MP3: || Consistency ||
One of Indiana’s biggest up-and-comers Stagnant Pools just released the first taste of their upcoming 2012 record, release TBA. “Consistency” is a massive slice of punked-out sky-high shoegaze from the Bloomington brothers, and it definitely gives indications of a fantastic record from these two. Below is a video of the duo playing “Consistency” at my now-defunct basement venue Jurassic Park, and the song sounds just as huge.
MP3: || Top Bunk ||
I meant to post this song a long time ago, but I didn’t. Basically, Gauntlet Hair rocks, this song rocks, and the album this song’s gonna be on is gonna rock. Gauntlet Hair will be out October 18 on Dead Oceans.
MP3: || The Weight ||
New Orleans duo Caddywhompus have followed up their 2010 colossal Remainder, with a brand new EP, The Weight. Check out the big title track above, or head over to their label, Community Records, to download the whole EP for free. Caddywhompus will be making a stop in Cleveland at the Happy Dog with fellow labelmates A Billion Ernies on Tuesday (tomorrow), and I’ll be DJing before the bands from 8-10. So come out, eat a hot dog, and see these fun out-of-towners!
Genre: Psychedelic, Experimental
Year: 2011
Location: Denver, CO
Label: Lefse / Fire Talk
Myspace
MP3: || “Insects” ||
MP3: || “Serfer” ||
Fresh off their beautific 2010 EP, Mystery Tape, here’s two mega-trippy MP3s from their upcoming full length, Rare Forms, along with a drugged-up new video for “Serfer.” You can preorder the LP from Fire Talk or Lefse.
Genre: HOLIDAY, Noise, Experimental, Jazz
Year: 2010
Location: Cleveland, OH
Label: Self-Released
MySpace
MP3: || “Christmas Time is Here” ||
Recorded last year, Cleveland noise-makers Swindlella are using the time of the year to release a special Christmas album called Purr rump pum pum pum. In comparison to their last release, the Titanic concept album A Woman’s Heart Is An Ocean of Secrets, these Xmas tracks are low-key for Swindlella’s standards, and you might even call them catchy at times. They still take the opportunity to go into noise frenzies in opener “Rudolf Hitler” and standout “Jingle Bells.” In between those fits, Swindlella shows a love for the jazz on their piano-and-bells cover of Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Christmas Time Is Here.” Other Christmas songs represented are “Frosty The Snowman,” “First Noel,” “Silent Night,” and the album closer “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Check out a few of the tracks above, and download the full album by clicking on the album art above!
Genre: Pop, Experimental, Noise, Dream
Year: 2010
Location: Lafayette, CO
Label: Mexican Summer
MySpace
MP3: || “Out, Don’t…” ||
This Colorado two-piece is furthering itself as one of 2010′s best new bands. Seriously, they only have five songs recorded and they all are incredible, that has to amount for something. Here it there newest maximalist-dream single, “Out, Don’t…,” out now on Mexican Summer on clear gold/yellow vinyl. Buy it here. And if you haven’t already, check out huge track “I Was Thinking…” from an earlier 7″ on Forest Family Records.
Genre: Experimental, Pop
Year: 2010
Location: Cleveland OH
Label: Self-Released
MySpace
Birthing out of towns and cities around Cleveland, OH, Wombs is four guys trying to put their complex sexual thoughts and masculinity into music on their second album, Unitopians. I got turned onto Wombs by their drummer, Jayson, who also plays for Cloud Nothings and Swindlella. Their second-effort definitely leans on the experimental side, but still screams a self-described “big pop” sound. ”Topiary Living” is a drone-y opening for the stand-out track, “God is my co-Pilot.” It’s an absolute powerhouse on the album, with the first half showcasing Ryan Manning’s haunting falsetto leading right into a mid-song nuclear bomb. It’s reason enough to check out this band, along with the insanely creepy album art. Wombs, alongside Megachurch, will be opening for Herzog at their record release show at the Happy Dog on September 10th, SO GO SEE EM! Also, if you feel like entering a deep trance, watch the music video for “Topiary Living” below. Download Unitopians from their Bandcamp for free.
Genre: Metal, Experimental
Year: 2010
Location: Cleveland, OH
Label: Self-Released
Myspace
MP3: || “Exorcism” ||
I have been waiting to make this post for a long long long time! I bought their self-titled 12″ at their Beachland show a few months back and since then, the intense creativity and talent has been bringing me back to the Megachurch of Cleveland all summer. Here’s Megachurch in a nutshell: Two bassists, one drummer, and a fuck load of ridiculous religious/political samples all at the same time. The formula isn’t for everybody, but for those Lightning Bolt fans out there, this is heaven. You can order the 12″ from the band with Paypal instructions on their MySpace, or pick one up at their upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show opening for Trans Am on August 18th!
