The Samps – The Samps EP

So with all of the recent chillwave stuff we’ve been seeing and hearing, it only seems appropriate that the Samps are putting out their debut EP. The EP is due out on Mexican Summer and should be available by June 15th, and it’s filled to the brim with danceable pop tracks, ranging from bent disco pop, dance-club electronica, and possibly even a bit of techno/house music. It also seems as if the songs were completely submerged underwater – they add this extra layer of summery haze over top of the whole project, almost as if this EP was made for Summer, and now this is our result. This groovy EP is bound to put a smile on your face as it forces you to get up and move without giving you any other options. As many other reviews go on to say, they cover quite an array of pop music in their short 15 time span, and the sounds they capture is enough to send you through a loop and keep you coming back for more.

The EP kicks off on the oddly named “Wizards Sleeve”, and if your first listen was anything like mine, then you’re going to be completely lost when this song starts. It goes through a few different sections at first, including manic laughter and otherworldly sounds, but they finally get to their point with a floating keyboard and magical sounding landscape, and once you’re finally comfortable with how it sounds, they change it up and it’s time for track two. This one is called “F.X.N.C.”, and I don’t know exactly what it stands for, but this track is a mess of all sorts of crazy sounds and effects that could literally lift you up out of your seat and put you into outer-space…that is, if you’re mind wants to take you there. The mangled bass lines are enough to keep your attention, not to mention the glowing, shimmering sounds they used to create soundscape-like songs rather than just individual dance gems. Following up is the longest song from the EP, “Yellow Jacket”. This tracks falls a bit more on the funky side, and you can hear it clearly through the slap-bass and whatever else qualifies to you as being “funky”. I’m finding it very difficult to not bounce my head along to the beat while listening to this funked out tune. This sounds like music you would hear on another planet or something, it’s nuts.

Skipping ahead to what would be the B-side of this EP, now we’re on the track “Hyperbolic”. “Hyperbolic” starts off with classic computer-sounding beeps and bops as the song continues to get more and more complex. I think it’s safe to say that I still feel like I’m floating around in space somewhere on this one. I think that’s a feeling that’s difficult to get away from while listening to this EP, too. Just picture a dance floor and people going totally ape-shit as they dance and dance without another single care in the world. That is this song. Last on the EP would be the track “Peppergood”, which again brings forth the funky rhythms and that immediately recognizable slap-bass. It’s just too good to ignore, seriously. This is probably my favorite part of the EP right here too. They end it on a good note, and they do it all without ever giving you a chance to think otherwise. If you like dancing and having a good time, this EP is certainly for you. See what you think by listening to the tracks below! Enjoy! And seriously, tonight’s our night. LET’S GO FLYERS!!

F.X.N.C. –

Yellow Jacket –

Peppergood –

My Rating: 7/10
Genre/ Tags: Electronic, Dance, Instrumental
The Samps EP: Tracklist
1.) Wizards Sleeve
2.) F.X.N.C.
3.) Yellow Jacket
4.) Thys
5.) Hyperbolic
6.) Peppergood

The Samps on Myspace!
Download music by the Samps for free from RCRD LBL
Download the EP digitally from Mexican Summer, or wait until June 15th and order the vinyl!

Girls Names – Girls Names EP

This is pretty interesting. The band Girls Names formed in January of 2009, and they had their first gig booked before ever playing a show together. How do you even book a gig without any music to show for it? That’s what I want to know. Does that mean they hadn’t practiced at all either? If so then that’s pretty awesome, but at this point Girls Names are way beyond that. Having been a band for over a year now, Girls Names hail from Belfast in Northern Ireland, the capital and largest city in Ireland. Up until this point they have released a mini-album on Tough Love Records, a cassette tape split with the band Heavy Hawaii on Cass/Flick, and last but not least the 12″ EP put out by Captured Tracks. The Captured Tracks EP features 4 original tracks from the band, and it clocks it at just over 10 minutes of noisy, strung out, reverb drenched guitar driven garage/surf rock.

