Beach Fossils – Face It 7″

BEACH FOSSILS started to make their way onto the scene last year in 2009. First they had a 7″ single called “Daydream”, and then there was the self-titled full length, both of which came from the Captured Tracks label. Now the boys of Beach Fossils are back once again, this time with a new 7″ featuring two never before heard songs. According to the Captured Tracks website, this is where “Phase 2” of the Beach Fossils catalog begins. Everything they’ve done up to this is now a thing of the past, and it seems as if they’re really trying to get that point across.

While we don’t know exactly why they’re going for a bit of a change up, we can always try and figure it out for ourselves. Also stated in the Captured Tracks description of the 7″, they say “Gone is the ‘lo-fi’ and the comparisons that go with it.” While Beach Fossils definitely had some lo-fi qualities on the material before this 7″, there are still plenty more bands out there going above and beyond when it comes to the lo-fi sound. With that being said, I think it’s more appropriate to let those bands keep working at their lo-fi sounds, while Beach Fossils backs away from it. I say this because listening to these new Beach Fossils songs, it’s almost like these guys should have been this way from the beginning – it’s like they didn’t really want to come off as a lo-fi band, it’s just what people ended up thinking.

So this new 7″ was their first chance to really change things up and get people to change their outlooks on the band. If you ask me, they’ve done a hell of a job. Two crystal-clear and equally addicting new tracks fill both sides of this 7″, and if “Face It” doesn’t keep you wondering how exactly these guys go so catchy, I don’t know what will. Punchy (almost funky!) bass lines, deliciously memorable guitar hooks, and an eerie change up about half way through the song…FACE IT, this shit is awesome. And that middle part (right after 1:30 til 1:47ish) seems so necessary and natural that it’s actually haunting. You can check out “Face It” right below – I’d highly recommend you do so – and then head to the Beach Fossils Myspace to hear the B-side “Distance”.

Face It –

My Rating: 7.5/10
Genre/ Tags: Pop, Surf Rock, Indie Rock
Face It 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Face It
2.) Distance

Beach Fossils on Myspace
BUY the 7″ directly from Captured Tracks

Royal Baths – Baths 7″

ROYAL BATHS is a three piece band hailing from San Francisco, California. Their name was originally just The Baths, but they changed it up to avoid confusion with the other California band Baths. If you ask me, Royal Baths sounds better anyway, so good move. These guys just put out their debut LP from the Woodsist label in September, which means slowly but surely this band will start clawing it’s way up the popularity scale – because that’s what awesome labels do, right? Speaking of awesome labels, they also have an upcoming 7″ from Hozac Records as well. But the 7″ we have here today is different – before the LP that just came out, this looks like it was their only official release.

The 7″ we’re talking about today comes from Rad Key Records, and it doesn’t look like you can pick this one up anywhere besides Royal Baths shows. It’s got two songs – neither of which are on the new LP – and their both equally dark and menacing, with lyrics like “learning to laugh at the black in my soul,” and “I think of death and murder, all the time.”

While that’s certainly depressing even out of context, just wait until you hear it paired with the music. This is foreboding, downer-rock at it’s finest, and the added factor of morbid lyrics only helps progress the authenticity of the lifeless, decaying moods found within the songs. Strangely enough, if you can get past the downer qualities, these jangly songs will find their way under your skin. Which is a great thing, because now I want to check out that full length from Woodsist – which is exactly what a 7″ should make you want to do. Maybe we can talk about that soon. Check out the A-side “Be Afraid of Me” right below, and then head to their Myspace where you can hear the B-side “Black Sheep”. One more thing – it sounds like these guys could put on a rad live show.

Be Afraid of Me –

My Rating: 6.5/10
Genre/ Tags: Psychedelic, Garage Rock, Lo-Fi, Drone
Baths 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Be Afraid of Me
2.) Black Sheep

Royal Baths on Myspace
Royal Baths on Last.fm
Check out their debut full length from Woodsist

Circle Pit – Bruise Constellation

Hope everyone’s weekend went well! Unfortunately the Phillies couldn’t help make mine any better than it was, but hey, what’s done is done. Now it’s time to focus on some music, because let’s be serious, it’s everybody’s favorite thing 😉

Today’s music of focus comes all the way from Sydney, Australia, from a band you might already know as CIRCLE PIT. This looks like it’s their first official full length, coming from the local Siltbreeze Records label, which couldn’t be a more fitting home for the album. Besides this new full length, the only other material you can find from the band is either this 7″ right here, or the stuff they have for sale in this Myspace blog post.

