# Best New Releases for Week of April 17th – Maps & Atlases, Make Out, Absolute Monarchs, Dry The River, Mean Jeans, Peasant

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2012/04/best-albums-and-songs-april-2012-maps-atlases-make-out-absolute-monarchs/
- Published: 2012-04-20T01:42:37-04:00
- Author: Max Hammer

It’s a big week for music in a number of ways – **Record Store Day** and **Coachella**
are both this weekend (actually an unprecedented Weekend 2 at Coachella) as well
as our favorite new singles from Best New Releases of the week. A great way to kick-
off this playlist mix is with Maps & Atlases’ fresh single, “Winters,” from the 
band’s new LP,_ Beware and Be Grateful_. Along the song title may indicate a certain
type of feel and sound, “Winters” is actually an upbeat song that seems more fitting
on a mixtape for a spring vacation.

“Winters” – **Maps & Atlases** from _Beware and Be Grateful_

 ⌊makeoutband⌉

#### New York Band Make Out Drop New Double Single

**Make Out** is a **New York** pop/rock band, featuring **Jesper Mortensen **(ex-
Junior Senior), lead vocalist **Leah Hennessey**, and **Chase Stauffer** on drums.
The band plays fast, manic, and condensed pop songs, as the new single, “Maybe I’m
The One (For Me).” The track is a punk pop song with a catchy beat and song title;
the drawback though is that the song is only one minute and 17 seconds. So, just
as you’re getting into it, the song ends.  We first featured the band in 2010 when
they released the single, “I Don’t Want Anyone That Wants Me.”

Last October, Make Out released another fast, short single, “You Can’t Be Friends
With Everyone,” which was produced by **MNDR**.

[“Maybe I’m The One (For Me)”](https://indierockcafe.com/music/2012/april-mp3s/MAKE%20OUT%20-%20Maybe%20I'm%20The%20One%20(For%20Me).mp3)–**
Make Out** from _Maybe I’m The One (For Me) _ double single

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

#### Seattle’s Absolute Monarchs Release Debut LP, ‘1’

We had heard of **Seattle** folk rock band **Absolute Monarchs** here and there,
but hadn’t had a chance until this week to listen to their music enough to get a
feel for their sound. Verdict: We like what we hear; the _KEXP_ Song of the Day 
below, “Attack,” has a memorable, sweet melody, with explosions of raw energy thanks
to the brilliant and raw acoustic guitar playing of **Shawn Kock** and **Miki Sodos**,
as well as the impressive, stand out vocals of** Joel Schneider**. Absolute Monarchs
remind us of performers like fellow Seattle folksters, **Fleet Foxes**.

They’ve previously opened for **Red Fang, Les Savy Fav** and** Cold Cave**, and 
were chosen as one of the best local bands in 2010 by _City Arts Magazine_. Could
they be on the cusp of hitting it big, or as the blog, Big Tea, put it, “the next
big thing from Seattle?” As the old adage goes, only time will tell, but they are
definitely a band to watch in 2012.

Related Post:  Best New Releases, April 3rd, Vol. I - Of Monsters and Men, The Lumineers,
Max and the Moon, Lux, Black Mountain, Twin Steps

“Attack” – **Absolute Monarchs** from _1_ via Good To Die Records

![drytherivershallowbed](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/51dTQb38cmL.
_SS500_.jpg)

#### Dry The River Drop Debut Album, New Single, to Mostly Rave Reviews

Rising indie folk band **Dry The River** dropped their anticipated debut album, 
_Shallow Bed_, this week to mostly positive reviews on indie blogs and music websites.
The British-based band combine elements of “gypsy swagger with tremulous sensitivity
and gothic rock drama” (_The UK Telegraph_) and includes a mix of “fearlessness,
craft and believability [that] is irresistible” (_Q Magazine_).