At times when listening to this short EP, the band Crystal Stilts would come to mind. I think that would mainly be due to the droned out, howling vocals of lead singer Cathal, and also because of that primitive and simple-but-complex drumming style of drummer Neil (I couldn’t figure out their last names). The second track on the EP, “Warm Hands, Cold Heart”, is a great example of this. Lead singer Cathal hangs over the mix while the frantic drums and urgent guitars push the song almost into surf-rock territory. The first track “I Guess” also takes a stroll into the surf-rock side of things.

Moving onto the last track on the EP, “Graveyard” starts out with some welcoming guitars, and again this track goes deep into the surf rock side of things as the guitars almost become a quick Hawaiian dance jig as they switch it up a bit past the midway point of the song. One thing that is certain is that a graveyard will never evoke the same feeling that this song does. If yr interested, you can check out two of those four songs right here. If these aren’t enough for you, shoot on over to their Myspace where you can check out a bunch more of their songs. That’s all for today!

Warm Hands, Cold Heart –

Graveyard –

My Rating: 7/10
Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Surf Rock, Noise Rock
Girls Names EP: Tracklist
1.) I Guess
2.) Warm Hands, Cold Heart
3.) Don’t Let Me In
4.) Graveyard

Girls Names on Myspace
Girls Names Official Blogspot
BUY the 12″ EP directly from Captured Tracks

Moonbeams – In Transit EP

Going by the Moonbeams Myspace page, the main member of this band would be Ryan Lescure, considering he is the only band member listed as “always”. Of course these songs can’t be played live by Lescure alone, so he has some friends to come in a fill the open spots. Moonbeams play music drowned in an increasingly atmospheric environment, with guitars swirling above your head and buzzing basslines that hum through the music, almost as if it’s got to puncture a thick layer of haze before it actually reaches your ears. At this point in time, Moonbeams have put out two EPs, and we’re covering the later of the two. The In Transit EP was released on CD by Hop Skip Jump Records, and it’s a 5 track EP clocking in at just over 18 minutes long. These 5 songs were recorded in the Spring of 2010, and it didn’t take long for them to see a proper release.

The Hop Jump Skip Records description of the album reads like this: “Inspired more by C86 indie pop and jangly, chorus-laden guitars, In Transit is meant to be viewed as a bridge between the Moonbeams debut and their first LP, the Daisy Chain, to be released in the future on Hop Skip Jump Records.” With that being said, I guess “In Transit” was an absolutely perfect name for this EP. Everything they say here is true, although one song doesn’t quite fit into that description. The second track “I Am Forgotten” is certainly heavier than anything else on this EP, and they addressed that on the HSJ page as well. The song starts off with a thunderously distorted guitar, and it’s quite a haunting track. The constant hit of the ride cymbal holds everything together while Lescures vocals are enough to “sing” you to sleep. At times he sounds very bland, and not much like he’s singing at all, maybe more like talking. If you want a different flavor of Moonbeams song, then check out the blissful “Adorable” below. Still not enough? Head on over to the Moonbeams Myspace to check out a few more.

I Am Forgotten –

Adorable –

My Rating: 6/10
Genre/ Tags: Shoegaze, Dream Pop, Pop
In Transit EP: Tracklist
1.) Elise
2.) I Am Forgotten
3.) Adorable
4.) Portland
5.) Tulip

Moonbeams on Myspace
Moonbeams on Facebook
BUY the In Transit EP directly from Hop Skip Jump Records

Top Surprise – Everything Must Go EP

Top Surprise is a brand new band formed out of the unexpected country of Brazil. Before listening to these guys for the first time, all I could say I knew about them was their name. I downloaded their album (FOR FREE!) about a week ago, and since then, I’m finding it very difficult to not listen to these guys. Before I go any further, I would like to announce that you too can download this great EP, entirely for free! Just click this link! It’s that simple. These guys play hard, and they play loud. This is one of those albums that you need to play with the volume all the way up. It’s noisy. It’s loud. It’s mothafuckin’ Top Surprise.