So when listening to this stuff, a lot of different thoughts and describing words might come to mind. Some of the more prominent descriptors would be scrappy, trashy, scummy, scratchy…most of which stem from the grainy, sandpaper-like guitars that dominate the entire album. These abrasive guitars drive the songs, being impeccably heavy at times, and freakishly psyched-out at other times.

Their high energy approach also helps add to the madness, and when it’s mixed with their strangely rewarding slacker-esque type vocals, it makes for quite an interesting combination. The raspy, “I don’t give a fuck” tone of voice is definitely part of the sound, and once it’s paired with the boy-girl vocal harmonies, you’ll see how well it all fits together. This is definitely the kind of album that you will like at first listen, but keep at it and you’ll notice that the shit’s grown on you like no other, way more than you ever expected – the excellent guitar work, angsty vocals, and a driven attitude (not to mention an interesting cover art) will certainly keep you coming back for more and more.

Just about every last song on the record could count as a highlight, but the ones that stood out the most for me were Wave Machine, Dead Meat, Infinity (which is strangely different than anything else on the album), Hurricane, Another Trick, Drowning in the Dark, and Beginning and the End. Definitely don’t sleep on this stuff, because I must warn you that you will be sorry if you do. Check out the songs I left ya below, and soon you’ll love Circle Pit. And if that’s not enough for you, I’d recommend listening to Top Surprise – there’s definitely some similarities between the two.

Infinity –

Another Trick –

Drowning in the Dark –

Beginning and the End –

My Rating: 8/10
Genre/ Tags: Post-Punk, Psychedelic, Indie Rock, Australian
Bruise Constellation: Tracklist:
1.) Wave Machine
2.) Dead Meat
3.) Speed Limits
4.) Infinity
5.) Hurricane
6.) Another Trick
7.) Drowning in the Dark
8.) Shallow Grave
9.) Strange Blue
10.) Beginning and the End

Circle Pit on Myspace !
Follow Circle Pit on Tumblr
BUY the LP directly from Insound

Real Estate – Out of Tune 7″

Look – it’s the new Real Estate 7″. I saw this gem in the record store yesterday, and I didn’t really think twice after seeing it – naturally it suddenly ended up in my hands. After that I brought it back home and put in on my record player. Then I ripped the songs, and now I’m here sharing it with you lovely people out there on the interweb. Funny how that works out. So in case you weren’t already aware, this is the new 7″ from Real Estate, complete with two fresh songs called “Out of Tune” and “Reservoir”. Not sure if this one is a limited pressing or anything like that, but it comes from the True Panther Sounds label, and you should probably get this one sooner than later – if it’s like other Real Estate singles, it won’t be around forever.

First song up is the crystal-clear “Out of Tune”, and this one also goes great with the weather and feel for this time of year. Joyous, delightful guitars change back and forth, going from clean cut to swirling and intoxicating, all while the bass line continues to punch through, keeping the song in line from beginning to end. There’s a slight psychedelic/ folky tone mixed into the song, but it doesn’t overshadow the poppy/ indie vibes. Lead singer Martin Courtney sings about watching the cars pass by on I-95, which is a major highway spanning the whole East coast, also passing through our fine city of Philadelphia. Now flip that shit for the B-side “Reservoir”.

Another crystal-clear track, this was a song Real Estate played on one of their more recent visits to Philadelphia. If you can remember back to April, this was that ‘new song’ that Real Estate played back @ the Barbary. At that point in time, the song was still unnamed, and it was only their third time playing it live, but they did say it would be out soon enough on a new 7″, so at least they kept their promise! Six months later it finally saw a physical release, and I’ve got it here for you all today. Check out the songs below, and if yr bored, check out Real Estate live in Philadelphia.

Out of Tune –

Reservoir –

My Rating: 7.2/10
Genre/ Tags: Indie Rock, Alt-Country, Pop
Out of Tune 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Out of Tune
2.) Reservoir

Real Estate on Myspace !
BUY the 7″ directly from Insound
Watch Real Estate & Family Portrait do their thing live in Philadelphia
Also related: Alex Bleeker & the Freaks 12″ from Underwater Peoples

Big Search – Lay of the Land

What’s up people. Today’s music of focus comes from a man you may already be familiar with. If you’ve ever heard bands like Foreign Born and Fool’s Gold, then you’re already halfway there.