In our own view, the uncompromising LP is ripe with authentic folk rock references
that are unmistakably modern and fresh, agreeably familiar and ethereal, making 
it truly one of the best folk rock albums of the year, and easily one of the most
uplifting debuts of 2012 (so far). Dry The River, founded and fronted by **Norwegian**
singer/songwriter **Peter Liddle**, possess a penchant for tracks that start out
slow and mellow, and eventually build into a full-on stomping, romping blitz of 
bold notes and extraordinary vocals.

_The Boston Phoenix_ called it a “late-aughts hipster cocktail.” But not all reviews
of _Shallow Bed_ are flattering; _Rolling Stone_ gave the album 4 out of 10 stars,
adding: “It’s like a Portlandia satire of the world’s most studious band,” and _The
UK Guardian_ criticized the album as a “bit hollow” because of lyrical content of“
Bible belts, railroads and medicine” that does not come from “some remote Appalachian
cabin but a shared house in Stratford, east London.”

[“New Ceremony”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/20120229_sxsw_newceremony.mp3)–**
Dry The River **from _Shallow Bed_

**Bonus Track:** “Coast” – **Dry The River **from _Shallow Bed_
 Bonus Track via
[ThePopCop.co.uk](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/thepopcop.co.uk)

#### Worthy Singles from New LPs by Mean Jeans, Grave Babies, Moonface, Spiritualized, Horse Feathers

The new single, “Anybody Out There,” from the popular **Portland** band **Mean Jeans**,
is not reflective of its name at all, but instead is an upbeat punk pop track with
choruses reminiscent of 70’s radio punk; in fact, they started out as a **Ramones**“
copycat” band, but unlike hundreds of other such bands, Mean Jeans are true to form.
They also have a retro 80’s nerd punk (think Devo in spacesuits) video of “Anybody
Out There,” which you can view on the music videos page.

“Anybody Out There” – **Mean Jeans** from _On Mars_ (CD version)

**Flashback Track:** [“Born on a Saturday Night”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/BornOnASaturdayNight.mp3)–**
Mean Jeans** from _Are You Serious?_ (2010)

⌊gravebabiesband⌉⌊gravebabiesband⌉
 The equally uptempo track, “Nightmares,” by **
Grave Babies**, is also not indicative of its title, nor the band’s gloomy name.
The track features hazy, reverb-heavy guitar and vocals, and fits within the realm
of the garage surf rock sound that has been a popular music craze over the past 
three to four years. Some say that the resurgence of surf pop rock during recent
years is starting to fizzle out, but, at least within the cafe, the revival is still
riding a pretty big wave.

Related Post:  Recent Releases by DIY Bands Bearskin, Fire at Night, Vague Fears,
Ryan Stephens, The Molters

“Nightmares” – **Grave Babies **from _Gothdammit_ EP via Hardly Art

⌊moonfaceband⌉⌊moonfaceband⌉
 The new single, “Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips,” from
the new LP by **Moonface**, is a semi-dark composition brimming with a sense of 
urgency based on a fast, fat bass, spacey sound effects, crazed synthesizer riffs,
and Bowie-like vocals from well-known musician and collaborator **Spencer Krug**.
He’s best known for his work with bands like Wolf Parade, Frog Eyes, Sunset Rubdown
and Swan Lake. His debut album as Moonface was recorded in collaboration with **
Finnish** krautrock band **Siinai**.

[“Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/tearyeyesandbloodylips.mp3)–**
Moonface ** from _Heartbreaking Bravery (with digital booklet)_ via Jagjaguwar Records

Following Moonface is a fresh single from a band we’ve followed for a long time –**
Spiritualized**. We have not yet heard the new album, _Sweet Hearth, Sweet Light_–
it’s one of many in the list of “to listen to”.