Opening track “Samsara” starts off the EP, and it certainly doesn’t take long before things get loud. Any listener will know right away whether they’re going to like this band or not, because noisy pop rock certainly isn’t for everybody. Lead singer André takes lead vocals, and he is backed up by female counterpart known as Boo, who at times can be very difficult to hear in the mix, but she’s there, just listen carefully! Following track “Saturn (The Season)” starts off with the boy-girl vocal duo, and this one starts to get deep into the noise. Drummer Fil starts beating the hell out of his drum set a bit past the 1 minute mark, and that’s when the noise comes in. Screeching guitars and indecipherable lyrics dominate the mix, and shortly after the 2 minute mark they give you a chance to catch your breath. The drawn out guitars and snare hits progressively get softer and softer, giving this part of the song a demonic feel, and before you know it the shit hits the fan and they’re at it again.

Next track “More than Cool” can definitely be tagged as a highlight for this EP. Unfortunately it’s less than 2 minutes long, but it brings a lot to the Top Surprise table. The rhythm guitar screams nothing other than having a good time, while the squealing solos in this one are enough to melt the skin right off of your precious face. An unexpectedly satisfying song this one was. I’m not entirely sure how this band does it, but they keep hitting that mark. You really need to listen to this song below. Next track “Home” starts off with a murky bass line and quick little noise blasts from the guitar. Things continue on this way for most of the song until the end when they turn up the intensity a bit. The guitars become even more overbearing and the bass line gets drowned in yet another layer of fuzz. Skipping ahead to the longest song on the EP “I Shoot the Devil”. This one starts out sounding like a rip-rockin’ good time, followed by more of lead singer André and backup singer Boo and their completely unintelligible boy-girl vocals. Some nice little guitar licks come up on this one, and as the song comes to a close they speed things up, only to slow back down to bring the song to its end. Last but not least would be the final track “80 Comes”, which isn’t quite like the rest of the EP. This one falls into a category of its own, and like myself, chances are you won’t see this one coming. It’s simple, laid back, and easy going. The acoustic guitar has a welcoming tone, and you can actually hear lead singer André in this one! Guys, don’t waste any more of your time. Hurry up and download the EP and start listening right away. You’ll be happy you did. And as always, thanks for coming by, and be sure to check back again tomorrow!

Saturn (The Season) –

More than Cool –

I Shoot the Devil –

My Rating: 9/10
Genre/ Tags: Noise Rock, Lo-Fi, Pop
Everything Must Go EP: Tracklist
1.) Samsara
2.) Saturn (The Season)
3.) More than Cool
4.) Home
5.) Lagarto Drugs
6.) I Shoot the Devil
7.) 80 Comes

Top Surprise on Myspace
BUY the EP on cassette directly from Pug Records!
DOWNLOAD the entire EP, completely for free!

Twin Sister – Color Your Life

Not too long ago it was announced on the interweb that the band Twin Sister would be touring with Bear in Heaven this summer. It’s really too bad that they’re not going to make it to Philadelphia, because that would kick ass. Unfortunately the closest they’ll be to Philadelphia is when they play in Ohio, and that’s just a bit too far. Oh well. Instead why not just listen to their mesmerizing most recent effort “Color Your Life”, which is due out on May 25th by Infinite Best Recordings?

“Color Your Life” certainly does just as it says. It doesn’t take long for you to realize that either. Right off the bat they’re going for the gold, and if that means we get to listen to more “dream sequence” music like this, then keep it coming! The album starts off on the track “The Other Side of Your Face”, which sort of leaves you on a dreamy, mysterious path right at the beginning of the album. Not long into listening you will notice that the music is drowned in an increasingly atmospheric environment, almost as if you can reach out and grasp the sounds themselves (hence the “dream sequence” comment above). The last minute and a half brings out some entrancing sound effects, and suddenly the song takes a random turn into a land of ridiculously spaced out guitar and an unexpected, almost dancey drum beat. Then it all stops and you’re listening to the next song, “Lady Daydream”, which is probably the most accessible on the album. The twangy guitars that dominate the song do a great job of holding everything together, while the bass guitar does a great job of guiding us through the song. Not only does it act as a guide, but it’s guaranteed to keep your feet tapping along to the beat. Make sure you listen to this one below, you’ll be happy you did.

