# Best Singles & Albums, August 2013, Vol. II – Washed Out, Bloc Party,  Moondoggies, Don Cavalli, Franz, The Dodos, Ghost Wave

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/
- Published: 2013-09-17T03:53:41-04:00
- Author: Max Hammer

This post and playlist includes over 65 MP3 singles from the second half of August
releases, featuring dozens of popular, well-known and totally DIY, obscure artists
and bands. This is the second, and final, post and playlist mix covering the cafe’s
top picks for the best singles and albums of August 2013. The first volume of [Best Singles & Albums for August 2013](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-i-heaven-polyphonic-spree-barbarian-minks-future-wife/),
covering July 30th to August 12th, was a huge success with listeners and included
standout singles from new albums by popular and well-known indie artists like Heaven,
Explosions in the Sky & David Wingo, The Polyphonic Spree, Pond, Medicine, Michael
Franti & Spearhead, T. Hardy Morris, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, Minks, 
The Delta Mirror and Jack Bellows , in addition to incredibly talented unsigned 
and obscure artists and bands like Barbarian, Egadz, Null Device, Lights at Night,
Stuart Newman, Future Wife, Step Rockets, Mosaic, Hunter As A Horse, and others.

The first [volume ](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-i-heaven-polyphonic-spree-barbarian-minks-future-wife/)
of the Best Singles & Albums for August, featuring 39 amazing songs, covered July
30th to August 12th, using the closest Tuesday (the day most albums are traditionally
released by labels) to August 1st (which was July 30th). In these two volumes, there
are so many terrific, ‘keeper’ songs – over 100 in all. It’s the most comprehensive
MP3 playlist of the top singles from new albums released in the month of August 
available anywhere online. Enjoy.

##### Best Singles & Albums Released August 13th to 19th

 * Top Singles from [ Bloc Party and The Moondoggies](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#bloc)
   Latest Album Releases
 * The Genius of Ernest Greene Emerges Again on [Washed Out’s Sophomore Album](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#wash)
   Release
 * Overlooked Releases from [The Chastity Belt, Dog Party and Jagwar Ma](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#chas)
   Make IRC’s List
 * Auerbach Championed [Songwriter Don Cavalli Delivers](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#cava)
   Another Terrific Album
 * Band to Watch [Scott & Charlene’s Wedding](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#scot)
   Drop Ace Album
 * Rising Band [Flashbulb Fires Release New Single](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#flas)
   Amid Buzz
 * New LP from [CREEP Features Guest Vocalists Romy Madley-Croft](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#cree),
   Kazu and Andrew Wyatt
 * The Outfit [Screamin Eagle Team Up with Musician Zeke Johnson](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#scre)
   on New Release
 * DIY Band [The Persian Leaps Drop Debut EP](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#pers),
   _Praise Elephants_
 * San Francisco [Artist Jason Buckingham Drops EP](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#culp)
   as Strange Culprits
 * Top Singles from [Paper City, Nytyly, Aaron Gibson](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#paper)
   Recent Releases

##### Top Releases from Various Artists, August 20th to August 26th

 * Listen to [Fresh Single from Ty Segall’s](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#ty)
   Latest Album
 * Top New Releases from [Crocodiles, Diarrhea Planet and No Age](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#croc)
   Top Picks
 * Review Excellent Trio of [Singles from Kissaway Trail, Typhoon and Ski Lodge’s](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#kiss)
   New LPs
 * After Hiatus, [Superchunk and Travis’ New LPs](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#super)
   Mark Return of Music Champs
 * ‘Inbetweener’ Artists [Pure Bathing Culture, Still Life Still, Surf City](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#pure)
   Add to Top Songs of August
 * Boston [Band to Watch Bent Shapes](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#bent)
   Drops Debut
 * Bands [Army Navy, Gross Relations, Earl Sweatshirt, Tim Easton, Golden Suits](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#army)
   Drop Fine New Tracks
 * Psychedelic Rock from [His Electro Blue Voice and Native’s Spooky Sounds](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#blue)
   Resonate
 * Top Singles from [Julianna Barwick, Widower and Alexander Von Mehren’s](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#juli)
   Latest Releases
 * DIY Singer/Songwriter [Rob Vischer Offers Indie Pop](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#visc)
   from ‘Music City’
 * Sacramento Indie [Band to Watch Appalachians](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#app)
   Release New Seven-Inch
 * Indie Singer/Songwriters [Blake Walker and Dan Jacobs Cross the Radar](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#blak)
   with New EP

