Song of the Day #18: Strange Hands – Smell

STRANGE HANDS have just dropped their first proper full length album from Shit Music for Shit People. The album features 11 full tracks of their quivering garage rock sound, which proves that Strange Hands are a force to be reckoned with. The album, titled Dead Flowers, sees the band sprawling out in all directions, ranging from energetic pop-punk (“Trapper & Dodger”), swirling, instrumental acid trips (“Dead Flowers”) and hard-hitting, psyched-out bangers (“First Poem”, “Bunny Slipper”, “Smell”) that all manage to go above and beyond to hit their mark. Songs are heavy in the keyboard/synthesizer department, which ultimately helps intensify the lysergic and psychedelic properties of this album.

With an album like this one, Strange Hands have made it clear what they’re capable of and the results are nothing short of exhilarating. Take a song like “Smell,” which has the pedal to the metal from start to finish. They rage on through with shredded, stream-lined guitar shards, creating an all-out punk monstrosity comprised of scorching solos with an element of innocence that is easy to endorse. Now if you like what you hear go and grab your copy of the vinyl. It’s official release date is May 11th, so sit tight!

Smell –

Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Lo-Fi, Pop, Psychedelic

PREORDER the LP directly from Shit Music for Shit People – out May 11th !
Strange Hands on Facebook

Song of the Day #17: Ketamines – The Runaround

Here’s a song called “The Runaround” from the upcoming album from KETAMINES titled “Spaced Out.” The album drops March 6th and it’s a split release from both Mammoth Cave Records in Canada and Southpaw Records in California. Both labels offer a preorder for the record with a color edition of the vinyl limited to 100, so once those are gone you’ll be shit out of luck! If “The Runaround” is any indication, you probably won’t want to sleep on this one either. The song shows off their poppy blend of psychedelic rock, riddled with all sorts of warped and strung out sound effects that gives the track a woozy vibe. Jangly, pulsing guitar shards drive the song with a mysterious edge lurking in the shadows, which by the end of the track will only leave you aching for what else “Spaced Out” has to offer. Thankfully March 6th isn’t too far off, so sit tight my friends!

PS – Do yrself a HUGE favor and go check out these other two songs from the LP, you won’t be sorry.

The Runaround –

Genre/ Tags: Pop, Psychedelic, Garage Rock, Lo-Fi

PREORDER the LP from Southpaw – 100 on blue vinyl (US customers)
PREORDER the LP from Mammoth Cave – 100 on green vinyl (Canada customers)

Past Related Posts:
Line By Line 7″ (Hozac)
Find the Ketamines in our Top 30 7″ Records of 2011

Jacuzzi Boys – Kim Fowley Cover 7″

The JACUZZI BOYS of Miami just released their sophomore album “Glazin'” on Hardly Art. The first lucky 300 pre-orders came with this 7″ here, a single-sided opaque green single with a cover of Kim Fowley’s “Born Dancer”. Continue reading “Jacuzzi Boys – Kim Fowley Cover 7″” →

Song of the Day #15: Mavis the Dog

Recently discovered Philly bro Scott Olsen fronts the solo bedroom project MAVIS THE DOG. Olsen just released his second album, cleverly titled “The Second Album” on a series of 100 red cassette tapes, released entirely by himself. There isn’t a spot to buy this release physically, but you can just as easily download it for free by checking the Mavis the Dog blogspot. Olsen primarily enlists help from his guitar, a drumset and his own voice, occasionally branching out with some piano, harmonica and bass for good measure. These two songs below sound equally breezy and easy-going, encapsulating what the rest of the album might sound like to the listener. “Not All Things Must Past” sways along for a solid two minutes before breaking off into a quivering and carnivalesque guitar lead, while “End of Our Day” is a free-flowing and optimistic jam dominated by joyous pianos.

End of Our Day –

Not All Things Must Pass –

Mavis the Dog on Blogspot

Get it here: Free Download on Mediafire
Genre/ Tags: Lo-Fi, Bedroom Pop, Singer-Songwriter

Song of the Day #14: TRUST

If you’re like us, then you can’t seem to get enough of TRUST. The Canadian duo has only released one 7″ to their name thus far and then there’s the lone track “Not a Waste of Sky” within the Sacred Bones Todo Muere compilation. While those three songs really aren’t enough to keep anybody satisfied, neither is this fourth track “Gloryhole” I’m going to send your way, but we hope it partially helps subside your Trust fever.

Like the other three tracks, there’s a dark and dire trance wave that extends itself through this inexplicably sexy dance anthem. However, it’s a rewarding song because even though they stick to their “grave wave” aesthetic, it doesn’t sound remotely close to the other three songs that you can potentially unearth from Trust. In other words, all of these tracks vary greatly while managing to stay within the darkly brooding and troubling realm that is Trust. Lead singer Robert Alfons sounds cold and haunted in “Gloryhole”, and although this one features minimal vocals (see “Not a Waste of Sky” for the opposite), he still manages to send a shivering chill up your spine whether you like it or not. At this point we can’t exactly say what’s to come next, but we can at least keep our eyes on Sacred Bones who looks to be releasing their debut long player sometime in 2011.

