Here we go. Today we’ve got a 7″ from HARLEM, a band that once originated in Tucson, AZ and then relocated to Austin, TX. Upon moving to Austin these guys began to pick up a following, and then they released their first LP called “Free Drugs ;-)” in 2008. The progression would only prove to get better for the band, because then they were signed to Matador for a second LP, this time called “Hippies”. That LP just came out this past April, and the songs we have on this 7″ today come from the post-Hippies recordings. They were not included on “Hippies”, but very well could have been.
A-side “LSD Saves” starts off with a rowdy guitar hook and the feeling of party time on a Saturday night. While LSD may not exactly be regarded as a “party” drug, it seems like it could work with this song. Lead singer Michael Coomers sings about how he loves “hanging around with all my friends”, and also making claims that “LSD saves the human race.” Thoughts about how this drug can save the human race might sound like a bogus claim, but you probably shouldn’t judge until you’ve taken some for yourself. Because usually, these kinds of thoughts would only come to be if you are indeed tripping on acid. So step in his shoes, because it’s the only time it would make sense. The part about hanging with friends is just a given, because who wants to trip alone?
Flip over to the B-side for a song called “Mood Ring”. It’s equally as rowdy as the last, featuring even more addicting guitar hooks that get drilled into yr brain, forcing you to listen again and again. So check out these songs below! I’m uploading them both because I couldn’t find them ANYWHERE ELSE on the web before I ripped my 7″. So please enjoy.
LSD Saves –
Mood Ring –
My Rating: 7.5/10 Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Indie Rock, Pop LSD Saves 7″: Tracklist:
1.) LSD Saves
2.) Mood Ring
BUY the 7″ directly from Insound
Harlem on Myspace
LUFTWAFFE is a band, and they hail from the far side of the Schuylkill River in West Philadelphia. If you’re from the area, maybe you’ve heard of them. If not, then you probably haven’t heard of Luftwaffe just yet. There’s another band named Luftwaffe from Chicago, but that’s not who were focused on, just so you don’t get confused. Our Luftwaffe, from Philadelphia, has been hard at work all Summer long to prepare their debut 7″ for the world. They recorded the record together themselves in their bedrooms this Summer, without the air-conditioning on, and now they’re putting out the record themselves as well. The 7″ should be ready sometime this month, so what better time to talk about Luftwaffe? I should probably mention that these guys are cool enough to also give away the entire 7″ for FREE on their Bandcamp page, so check that out while it’s still free!
If they had to describe their music themselves, they would call it “swampy, scattered pop music”. This is certainly an accurate description. The basis of their songs definitely comes from pop-influenced music, but it’s what they do with their sound effects and electronics that makes the songs unique – or “scattered”. They have a great balance of pop and electronics in their songs, and it stands out. The effects aren’t too overbearing or over the top – because seriously, how many times have you heard a song that was just too ridiculous with the sounds? These guys make their effects fit in just right, and it gives the songs much more depth, helping to create a significantly more interesting listen. Find out for yourself with the two songs below. “Old Friends” has a hazy layer of Summer humidity spread out over it’s constant, friendly beeping, while “Never Let Me Go” has an otherworldly, jungle-like feel to it. Get lost in the hypnotizing guitars and the shake of the tambourine as Luftwaffe takes you to the other side. This stuff is great – so please enjoy it. Don’t forget to download your copy of the 7″, because I’m sure it won’t be free forever.
Never Let Me Go –
Old Friends –
My Rating: 7/10 Genre/ Tags: Pop, Experimental, Electronic Quiet Summer 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Never Let Me Go
2.) Old Friends
3.) Warm Blood
DOWNLOAD the 7″ for FREE on the Luftwaffe Bandcamp
Yo! I have something slightly different for you guys today. I didn’t have to use that ‘lo-fi’ tag yet again for this post, which was definitely a great change of pace. So much coming out these days has that gritty lo-fi production, so it’s kind of nice to hear music like this for a change. I’m not gonna lie – I kind of forgot this stuff existed! Obviously joking, but this album is certainly a refreshing burst of music with a fuller sound and with overall better production. You get rich and warm layered recordings – definitely a quality that is lost with all of this upcoming ‘lo-fi’ stuff we’re always seeing. So let’s get on with it.