##### Top Releases from Various Artists, August 27th to September 2nd

 * Top Releases of the Week from [Franz Ferdinand, Capsula, The Dodos ](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#fran)
   and Others
 * Singles from [New Albums by Joe Black Lewis, King Krule, Ghost Wave](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#joe)
   and Others
 * Nashville Band [MODOC Officially Release Album](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#modo)
   Featuring Popular Single
 * San Francisco [Artists Gamble Gamble Die and TaughtMe](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/09/best-singles-albums-august-2013-vol-ii-washed-out-bloc-party-moondoggies-don-cavalli-franz-the-dodos-ghost-wave/#gamb)
   Drop Fantastic New LPs
 * ⌊blocparty⌉⌊blocparty⌉

#### Top Singles from Bloc Party’s and The Moondoggies’ Latest Album Releases

After you’ve listened to Volume One of the best new August releases, and crave even
more great songs that you can stream or download, here’s where you’ll want to come
for the rest of August releases. While the week of August 13th to August 19th was
relatively thin for new releases, there’s still great music from popular indie artists
like **Washed Out**‘s new **Subpop** release, _Paracosm_, followed by **Bloc Party**‘
s latest album, _The Nextwave Sessions_, featuring the lead single, “Ratchet,” which
is one of their best singles in a number of years. The popular **Seattle** indie
band, **The Moondoggies**, dropped their sophomore album, _Adios I’m A Ghost_, on
August 13th. The top song from the LP so far has been the track, “Red Eye.” The 
track is flanked by excellent electric guitar work, including a riveting riff throughout,
and soulful vocals from **Kevin Murphy**. However, that can sometimes be balanced
out by the fact that the albums have not had time to really seep into the listening
public’s playlists the way that albums released earlier in the year naturally are
more likely to.

[“Ratchet”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Block-Party-Ratchet.mp3)–**
Bloc Party** from _The Nextwave Sessions_ on Frenchkiss

“Red Eye” – **The Moondoggies** from _Adios I’m a Ghost_ on Hardly Art

![Washed-Out](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Washed-Out.jpg"
Washed-Out")

Ernest Greene, aka Washed Out, working on his music

#### The Genius of Ernest Greene Emerges Again on Washed Out’s Sophomore Album Release

The sophomore album from the talented, popular musician **Ernest Greene**‘s indie
project, **Washed Out**, was one of the most anticipated releases of the summer,
and it did not disappoint. Since the release of the debut album, _Within and Without_,
in 2011, that made Washed Out an international indie recording star, Greene has 
been touring endlessly around the globe. In between tours, Greene found time to 
write and record the material that makes up _Paracosm_, his sophomore release. We
think it’s good that he took his time, even though there was tremendous pressure
on Greene to put out a follow-up album sooner because of the huge success of his
debut. Often, when an artist that comes out of nowhere has a big and unexpected 
success with a debut album, the pressure – from the label and some fans – to turn
out a new follow-up album or EP within six months to a year, is tremendous, and 
intense. Plus, the expectation of course is that it should be even better than the
debut that also has to be as good or better than the debut, is intense.

But many times, as history has shown us, when artists and their labels rush a sophomore
album out, the results are not so good. Greene, apparently, wasn’t willing to rush
his follow-up album because of pressure, and that is respectful to his fans, who
naturally have high expectations and we would guess would rather wait a little longer
for a great album than to get a mediocre album quickly. Thankfully, Greene took 
his time with writing and recording _Paracosm_, which is a remarkable, at times 
stunningly genius, collection of new songs from Washed Out. Greene performed some
of his new songs live during his terrific performance a couple of weeks ago at **
Monterey**‘s debut **First City Festival**.

[“Don’t Give Up”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Washed-Out-Don39t-Give-Up.mp3)–**
Washed Out** from _Paracosm_ on Sub Pop

Aside from those big releases, it was a rather thin week for new albums from established
and better known artists. As far as new releases from the next strata of artists
we call the ‘inbetweeners’ – those that are not necessarily well known, but also
not obscure and are signed to a label – there were a number of worthy releases dropped
by **Dog Party** and **Don Cavalli**, and** Jagwar Ma** and **Twin Steps**, among
others. And lastly, but not least, further down the page, make sure to check out
the carefully selected fresh releases from DIY, under-the-radar and unsigned bands,
many of who are exclusively featured on IRC.