BIG SEARCH is the moniker for recording artist Matt Popieluch, who is indeed the lead man in Foreign Born, and who also records with Fool’s Gold. Big Search is more of a solo project for Popieluch, unlike the other two bands I just named. According to the SC Distribution website, Popieluch has been working on and off on Big Search projects since as early as 1999, dating back to when he was still in college, spanning an array of “90-minute ‘albums’ destined for the vacuum of obscurity.” While most of these albums probably won’t ever see the light of day, this one here made it through the process, and it’s called “Lay of the Land”. It’s a nine-track album, spanning just over 35 minutes in length, and it was put out in vinyl and digital format from the St. Ives label – with the vinyl format being limited to just 200 copies, coming in hand-made covers designed by no other than the people behind the music – click the picture above and zoom in for more detail.

Before you jump to any conclusions, it’s probably a good idea to let you know something up front. If you’re expecting this to be exactly like anything from Fool’s Gold or Foreign Born, then you might be a bit upset. Parts of the album here and there might give nods back to Popieluch’s other bands, but for the most part, this album would fall into the ‘experimental’ category. Two of the most prominent songs that would fit into this category would be the guitar and banjo instrumental tracks.

“Banjo Instrumental” (which you can hear on the BS Myspace), is a constantly growing song, with layers of jangly, barnyard sounding banjo. Pretty much the same goes for “Guitar Instrumental” (only it’s a guitar this time), but the reason I even bother saying this is because they’re both genuinely interesting and certainly make for a unique listen – they paint an abstract picture in your mind, but the focus of that picture is up to you, depending on how these two songs make you feel. I think that’s part of the premise with these two tracks, too. They’re included in there to throw you off balance and get you thinking – not about anything in particular – but nonetheless to get some thoughts brewing, either about the music or what have you. Leave some comments on the post and let us know how these songs make you feel, because I’d love to hear your side of the story.

Aside from these two instrumental tracks, there’s still plenty more musical paths to be taken on this record. I’ve left you guys with as many songs as I possibly can, just make sure you check out “French Doors” and “Flyer’s Fall”, which are both equally awesome tracks. The Myspace has even more from the record, so with the exception of a few songs, you can pretty much hear all 35 minutes of this record on the web. And other than that Myspace page and this post on the Styrofoam Drone, I don’t know of any other place where you can hear these songs, so I think that’s what you’d consider to be somewhat of an ‘exclusive’. Oh yeah! So please enjoy, and leave some comments!

Lay of the Land –

French Doors –

Flyer’s Fall –

Guitar Instrumental –

My Rating: 7/10
Genre/ Tags: Experimental, Pop, Folk
Lay of the Land: Tracklist:
1.) That’s All (Light On)
2.) Lay of the Land
3.) French Doors
4.) Grades
5.) Banjo Instrumental
6.) We Know
7.) Flyer’s Fall
8.) Guitar Instrumental
9.) Listen Up, You Understand

Big Search on Myspace
BUY the LP directly from Insound – Limited to 200 w/ hand made covers

Kurt Vile – In My Time 7″

Yo dudes. Last we heard from KURT VILE, it was back in the beginning days of June when he put out his Summery good times EP called “Square Shells”. Now the local Philly bro is back once more, this time with a brand new 7″ from Matador records. This 7″ is like a preview for Vile’s upcoming studio album, which they say should be hitting the shelves during 2011. According to the words in that link, we’ll probably hear at least one of these songs on the new album, but it doesn’t seem like anything has been set in stone just yet. Until we know more, this new 7″ will have to keep us satisfied – which is due out digitally on October 25th, and in limited edition 7″ format, due November 7th.

“In My Time” is a warm, nostalgic song featuring Kurt’s unique playing styles, and just like anything else from him out there, it’s certainly “worthy of recognition”. For the most part, the song has an acoustic folksy vibe, reminiscent of the early days of Autumn when the leaves start to fall and it begins to get cold out. With that being said, his music always seems to go great with the weather, but this guitar driven song isn’t just acoustics and folk. Things change up a bit when the lead guitar gets a make-over and suddenly turns into a psyched-out mess – something we already know Kurt is highly capable of, only this time we probably didn’t see it coming. The song fades out on this guitar, and chances are it’s going to make you put the song on for another spin. Now if only we could hear the rest of the songs from the 7″. I don’t think I’ve ever featured something without hearing the full tracklist, so consider this post an exception. Enjoy.