KID ICARUS is a band based out of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, and believe it or not, these guys have been around for longer than you might think. Eric Schlittler is the lead man, and it’s been this way since the bands inception way back in 1996. These guys have got at least seven different full length albums, including this one we’re talking about today. “Imaginary Songs & Aluminum Hits” would be the most recent, which is actually the first LP to come from Kid Icarus in over five years. It has a little bit of everything you’d want to hear, with the basis being mostly guitar-driven indie rock. On top of that, the band manages to work in their own unique blend of psychedelia, alongside an equal amount of a twangy folky flair. A few of these tracks have a good amount of heart ache weaved into the mix, as there is definitely a longing feeling in a few of these songs like “Encased” and “A Good Place to End”. Other times it seems like Schlittler is singing about what is happening right in front of him, almost like he’s giving us a play-by-play of exactly what his own two eyes perceive. It helps paint a nice picture as you listen to the songs, and it’ll definitely help you pay attention to the music, because you’ll be wondering what happens next.
Then there’s other songs on the album that were put down just to rock out. Songs like “Dig Architecture”, “Disappearing Act”, “Projection Loop” or “Figure A”, which features a metallic, screaming guitar that may or may not catch you off guard upon first listen. These are the songs that help you forget about the sad times. Then along comes a song like “Who’s Blues”, which kind of sits out of the loop with the rest of the songs in this. It’s like a quick trip to outer-space to record a song real quick and then come back down to Earth to finish the rest of the album. Shortly after this starts the pounding rhythm on “In My Windowed Life”.
These final three songs on the album play into each other almost perfectly, making quite a nice ending to this album. “In My Windowed Life” acts like an intro to the song “Victory Smokes, Victory Gin”, which is another song on it’s own on this album. It has an extremely heavy feel to it, almost like Schlittler has some burdens to unload before it’s all said and done. Heavenly guitars and lyrics about police intrusion make for an interesting story. Then comes “PA Year Zero”, which starts up with some delightful acoustic guitar. This song will definitely put a smile on your face if you’ve been having some hard times lately. Check out the songs I’m leaving for you guys below, because I think yr gonna like them. Whatever you do, don’t forget to listen to “Disappearing Act”. It rocks.
Dig Architecture –
Disappearing Act –
In My Windowed Life –
PA Year Zero –
My Rating: 8/10 Genre/ Tags: Indie Rock, Folk Rock, Psychedelic, Pop Imaginary Songs & Aluminum Hits: Tracklist:
1.) Dig Architecture
2.) A Good Place to End
3.) Disappearing Act
4.) My Mother the Car
5.) Figure A
6.) Encased
7.) Projection Loop
8.) Who’s Blues
9.) In My Windowed Life
10.) Victory Smokes, Victory Gin
11.) PA Year Zero
Kid Icarus – Official Website
Kid Icarus on Myspace BUY this LP directly from Summersteps Records – Limited to 250 !!!
More info. on Kid Icarus right here !
Sooo I have to be honest here. If it wasn’t for an awesome friend that I have looking out for me up in the North Jersey/ New York area, I probably wouldn’t be making this post about this 7″ right now. On top of that, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here with the actual record in my hands either. I speak of my friend Christen, who totally hooked me up with both of the SOLD OUT Tennis singles that have been driving people mad lately. She went to one of their shows and picked up both of the singles, and then sent them to me. How fucking cool is that? The best part is I had absolutely no idea it was coming, so when I first opened her package I was pretty psyched. Thanks again for that Christen, this stuff is AWESOME.