![dogparty_original](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/dogparty_original-
624x558.jpg "dogparty_original")

#### Overlooked Releases from The Chastity Belt, Dog Party and Jagwar Ma

The band **The Chastity Belt** dropped their new album, _No Regrets_, fronted by
the single, “Black Sail,” on August 13th. Punk pop blazes from the band **Dog Party**‘
s short (44 seconds!) new anthemic single, “How Are You Doing,” from the album, 
_Lost Control_. If you like girl punk, you’ll want to get that album.

Next up is the thrilling single, “Man I Need,” from Australian duo **Jagwar Ma**‘
s debut album, _Howlin_. The band grinds out a modern take on the **Manchester**
dance-rock sound that bands like **The Stone Roses** and **Inspiral Carpets** made
popular in the late 80’s and early 90’s (before it was replaced by the Brit pop 
craze headed by **Oasis** and **Blur**). There’s also a clear influence of **Jane’s
Addiction** throughout _Howlin’_. The [Jagwar Ma music video](https://youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=K8KCPw9kYpo)
is also worth checking out.

[“Black Sail”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Chastity-Belt-Black-Sail.mp3)–**
Chastity Belt** from _No Regerts _on Help Yourself Records – attach

[“How Are You Doing”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Dog-Party-How-Are-You-Doing.mp3)–**
Dog Party** from _Lost Control_ on Asian Man Records

“Man I Need” – **Jagwar Ma** from _Howlin_ on Mom + Pop

![cavalli](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/cavalli.jpg "cavalli")

#### Auerbach Championed Songwriter Don Cavalli Delivers Another Winner

Let’s switch things up and get down and boogie 70’s-style with the funky blues rock
and soul grooves of French artist **Don Cavalli** on the title track of his sophomore
album, _Temperamental_. Cavalli’s profile was significantly raised when **Dan Auerbach**
of **The Black Keys** referenced Cavalli’s 2008 psychedelic blues debut, _Cryland_,
as an inspiration. A pat on the back from a Grammy-winning rocker must be such a
huge confidence booster, but it also places an extra burden of expectation from 
new fans (especially the most committed hard-core Black Keys’ fans who surely sought
out Cavalli’s music) on the artist. Ahh, the ying and yang of life. Following “Temperamental,”
things shift into a higher gear on the playlist with the inclusion of the gritty
tune, “The Corner Man,” a lo-fi, riff-heavy R&B meets garage punk rock track from**
Boston**‘s own **Barrence Whitfield and The Savages**. Wrapping up this section,
or more accurately perhaps, selection, of August’s third week of top singles from
new releases by fairly well-known indie artists and bands, is the lo-fi, live single,“
Son of Sam,” from the indie rock band **Twin Steps**. The song is off of the band’s
new seven-inch, _Plague Songs_, available via 1-2-3-4 Go Records!

[“Temperamental”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/tempermental.mp3)–**
Don Cavalli** from _Temperamental_ on Everloving Records

[“The Corner Man”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/cornerman.mp3) –**
Barrence Whitfield and the Savages** from _Dig Thy Savage Soul_ on Bloodshot Records

[“Son of Sam”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Twin-Steps-Son-Of-Sam.mp3)–**
Twin Steps** from _Plague Songs_ 7″ on 1-2-3-4 Go! Records

![scott-charlene](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/scott-charlene.
jpg "scott-charlene")

#### Band to Watch Scott & Charlene’s Wedding Drop Ace Album

If you’re not familiar with the band **Scott & Charlene’s Wedding**, here’s a good
chance to get to know the duo, and why they are a rising band in the indie ‘musicverse.”

There new lead single, “Wild Heart,” from the August 13th album release, _Any Port
In A Storm_, is evidence of why the duo’s atmospheric post-punk rock sound, that
is obviously influenced by **Sonic Youth** and **Velvet Underground**, is causing
a buzz with some alternative rock lovers. The second single, “Lesbian Wife,” shifts
in tempo and sound density and features Scott’s half spoken/half sung vocals. There
is not an artist we have heard in a long time that sounds so much like **Lou Reed**.

