Ten years ago tomorrow, a band from Glen Rock, NJ dropped their debut album, The Airing of Grievances. It was initially released by Troubleman Unlimited in New Jersey, and then brought to Europe by Merok Records (and later reissued by XL Recordings in 2009). Before this, the band had little to their name aside from a couple of 7″ records and a handful of often inaudible live videos on YouTube.
Continue reading “In Retrospect: The Airing of Grievances, 10 Years Later”
WREATHS is a 5-piece band from Asbury Park, NJ who self-describe their sound as “dream punk.” Released by Killing Horse Records, their new self-titled album melts psychedelic rock into a frothy landscape. Continue reading “Wreaths – s/t LP”
Based in Brooklyn, NY, BAKED is a 5-piece band who released their own self-titled EP in the summer of 2013. Forged Artifacts in Minneapolis is now re-releasing the dreamy EP with a previously unreleased track titled “Wolf.” Continue reading “Baked – s/t CS”
WALRUS is a trio from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada specializing in a form of jangly psychedelic pop. Their new EP Glam Returns was just released as a split cassette from Poncho (Halifax) and Out of Sound Records (Guelph). Continue reading “Walrus – Glam Returns EP”
VAADAT CHARIGIM (which translates to “Exceptions Committee” in Hebrew) is a trio based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Their brand new debut record The World is Well Lost was first released on cassette by Burger Records in 2013. Now it’s coming on vinyl format from the folks at Warm Ratio, which goes hand-in-hand with their Spring tour of the United States later this month. The tour leads them right to their record release show on March 17th in Indianapolis, not to mention multiple dates in New York City and a SXSW appearance.
“Ze Beseder Lefahed” is arguably a highlight from their album, taking nods from 80s underground Israeli rock mixed with hazy streaks of ethereal shoegaze. Juval Haring’s voice is breathy and direct, carving a path through the thick vapor along with a wave of colorful guitars. Springy bass lines rumble deep in the distance, bringing all these elements together in a sweeping motion. There’s a sense of warmth sustained throughout the track, which you can hear right below.
Genre/ Tags: Shoegaze, Dream Pop, Alternative
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We Are Siamese is the debut single from Nashville-based THE LEES OF MEMORY. Courtesy of Velocity of Sound Records in Pittsburgh, the band features Nick Slack (Epic Ditch) and ex-Superdrag members Brandon Fisher and John Davis. Continue reading “The Lees of Memory – We Are Siamese 7″”
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
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The trio of GOSPEL GOSSIP hail from Northfield, Minnesota. Their 7″ comes courtesy of Guilt Ridden Pop (a label based in St. Paul), with three brand new tracks of their frothy dream pop. Continue reading “Gospel Gossip – Atlantic Blue 7″”
MAGIC SHOPPE of Boston, MA is the brainchild of Josiah Webb. The Triangulum Australe EP is the bands latest effort via Optical Sounds, serving up a clean and brooding psych rock swirl. Continue reading “Magic Shoppe – Triangulum Australe EP”
Sunburned Mind is the brand new 7″ from Hamilton, Ontario noise-punks MAGIC SHADOWS. They blend a sharp, noisy mixture of garage rock, punk and shoegaze for a head-splitting combo on their debut 7″. Continue reading “Magic Shadows – Sunburned Mind 7″”
Styrofoam Drone 