If you remember where we left off with the other Tennis 7″, then you probably already know what to expect. These songs pretty much fall in the same vein as the others, and it’s a great thing too, because I don’t think there’s enough of this lounge-around-on-a-Sunday-morning Tennis music that’s oh so delightful. These songs bring you to that place somewhere up in New England on a bright, sunny afternoon without a cloud in the sky. Both songs on the record evoke a nautical, seashore-bound feeling, while Alaina Moore continues to grace us with her gorgeous voice over both of these two awesome new Tennis songs. If you haven’t heard either of them yet, I have both of them right below for you to check out, so get on that!
South Carolina –
Sea Farer –
My Rating: 8/10 Genre/ Tags: Pop, Lo-Fi, Lounge South Carolina 7″: Tracklist:
1.) South Carolina
2.) Sea Farer
If you haven’t heard JAILL just yet, you should probably stick around for a bit and read this post. Their story is quite an interesting one. Apparently these guys have been making music together since like 2002 or something like that, and if it wasn’t for their efforts before this Sup Pop release we’re talking about today, we probably wouldn’t be talking about this album at all right now. Relatively unknown to many people, Jaill actually had a first full length record before this one from Sub Pop, called “There’s No Sky (Oh My My)”. It was originally released on cassette by Burger Records in California, and then they recently re-released it in much-needed vinyl format. So as the story goes, if it wasn’t for that first record, they probably never would have caught the seasoned ears of the people over at Sub Pop, who in turn made plans to release “That’s How We Burn”, the second full length effort from these Midwestern poppy-psych rockers. Oh yeah, one more thing: they didn’t always have that second “L” in their name.
So for starters, this is quite the addicting release. Each song is unique and has a mind of it’s own, and once you get into some of these songs, it’s going to be really hard to forget them. Sub Pop has a knack for signing bands who are capable of this (see also: Happy Birthday). Lead singer Vincent Kircher takes vocal duties in the band with quite a unique singing voice, and he’s backed by his “rarely sleazy” group of guys Austin Dutmer, Andrew Harris and Ryan Adams who together make up Jaill.
These guys would probably agree that their music takes many different forms at many different times, bringing different genres and sounds to the table from track to track of the LP. At times they sound blissfully poppy (Everyone’s Hip, She’s My Baby), but they can switch it up pretty quickly with a hair-raising psychedelic tinge with face-melting solos and lightning fast drum fills that are undeniably awesome (On the Beat, How’s the Grave). Then there’s a song like “Summer Mess”, which is kind of on it’s own on this LP. It’s a highly enjoyable acoustic number, with a story about attempts to cheer up a friend, and it slowly builds up as the song progresses. An absolutely perfect and uplifting lead guitar comes in about 3/4 of the way through, and it’s a done deal after that. I just wonder if this song wouldn’t be such a “mess” if Kircher wasn’t always getting high and looking for his lighter. Seriously though, the albums called “That’s How We Burn”…and he’s always singing about being high. These guys definitely smoke a good amount of weed.
