# Part Two of Best New Releases for Week of March 6th – Ceremony, Nu Sensae, The Men, Crushed Stars, Nite Jewel, Xiu Xiu

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2012/03/top-new-singles-of-week-part-two-ceremony-nite-jewel/
- Published: 2012-03-10T06:14:24-05:00
- Author: Max Hammer

[[In case you missed [Part One](https://indierockcafe.com/2012/03/best-new-releases-week-of-3612-part-i-the-magnetic-fields-andrew-bird-good-old-war/) of this
week’s **Best New Releases**, you definitely what to [start there first](https://indierockcafe.com/2012/03/best-new-releases-week-of-3612-part-i-the-magnetic-fields-andrew-bird-good-old-war/). 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**.

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“Hysteria” – **Ceremony** from _Zoo_ on Matador Records

[“Gumbo”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Gumbo.mp3) – **Nu Sensae **
from _Tea Swamp Park_ on Suicide Squeeze

[“Ex Dreams” ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/ExDreams.mp3) – **The
Men** from _Open Your Heart_ on Sacred Bones Records (track via _IRockCleveland_)

![crushedstars](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/419JhDySCFL._SS500_.
jpg "crushedstars")

#### 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”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/In%20The%20Dark.mp3)–**
Nite Jewel** from _One Second of Love_ [with Digital Booklet] on Secretly Canadian

![](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/61loBsEvVQL._SS500_.jpg)

“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_

![](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/41oaO2AfsCL._SS500_.jpg)

#### 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**.

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“Kids” – **Melodramas** from _Kids EP_

[“What Now”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/06%20What%20Now.mp3) –**
Dinowalrus** from _Best Behavior_ on Old Flame Records

“Mommy Was A Zombie” – **Dance Hall Pimps** from _Beast For Love_ on Lakeshore Records

![](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/51h%2BgUQ-ztL._SS500_.jpg)

#### Soundcloud Tracks from The Men Eighteen Individual Eyes, Scott Matthew, Pond, Now Now, Balkan Beat Box, Xiu Xiu

[“Open Your Heart”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/the-men-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.

![](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/419b4EyYQgL._SS500_.jpg)

“Mystery” – **Pond** from _Beard, Wives, Denim_ on Modular

“Dead Oaks” – **Now, Now** from _Threads_ on Trans Records

![](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/51KvDz-xC8L._SS500_.jpg)

**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

![](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/6175uYPNk5L._SS500_.jpg)

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”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/01%20Xiu%20Xiu%20-%20Hi.mp3)–**
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

![](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/51INKfk370L._SS500_.jpg)

“Brooklyn” – **Denison Witmer** from _The Ones Who Wait_ on Asthmatic Kitty Records
