In case you missed Part One of this week’s Best New Releases, you definitely what to start there first. That playlist offers terrific new singles from The Magnetic Fields, Andrew Bird, Said The Whale, White Rabbits, Bowerbirds, and many others.
For the most part, this playlist features all of the other new singles from albums dropped this week that we wanted to share with our readers. Many of the tracks are from artists that are lesser-known among indie music fans, while others that are relatively new, and a few that are popular in the ‘underground music’ circles, so to speak.
Unlike Part One, this playlist starts off with a full-on blast thanks to the blazing, raging new punk single, “Hysteria,” from the thrashing California punk rock band Ceremony (not to be confused with the shoegaze indie rock band Ceremony). The single is just a sample of the mix of styles – from 70’s punk and 80’s post punk to more mellow, atmospheric tracks – found on the band’s new album, Zoo, dropped this week via Matador Records.
Why not pair intensive and explosive punk tracks back to back? That’s where the band Nu Sensae and their new track come into the picture, although the latter’s track is more hard-core than Ceremony’s – still it’s a double treat for punk rockers. Plus, we added the new track from The Men, which is a bit less hardcore than the previous two tracks, but still fits in nicely in this trio of tracks. The Men’s “Ex Dreams” demonstrates the band’s affinity for punk/post punk revival and is clearly influenced by bands like New Order.
“Hysteria” – Ceremony from Zoo on Matador Records
“Gumbo” – Nu Sensae from Tea Swamp Park on Suicide Squeeze
“Ex Dreams” – The Men from Open Your Heart on Sacred Bones Records (track via IRockCleveland)
Crushed Stars, Nite Jewel, Bensh and Baby Eagle & The Proud Mothers
That triple-shot of hardcore tracks – which made sense to group together – combined with a couple cups of coffee is enough to make anyone well amped by now (especially if you’ve replayed them), so it’s a good time to stream through a couple of calmer singles, such as Crushed Stars‘ “Brighter Now” and Nite Jewel’s “In The Dark” (interesting with the bright to dark contrast there in the song titles). Following those songs, the mood changes to uptempo, witty, even zany tracks, like the new singles from debut LPs by Austrian band Bensh and Baby Eagle & the Proud Mothers.
“Brighter Now” – Crushed Stars from In The Bright Rain on Simulacra Record
“In The Dark” – Nite Jewel from One Second of Love [with Digital Booklet] on Secretly Canadian
“How Come Nao” – Bensh from Clues on Odd One In Records
“Brave Women” – Baby Eagle & the Proud Mothers from Bone Soldiers on You’ve Changed Records
“Changing Wind” – Elfin Saddle from Devastates
Melodramas, Dinowalrus and Dance Hall Pimps
The title track off of the new, self-titled EP from the Portsmouth, England band, Melodramas, has a college rock radio quality to it. Having previously opened for artists like New York Dolls and Taylor Hawkins, Melodramas have a pretty good following in the U.K., and now they’re hoping to break out in the U.S. The band’s new EP was produced by multi-platinum awarded producer Sam Williams (Supergrass, Plan B, Noisettes). Following Melodramas, are fresh tracks from new albums from Dinowalrus and Dance Hall Pimps.
“Kids” – Melodramas from Kids EP
“What Now” – Dinowalrus from Best Behavior on Old Flame Records
“Mommy Was A Zombie” – Dance Hall Pimps from Beast For Love on Lakeshore Records
Soundcloud Tracks from The Men Eighteen Individual Eyes, Scott Matthew, Pond, Now Now, Balkan Beat Box, Xiu Xiu
“Open Your Heart” – The Men from Open Your Heart on Sacred Bones Records
“Four Poses” – Eighteen Individual Eyes from Unnovae Nights (self-released)
“Sinking” – Scott Matthew from Gallantry’s Favorite Son on Riot Bear Recording Co.
“Mystery” – Pond from Beard, Wives, Denim on Modular
“Dead Oaks” – Now, Now from Threads on Trans Records
Balkan Beat Box mix dance, techno, raggea, African, tropical and even hip hop to create a mish-mash of styles that gives them their unique sound. However, will you really remember, or care, about this track in a month from now? But, we’re including it anyway to see how people react to it.
“Part Of The Glory” – Balkan Beat Box from Give on Nat Geo
Lastly, while we like some of their music sometimes, Xiu Xiu‘s new single, “Hi,” from the LP, Always, just doesn’t do it for us, and it’s one of the biggest disappointing singles of the week.
“Hi” – Xiu Xiu from Always on Polyvinyl Records
This is a better track they should have released as the first single: “Beauty Towne” – Xiu Xiu from Always on Polyvinyl Records
“Brooklyn” – Denison Witmer from The Ones Who Wait on Asthmatic Kitty Records