
4.) Island Ave.
5.) No Seasons
6.) Komi Caricoles
7.) Throwing Stones
8.) Planet of the Dreamers
9.) Dock
10.) I Saw It All
11.) Burn It Down
12.) The Park (Dig It)
Hello y’all. Today’s post comes from a record I just picked up from the record store over this past weekend, and I feel like this stuff is going to be new for you since it was for me. The name of the band is TAMMAR, and they’re from the unexpected Bloomington, Indiana. Their self-titled EP came out sometime back in 2008, which probably means this poor record was sitting in the record store for over a year! Poor thing. It’s all good though, because it has a home now, and it just so happens to be loved very much! I didn’t know what I was getting into when I bought this EP, but the main reason I picked it up that day was because it’s from the St. Ives imprint. As of lately, these St. Ives records have really hit the spot (See Radical Sons or Friendo), so I can’t help myself but pick up another one when I see it. You can mark my words that there will be another one up here sooner or later, I just have to find it first 😉
So who are these Tammar folk you ask? Well, for starters, I’m pretty sure this is their only official release, so the chances of finding this band any other way seems pretty slim. The EP is just under a half an hour long, and it’s filled with Tammar’s head spinning blend of wobbly indie pop – going from the headline on their Myspace page that reads “Wobble-Pop”. The first track “Summer Fun” fits this description best in my opinion, as the song’s sounds brings words like “confusing” and “amnesia” to mind. Amongst the pulsating bass lines and hazy sound effects, there’s plenty of things going on in these songs. The guitar comes in heavily about halfway through this track until the dizzy fade-out at the end of the song. This leaves us at the beginning of the next track “Weddle On”, which starts off with a fun intro that is sure to leave the listener guessing what direction this song is going to take. The song starts off somewhat slow and very quiet, but as time goes on the song picks up some speed, definitely gets louder, and it actually gets more and more complex over time. Come to think of it, a few of these songs take a similar form where they’ll start out slow and quiet, but as time goes on they get bigger, louder, and more intricate.
The following track goes almost hand-in-hand with what I just said, and it’s called “Dig A Hole”. This just so happens to be the longest song from the EP, as it clocks in at over seven minutes. The song starts out on a slow bass line with some eerie sound effects, and you’ll see as time passes that the song starts to form into it’s own. The steady drumming and the buzzing bass lines are always present as more and more begins to come out in the song, but they never break the song off into a different direction – they stay focused throughout and keep it moving forward without ever looking over their shoulder to see what could have been.
Skipping ahead to the final track of the EP called “Hot Juice” (just a quick thought – hot juice definitely doesn’t sound refreshing). But moving on. “Hot Juice” is definitely a highlight from this EP, and it starts out on some groovy keyboards. The drums and guitar slowly join in on the fun, and before you realize it they’re building up their song again as you listen to it. During the second minute the song turns into a fast-paced acid jam filled with lots of cowbell and more bouncy sounds. In other words, it’s just a long, intense jam out with enough sound effects and cowbell to keep you happy for days.
That’s the end of their EP, and unfortunately I don’t think these guys ever put out anything else. It doesn’t seem like Tammar ever gained the popularity they could have achieved, which is probably why there isn’t anything else to listen to, but I’ve been wrong many, many times in my life. Trust me. Listen to the songs below, and thanks for coming by again!
Summer Fun (3:57) –
Weddle On (5:13) –
Hot Juice (6:53) –
My Rating: 8/10 Genre/ Tags: Experimental, Pop, Indie Rock Tammar EP: Tracklist:
1.) Summer Fun
2.) Weddle On
3.) Dig A Hole
4.) Emily’s Army
5.) Hot Juice
So these Jacuzzi Boys have been around for a couple of years now, but only about a week ago did I first listen to them. Yeah, you could say I was a bit late to the Jacuzzi Boys game, but it really doesn’t make a difference. The only thing I won’t have much luck in is picking up all of their early 7″ records, but those are the prices you pay when you’re late to the game on good, new bands these days.