Next up on the album is “Milk & Honey”. This track starts off slow with the organ until that twangy, metallic sounding lead guitar comes back in to kick off the song. Shortly after the one minute mark the song suddenly takes an unexpected turn in a direction that you probably didn’t see coming at first. The repeating bass line takes charge and pulsates through the rest of the song until it’s suddenly cut short by the intro to the next track, “All Around and Away We Go”. Definitely one of the more accessible songs on the album again right here. Once again, the bass line in this one is sure to keep you moving. Right before the three minute mark everything stops except for some heavenly sound effects, and shortly after the bass line and drums start up again. Now you probably have this unexpected urge to dance, and you’re not really even too sure how it happened. This song sounds like it could have been straight out of the 1980’s.

Next up is the instrumental track “Galaxy Plateau”, but it doesn’t quite serve as an instrumental track – it’s more of a soundscape, or a “dreamscape” if you will. This song sort of came out of nowhere; I wasn’t expecting anything like this, but it’s a hell of an experience. The first minute or so is incredibly creepy, as you can hear a bell ringing far away in the distance. It sounds pretty gruesome, almost as if this were the foreshadowing music to somebody’s death in a movie. This first part really leaves you wondering what direction this song is going to take, but suddenly, right before the two minute mark, it changes directions significantly. You’re greeted by an organ and shimmering, icy sound effects, which almost gives you the feeling that you’re somehow in a wintry atmosphere now. The shimmering sounds you hear remind me of those days when you would trek through the Ice Cavern as adult Link in the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Just listen to the song in this video, you’ll catch my drift. Along with the shimmers you can hear harsh winds, and footsteps trudging through what sounds like snow, with the crunching sound of the snow being mashed up under your feet. It’s almost like you’re in an abandoned snow-town in the dead of winter with nobody else around but the menacing sound of a distant bell calling your name, slowly but surely driving you mad. The way they paint the picture here is bound to leave you speechless, and possibly even begging for more. The last 30 seconds of the song reveals a transition which leads you into the final track of the album, “Phenomenons”. Unlike the previous track, the good vibes really come through on this one. Everything sounds like it’s going to be okay now, almost as if you made it out of that wintry wasteland you were just trapped in. They way the end the album here should leave any listener with high hopes for the next release from Twin Sister. Thanks for reading and check out the mp3’s below.

Lady Daydream –

All Around and Away We Go –

My Rating: 8/10
Genre/ Tags: Dream Pop, Experimental, Pop
Color Your Life: Tracklist
1.) The Other Side of Your Face
2.) Lady Daydream
3.) Milk & Honey
4.) All Around and Away We Go
5.) Galaxy Plateau
6.) Phenomenons

Twin Sisters Official Website
Twin Sister on Myspace
Pre-Order “Color Your Life” directly from Infinite Best Recordings

Boogie Boarder – Pizza Hero

My Rating: 9/10
Genre/ Tags: Instrumental, Noise Rock, Surf

Hello! I hope everybody’s Record Store Day went well and you all got the releases you wanted! Now, I’ve started posts off like this in the past, but doesn’t everybody like to be surprised at some point in their day? That’s just what this album “Pizza Hero” did to me. Other than knowing that these guys were an instrumental band, I can’t say I knew much else before listening. With that being said, I absolutely love being completely caught off guard when listening to music, and it’s not an everyday thing that happens either, but “Pizza Hero” certainly does the trick.