In My Time –

My Rating: none-haven’t heard the whole 7″
Genre/ Tags: Folk Rock, Psychedelic, Alternative
In My Time: Tracklist:
1.) In My Time
2.) Early Dawnin’
3.) Sad Ghost

Kurt Vile on Myspace
PREORDER the 7″ right now @ Matador Records
Videos of Kurt Vile & Fucked Up live in Philadelphia – check it out
Kurt Vile – Square Shells EP previously posted on the Drone

Moon Women – Listen Closely Cassette

It’s always nice to have clarification on things you weren’t entirely sure about. Waaaay back this past April, I went to a show at the Danger Danger Gallery in Philadelphia to see the Strange Boys. One of the opening bands that night was a local Philly band named MOON WOMEN. Now I didn’t know this at the time, but it turns out that that was their very first show performing as Moon Women. In my write-up from the show, I mentioned how the lead guitarists amp broke in the middle of their set, but I was never totally sure that’s what had happened. Sure enough, that was the case, and go figure that it happens during their very first show together – what a bummer. The dudes in the band recently got in touch me with regarding their debut release, a cassette-single (cassingle, if you will) featuring two brand new original songs, and it’s a hell of a first effort.

“Listen Closely” starts off on a mysterious note, and shortly after the rhythm section joins in to give the song it’s structure. Right away the bass line forces you to bob your head along to the beat, and the heavy, textured guitars are right up in your grill. They help create a huge wall of sound for the song, incorporating psychedelic qualities as well as some nods to shoegaze. There’s even an out-of-this-world organ worked into the mix, which gives the song it’s third-world qualities, and once it’s joined with the guitar, you’re not going to know what hit you (and now I understand why the amp broke that night – just listen to this stuff).

This song becomes an instant classic, and that infectious bass line still continues to rock on, keeping you in it’s grasp for the better part of the entire song. Not every band has much success putting qualities like this together in one single song, but Moon Women certainly made it work this time. Check out the awesome music video for this song, featuring clips of old, grainy VHS tapes found in local Philadelphia libraries, and don’t forget to check out the other side of the tape, “A Collection of Thought” – it has some awesome guitar progressions and more of that enormous Moon Women sound that I am now extremely fond of. Hopefully you will be too – check out the whole tape below, and also the video.

Listen Closely –

A Collection of Thought –

My Rating: 8/10
Genre/ Tags: Psychedelic, Post-Punk, Garage Rock
Listen Closely Cassette: Tracklist:
1.) Listen Closely
2.) A Collection of Thought

Moon Women – Official Website
Send $3 and yr address to mooncommand@gmail.com for your very own Moon Women tape – Limited to 50 !

Sleepovers – Secret 7″

Does anybody remember being younger back in elementary school times and just straight up hanging out with friends on the weekends? You never had to worry about working, and you usually hung out at local “cool places” like the mall, the bowling alley, and movie theater, where other kids from your age group would walk around in their baggy jeans claiming they were in some sort of “gang” just because they hung out at the movies all day.

While I never thought those kids were cool, I’m sure the good people in the band SLEEPOVERS felt the same way, and I say this because this 7″ of theirs captures that young, happy, innocent and carefree attitude that most kids that age have. Once the movies were over or you finished your game of bowling, you’d head back to one of your best friends houses and proceed to stay up for as long as possible, playing video games and carrying on like there was no tomorrow, most likely keeping the hosts parents awake all night. But you would never show how tired you were actually getting, because everybody fears being the first person asleep at a sleepover. Kind of ironic too.

One of the first words that might come to mind when listening to this 7″ is “fun”, and it probably should! I’m pretty sure that’s what the Sleepovers were aiming for with this single, because when it comes down to it, that’s exactly what it is. Lively, catchy, fun-loving indie-pop with some awesome guitar work slipped in throughout. “Secret” has a beyond satisfying guitar lick that really helps the song hit that high mark, which will most likely force you to spin it for another quick listen. Three of the four members appear to be siblings, which also adds to the seemingly endless amusement that’s brought along with this band. Hell, their Facebook page even claims right from the beginning that they are indeed fun, so even they know what’s good. And if Sleepovers already know it, and I’m just learning it, that leaves one other person to learn – you. Be sure to check out these songs below, and don’t forget to snag their 7″ before it’s gone for good. There’s another track from the 7″ on their Myspace, so don’t forget to check that one out as well – it’s called “Sleepovers are Fun”.

