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crocodiles // teardrops guitar + premiere on npr + teaser video

Don’t you just adore punk rockers?

San Diego-based post-punk purists or a just effing awesome rock band, the Crocodiles (Brandon Welchez & Charles Rowell) premiere their latest track Teardrops Guitar on NPR’s All Songs Considered. Hey, do they really “consider” all the damn songs? Sounds dubious to me, but whateva’. Anyway, the Crocodiles have also put together a teaser video for the band’s forthcoming release Crimes of Passion via Frenchkiss Records. The album drops August 20th, 2013. Peace. Continue reading “crocodiles // teardrops guitar + premiere on npr + teaser video”

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drift wood miracle // mountain


 
Maybe it was the quaint piano intro. I’m not sure. More than likely though it was the lyrics sung out from the pit of Bryan Robert Diver‘s tenaciously vulnerable heart. But it all comes unhinged at 1:20 when the bass and drum kick in and you are suspended wonderfully (and fecklessly) in Drift Wood Miracle‘s brand of honeyfied Indie rock. The first single Mountain, taken from DWM’s forthcoming LP 21st is sheer seduction, and this listener is pinned beneath it’s thumb. And although I’m trapped I am eagerly awaiting the cavalcade of additional astounding tracks 21st will surely birth unto my ears. The new album drops July 12th. Peace.
 

Continue reading “drift wood miracle // mountain”

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sonny & the sunsets // antenna to the afterworld (our sunday best)

Sonny & The Sunsets return to not only thrill fans with just another album. This time out the subject matter will put listeners in touch with their last breath, and just maybe upon listening to this LP one’s life will unfurl before your eyes. Hopefully as an harbinger to entertainment and not the conclusion of ones’ lifeline..  Lead singer/songwriter Sonny Smith experienced the death of a close friend (our condolences) and this life event had a profound effect on his relationship and understanding of what it means to pass on the other side so to speak. The songs on the new LP Antenna To The Afterworld are quirky, introspective and yet still maintain a high degree of listenability. The songs take on various influences, at times sounding like new wave rockabilly and other times, they sound like something else entirely. The album hits the streets June  11th, 2013. Peace. Continue reading “sonny & the sunsets // antenna to the afterworld (our sunday best)”

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the sherpas // wave to the water

the sherpas  //  wave to the water

Sometimes when someone makes a formal introduction in regards to a formally unknown band or artist it can be a fortuitous meeting. Several hours ago the band member  Pierre Roxon  forwarded to me such an introduction, and this review is my formal ‘thank you very much’.

The band The Sherpas comes to us from across the water, hailing from Exeter and Seaton (respectively), UK. According to other reports the band has been generating a lot of buzz, and making quite a name for itself, after listening to several tracks I can understand why.

Check out The Sherpas brand new video for Wave To The Water. The track is a toned down version of an imploding star and the sparks radiate rhythmically. The track contains just enough rock elements to make this Pop song resonate mightily with gritty determination and star slung potential. Continue reading “the sherpas // wave to the water”

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the new self defense // meet me overboard

New York-based alt rockers The New Self Defense give as good as they get. And what’s better than delivering the goods when it comes to rockin’ out? The band’s music has been described as “face melting,” and although my face is still intact my ears are definitely ringing. The band’s latest EP, Meet Me Overboard, released in June 2012 is steeped in the vaulted rock tradition. Check ”em out. Peace. Continue reading “the new self defense // meet me overboard”

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the national // sea of love + video

Inhale. The National is one of those serious bands. A great band no doubt, just no funnin’ around. Musically, they’re akin to a strong quality whiskey kept under lock and key. Only to siphoned from under the most dire circumstances. You have only to reference the Brooklyn-based band’s previous album High Violet to find this to be especially true. But in perfect contrast to the stone-faced rigidity the previous LP flaunted, the latest album Trouble Will Find Me (4AD) finally finds the guys taking a more subdued stance. Exhale.

Band member Aaron Devendorf describes their recent post-High Violet sound as, ” “ … more airy, less uptight and anxious. He sent me a lot of Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Dylan and David Bowie. And Bryce and I wanted a more relaxed and open sound too. We’d been getting deeper into the world of composed music in the last few years and developing more of an interest in classic songwriting.”

After the jump look, and listen to the song, Sea Of Love and experience the evolution of The National. Peace. Continue reading “the national // sea of love + video”

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still life still // burial suit

Toronto’s Still Life Still lead vocalist Brendan Saarinen explains it this way, “We wrote it in the dead of winter after a year of demoing and scrapping a lot of songs. It’s about breaking rituals and routines; how love can take you to strange, sometimes messed up places. When we finished recording it, there was a weird vibe in the air, like we had started fresh but knew we’d always been there.”

The first single “Burial Suit,” comes from the STS’s forthcoming LP Mourning Trance, which drops August 20 through Arts & Crafts.

After the jump check out the official tracklist and upcoming tour dates. Peace. Continue reading “still life still // burial suit”

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the dodos // confidence

Check out the first single release from the San Francisco-based The Dodos. Don’t let the song “Confidence,” fool you with it’s slow-winding river beginnings, because soon enough it becomes roiling white-water and you’ll be pulled under and reeling. It’s been a minute since we last heard from these guys, their righteous No Color EP (2011) was the bomb. Look for their forthcoming LP Carrier, it drops August 27th via Polyvinyl Records.

However, you can get the, “Confidence” digital single via iTunes. You can also pre-order the full LP now. As always, I recommend getting vinyl, which you can get at the Polyvinyl Merch Online Store, but you should hurry the 180-gram blue vinyl LP is limited to 700. I got mine. Peace. Continue reading “the dodos // confidence”

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hrvrd // black creame + acoustic version = our sunday best

The Charlotte, NC band of five formally known as Harvard have recently became the acronym HRVRD. This is a non-issue for die hard fans. Because the music is still unchanged and incredible, even though the vowels have been excised, not the talent.

Anyway, I recently stumbled upon a SXSW 2013 acoustic version of their beautiful track, “Black Creme,” and now I’m really smitten. This song simultaneously somehow stirs and calms my soul all at once. My only wish is that this fun-size ballad was longer, so I could wrap up in it like a dream.

The band’s new album From The Bird’s Cage is out now and you can get it at Amazon. Also, check out the lyrics after the jump. Enjoy!

Review by Teddi Stavee Continue reading “hrvrd // black creame + acoustic version = our sunday best”

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new desert blues // adam

There is a lot of good music coming out of the U.K. and the South Coast band New Desert Blues is a raising the bar even further. There latest song, Adam is all kinds of rough and ready with just the right amount of folkish/rock twang.
 

 
In regards to the  video, director Jack Bowden explains,  “Adam, is act one of a two act music video I shot for New Desert Blues. We flew out to the desert with a script, some actors and some camera equipment. This is what we flew back with. Act two, Zachary will be released soon.”
 
New video, new debut single, looks like a good start for this newly formed band. Also, peep their SoundCloud for a few additional demos. Peace. Continue reading “new desert blues // adam”