The first track “Sparks” wastes no time getting things started. Before you know it you’re in the midst of a full on musical assault with pulsating bass lines and relentless guitar hooks, all while you’re still trying to figure out “Where the hell did this band come from?” Well, believe it or not, they come from Brooklyn, New York, but as far as bands go these days, that’s old news. The next track on the album, “Bio Hassle”, is surely worth your time, with it’s quick stop/start action, grimy sounding bass lines, and electrically charged guitar solos. The best way to hear this song would probably be through their ridiculously fun music video, where they play in a van full of balloons, smash guitars, and eat watermelon. Towards the end they have an all-out party in the back of the van complete with cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and pizza that seems to be flying anywhere but the eaters mouths. Watch the debauchery below.

Moving on from “Bio Hassle” gets you into the “Pig Pile” two-part suite that play into each other almost perfectly. The first slower half ends with some awesome descending guitar hooks, while during the second half is when things start to get fast and crazy. They turn up the intensity about a minute in, where you can definitely hear the use of some vocal harmonies, which adds a nice touch to the song.

Just like the two “Pig Pile” tracks, other highlights include “Bummers Begin”, “Little Giants”, and the epic closing track “USRA”. All in all, “Pizza Hero” clocks in at just about 30 minutes of time, and if you’re looking for a very enjoyable half-hour of your day, then “Pizza Hero” is the way to go. Thanks for reading, and check back soon – Real Estate is tonight.

Pizza Hero: Tracklist
1.) Sparks
2.) Bio Hassle
3.) Pig Pile Part I
4.) Pig Pile Part II
5.) Bummers Begin
6.) Little Giants
7.) Dirty Gary
8.) USRA

Boogie Boarder on Myspace
BUY Boogie Boarder stuff directly from Famous Class

Double Dagger – Masks EP

My Rating: 9/10
Genre/ Tags: Post-Punk, Noise Rock, Drum & Bass

Last we heard from Baltimore’s own Double Dagger, it was their latest full length record “MORE” that was put out by Thrill Jockey back in 2009. Now, in 2010, Double Dagger have a new EP for us, and it’s best described as a continuation of songs from their “MORE” LP. The EP features 5 new and unheard Double Dagger tracks that’s just shy of 19 minutes long, and its sound is just as ragged, angry, raw, and discontented as the songs from their “MORE” LP.

The EP kicks off with a bang on the first track “Imitation Is the Most Boring Form of Flattery”, which sounds like the Double Dagger sound you’re already quite comfortable with. Vocalist Nolen Strals warns us immediately that “We’re all in danger! Our history has no future, don’t be just another repeater”, referring to the state that our nation is in, claiming that it’s in an “unhealthy” state and everywhere he looks, “everyone is just spewing”. Somebody is definitely upset with that current status of our nation, and that is quite clear when reading the lyrics to this one. Strals goes on to say that “You don’t see the past as a source of inspiration, you just have it set as your final destination” which calls out anybody who tends to live in the past. We all know living in the past is fun, but it can also be unhealthy. The other song on the A-side of the record is “Pillow Talk”, which comes with a nice bass solo about 1 minute and 25 seconds in, while the rest of the track includes Strals singing about gross/weird encounters of his friends sexual mishaps that don’t quite leave you with the idea of a pretty sight. Next up is the strangely titled “Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing”, which might generate a funny picture or two in your head. This song makes me wonder how on Earth this band gets by with just a drummer and a bassist. Some of the sounds that come out on this track sound like everything but a bass guitar, but that minimalistic property is all part of the deal when it comes to Double Dagger. This goes on to make me wonder how these guys perform live. I guess I’ll just have to wait until May 3rd.