Gloryhole –

Get it here: DOWNLOAD
Genre/ Tags: Electronic, Synth Pop, Trance, Dance, Ambient

BUY the Candy Walls 7″ from Insound
BUY the Todo Muere SB Comp. – an RSD ’11 exclusive limited to 900!
DOWNLOAD “Not a Waste of Sky” (different from Todo Muere version)
Hear a brand new demo “The Dazzle” on the Trust Myspace
An insightful TRUST Interview from WOW Magazine

Past Related Posts:
Candy Walls 7″
Todo Muere Vol. 1 Compilation

Song of the Day #13

TIMES NEW VIKING released their fifth official full length album, but it’s their first to come from the Merge Records imprint. The others came from the likes of Matador and Siltbreeze, so releasing on Merge was a progressive step forward for these Columbus, Ohio natives. To some people on the outside looking in, Times New Viking might come off as just another one of those noisy, headache inducing bands with excessive lo-fi crunch who seemingly have more music than they know what to do with. This post is here to prove they’re far from that, and this song below goes a long way to illustrate what we’re trying to convey. “Fuck Her Tears” is an ecstatically gritty pop nugget overflowing with positive vibes and feelings of retribution, with jubilant guitar hooks and a vigorous rhythm section. This is one of those songs interspersed throughout the tracklist that’s highly deserving of multiple plays, which should become obvious quickly after listening to it below.

Fuck Her Tears –

Get it here: Insound
Genre/ Tags: Pop, Garage Rock, Lo-Fi, Noise Rock

Song of the Day #12

At first SILVER SHAMPOO was an unfamiliar name. However, once you throw on their record and give it a couple spins, the stuff really starts to sink in. That seems to be the case with all the countless bands who dwell in the Denton, TX area, which is exactly where these striped-down pop-punkers hail from. You probably didn’t need us to tell you that, but it should all become clear after hearing this cut from the album below, called “On Wheels.” It’s overflowing with wonky bass lines, jagged guitars and an innocent adolescent spirit bursting with energy, and acts as a nice snapshot of what the rest of the album holds.

On Wheels –

Get it here: At Insound
Genre/ Tags: Pop, Post-Punk, Lo-Fi, Glam
Silver Shampoo on Facebook

Song of the Day #11

Well this one just seemed too appropriate for today. NATURAL CHILD release their brand new, debut full length to the world, and on what better day than 4/20? Follow that link for a nice preview of the album, but if you’re unfamiliar please stick around and listen to this one we got here. It comes from their first 7″ on the Infinity Cat label and it’s a hell of an opening statement. How many times have you heard a concept like this turned into a fist-in-air anthem? Probably not even once (but if I’m wrong please enlighten me). They blend hilarity with garage rock and walk the line like champs, almost as if they drew it themselves. However, if anything is true, it’s that this 7″ is one of the most solid and satisfying I’ve ever spun on my turntable.

Shame Walkin’ –

Get it here: Infinity Cat
Genre/ Tags: Punk, Garage Rock, Psychedelic

Natural Child – 1971 previously posted on the Drone
Natural Child – White Man’s Burden 7″ previously posted on the Drone
Natural Child – Split 7″ (w/ Strange Boys) previously posted on the Drone

Song of the Day #10

Back when I first heard of Nicolas Jaar and read up on his unique sound and story, I was stricken with curiosity, but was also a bit skeptical. Then less than a week later Pitchfork slapped on the ‘best new music’ nod. I don’t want to be “that guy” and say that ruined anything, but it definitely took away from some of the mysteriousness, because now everybody else was listening to it. My point is, however, that I never would have guessed I’d still be urging to hear his music at any random point in my day this much time later. To me, that means something. Here’s a test: walk around in a busy place with this song blaring out your headphones and tell me how you how you feel. You sort of get the feeling nobody is in a better place than you are. Maybe that’s why it’s called “Keep Me There”.

This song puts you on an absolutely bizarre dance floor in slow motion, cluttered with sputtering effects, a precariously glowing fog-haze, glitchy piano bits, yelping brass, and a hooky bass line dripping with attitude that drives it all home. Jaar’s nasally voice sounds calm and collected, but also like he’s creepily whispering over your shoulder. Now do yourself a huge favor and get totally lost in these sounds – and make sure it’s LOUD.

Keep Me There –

Get it here: Insound
Genre/ Tags: Electronic, Experimental, Dance

Song of the Day #9

Thanks to our pals from Evil Weevil Records who endlessly produce awesome local (not exactly this time) bands, we have a little something here we thought was worth your attention. Seemingly driven by loneliness is the debut demo 7″ from Brooklyn’s own BIG EYES. This female fronted band takes on a gritty punk attitude based somewhere between scuzzy garage rock and organized indie-pop, but neither of the two overshadow the other. They balance things out quite nicely, with humongous guitar hooks and enough tension to keep you stressin’ out for days – but in the best way possible. Whatever that means.

All Alone –