PREMIER: Adam Widener – Vesuvio Nights

adam widener vesuvio nights lp speakertree records 2013

Speakertree Records in Charlottesville, VA continues to churn out the goods. Up next they’re delivering the debut long-player from Bay-area wonder-kid ADAM WIDENER. The former Zygoteen/Bare Wire has left his mark over the last year or so with at least two scorching singles, naturally leading us to this newly released debut. Vesuvio Nights clocks-in with 14 blistering tracks loaded with glam and drenched in fuzz, evidenced by the stomping jangle in lead single “Laughter On Your Heels I’ll Follow.” The track is tight with swift percussion and a wonky bass line, all of which is performed by Widener himself. He’s at it again in self-titled track “Vesuvio Nights,” showing off a glittery lead guitar to go with a throbbing bass line. It’s ecstatic and propulsive, crafting a form of melodic, punk-inflected pop with a relentless twang. Listen to the self-titled track below and check the video for “Laughter On Your Heels I’ll Follow!”

Vesuvio Nights –

Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Pop, Punk
Vesuvio Nights: Tracklist:
1.) Telephone Traps
2.) Laughter on Your Heels I’ll Follow
3.) Vesuvio Nights
4.) Fake Flowers Never Die
5.) Crystal Caskets
6.) Average People in an Average World
7.) Babe Don’t Feel Blue
8.) Black is the Color
9.) Glow Crush
10.) Pools of Light
11.) Gentle Swarm
12.) Fluid Trails of Glitter Gore
13.) Visceral Venom
14.) Transparency Shows Me the Way

BUY the LP from Speakertree Records
Adam Widener on Facebook

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Find Mr. Widener in our Top Thirty 7″ Records of 2012

Friday’s Find: Strange Attractor – Back to the Cruel World

strange attractor back to the cruel world lp 2013 mammoth cave fdh resurrection

FDH, Resurrection and Mammoth Cave Records have all joined forces to bring us one of the most absurd punk records of 2013. STRANGE ATTRACTOR is the rock alias of Jeff Houle, an artist based in Sudbury, Ontario, who previously did time in Statues and the Havocs. Back to the Cruel World is his first record to be properly released in the US, and it’s a snarling batch of decrepit speed-punk that’s as angry and disgusted as anything ever committed to tape. Continue reading “Friday’s Find: Strange Attractor – Back to the Cruel World”

Song of the Day #47: Go!Zilla – “Dazed Dream”

go!zilla grabbing a crocodile lp 2013 black candy records

Courtesy of Black Candy Records in Italy and distributed by Rough Trade in Europe, GO!ZILLA just dropped their debut LP titled Grabbing a Crocodile. The band operates as a duo, delivering a grab-bag of sorts on their debut consisting of anything from punk to garage and dream pop to surf rock. The album’s self-titled single “Grabbing a Crocodile” starts us off with a gritty snarl, slowly burning and simmering in a pool of searing, acid-fueled psych. The band plans to make “Dazed Dream” the second single from their LP, which employs a totally different side of their approach to psychedelic rock. Warbled guitars and soaring vocals open the track with a hazy glimmer, creating a song that swings toward the dream pop fences.

Pretend it’s almost like a heavier Galaxie 500, using wondrous two-chord simplicity to progress the psyched-out bliss. Primal drumming and lysergic organs flutter as the track begins to re-emerge, revealing the details of a recalled dream (“I remember I was there”) along with a layer of invigorating guitar heat. As if you need any more reason to listen, you can get your fill of this crushing track right below. Head on over to the Go!Zilla Bandcamp if that’s got you drooling!