Flipping over to the B-side starts with the longest track included on the EP, “Sleeping With the TV On”. It’s just under 7 minutes long, and it starts out way too slow to be a Double Dagger song. Strals comes in with “When you live two lives, which is your own? When you live two lives, where do you call home…” while the song begins to speed up and take form. Before you know it, you’re again in familiar Double Dagger territory during the 2nd minute, and this time Strals is giving us insight into his dreams at night… “All my dreams look like TV shows, they’re full of stars that everyone knows, my life is like a secret episode, it’s full of plots that never unfold.” It sounds like somebody is looking for a bit of a change. Not only is a major change in order, but something must be done about all the “past-due bills”, “jacked-up rent”, and the fact that the taxman is coming because he wants “us to pay for what we’ve spent”. These are certainly all pressing issues that should be dealt with as soon as possible. This would bring us to our last track, the instrumental and most relaxed song found on the EP, “Song for S”, which is just an easy flowing bass line on top of some crazy industrial-sounding sound effects. All in all, this is definitely a solid effort from a solid band who I hope to hear more from very soon. May 3rd won’t come soon enough! Thanks for reading friends, and be sure to check back tomorrow. I’ll hopefully be making it to the JAPANDROIDS show at the Barbary tonight…

Tracklist: Masks EP
1.) Imitation Is the Most Boring Form of Flattery
2.) Pillow Talk
3.) Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing
4.) Sleeping With the TV On
5.) Song for S

BUY the new Masks EP directly from Thrill Jockey
MORE Review previously posted on the Styrofoam Drone
Double Dagger on Myspace

Javelin – 2

My Rating: 9/10
Genre/ Tags: Dance, Electronic, Hip Hop

Does anybody remember the first post I made about Javelin back in December? Probably not, but the link in the last sentence will bring you to that post. The reason I am asking is because the new material that is mentioned I now have in my possession! It’s simply called “2”, and it’s by the same cousinly duo comprised of Thomas van Buskirk and George Langford that you already know and love. It’s a brand new set of tracks that clocks in at just under 18 minutes, and it’s packed with party jams, dance worthy beats and even a bit of your favorite Snoop Dog song. That’s right.

The first track “Dynamite” kicks off with the squeal of some car breaks and then the beep of a horn before you’re greeted with “Hey everybody! Come on let’s go! We’re gonna show you, things you need to know.” Following that is a funky bass line covered up by all sorts of clanks and pops, with our hosts from the beginning blurting out words and phrases sporadically throughout the track. The next song “Good Morning Minneapolis” gets its point across, evoking a hazy, early summer morning, possibly driving through town with your windows rolled down and the wind blowing through your hair. The last 15 seconds of the track comes out of nowhere when everything stops and it’s quickly broken down into a joyous tune that you would probably overhear a mariachi band playing in a Mexican flea market. Three quarters of the way through the EP, there is a song called “Beyondce” that serves no other purpose than for you to dance along. Not only is it an awesome track name, but it’s faster than the other tracks, and it certainly challenges the listener to get up and move. It actually may be more of a challenge to try and sit still through this track. Seriously. If you have the record try spinning this track at 33rpm rather than the recommended 45rpm. It’s a real treat. The final track “Snoop 2” is a re-made version of an earlier Javelin track called “Snoop” that you could find on their “Jamz n Jemz” CD. It’s a shape-shifting mess of pianos, Egyptian dances, Snoop Dog songs, and jaunty Irish tunes. The last thirty seconds of the song gets rid of everything but the Snoop Dog lyrics, all while it plays over a beautiful sample that I wish I knew the origin of. If anybody knows, please talk to me!

Good Morning Minneapolis –

Beyondce –

2: Tracklist
1.) Dynamite
2.) Good Morning Minneapolis
3.) Beyondce
4.) Snoop 2

Javelin – 2: BUY this at Insound before it’s sold out! Only 500 copies made!
Javelin on Myspace
Preorder No Más

Vermillion Sands – Miss My Gun EP

My Rating: 8/10
Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Folk Rock, Italian