My Rating: 8/10 Genre/ Tags: Indie Rock, Psychedelic, Pop That’s How We Burn: Tracklist:
1.) The Stroller
2.) Everyone’s Hip
3.) On the Beat
4.) Thank Us Later
5.) Summer Mess
6.) She’s My Baby
7.) Snake Shakes
8.) Demon
9.) Baby I
10.) How’s the Grave
11.) That’s How We Burn
Well, it’s that time again. Work finally ends for the summer, but the fun isn’t over yet! Today is that fateful, inescapable day (for me anyway) where classes resume. It’s that day that every student ranging from the middle/high school age group up til college absolutely dreads. If you can remember, before about middle school, who wasn’t excited about going back to school? Honestly? Because it seems the older you get, the more you tend to hate it. At least for me anyway. That’s why I’m here working this blog, trying to keep up with the things I actually enjoy doing, which brings me to my next point…
Today’s music of interest comes from a DIY South Florida synth-pop outfit called THIS HEART ELECTRIC, which I’ve come to understand is just one person, although I could be wrong. This is his debut release of any sort, and it comes from the die Stasi imprint out of Ohio. Included on the 7″ is two brand new tracks, combining for a total of nearly 6 minutes of oddball, dance-worthy synth jams. A-side “Polar” kicks off with some glamorously familiar sounds, possibly reminding you of your favorite Nintendo or Sega games that you used to play and love with all yr heart. The synth sounds may or may not also remind you of a Wintry, snowy atmosphere, which could by why this song is called “Polar”. Flip on over to the B-side for another poppy synth jam, only this time it’s riddled with all sorts of sound effects, ranging from siren-like shrieks and the singers eerie, uneasy voice. If you don’t believe me, you should check out both of these songs below from the 7″. Now wish me luck. It’s time to go to class…
Polar –
Nowhere to Run –
My Rating: 7/10 Genre/ Tags: Electronic, Experimental, Pop Polar 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Polar
2.) Nowhere to Run
BUY this 7″ directly from Insound !
This Heart Electric on Myspace, yo
If that post title doesn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what else will. I never really thought somebody would name their song “Urinal Cakes”, but once again I have been proven wrong. It definitely works as an interesting song title and an attention grabber, because I’d be lying if I said I didn’t check this stuff out just to hear what the song “Urinal Cakes” sounded like. Yeah, it’s true, that’s what got my attention, and I’m glad it did. These unsettling sounds are absolutely drenched in a thick, fuzzy layer of dream-world reverb while the lead singers (who is a female, but I can’t figure out her name) vocals echo off the walls as if she was singing in a tiny bathroom while the rest of her band was stuffed in there with her.
That bathroom would most likely be located somewhere in Portland, Oregon where this seemingly new-ish band comes from, but I can’t really figure out if these guys have any other releases out there. My guess is no (because I really can’t find anything), but often times I’m wrong like I was at the beginning of this post. This hazy 7″ comes from the Chicago label HoZac Records – a label most of you should already be familiar with if you keep up with the times here @ the Drone, not to mention if you’ve listened to any music you would call ‘good’ lately, because their catalog is like an MVP list of lo-fi indie bands who all tear shit up in their own unique and fresh ways. Don’t waste any more time though, I’ve uploaded both sides of the 7″ for ya today, so please enjoy it! And don’t forget to come back for more tomorrow!
Urinal Cakes –
Drought –
My Rating: 7/10 Genre/ Tags: Lo-Fi, Pop Urinal Cakes 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Urinal Cakes
2.) Drought
BUY the 7″ directly from Insound
Burning Yellows on Myspace
Burning Yellows on Facebook
For the past 24 hours or so, this self-titled LP from Magic Bullets has been making it hard for me to listen to anything else. This appears to be their second full-length, and it was put out by Mon Amie Records just recently. Contrary to what you may have heard, Magic Bullets have been around for quite some time, originally forming back in 2004 as a side project for another band that I don’t know the name of. Since then they have released two full-length records, an EP, and a 7″, each filled to the brim with their infectious blend of jangly, frantic pop music that’s just great.
At times evoking a bright, sunny, Spring morning, Magic Bullets are definitely the kind of band that gets stuck under your skin, and trust me when I say it’s going to take awhile for that addiction to wear off. If you’ve ever heard of Okkervil River before, you may or may not agree that lead singer Philip Benson at times sounds like Will Sheff from Okkervil, but that’s for you to decide. Every other description I’ve read also mentions that these guys sound like the Smiths as well, but to be completely honest, I would have no idea if that’s true or not. I’ve never really listened to the Smiths, but if it sounds anything like this I’m sure I would be interested. Maybe I should look into that.