Since their formation as a band, the Jacuzzi Boys have released at leastfive 7″ singles, and then they have one full-length LP that you can get more information on right here. The most recent of their singles comes from the Mexican Summer imprint, and it was just released sometime during May or June. The 7″ features three brand new songs, none of which can be found on any other release from the band. If you’ve heard any of their full-length or any of their other 7″ records, then you already know what to expect from the Jacuzzi Boys – fun loving, head spinning garage rock with scuzzy, shredded guitars and the feeling of a rocking good time. If you haven’t listened to these guys yet (like me about 5 days ago), then I highly suggest you check out these songs. Finding their physical releases proves to be a difficult task now, but I’ve started you off on the mission by finding the “Bricks or Coconuts” 7″ from Midheaven Mailorder and then the “Island Ave.” 7″ from HoZac Records. Good luck with the rest!
Bricks or Coconuts –
Freakazoids –
My Rating: 8/10 Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Lo-Fi, Punk Bricks or Coconuts 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Bricks or Coconuts
2.) Freakazoids
3.) Sing Along
Jacuzzi Boys on Myspace
You can still by the “Bricks or Coconuts” 7″ from Midheaven Mailorder BUY the mp3s directly from Mexican Summer – Sorry folks, this one’s sold out. BUY the Jacuzzi Boys full-length LP “No Seasons” from Insound BUY the Island Ave. 7″ from HoZac Records
So the post for today wasn’t originally supposed to be this EP. Last night Twin Sister played in Philadelphia, but after a series of unfortunate events, I was unable to make it to the show and capture any footage of the band. You can probably guess that I was a bit upset, but that’s okay, because I’m sure Twin Sister will be back in Philadelphia in no time. As of now I don’t see any dates, so we’ll just have to wait for them to come back around. But moving on. Instead of show footage today, I give you the brand new EP from the one-man, bedroom-pop-band WILD NOTHING. The EP was put out by the UK label Warmest Chord, and they just released it about a week ago.
The EP features three brand new, unheard songs from Tatum and his Wild Nothing outfit, and they’re sort of a continuation of the songs we heard from his debut LP “Gemini” that came out earlier this year. The EP is just shy of 12 minutes long, and it’s equally parts poppy and dancey, but Tatum still does it all with his undying love for nostalgia and the buzzy sound of classic 80’s pop music. All three of the songs have their moments, but the real prize from this EP comes on the last track “Take Me In”. It’s a straight up jam-out with a shape shifting bass line and a glitchy guitar riff all over top of the glistening sound effects you would expect from a Wild Nothing song. I’ve uploaded the track below for you to listen to, so please check it out!
Take Me In –
My Rating: 7/10 Genre/ Tags: Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Pop Evertide EP: Tracklist:
1.) Your Rabbit Feet
2.) Golden Haze
3.) Take Me In
Hey guys, listen up. You should really do yourself a favor today and check out this band called WEED HOUNDS. Earlier this week they released their debut 7″ record “Beach Bummed” from Iron Pier Records, and it’s proving to be quite an awesome 7″.
Their music is like heavy, atmospheric psychedelic rock with a tinge of the lo-fi pop/punk goodness mixed in (don’t forget shoegaze!), and lead singer Laura Catalano uses her gorgeous voice to sway over the mix, and it’s equally healing and haunting at different parts in the songs. These guys sound like they’re going to have even more awesome stuff for us down the road, so you might want to snag their debut 7″ before it’s too late. I say this because according to the Iron Pier website, there’s only 300 copies of the 7″ to go around, so yeah, get on that quick. If the songs below aren’t enough to keep you going, you should head on over to their Myspace page, because they have a handful of other tracks for your listening pleasure.
Beach Bummed –
Skating Away from the Cops –
My Rating: 8/10 Genre/ Tags: Psychedelic, Punk, Shoegaze Beach Bummed 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Beach Bummed
2.) Skating Away from the Cops
Hey guys. About two weeks ago we made a post here for the release of “Dream Talkin”, the debut 7″ from the brand new band FAMILY TREES. They’ve successfully released their 7″ to the world, and now they’re going a step further by releasing a brand new music video for the B-side song “No One Will Ever Know”. It’s a lazy sounding strung out beach jam, and the hazy/grainy video quality really works wonders for their sound.
Follow this link right here so you can check out for the video for yourself, and if you haven’t listened to Family Trees yet, you should check out their Myspace page AND this post that came up not too long ago. If you like the music, you should consider buying the 7″. Not only will you have a crystal clear and brand new, limited edition record, but the good people over at Father/Daughter Records will love you forever! They told me personally! So now that you’ve been attacked by this link-infested post, you can carry on with the rest of your day! Farewell!