UPDATE: Megachurch just released a music video for “More Mormon Than Mormon,” another track from their 12″. Here it is!
Genre: Noise, Experimental
Year: 2010
Location: Cleveland, OH
Label: Self-Released
MySpace
Swindlella is made of two young Cleveland kids, Jayson and Chris, who love to get down to business and make real noise. They’ve been playing around the area for a few months, including a recent out-store at Music Saves. A Woman’s Heart is an Ocean of Secrets is their newest EP, which is a 10-minute concept album about the movie Titanic. So get the woman and children and put on some goddamn life-vests, cause this is one hell of a ride. If you got nothing to do tonight and wanna see some crazy bands, get over to the Happy Dog! Swindlella is going to be opening for Good For Cows, who is basically the drummer from Xiu Xiu, Ches Smith. And from what I hear, he is incredible, so make sure you don’t miss this one! And check out this sweet John G poster for the show!
Genre: Pop, Experimental, Noise, Dream
Year: 2010
Location: Lafayette, CO
Label: Forest Family Records
MySpace
MP3: || “Our Scenery” ||
I am a little late on the rush, but any time is a good time for Gauntlet Hair! I had the music a while back, but “I Was Thinking…” didn’t hit me until recently, and it hit big. I feel like every “witty comparison to something abstract” has been already written, so go read those for yourself. In the meantime, check out this incredible 7″ released by Forest Family Records. If you were cooler than me and caught onto this earlier, you should have or did order the “cloudy” 7″, because at this point it has sold out. Rumor has it that they are have or are going to begin recording a full-length soon.
Genre: Electronic, Experimental, Psychedelic, Chillwave, Surf
Year: 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Label: GYPSY ANCESTRY
Myspace
01. stork
02. wallaby thy name
03. booboo nest
04. crevasses
05. power stranger
06. skipping the thousand white
07. made of phlegm
BIGCOLOUR is the one-man electro-psych project of Chicagoan Brian Brissart. I stumbled upon Brissart’s project through his good friends, Glitter Bones, as they collaborate and play shows all the time. BIGCOLOUR’s new EP, Meshes of the Laughternoon, is nothing but hazy summer music pushing the “chillwave” movement one big step farther. The EP isn’t typical 80s-wave nostalgia though, its more like if Toro Y Moi and Real Estate raised a polite Midwestern kid. Tracks like opener “stork”, tropical “booboo nest”, and drone-y “power stranger” get freakishly expansive for tracks on any EP, and will have you coming back for weeks. I can’t seem to find any physical release information, but you can find the lyrics to all these songs from his BandCamp.
Genre: Indie Pop, Experimental
Year: 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Label: Dedicated Records
MySpace
1. Salem
2. Think Happy Thoughts
3. Surf Sisters
4. ‘T’s About To Get Real
5. Honey Child
6. Real Soft
7. Marcus Aurelius
8. Ziggurat
9. Pyramid
10. Skulls
Bugs, Berfday, Gum is the debut album from Chicago pop crazies Albatross. Imagine if I Need Sleep, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Fang Island had a super giggly kid together who loves jazz music. Their debut grabbed my hand in the nutsy beginning seconds of “Salem”, spun me around many times, and didn’t let go until the soft lead-out in “Skulls”. One of the biggest reasons Bugs, Berfday, Gum is so dangerously good is the cute and fun vocals of Julie Popelka, fitting right alongside the mega-mathy guitar hooks and psycho-drumming. This got its release through Chicago label Dedicated Records , and in time they will have physical releases, but as of right now have released everything through their BandCamp.
Genre: Experimental, Noise, Drone, Drum n Bass
Year: 2010
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Label: Kanine Records
Myspace
01. East German Western
02. Electric Car, Gas Guitar
03. BEAD
04. I Hate Letters
05. I Hate Numbers
06. Cage Those Pythons
07. Haze on the Mobius Strip
08. Nuke Duke ’Em
09. CMYK
10. BEAD (flashback)
Dinowalrus are certainly an interestingly odd trio of guys of Brooklyn, NY. A few of their songs have been floating around the internet, like the track “Electric Car, Gas Guitar” I posted a while back, but their full album was no where to be found. So I had to resort to using gift card money on iTunes to get their debut album (not recommended at all). After a few full listens, % is any or all of these: spastic, noisy, inconsistent, groovy, loud, fun, nonsensical, and lovable. Big reverb echoes heavily through the entire record, on top of loads of bass grooves and freaky drones. Any fan of the LA noise scene (HEALTH, No Age, Liars) will appreciate and love this album, so check it out! % was released earlier this year on Kanine Records, and you can pick up the CD/LP from them or the band on their website.