“Hey Jane” – **Spiritualized** (NSFW!) from _Sweet Hearth Sweet Light _on Fat Possum

 

⌊horsefeathersband⌉⌊horsefeathersband⌉
 Next, yet another **Portland** band, **Horse
Feathers** – the animal-naming of bands in indie and folk rock is as ubiquitous 
as oxygen, or at least it seems that way for anyone who follows music – present 
their new single, “Fit Against The Country” from the album, _Cynic’s New Year_. 
The song is a perfectly composed and executed indie folk track, complete with mandolin
and guitar plucking.

“Fit Against the Country” – **Horse Feathers** from _Cynic’s New Year_ via Kill 
Rock Stars

![jdmcphersonmusic](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/51Akl5WEk7L._SS500_.
jpg)

#### JD McPherson Channels Chubby Checker and Carl Perkins on New Track

The lead single, “North Side Gal,” from **JD McPherson** is a blast from the past–
a great ode to the blues and rockabilly of the 1950’s in spirit of legends like **
Chubby Checker, Carl Perkins**, and many others from that epic time of change in
American popular music that was the spring board for so much of the iconoclastic
music we’ve loved over the decades.

It’s practically impossible not to want to get up and dance when listening to “North
Side Gal.” While this thrilling track from the **Oklahoma **singer/songwriter and
musician is a gem that pays homage to a bygone era, it is still relevant and fresh
today as an old-style song can be, bursting with Les Paul guitar licks, sock hop
rhythms, thumping stand-up bass, rattling drums, and convincing vocals that capture
perfectly the memory of such greats as Checker and Perkins.

Related Post:  Best New Music Releases, Week of July 24 - Fang Island, Passion Pit,
Gaslight Anthem, Purity Ring, Young Moon, Grassfight

“North Side Gal” – **JD McPherson** from _Signs and Signifiers (+ digital booklet)_
via Rounder Records

[“The Flask”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Peasant%20-%20The%20Flask.mp3)–**
Peasant** from _Bound for Glory_ via Schnitzel Records

Note: In the original publication of this post, we messed up and linked to the wrong
song titled “Flask.” Rather than linking to Peasant’s song above, “The Flask,” we
instead linked to “Flask” by the band **The Nod**. The latter is still a good track,
so we kept it here on the page, and also because that is how we originally published
it. Thanks to IRC listener Steve for pointing out our error.

[“The Flask”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/09%20Flask.mp3) – **The
Nod** from _Easy, Maverick_

If you like the track above from **Peasant**, and want to listen to – and download–
more tracks, we recommend checking out [Peasant’s Bandcamp page](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/free-sides1).
For comparison purposes, and also because we like it, here is the track, “Those 
Days,” which is from the _Free Singles _EP released last summer.

[“Those Days” ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Peasant%20-%20Those%20Days%20%2528Original%20Demo%25291.mp3)–**
Peasant** from _Bound for Glory_

Another impressive track is “Too Young to Break.” The title itself reminds us of
songs like **Fun**‘s “We Are Young” and **Sonny and the Sunsets** “Too Young To 
Burn,” among others.

![kingofprussia](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/51ZLCsgGDZL._SS500_1.
jpg)

#### Playlist Within a Playlist: King of Prussia, Coke Weed, Sidi Toure and The Forty Niners

One of the things that is cool about making playlists is that you can set up the
order of songs however you want, not to mention pick and chose which songs to include.
We dig sometimes creating mini-playlists within playlists – especially when it comes
to the weekly new releases. So, here’s another mini, with fresh tracks from King
of Prussia, Coke Weed, Sidi Toure, and The Forty Nineteens.

” Your Graduating Hours” – **King Of Prussia** from _Transmissions From The Grand
Strand_ (self-released)

⌊cokeweedband⌉⌊cokeweedband⌉
 “Magpie” – **Coke Weed** from _Nice Dreams_ via Heavy
Friends Records

“Tondi karaa” – **Sidi Toure** from _Koima_

“Turn It Around” – **The Forty Nineteens** from _No Expiration Date_ via Heyday 
Records