Hailing from the beautiful Boston, Massachusetts comes the trashy, three-piece surf-rock band GIRLFRIENDS. Their debut 7″ single was just released yesterday (July 1st) on the Aurora7 label, and now they’re setting out on quite a long trek across the United States in order to promote their fantastic new 7″. They’ve got dates lined up from now until about halfway through August, so chances are Girlfriends are playing a show in your town. You probably won’t want to miss this one either – they’ll be in Philadelphia on July 3rd, so hopefully I can make it out to the show. For those of you who won’t be able to make the show, that’s why I am here today, and I am glad to be introducing this band. Their new 7″ is just six minutes of twangy, hectic garage rock that also takes a shot at the surf rock sound, but either way this little gem is sure to get stuck on repeat.
The 7″ kicks off on the A-side with the self-titled track “Gov’t Seizure”, and right off the bat you’re already thrown into the midst of a gritty guitar hook attack. The relentless guitars keep at it for awhile before a nasty guitar solo about halfway through, and then they slow/quiet things down about 3/4 of the way through until they ride the rest of the song out into a huge, head spinning finish. Next would come the B-side track called “Creep Stuff”, and the pounding drums and guitar kind of give it a menacing sound in the beginning. They have a bluesy-sounding breakdown just before the halfway mark, and then they suddenly speed things up, only to slow them down again pretty quickly. Still curious? Listen and find out for yourself right below! Why not buy their 7″ while you’re at it? It’s only $6!
Gov’t Seizure –
Creep Stuff –
My Rating: 8/10 Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Pop, Surf Rock Gov’t Seizure 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Gov’t Seizure
2.) Creep Stuff
Yo yo. The name of today’s band is SLEEPIES, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the word ‘the’ is not part of their name. Unsurprisingly, this three-piece band hails from the ever-populated Brooklyn, New York, and the band is made up of singer/guitarist Thomas Seely, Josh Intrator on the bass guitar, and Max Tremblay behind the drum set. Unlike most things that have been coming through here on the Styrofoam Drone (with the exception of a few posts), these guys take on a heavy, pop/punk style that definitely leans much further to the punk side before anything else. This self-titled LP (with the intriguing “naked people waving” cover art) just came out recently, but they have been playing shows together since May of 2008, and above all else, SLEEPIES would be delighted to play a show in your basement!
So when I received an e-mail from these guys, I had no idea what to expect – and that’s usually how it goes in a situation like that. When things go down this way, that usually sets you up to totally be caught off guard, which is probably my favorite thing when it comes to listening to brand new music. Sure enough, these guys did just that. Their LP hits all sorts of lows and highs – whether it’s from a relentless, fast-paced punk rock song or from a grimy, electrified guitar solo – these guys really know how to do the punk thing, and they know how to do it good. The first track “Get Fucked” sort of sets the tone for the rest of the LP, as it starts things off with heavy guitar distortion, crashing cymbals, and frantic, yelling vocals. After listening to this song, you should have a rough idea of where the rest of the album will be going, but in no way will it reveal everything they have in store for you.
The next song “Monolith” is only the beginning of the punk fueled madness you’re about to endure, but that’s certainly not meant in a bad way. It’s an electrified punk song with shards of scuzzy guitars, and about halfway through they slow everything down and then suddenly pick it all back up again with a frantic drum roll before they bring you to the end of the song. The following song “Backbone” is another fast-paced, head-spinning punk song with grungy bass lines, and it’s followed up by a second one called “Dome”. Towards the end of “Dome” there’s some nice lead guitar work, and it all comes to an end with a spastic breakdown before the following track “Good Hunting” starts. I’m going to leave you guys with a good chunk of songs from the LP to listen to, including the sprawling final track from the LP called “Housewife”. If these tracks don’t do the trick, you should check out their Myspace because they have much more to offer over there.
Monolith –
Dome –
Housewife –
My Rating: 7/10 Genre/ Tags: Punk, Pop Sleepies LP: Tracklist:
1.) Get Fucked
2.) Monolith
3.) Backbone
4.) Dome
5.) Good Hunting
6.) Unfortunate Faces
7.) Hypochondriac Blues
8.) Carpultunia
9.) Squirrel Guns
10.) Polylith
11.) Summer Bummer
12.) Huh
13.) Housewife
Sleepies on Myspace!
Sleepies on Last.fm! BUY the Sleepies LP directly from their store!
Styrofoam Drone 