P.S. A bonus of getting the album from iTunes is the music video for “BEAD” including the file! Enjoy!
Genre: Experimental, Noise, Indie Rock
Year: 2010
Location: Houston TX / New Orleans LA
Label: Community Records
Myspace
Website
01. Let The Water Hit The Floor
02. Big Fun
03. Guilt
04. Balloon Knot
05. At Bay
06. Golden
07. Congo Half-Mask
08. Same Difference
Earlier this year, bedroom noise droner Chris Rehm sent me his album, Salivary Stones, which still stands as one of the most awing artist submissions I’ve gotten to date. After I had posted that, I told Chris to keep in contact with new music he’s involved with, and I really didn’t expect Caddywhompus to be that next thing. Caddywhompus, out of the Texas and Louisiana, is made up of Chris Rehm on guitar and vocals, and Sean Hart on drums. After a couple EPs, Remainder is their debut album being released by New Orleans-based small label Community Records. As for Caddywhompus’ sound, it’s part Japandroids, part Fang Island, part No Age, and part This Town Needs Guns. Opening track “Let The Water Hit The Floor”, shoots off like a steamroller with an off-tempo barrage of guitar and drums. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this song is how it ends, in typically Chris Rehm ambient-fashion. Things get deliciously noisy at the towards the end of the album with “Golden” and “Congo Half-Mask”, but last track “Same Difference” triumphantly brings this grand record together in a delicate way. Remainder gets it official release on May 11th, which happens to be today! This will be out on a run of 500 vinyl and 500 hand-made CDs, which you can order HERE. Caddywhompus will be a long trek around the country supporting their debut, so look out for the dates.
Genre: Ambient, Experimental, Drone
Year: 2009
Location: Cleveland, OH
Label: Editions Mego
Blog
MP3: || “Candy Shoppe” ||
Emeralds are easily one of the best groups to come out of Cleveland, OH in recent memory. After two amazing releases last year, What Happened and Emeralds, and a ton of CDRs, the Cleveland droners return with their newest album, Does It Look Like I’m Here?. The first thing I noticed was that the album sports 12 tracks with only one running over the ten-minute mark, a different direction from past LPs. Emeralds manages to take each track to completely blow your mind, fading in between minimalism, maximalism, and big jaw-dropping moments, with the biggest range they’ve hit to date. Does It Look Like I’m Here? will be released on May 24th from Editions Mego on CD and 2LP. Also, Emeralds supposedly have a bunch of 7″s being released through various distros, so keep an eye out for those.
Genre: Experimental, Psychedelic
Year: 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Label: Secretly Canadian
MySpace
01. O.N.E. (Album Version)
02. O.N.E. (XXXchange Remix)
03. O.N.E. (Demo Version)
04. O.N.E. (Instrumental)
Another excellent Record Store Day exclusive 12″, but sadly enough I wasn’t able to get my hands on it. “O.N.E.” is a stand-out gem on this year’s Odd Blood that left some pretty disappointed as a whole. Needless to say, this EP is still an essential listen for any Yeasayer bopper out there, especially since it’s a high quality rip from vinyl. Check out the demo version, it gives serious indications of what “O.N.E.” may have sounded like in the All Hour Cymbals era.
Genre: Experimental, Electronic, Instrumental
Year: 2010
Location: Toronto, Canada
Label: Young Turks
Myspace
01. MD
02. Red Lights
03. Latin America
04. Stay Lit
05. Silva & Grimes
06. SHT MTN
07. Stilettos
08. Lucky
09. P.I.G.S.
After 2007′s amazing LP, three straight years of tours and festivals, and a lineup finally in-stone, Holy Fuck come back in 2010 with their third album, Latin. Before I say anything about the album itself, let it be known LP was a favorite of mine for a long time and Latin is already beginning to pass it. I thought it was going to be extremely hard for them to top their past effort but they have seemingly done it with ease. The biggest change from LP is that Holy Fuck have definitely developed a more mature and serious tone for Latin, assuming hundreds of shows and a finally steady lineup have helped that. That’s not to say they don’t have anymore dance epics like “Super Inuit” and “The Pulse”, the album still pours them out. Tracks “Red Lights” and “Latin America” still show Holy Fuck at their best, along with a much fuller sound than I think they have every hit before. Latin will be out early May and you can preorder it from Beggars Group in the US, and Rough Trade in UK, and it will come with a CD of four non-album tracks! Sounds like a deal!
