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the history of apple pie // mallory

I think The History of Apple Pie is my fatal fuzzy fantasy band come to life, if not they’ll do until it gets here. Their music is the perfect blend of shaggy hair in your bubble gum — don’t worry, that’s just my way of describing their unshorn shoegazy pop sound. And the vocals of Stephanie Min make want to do unmentionable things to my speakers. Like rip ’em apart and commune with their fizzling innards. Hey, what can I say? I’m weird like that. Anyway, listen to the song “Mallory,” and if it makes you feel like putting on the warm wool sweater of nostalgia and pout into your yearbook, don’t say I didn’t warn you. THOAP is mighty, mighty delicious stuff. Peace. Continue reading “the history of apple pie // mallory”

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Holiday Shores – New Masses For Squaw Peak

You know the heady and oh so giddy feeling you get when you find money in forgotten places; a twenty in jeans you haven’t worn in ages. You get the picture. Well, discovering Holiday Shores gives me that same feeling. Just multiply it by a higher numerical value and we’re on the same page. Listening to their record is akin to the first time I listened to Of Montreal, and a few other bands that have made a distinct impression on me in recent years. The album is  stocked to the proverbial gills with new sensations, and a varied collection of colorful sounds that would make Kandinsky proud. And New Masses For Squaw Peak has all those musical colors you get when rainbows go bad and start scrawling graffiti on abandoned buildings and subways cars; which make this a decidedly different kind of LP. I’ll call it Ethereal Sugar Pop with muted tones of dirty hands melancholy, how’s that? Holiday Shores is fresh and exciting, and they take you on a ride among roiling cumulus clouds in a laughter powered zeppelin painted by surrealist artist Oliver Vernon. Perhaps 2012 will see this band get the recognition they so rightfully deserve, but if not I’ll just share it with you and it’ll be our little secret. Peace. Continue reading “Holiday Shores – New Masses For Squaw Peak”

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Now, Now – Dead Oaks

With a voice as adorable as a kitten drinking a bowl of warm cream, Now, Now lead-singer Cacie Dalager has it out for me, because she is killing me softly. The band is putting the finishing touches on their sophomore LP Threads, set to drop March 6th 2012 via Trans Records. If you haven’t heard they’re pretty great. Check out the track below. Peace.

 

This live session is such a sweet little visual of Now, Now performing “Neighbors”, offering testament why so many are head over heels, falling.

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Winter Gloves – Dancing My Heart Out

It’s not hard to reason why one would enjoy listening to Winter Gloves. The foursome from Canada makes great noise that is not only easy to listen to, but their music has the blood of early alternative rock flowing through its veins. That’s a plus in my book no matter what. You’ll discern more than a few visceral references to late 80s and early 90s alt music, think Echo & The Bunnymen, and Depeche Mode for instance. But musical influences aside these guys know how to pen and play music that stays in your head long after you’ve hit stop. The music on their 2010 release All Red begs to be revisited and played anew and often. This collection of songs is unadulterated effortless joy. I have included the video for “Dancing My Heart Out”, and after you hear it I think you’ll want to seek out more of what Winter Gloves has to offer. Peace.

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The Morning Clouds – A Walk Home (Video)

Listening to The Morning Clouds is always delightful. However, watching their latest video for the song “A Walk Home” is tough. But maybe that’s the point. Throughout the entire video we are served a lukewarm heaping helping of starched work-a-day glibness. It’s uncomfortable to watch, mostly because it turns a magnifying glass in on the lives we live and how we chose to lead them. The video begs the question: Do we want a life of cookie-cutter mediocrity or do we search for something of real substance?  But alas, we’re all passengers, or even more depressing, participants in the rat race in one way or another. The Morning Clouds dropped their latest LP on October 11th, so it’s available now. I fear though, if I watch the video again I many just get myself a “life coach”, Peace.

The Morning Clouds – A Walk Home from Richard Karpala on Vimeo.

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Kate Bush – Wildman

It’s been well over a decade and change since we’ve been blessed with something new from the incomparable Kate Bush. Ms. Bush set the standard for the eclectic chanteuse way back in the day. Now with the coming release of her forthcoming LP 50 Words For Snow the music world is a twitter (literally) with excitement. Check out the single “Wild Man” and you can easily hear that she still has the ability to stretch out into new and exciting realms. I’ve waited too long for this and finally my life is complete. You can pre-order the new album at her Fish People site. The single “Wild Man” is out now and the album release will drop November 21st. Peace.

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Small Black – Moon Killer

Brooklyn chillwave/synth-pop quartet Small Black follow-up last year’s diabolically good New Chain LP with a mixtape to tide fans over. The mixtape is set for a November 11th release. Check the title track “Moon Killer” below. Enjoy. Peace.