[“Wild Heart”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/11%20-%20SACW%20-%20Wild%20Heart.mp3)–**
Scott & Charlene’s Wedding** from _Any Port In A Storm_ on Fire Records

![FlashbulbFires](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FlashbulbFires-
500x332.jpg "FlashbulbFires")

#### Top DIY Releases Week of August 13th From Flashbulb Fires, CREEP, Sreamin’ Eagle and Others

Now for our favorite part of the weekly releases – select new singles and albums
from DIY, under-the-radar and ready-to-break-out indie artists and bands, many of
which have not, until now, received any significant exposure in the indie blogosphere.
This turns out to be another great playlist of “rarely heard” singles released during
the third week of August.

As regular readers and listeners see, there are dozens and dozens of talented artists
and bands featured each month on IRC that don’t get covered elsewhere. Again and
again, we are amazed by the wealth of remarkable musical talent across America, 
and around the world, that too often goes unnoticed and otherwise gets lost in the
noise of the global mainstream music monster machine. The monster machine pumps 
hundreds of millions of dollars a year into worldwide production, advertising, marketing,
promotion, social media, cable and on and on.

The top DIY release of the week includes artists that are well-known in the indie
rock world.

![unseencover](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/unseencover-
584x584.jpg "unseencover")

#### Rising Band Flashbulb Fires Release New Single

From **Denver**, the indie “haze-pop” band **Flashbulb Fires**, has been making 
waves in the world of indie rock since the release of their widely acclaimed debut
album, _Glory_, in 2009. In the ensuing years, the band toured extensively, played
official showcases at SXSW and CMJ. Last year, the band released their sophomore
album, _Gasconader_, which was also widely praised. On a roll, the band released
a new single, “Unseen Things” on August 13th that we think many of you will enjoy,
especially for fans of the band. No word yet on when their next album will be released,
but it is in the works according to band member **Michael James**.

“Unseen Things” – **Flashbulb Fires** from single – Aug. 13th

![creepcover](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/creepcover.jpg"
creepcover")

#### CREEP’s New LP Features Guest Vocalists Romy Madley-Croft, Kazu and Andrew Wyatt

The DIY release, _Echoes_, from the band, **CREEP**, dropped on August 13th, includes
10 tracks, each with a guest vocalist, including artists like **Romy Madley-Croft**(
The xx) on the track, “Days,” and **Planningtorock** on “Introduction,” as well 
as contributions from **Sia, Tricky**, **Andrew Wyatt** (Miike Snow), **Kazu** (
Blonde Redhead), and **Holly Miranda**. The **Brooklyn** duo that obviously has 
some great connections, is headed by **Lauren Flax** and **Lauren Dillard**, both
DJs and producers. Even though _Echoes_ was just released, there are already numerous
mixes of tracks from _Echoes_ floating around. For example, the song, “Days,” (view
the official video below) has been mixed by **Deadboy, Soul Clap, Azari, ** and **
Super8** (listen below).

[“Days”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Creep-Days.mp3) (featuring
Romy Madley Croft) – **CREEP** from _Echoes_

[“Days”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Creep-Days-Super8-and-Tab-Remix.mp3)(
CREEP) – **Super8** Remix

 ⌊old+young⌉

#### Screamin Eagle Team Up with Musician Zeke Johnson

While he’s not going to be the next **Bon Iver** or **Tallest Man on the Earth**,**
Memphis** musician **Winston Legtheigh**, who fronts **Screamin Eagle**, is nonetheless
one of the most talented DIY musicians we’ve heard in August thanks the album, _Old&
Young_ and the standout track “Good As Dead,” teaming up with musician **Zeke Johnson**.
You’ve probably already spotted a dreary theme, but his music is very much alive
and well.

“Good as Dead” – **Screamin Eagle** from _Old & Young_ – Aug. 13th

![strangeculprits](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/strangeculprits.
jpg "strangeculprits")

#### San Francisco Artist Jason Buckingham Drops EP as Strange Culprits

**San Francisco** one-man band **Jason Buckingham**, who records under the moniker**
Strange Culprits**, released his debut EP, _Five Fingers_, on August 13th. Strange
Culprits’ lead single, “Concrete in the Rain,” is a gloomy, gritty song with distant-
sounding guitar licks, a looped bass, singular drum beat, piano riffs and kind of
scary vocals. Buckingham said of his new project: “Strange Culprits aims to flip
the bird at musical genres, choosing instead to operate by the simple credo that
a good song is a good song, whether it was inspired by Motown, Woodie Guthrie, or
Cheap Trick.”

