# Recent Releases We Almost Missed, Vol. XXII – Smith Westerns, Bass Drum of Death, Rose Windows, Palms, Light Heat, Escort

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2013/07/recent-releases-we-almost-missed-vol-xxii-smith-westerns-bass-drum-of-death-rose-windows-palms-light-heat/
- Published: 2013-07-15T07:40:08-04:00
- Author: Max Hammer

There’s never been an edition of the [**Recent Releases We Almost Missed**](https://indierockcafe.com/category/new-releases/recent-releases-we-almost-missed/)
that covered one specific week of releases; at least not until today. Due to many
things happening all at once, we did not previously have enough time (it takes many
hours of work to review and put together a week’s worth of new releases) to properly
review the Best New Music Releases for the week of June 25th. So, it’s time to play
catch up.

The week of June 25th offered many standout LP and EP releases, including **Smith
Westerns**‘ third album, _Soft Will_, highlighted by the bliss-tinged single, “Varsity.”
If you’re a fan of previous Smith Westerns’ releases, you’re probably going to love
_Soft Will_ – it’s a good album for kicking back on a late summer afternoon and 
chilling, reading or browsing the web.

Next, the morbidly-named band **Bass Drum of Death** officially released their self-
titled sophomore LP this week as the follow-up to their 2011 debut album, _GB City_,
which put BDOD on the indie rock radar. The new single, “Shattered Me,” is a fast-
moving surf-rock/psych-pop thriller embellished with hardy beats, distorted guitars,
hip-shaking rhythms, robust, melodic keys and reverb-heavy vocals. Bass Drum of 
Death is the creation of **Oxford**, Mississippi musician **John Barrett**, who 
pretty much does it all – composes, plays all of the instruments, records, mixes
and produces. “Shattered Me” is a perfect track to follow the more tame, but equally
infectious, single from Smith Westerns, “Varsity.”

The new-to-us **Seattle** band, **Rose Windows**, sound like Jane’s Addiction playing
psychedelic rock on the single, “Native Dreams,” from Rose Windows’ debut album,
_The Sun Dogs_. The album was initially self-released earlier this year, but it 
drew such a big following, **Sub Pop** signed the band to re-release it.  A band
to watch in 2013, **The Orwells**, from the UK, are a young and gritty indie rock
band that dropped their debut EP, _Other Voices_, in the last week of June. Also,
check out the lead single from musician** Jay Arner**‘s self-titled debut.

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Is Sinking, Goodnight Loving, Kingsley Flood, Luna is Honey

 “Varsity” – **Smith Westerns** from _Soft Will_ via Mom+Pop Records

 
 “Shattered Me” – **Bass Drum of Death** from _Bass Drum of Death_ on Innovative
Leisure

 [“Native Dreams”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/13184.mp3) – **Rose
Windows** from _The Sun Dogs_ on Sub Pop

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=rjWPUR1STOc “Other Voices” – **The Orwells** from _Other
Voices_ EP on Canvasback

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=GBBON8WvYvE “Don’t Remind Me” – **Jay Arner** from 
_Jay Arner_ on Mint Records

![palms-palms](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/palms-palms.
jpg "palms-palms")

#### Top Singles from Palms, Hausu, Light Heat and Pity Sex

The following batch of lead singles from new albums dropped during the week of June
25th represents a collection of exciting, standout songs from promising, new-to-
us bands who are steadily converting growing numbers of music lovers, critics and
bloggers, including IRC. All of these singles are from debut album releases.

After spending a considerable amount of time screening all of the singles from this
particular week’s (the same as for every week of the year, with just a few hiccups,
since 2009) new LPs and EPs, the singles were then coded into a playlist which we
listen to at least half of a dozen times over the course of a few days to make sure
they are “keepers.”

These include the Deftones’ **Chino Moreno**‘s side project, **Palms**; post-hardcore
hooks and driving beats from **Portland** band and **Hardly Art** recording artist,**
Hausu**; the sadly melodic hooks, organ whirling fused with shimmering guitars, 
driving bass and drumming and the nasally of a project called **Light Heat** from**
Mazarin** band member **Quentin Stoltzfus** with the richly textured, organ whirling,
hook-filled psych pop track, “And The Birds…” (reminds us a bit of The Walkmen) 
from the self-titled debut; and the oddly named **Pity Sex**, a shoegaze/pop rock
band from **Ann Arbor**, Michigan.