Last Friday night I had some down time, so some friends and I decided to go out. We made one of our stops at AKA Music, along with a few others. Before going into the store I hadn’t necessarily planned to buy anything, but sure enough, like always, AKA had something I had previously been seeking out. After discovering the band Vermillion Sands and posting one of their other releases here on the blog (Vermillion Sands – Mary 7″), I couldn’t help but get all giddy when I came across another one of their records. This time it was their latest effort, the “Miss My Gun” EP which was released in December of 2009 by Sacred Bones Records. The EP features five new tracks from the band, along with a cover song. The cover, “I’m a Little Mixed Up”, was originally performed by a woman named Betty James from back in 1961. More information on Betty James right here. As far as the rest of the music goes, the band stays within the confines of their infectious folky-garage rock that’s dusted with a thin layer of country. Infectious is the appropriate word, because songs like “Where Was He From”, “Miss My Gun”, and “I’m a Little Mixed Up” will probably get stuck in your head and keep you coming back for second, third, and fourth listens. Dare I say fifth? While the EP downloads, be sure to listen to “Miss My Gun”, which you can hear below. Please keep in mind that the band is fronted by a female singer, Anna Barattin. Also, a full length is due out on Fat Possum Records in the near future! Please come soon!

Vermillion Sands – Miss My Gun

Miss My Gun EP: Tracklist
1.) Where Was He From
2.) Miss My Gun
3.) I Need No One
4.) I’m a Little Mixed Up
5.) Disappear Chanell

Vermillion Sands on Myspace/Facebook
Miss My Gun EP: BUY
Mary 7″ previously posted on the Styrofoam Drone

Pavement – Perfect Sound Forever

My Rating: 8/10
Genre/ Tags: Indie Rock, Noise Rock

Since I love Pavement so much, and so do you (you do love Pavement, right?), I have decided to post MORE Pavement today! How exciting! Today I have an EP for you that comes from the very early Pavement days, dating back to April 15th, 1991. This EP was the third release from Pavement, and it was put out by the label Drag City. Good luck finding this EP though, because it has been out of print for years. Your best bet would be eBay…or Philadelphia’s Punk Rock Flea Market (when in season), where I happily scored my very own copy. I already posted a bit of information on this release for the “Band of the Week” feature today. Basically, because this an early Pavement release, it’s not going to sound exactly like the Pavement you and I love and cherish so much. Most of the songs from Pavement’s early days can easily be considered nosiy, rackety, strange, and possibly even mysterious.

The best (and most ridiculous) example of one of these songs would be “Drive-By Fader”. Seriously? Come on. What is that? It’s just a 28 second song that sounds like a distorted piano/ keyboard that if you listened to long enough would eventually become a headache inducer. Seriously. Listen for yourself on YouTube. Not all of these noisy tracks are so bad though. The opening track “Heckler Spray” is a much more accessible noise track than any of the others, with its heavy guitars and steady drum beat. I actually wish this song was much longer, because it would probably turn out to be quite a bad ass track. Check it out on YouTube right here. See what I mean? They could have kept that going, man! Aside from these noisy tracks, there are a few more traditional songs found on the EP, like the track “Angel Carver Blues/Mellow Jazz Docent”. This is a great song with a sick introduction, but the best part comes within the last 3 seconds when Malkmus utters the word “Fuck.” No other word could have been more appropriate here. Other tracks surely worth checking out are “Home”, and my personal favorite, “Debris Slide”, with it’s silly chants that are fun to sing along with. Check those two songs out right below, or here. Thanks for reading, and be sure to check-in again tomorrow.

Pavement – Debris Slide

Pavement – Home

Perfect Sound Forever: Tracklist
1. “Heckler Spray” – 1:06
2. “From Now On” – 2:03
3. “Angel Carver Blues/Mellow Jazz Docent” – 2:30
4. “Drive by Fader” – 0:28
5. “Debris Slide” – 1:56
6. “Home” – 2:23
7. “Krell Vid-User” – 1:26

Pavement: Official Website
Perfect Sound Forever: You definitely can’t buy this record anywhere but eBay. You could just buy the “Westing (by Musket & Sextant)” compilation which includes all the tracks from the EP and more! – BUY!