“Concrete in the Rain” – **Strange Culprits** from _Five Fingers_

 ⌊the-persian-leaps⌉

#### The Persian Leaps Drop Debut EP, _Praise Elephants_

From **St. Paul**, Minnesota, the pop rock band **The Persian Leaps** knock out 
incredibly catchy hooks, bright melodies and sing-a-long choruses on their new single,“
Silent Treatment,” from the band’s debut EP, _Praise Elephants_. The young quartet,
formed in 2012, create “driving, chimey music” influenced by bands like **House 
of Love, My Bloody Valentine, Guided by Voices**, and **Teenage Fanclub**. Those
bands have informed The Persian Leaps’ “short, catchy songs coated with divine guitar
noise and vocal harmonies.” Their new EP was dropped on August 15th.

“Silent Treatment” – **The Persian Leaps** from _Praise Elephants_

![papercity](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/papercity-500x453.
jpg "papercity")

#### Top Singles from Paper City, Nytyly, Aaron Gibson Recent Releases

Also listen to new music from bands like Hunting Beach, California’s 60’s surf pop
band **Paper City** who’ve opened for artists like **The Blank Tapes, Jessica Dobson**(
of the Shins), **The Secret 6** (of The Killingtons), **Chase Frank**, and **Alyssandra
Nighswonger**. Their debut album, _Summer of Love_, was released on August 15th.
Next, “Harmony Day,” is a strange mix of electronic rock and psychedelic pop from
the **Brooklyn** band **nytyly**. **Aaron Gibson** is an accomplished singer/songwriter
and musician from **Oregon** who has toured in **China** and around the states. 
The song, “Waiting,” is from Gibson’s new album, _Loose Ends_.

“Love and Fashion” – **Paper City** from _Paper City_

“Harmony Day” – **nytyly** from _Brooklyn Broadcast _– Aug. 16th

“Waiting” – **Aaron Gibson** from _Loose Ends_

 ⌊ty-segall-sleeper⌉

#### Top Singles and Albums from Week Four, August 20th to August 26th

As if making up for previous weeks in which there were a thin number of new releases,
the week of August 20th sprung a whole bunch of much anticipated, and warmly welcomed,
new albums, from artists like **Ty Segall, Crocodiles, Travis, Porcelain Raft, No
Age, Kissaway Trail **, and others.

Anytime **Ty Segall** has a new release, it’s like a holiday in the cafe. The northern
California based, southern California-raised, musician is not only a composer, singer,
songwriter, mulit-instrumentalist, producer and serial collaborator , he is also
a prolific, original and versatile artist. _Sleeper_ has apparently disappointed
some Segall fans, but those who really appreciate his talents, will find the new
album not to be a sleeper, but a grower. The more we listen to it, the more and 
more we discover all over again, again in a slightly different way than before, 
the sheer brilliance of his artistry and the necessity to proclaim that Segall is
one of the most important indie artists of the past decade.

[“Sleeper”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Ty-Segall-Sleeper.mp3) –**
Ty Segall** from _Sleeper_ on Drag City

 ⌊CRIMES_Crocodiles⌉

#### Top New Releases from Crocodiles, Diarrhea Planet and No Age Top Picks

We love the **Crocodiles** scuffed up, gritty persona and their reverb-heavy lo-
fi rock, like the raunchy new single, “Cockroach,” from their new album, _Crimes
of Passion_, demonstrates. Our next pick among the more popular and well-known bands
with new albums released on August 20th is _I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams_
by the **Nashville** band **Diarrhea Planet** (among our top picks for worst band
name ever) and the new single, “Separations,” that we’ve listened to half a dozen
times just in the first few days after we first heard it, and the album itself is
also turning out to be a ‘repeater’ – one that you can’t help but to play again 
and again. Despite the terrible band name, which also has an element of ‘fuck you’
to the music industry and the brand makers, Diarrhea Planet are yet another indie
band from Nashville – a non-country music trend that has been picking up steam in
a city which has had its identity tied to country music for nearly a century. Nowadays
in Nashville, country isn’t the only game in town.