Genre: Pop, Experimental, Tropical
Year: 2010
Location: Knoxville, TN
Label: Swim Slowly / Speed Tapes
Myspace
01. Warm Milkapault
02. Shitty Knoxville Beach
03. Speed’s Skiing
04. BOOMPCHUG!
05. Whatever…
06. Bad Tunnel
07. Speed’s Last Race
08. Somebody Swimming
09. Fun Tunnel (Traveling Through Plants)
I Need Sleep, to me, has become one of those bands that you constantly check up on because just about everything they do is either fun/interesting/completely unpredictable or all of the above. With their newest adventure, Fun Tunnel finds I Need Sleep diving into the world of Speed Racer. From their BandCamp, “Inspired by hot waves and max speed. Jams that will put you behind the wheel of a T-180 and into a realm of glorious sun-bathed shores. Racing is in the blood. The blood is on the beach.” Just from that, you really can’t take any of Fun Tunnel too seriously. The music is insanely strange, as most of it sounds like they threw a bunch of gorillas tripping on acid into a tropical band room where the walls are so brightly colored, it hurts your eyes. None of this should come off as bad, just make sure you strap yourself in for the ride!
MP3: || Cloud Nothings – “Hey Cool Kid (Memoryhouse Remix)” ||
Cloud Nothings Myspace
Memoryhouse Myspace
Up-and-coming Clevelander, Dylan Baldi, has been getting great press for his debut Cloud Nothings LP, Turning On. I’ve wrote about him a lot on The Noise Is, so I really don’t need to repeat any of the incredible stuff he’s been doing. But very recently, Cloud Nothings got posted on Pitchfork for the song “Hey Cool Kid” along with a remix by Memoryhouse. The MP3 I’ve posted the “Hey Cool Kid (Memoryhouse Remix)”, which takes the catchy lo-fi pop track, and adds a ton of soothing synths over it. Dylan and his Cloud Nothings band just left for their tour before SXSW and MtyMx Festival, so check the Myspace for dates.
MP3: || Dinowalrus – “Electric Car, Gas Guitar” ||
Dinowalrus are a thrash/drone trio out of Brooklyn NY, reminiscent of LA noise bands HEALTH, and No Age. “Electric Car, Gas Guitar” is a fast-paced, fuzzed-out, thrash-drum, adrenaline-filled track, proving why their name is as abstract as Dinowalrus. Their debut, %, is out now on Kanine Records.
MP3: || Beach Fossils – “Vacation” ||
Beach Fossils, out of Brooklyn, are the newest part of the great hazy-pop movement with Ducktails and Real Estate. Expect dream guitars and vocals covered in a summery fog in “Vacation”. This track is off of their upcoming LP from This track is off of their upcoming LP from Woodsist and Captured Tracks hopefully sometime this month.
MP3: || Wild Nothing – “Summer Holiday” ||
Wild Nothing Myspace
My last, and definitely not least, track is from Wild Nothing, a bedroom shoegaze/dream pop also on Captured Tracks. “Summer Holiday” is full of pretty melodies with hazy vocals, making it a perfect head-bopper when the weather gets warmer and you start rolling down your windows when you drive. You can grab this 7″ from Captured Tracks, and expect a debut LP in the near future.
Genre: Post-Rock, Metal, Experimental
Year: 2009
Location: Belfast, Ireland
Label: Smalltown America
Myspace
1. Set Guitars To Kill
2. A Little Bit Of Solidarity Goes A Long Way
3. Clench Fists, Grit Teeth…Go!
4. I Capture Castles
5. Start A Band
6. Tip Of The Hat, Punch In The Face
7. If It Ain’t Broke, Break It
8. These Riots are Just the Beginning
9. Don’t Waste Time Doing Things You Hate
10. The Voiceless
11. Eat The City, Eat It Whole
Bonus Disc Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Marching Over The Coals
3. Clench Fists, Grit Teeth… Go! (Live)
4. Holylands, 4AM (Live)
5. The Machine (Live)
6. thisRIOTSareJUSTtheBEGINNING (Original)
7. Mount Kailash
8. The Voiceless (Beat Down Motorcore Version)
Here is my first entry into the list of 2009 albums I missed that probably would have made my Best of list. And So I Watch You From Afar hail from Belfast, Ireland and take the post-rock convention and completely revamp it. Many people have that belief that all post-rock sounds the same, and I can say And So I Watch You From Afar completely disprove that. Just from the first track, “Set Guitars To Kill”, they play unapologetically and very loud. Perhaps my favorite part of this is how they incorporate many elements of metal into their music, something I haven’t heard very often. Included with the album itself is a bonus CD that has been floating around the Internet. If you haven’t heard of And So I Watch You From Afar, no need to miss out anymore.
