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Brown Bird – Salt For Salt

How do you get inside of shadow and smothered facets of dim light. Further, how does one extrude those elusive analogies into potent song? It’s hard work for sure. Unless of course you’re the skillful sons of a gun going by Brown Bird. The songs on Salt For Salt cut you down like a fifth or two of Jameson, minus the shot glass and ice of course. Take these songs straight up without a chaser, and suffer through them to get to the warm glow of temporary peace at the bottom of the metaphorical glass.  David Lamb and MorganEve Swain are taking their demons by the horns and creating a wondrous sound worth hearing. Listen below. Two of my favorites are “Bilgewater” and “End of Days” and of course the anchor weight of “Thunder and Lightning”. These songs, they’ll poke you right in the chest and get your attention like a shotgun brandished in the dead on night. Peace.

 

Watch a live session of “Thunder and Lightning” below.

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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.

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Childish Gambino – All the Shine (Demo)


Rap is constantly in need of revamping itself, of reinventing what was into something  new. If not refreshing, then real, naked and weird. Rap needed to shed the accoutrements of materialism and pettiness, and stare into the mirror of reality. Enter Childish Gambino. I ain’t going into a long winded bio, if you know you know, and if you don’t you should. Check out the demo “All The Shine”. Here, you get the honesty without bravado, you get rap without ugliness or idiocy. Nothing childish about CG’s word craft. I am eagerly awaiting  the debut Camp LP set for release November 15th via Glasstone Records. Peace.


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We Were Promised Jetpacks – In The Pit Of The Stomach


Since their debut album These Four Walls hit in 2009 I have been a fan of We Were Promised Jetpacks. The alternative pop/post-punk-rock quartet from Edinburgh, Scotland are in my opinion underrated. Listen to the tracks“Medicine” and “Act On Impulse” from their new LP In The Pit Of The Stomach, out now. The rest of the album moves along at a heady jaunt displaying all the reasons why they are soon to become one of your most favorite under appreciated bands. Without a doubt this LP is a more polished affair than their debut release. However, polished production doesn’t always equal better music, right? WWPJ works for me because Adam Thompson lets the listener inside. This isn’t contrived bullshit masquerading as something genuine and authentic. We Were Promised Jetpacks are four regular guys, and yes, they make excellent music about the mundane emotions everyday people deal with, i.e. heartbreak, rejection, and sadness, sound familiar? But in addition, their music bristles with hope-fucking-eternal. It’s music that connects. So, is not ironic that the album is titled In The Pit Of The Stomach, ’cause that’s where it hits you. Check it. Peace.

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Chairlift – Peculiar Paradise

Chairlift Iis: Caroline Polachek, Aaron Pfenning, Patrick Wimberly

Straight out of Brooklyn, NYC comes the futuristic/retro trio Chairlift. There is clear musical references to 80;s and 90’s era pop, and if I’m not mistaken there is some Janet Jackson sampling going on. Currently, I am really digging the cut “Peculiar Paradise”, (click the link below to hear it). I love how their recent music inhabits several different elements at once: embracing the psychedelic, hazy electro and provocative signatures of R&B simultaneously. I also included the video for an older track titled “Bruises”. Check it out. Peace

via Chairlift – Peculiar Paradise.

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Dum Dum Girls – Bedroom Eyes

Dum Dum Girls

There are many reasons why I like the Dum Dum Girls. What’s the main reason? I can’t get enough of the sultry vibrato provided by lead-singer Kristen Gundred, aka as Dee Dee Penny or just Dee Dee for short. The California band fist caught my attention in 2010 with the release of their debut album I Will Be. Then in 2011 DDG dropped a followup EP featuring the songs He Gets Me High and the dreamy There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by legendary alternative U.K. band The Smiths. Although most reviewers allude Blondie as an influence, I hear more than a hint of Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. Also, if your love Dee Dee check out super band Zodiacs you will not be disappointed. By the way, the latest Dum Dum Girls album Only In Dreams was released September 27th. Peace.


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Blood Orange – Champagne Coast

Blood Orange - Champagne Coast

Devonté Hynes is one of those people you never heard of, but you may be familiar with their work unawares. Mr. Hynes has produced a lot of music, most notably for Florence & The Machine, Theophilus London, and Solange Knowles just to name drop a few. Although he has produced music for himself in the past it is his new material that is shining bright all on it’s own. Blood Orange is the product of so much blood, sweat and tears, no pun intended. Seriously it’s akin to gospel music in how it moves the listener with heart conviction. It has taken almost 2 years to complete, with so many ups and downs along the way it almost didn’t see the light of day. But I for one am thrilled to see, or rather hear, its magic and power. Check out the release “Champagne Coast” and let it swirl through your head on repeat. Peace.


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Yuck – Soothe Me & Get Away


The month of October brings many thing: falling temperatures, leaves vacating tress, Halloween, and this year the double-disc release of Yuck‘s self-titled debut. The single “Soothe Me” is the 2nd single release thus far, you many have already heard “Cousin Corona”, but if you haven’t go to their label’s site at Fat Possum Records and check it out. The album drops October 11th, so make sure to mark it on your calendar. Listen below, I’m out. Peace.



Yuck - Get Away from Yuck on Vimeo.

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Simian Ghost – Bicycle Theme

Simian Ghost

Let’s get things moving right along, but at a decidedly subdued pace. One thing I want to say, Simian Ghost is just what the music doctor ordered. Like a gossamer sugar-coated screen filtering out the harsh light of an unrestrained sun. That said, the latest offering from Simian Ghost is total bliss. The song “Free Agent” taken from Simian Ghost’s sophomore release, the Lovelorn EP (released through Heist Or Hit Records).  Sebastian Arnström thank you so much for penning such lush and beautiful music. The Radiant Arp Mix is killing it. Another thing, my hat off to all the DIY indie music makers out and about in the world. You guys and gals are keeping it fresh to death. Peace.