**No Age**‘s new track, “No Impression,” is a strange lo-fi gumbo of post-punk and
no wave blending deep base thumps, psychedelic rock style guitar, untuned violin
strands, fuzzy synths, and lots of effects including reverb and fade. _KEXP_ said
the band’s fifth album, _An Object_, is “a dramatic change of pace that finds them
exploring the sounds of stern post-punk, atmospheric shoegaze and amelodic No Wave
with a mostly bleak blend of angular guitar lines, noisy ambient textures, taut 
rhythms and monotone vocals.” The terrific single, “An Impression,” gives a wonderful
and correct impression of the rest of the songs on _An Object_. An excellent way
to close out this block of singles is appropriately concluded with the single, “
The Way Out,” the terrifically hazy pop glaze from **Porcelain Raft’**s new album,
_Permanent Signal_.

[“Cockroach”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Crocodiles-Cockroach.mp3)–**
Crocodiles** from _Crimes of Passion_ on Frenchkiss Records

[“Separations”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Diarrhea-Planet-Separations.mp3)–**
Diarrhea Planet** from _I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams_ on Infinity Cat

⌊anobject-porcraft⌉⌊anobject-porcraft⌉
 [“An Impression”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/13588.mp3)–**
No Age** from _An Object_ on Sub Pop

[“The Way Out”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Porcelain-Raft-The-Way-Out.mp3)–**
Porcelain Raft** from _Permanent Signal_ on Secretly Canadian

![breachkissawaytrail](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/breachkissawaytrail-
583x584.jpg "breachkissawaytrail")

#### An Excellent Trio of Singles from Kissaway Trail, Typhoon and Ski Lodge’s New LPs

Probably our favorite **Danish** indie rock band, ** Kissaway Trail**, came roaring
back on August 20th with the release of a new album of wonderfully guitar-driven,
hooklicious, rhythmic indie rock on the song “The Springsteen Implosion,” followed
by the latest single from the new album by the band **Typhoon**, and the new-to-
us band **Ski Lodge**, a post-punk band from **New York** that crafts dark, dreamy
and atmospheric elements into the songs on their debut, _Big Heart_.

[“The Springsteen Implosion”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Kissaway_Trail_-_The_Springsteen_Implosion.mp3)–**
Kissaway Trail** from _Breach_ on Yep Roc

[“Dreams of Cannibalism” ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Typhoon-Dreams-Of-Cannibalism.mp3)–**
Typhoon** from White Lighter on Roll Call Records

[“Boy”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/SKI-LODGE-Boy.mp3) – **Ski 
Lodge** from _Big Heart_ on Dovecote Records

![superchunk-i-hate-music-album](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/
09/superchunk-i-hate-music-album.jpg "superchunk-i-hate-music-album")

#### After Hiatus, Superchunk and Travis Mark Return With Excellent New LPs

We call artists and bands that have been releasing noteworthy music for more than
20 years, ‘The Vets’ and we all love them from REM to Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins
to The Strokes and Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, U2 to Dinosaur Jr. (among many,
many others). These are the folks that have had a huge impact on many of the indie
and alternative rock artists and bands we cover all of the time. So, it was a delight
to finally see **Superchunk** release a new album that includes the excellent single,“
Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” sounds like it could have been a **Big Star** hit single
circa 1974 with it’s three power pop chords and glam rock-style riffs and chorues.
Another veteran band of the music scene, Scottish post-Britpop, pro-alternative 
rock band **Travis** return with their first album, _Where You Stand_, in five years.
While **Fran Healy**‘s vocals are not as robust as they were a decade ago, but he
still carries a tune remarkably well, and the band sounds as tight and perfected
as ever as the lead single, “Moving,” so aptly demonstrates.

“Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” – **Superchunk** from _I Hate Music_ on Merge Records

[“Moving”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Travis-Moving.mp3) – **Travis**
from _Where You Stand_ on Red Telephone Box Records

Energized after a few chaotic years of a whirlwind success, singer/songwriter and
musician **Laura Veirs**, did not slow down, writing and recording an album’s worth
of songs for her sophomore album, _Warp and Weft_. The toe-tapping feature track,“
Sun Song,” truly shines and flourishes in a swirl of violins, piano, drums, guitars
and more, but is only made whole with Veirs’ magnificent vocal work. Following Veirs
is “Getting Even,” the latest single from **White Lies’** new album, dropped Aug.
20th, _Big TV_.