Related Post:  Recent Releases We Almost Missed, Vol. V: The Library Is On Fire,
Son Lux, The Ambience Affair, Japanther, Yawn, Kikipau

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=KLdCPRco4mA “Patagonia” – **Palms** from _Palms_ on
Ipecac Recordings

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=VC117bDoNv8 “Chrysanthemum” – **Hausu** from _Total_
on Hardly Art

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=dIL1IR4D2MU “And The Birds…” – **Light Heat** from 
_Light Heat_ on Ribbon Music

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=PL_212Ts8ZA “Wind-Up” – **Pity Sex** from _Feast of
Love_ on Run for Cover

![lightningdust](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/lightningdust-
584x584.jpg "lightningdust")

#### More Thumbs Up Singles from Lightning Dust, Sebadoh and The Melodic

The following are singles that are not our favorites for the week, but they definitely
get a thumbs up. “Drippin” from the new band **Honeyslide** (Critical Heights Records)
is the first track on the band’s new 10″ release, that contains three other tracks
as well. “Drippin” is swathed in reverb, bathed in noise and drowned in in dreamy
vocals,” the label notes, to “blend the experimental with the melodic.”

Other recommended new albums out this week include the dreamy electro pop of _Fantasy_
the LP from **Lightning Dust**, the side project of **Black Mountain** members **
Amber Webber** and **Josh Wells**. For the first time in 14 years, the legendary
indie group **Sebadoh** return with an EP of new material drawing from their pop,
rock and punk roots. Plus, listen to singles from **The Melodic**,

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=gl8wc9r2fH4 “Drippin’” – **Honeyslide** from _Drippin/
Deep Architecture_ on Critical Heights

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=hIntbB-LZK8 “Loaded Gun” – **Lightning Dust** from 
_Fantasy_ on Jagjaguwar

“All Kinds” – **Sebadoh** from _The Secret_ EP on Joyful Noise Recordings

![ooooo_withoutyourlove](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ooooo_withoutyourlove-
500x5001.jpg "ooooo_withoutyourlove-500x500")

#### Electro and Dance Tracks from oOoOO, Escort, Gambles & Others

There were a number of electronic and dance-oriented tracks out this week as featured
below from artists such as **oOoOO, Escort, Gambles, The Drum** and **Wise Blood**.

“Mouchette” – **oOoOO** from _Without Your Love_ on Nihjgt Feelings (SoundCloud 
version)

“Barbarians” (Tiger & Woods Remix) – **Escort** from single

“Far From Your Arms” – **Gambles** from _Far From Your Arms_ on GMBLS

 [“Sirens”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Drum%20-%20Sirens.mp3)–**
The-Drum** from _Contact_ on Audraglint

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Monster Movie, Silver Seas

[“Universe Is Blessed”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/10%20Universe%20Is%20Blessed.mp3)–**
Wise Blood** from _id_ on Dovecote Records

![Big-Star-Band](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Big-Star-SEPIA-
584x584.jpg "Big-Star-Band")

#### The Story of Big Star: _Nothing Can Hurt Me_

The trailer above is from the film _[Nothing Can Hurt Me](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/07/recent-releases-we-almost-missed-vol-xxii-smith-westerns-bass-drum-of-death-rose-windows-palms-light-heat/ bigstarstory.com)_,
the story of **Big Star**, a 70’s glam-rock band that had a huge and lasting impact
on pop music, but have only been truly credited for their contributions and influence
during the past two decades. Today, Big Star’s identity is that of one of the most
over-looked bands of the 70’s, even though their debut album reached No. 1 in the
U.S. and around the world. We can’t wait to see this film because the story of Big
Star is truly an amazing American story about the highs and lows of rock and roll
stardom.

“Thirteen” – **Big Star** from _#1 Record & Radio City_ (two albums in one – remastered)

![statistics](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/statistics-584x584.
jpg "statistics")

#### Noteworthy Singles from Statistics, Transplants, David Yow & Booker T.*

In addition to our top recommendations for the Week of June 25th, the following 
are singles from new-to-us artists and bands that we think are noteworthy enough
to throw into the mix for consideration based on the single from the artists’ new
albums. We have not listened to the albums, just the singles, from **Statistics,
Transplants** and **David Yow**‘s (Jesus Lizard), who just released a new solo album.
Plus, check out the jazzy funk jam-o-rillo by **Booker T**. without **The MG’s**(
i.e. “Green Onion”); the instrumental legend from the 60’s is still kicking it!

[“Nineteen Ninety Nine”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/statistics-nineteen-ninety)–**
Statistics** from _Peninsula_ on Afternoon Records

“Fun” – **Booker T**. from _Sound The Alarm_ on Stax Records/Concord Music Group

![transplants](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/transplants-
584x584.jpg "transplants")

“Come Around” – **Transplants** from _In a Warzone_ on Epitaph Records

“Thee Itch” – **David Yow** from _Tonight You Look Like a Spider_ on Joyful Noise
Recordings