In the meantime, I want you guys to check out these songs below from their LP. It’s going to be hard to try and resist the delightful call of the jangly guitars, or their groovy, elastic bass lines, or the frantic singing of Philip Benson that make these songs so memorable, but hopefully you’ll enjoy it. If you’ve only got time to listen to one song, I’m going to have to suggest “Sigh the Day Away”. It takes the whole album to reach this song if you’re listening all the way through, but I think this only means they saved the best for last. Melodramatic vocals and an irresistible guitar hook played over top of a grooving, dance-worthy bass line is the recipe for absolute perfection. Please check this stuff out!
A Day Not So Far Off –
Pretend & Descend –
Lying Around –
Sigh the Day Away –
My Rating: 8/10 Genre/ Tags: Pop, Indie Rock Magic Bullets: Tracklist:
1.) A Day Not So Far Off
2.) They Wrote a Song About You
3.) Pretend & Descend
4.) Lying Around
5.) Young Shoulders
6.) Red Room
7.) On Top of the World
8.) A Name Sits Heaviest on My Heart
9.) Millions of People Running Around
10.) China Beach
11.) Sigh the Day Away
BUY the LP directly from Insound
Magic Bullets on Myspace!
Magic Bullets on Blogspot
So there’s this band right, maybe you’ve heard of them. Their name is TENNIS, and they’ve been stirring up quite a bit of excitement recently – so much excitement that all of their releases sold out instantly, meaning there’s really no hope of getting your own at this point. Going by their Myspace these guys only have three official releases out there, and each one is completely sold out. Obviously this means that the husband-and-wife duo of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore must be doing something right if their music is selling out this fast and they’re getting shouts from the New York Times. Speaking of which, you should definitely check out that article. It’s about how they sailed for 8 straight months along the East Coast with minimal sailing knowledge and limited funds. Definitely an intriguing story, especially since their music was completely influenced by the trip. If that doesn’t qualify as unique, then I don’t know what will. Just sit back and listen to this wonderful, blissed out “lounge-rock” while your worries waste away. Enjoy!
Remember when I said I’ve been giving Hardly Art quite a lot of love lately? Well here’s why – this is the third single from the label that I am posting in under a week, with the first two being from Woven Bones and Unnatural Helpers. This just goes to show that this label is churning out some hella-good tunes, and hopefully they will continue to do so! While we wait for their next release (whatever it may be), hopefully these 7-inchers and everything else they got over in their catalog can keep us satisfied until something new comes out.
So on this 7″ we’ve got four songs. Two of them come from the Golden Triangle camp, while the two on the B-side come from the San Francisco psych-poppers the Fresh & Onlys. Before listening, I was already familiar with the Fresh & Onlys, so Golden Triangle was the only mystery with this single. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but that doesn’t matter anyway. What matters is that these guys passed the test with flying colors. “Cold Bones” has dominated my listening for the past 24 hours or so, while the other song “Jungle Jim” goes a long way to give you the feeling that you’re actually in the middle of a jungle. Parts of the song get extremely swampy and murky, and they even work some monkey shrieks into the jungle-y sounding parts. Certainly makes for a unique listen. To top it all off, the guitar leads over those parts with a mysterious, airy sounding lick that is just perfect. Flip on over to the B-side to find yourself in Fresh & Only territory – fast paced, high energy, psychedelic-garage-pop with high pitched, jangly guitars. I’m uploading one song from each band below before I leave for work, so check’em out.
Cold Bones –
Head of Steam –
My Rating: 7.5/10 Genre/ Tags: Lo-Fi, Garage Rock, Psychedelic, Pop Split 7″: Tracklist:
1.) Golden Triangle – Cold Bones
2.) Golden Triangle – Jungle Jim
3.) The Fresh & Onlys – Head of Steam
4.) The Fresh & Onlys – I’m Not Myself Today
BUY the 7″ directly from Insound
Golden Triangle on Myspace
The Fresh & Onlys on Myspace
Styrofoam Drone 