Secret –

Together Forever –

My Rating: 6.8/10
Genre/ Tags: Pop, Lo-Fi, Rock & Roll
Secret 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Secret
2.) Sleepovers are Fun
3.) Together Forever

BUY this 7″ from Insound – Limited to 500 !
Sleepovers on Myspace
Sleepovers on Facebook
More info. on the Sleepovers @ Hozac Records

Soars – Soars

Hey dudes!! It was a busy weekend here at the Drone. After that post with the new Panda Bear 7″, the hit count shot up a significant amount – an amount big enough to shatter our previous record of pageviews (in a 24 hour period) by over 100 hits! So for that, I must thank all of you viewers. If I could personally shake each and every one of your hands, I would. Sadly, that probably won’t ever happen, although I would like it. So now you’re probably wondering what’s in store for the upcoming week. To start things off, we’ve got the debut LP from Pennsylvanian dark-pop band SOARS. This is their first official release, and it comes from La Société Expéditionnaire, also located in Pennsylvania.

For starters, this debut LP comes jam-packed with constantly fluctuating moods and feelings, as songs can go from one extreme to the other within short periods of time. For the most part, there’s almost always a creepy, foreboding feel weaved into the songs. The presence of a dark, murky energy hangs over your head, instigating you to make the wrong decisions – kind of like when the devil and an angel are depicted in movies and cartoons as hanging out on your shoulder, always giving you advice on what or what not to do. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, see this picture right here. While all of this goes on, there’s an uplifting, spiritual ambiance that without a doubt contradicts the other qualities of the music that I just described. Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to decide which one over-shadows the other more – like in the song “Figurehead”. The ambiance comes shining through, and once it does, it may make it hard for you to decide what you actually think of the music.

While all of this is going on, there’s still other qualities to the music. In just about every last song, there’s some sort of repetitive, electronic percussion. Considering that most of these songs fall into the longer category, this percussion tends to get a bit stale, and usually pretty quickly. It doesn’t give the songs that much depth, as it just continues to repeat over and over again, making some of these songs difficult to get into. Tracks like “Young Adult” and “Figurehead” escape this downfall by getting heavier and denser without ever loosening their grip, of course, until the song ends. Find out for yourself with the tracks I have for you below, and as always, don’t forget to come back for more tomorrow.

Throw Yourself Apart –

Figurehead –

Young Adult –

My Rating: 6/10
Genre/ Tags: Experimental, Pop, Ambient
Soars: Tracklist:
1.) Introduction
2.) The Sun Breaks Every Way But One
3.) Throw Yourself Apart
4.) Escape on High
5.) Ditches
6.) Figurehead
7.) Young Adult
8.) Monolith

Soars – Official Website
Soars on Myspace
BUY the self-titled LP directly from the label – Limited to 500 on colored vinyl !

Panda Bear – You Can Count On Me 7″

It’s another 7″ from PANDA BEAR today. That means we must be getting closer to the release of his much-anticipated full length album “Tomboy”, which they say is supposed to drop sometime in the Fall of 2010. Thus far, this is the second installment in a string of 7″ records that are being released up until the full album finally drops. As a quick side note, you can check out the first 7″ right here. With the second 7″ now released, there can’t be that much more time to go, because Winter is just around the corner. Which makes me wonder how many more of these 7-inchers there are still to come. I guess only time will tell, so while we wait, why don’t we check out this new 7″?

Most places across the web already have a decent description of these songs, so I kind of feel redundant going into anything specific. Plus, I have to be at work in under an hour, so I’m not going to go crazy. “You Can Count On Me” is a “gentle duet between Panda Bear and himself, glimmering with third world melodic overtones – an ethereal uplifting number that is over before you become too familiar.” The track barely lasts over two minutes long, so that definitely makes sense. You can hear it for yourself right below. Then flip over to the B-side for the deliciously awesome “Alsatian Darn”. It’s yet another shiny, glimmering track that nearly doubles the length of the first song. Lots of pitter-patter, clapping, and unusually clicking sound effects overshadow the song, bringing thoughts to mind like “What was that?” Be sure to check this one out below too, because it’s shaping up to be quite an awesome full length once it’s finally out. Not sure where you can still pick up this sold out, limited-edition-of-500 7″, but I left you guys with the best links I could find. Good luck!

You Can Count On Me –

Alsatian Darn –

My Rating: 7.5/10
Genre/ Tags: Experimental, Dub, Pop
You Can Count On Me 7″: Tracklist:
1.) You Can Count On Me
2.) Alsatian Darn

BUY the 7″ from Norman Records – from the UK
Panda Bear on Myspace
Panda Bear – Tomboy 7″ previously posted on the Drone
This is the best I could find on eBay!