My Rating: SS
Genre/ Tags: Dream Pop, Psychedelic, Shoegaze

BUY the LP directly from Black Candy Records !
Go!Zilla on Facebook
Go!Zilla on Bandcamp

V/A – Philadelphia Cock ‘n’ Roll Showcase LP

various artists philadelphia cock 'n' roll showcase lp piss drink 2013

Independent Philadelphia garage rock label Piss Drink Records just dropped a compilation covering four of Philadelphia’s finest basement-dwelling garage punks. Including fan-favorites the Eeries, the Pussy Dogs, the Tight Spots and the Shakes, the LP comes on red and brown split color vinyl. Continue reading “V/A – Philadelphia Cock ‘n’ Roll Showcase LP”

Friday’s Find: Tough Age – s/t LP

tough age st lp 2013 mint records

Tough Age is a group of punk rock veterans based in Vancouver, British Colombia. Fronted by Jarrett Evan Samson on guitar and vocals, Penny Clark on guitar, Lauren Smith on bass and Chris Martell on drums, this smoking quartet delivers melodic, punk-inflected pop somewhere in the mid-fi range. Continue reading “Friday’s Find: Tough Age – s/t LP”

Song of the Day #46: Shaky Shrines – “Can’t Quit”

shaky shrines mausoleum lp 2013

Pittburgh’s newest psychedelic rock band SHAKY SHRINES just dropped their debut LP at the beginning of November. The band formed back in July, but in just a few short months they’ve released a couple EPs, a bunch of op art/ music videos and a 2D side-scrolling virtual cemetery website. They even supplied the soundtrack to a documentary about motorcycles, and, oh yeah, we shouldn’t overshadow their new self-released album Mausoleum.

As proven by their long list of accomplishments, this band loves all things creepy and psychedelic. When frontman Braden Faisant isn’t shredding in Shaky Shrines, he works in a “giant cemetery in Pittsburgh doing things like cleaning out crypt spiders, carrying caskets and writing songs while riding different tractors.” As if you needed any other proof, a job like this goes a long way to help mold their doom-flavored psych. “Can’t Quit” is the driving lead single from their new album, centered around shadowy guitar hooks and Faisant’s breathy howling. This is some truly maddening guitar pop disguised by the darkened psych vibes, but that’s only focusing on this lone track. Mausoleum is over thirty minutes of all things psych, whether it’s the drony “Stones in the Graveyard” or the haunting “Someone’s In the Basement.” Be sure to check out the video for “Can’t Quit” below, then head over to the Shaky Shrines Bandcamp for a full dose of their shadowy psych.

Genre/ Tags: Psychedelic, Garage Rock, Alternative, Pop

Shaky Shrines – Official Website – awesome 2D side-scrolling website !
Shaky Shrines on Bandcamp

Friday’s Find: Fuzz – s/t LP

fuzz st lp 2013 in the red recordings

After a string of solid 7″ singles, FUZZ is back with their debut self-titled LP for In the Red Recordings. The record was released in two versions – a regular edition and a deluxe edition complete with a fuzzy velvet sleeve, foil-embossed lettering and clear vinyl with black splatters. Continue reading “Friday’s Find: Fuzz – s/t LP”

Song of the Day #45: Sun Stone Revolvers – “Spaceship X”

sun stone revolvers spaceship x lp optical sounds 2013

SUN STONE REVOLVERS is a trio hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They were formerly known as just REVOLVERS when they dropped their first album Apocalypse Surfin’ in 2010 on Optical Sounds, but now they follow it up in a big way with their sophomore LP Spaceship X. The album unfolds like a hazy storm cloud engulfing the sky, revealing self-titled track “Spaceship X” with a grungy bass line, atmospheric guitar textures and soaring vocals. It’s the perfect way to open up this album, trapping us in this simmering mixture of stormy psych that is as hypnotic as it is gripping. Track two “On the Run” follows up in a similarly mesmerizing fashion, sustaining a pulsing bass line and a tight, jangly rhythm section. With songs like these there’s no doubts about this tripped-out space rock, so take a moment to check out “Spaceship X” below. If that’s got you wondering, the rest of this album will certainly hit the spot.

My Rating: SS
Genre/ Tags: Psychedelic, Space Rock, Alternative

Sun Stone Revolvers – Official Website
Sun Stone Revolvers on Bandcamp