[“Sun Song”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Laura-Veirs-Sun-Song.mp3)–**
Laura Veirs** from _Warp and Weft_ on Raven Marching Band Records

[“Getting Even”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/White-Lies-Getting-Even.mp3)–**
White Lies** from _Big TV_ on Harvest Records

 ⌊pbc⌉

#### ‘Inbetweener’ Artists Pure Bathing Culture, Still Life Still, Surf City Add to Top Songs of August

This next section is what we like to call the “inbetweeners,” meaning they are artists
and bands who are not widely known and popular but are also not obscure, DIY or 
under the radar. Most ‘inbetweeners’ have hundreds or thousands of hardcore fans
locally or spread about the country, and in some rare cases, around the world. We
can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard a US-based ‘inbetweener’ band that had
few fans in the U.S. but were wildly popular in the indie and alt rock scenes in
places like Tokyo, Lima, Madrid or Sao Paulo. It’s amazing how things work out that
way.

If you love diversity and pleasant surprises in your musical journey and discovery,
and you have broad tastes, and keep an open mind to possibly digging something that
at first you might not think is your cup of tea, our band profiles, new releases
round-ups, playlists and other posts are for you.

Talented inbetweeners with releases from the week of August 20th include Pure Bathing
Culture, Bent Shapes, Native, His Electro Blue Voice, Earl Sweatshirt, Tim Easton,
and Golden Suits.

[“Pendulum”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Pure-Bathing-Culture-Pendulum.mp3)–**
Pure Bathing Culture** from _Moon Tides_ on Partisan Records

[“In Enemies” ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Still-Life-Still-In-Enemies-Teen-Daze-Remix.mp3)(
Teen Daze Remix) – **Still Life Still** from _Mourning Trance_ on Arts & Crafts

[“It’s a Common Life”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Surf-City-It39s-A-Common-Life.mp3)–**
Surf City** from _We Knew It Was Not Going To Be Like This_ on Fire Records

![BentShapes_FeelsWeird](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FD011_BentShapes_FeelsWeird-
565x584.jpg "FD011_BentShapes_FeelsWeird")

#### Boston DIY Band to Watch Bent Shapes Drops Debut

**Bent Shapes** is a new-to-us band that stood out for their nerdy pop rock with
some reggae guitar playing (think Vampire Weekend), forceful yet raspy vocals and
a hook-friendly rhythm and beat that is hard to turn away from. The **Boston** trio
is composed of members **Andy Sadoway, Ben Potrykus**, and **Supriya Gunda**. Since
forming under their previous name **Girlfriends** in 2009, Bent Shapes has released
a string of DIY cassettes and 7”s full of fuzzy garage, frantic jangle pop, and 
scrappy post-punk. The band’s myriad of influences include **Josef K, The Feelies,
Jonathan Richman, Billy Childish**, and **The Fall**.

[“Behead Yrself, Pt. 2”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/01%20Behead%20Yrself,%20Pt.%202.mp3)–**
Bent Shapes** from _Feels Weird_ on Father/Daughter Records

![CrushedLiketheCar](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CrushedLiketheCar.
jpg "CrushedLiketheCar")

#### Bands Army Navy, Gross Relations, Earl Sweatshirt, Tim Easton, Golden Suits Drop Fine New Tracks

One of our favorite RE-discoveries for the fourth week of August (Aug 20-26) was
the band **Army Navy**, who we initially were turned on to last year, but honestly,
in the flood of new songs, albums and bands since then, we unintentionally forgot
about Army Navy and how much we liked them until hearing their latest offering. 
Next, **Brooklyn** lo-fi surf rockers **Gross Relations** spazz out on the uptempo,
riff rolling single, “Cut The Final Scene,” from the band’s self-title debut album,
dropped on August 20th, followed by hip-hop rapper **Earl Sweatshirt** and the 50’
s style rockabilly of **Tim Easton** – a stark transition from one musical form 
to another and about as unlikely a pairing as Big Bird and Mickey Mouse. This next
single, “Swimming in ’99,” by **Golden Suits** seemed like a good fit – because 
of its similar tempo – to follow Easton’s “Troubled Times,” but also different enough
to be amongst the great diversity of sounds and styles in this block of singles 
from August album releases.

[“Crushed Like The Car”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Army-Navy-Crushed-Like-the-Car.mp3)–**
Army Navy** from _The Crushed_ EP on The Fever Zone

[“Behead Yrself, Pt. 2”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/01%20Behead%20Yrself,%20Pt.%202.mp3)–**
Bent Shapes** from _Feels Weird_ on Father/Daughter Records

![electroblue](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/electroblue.
jpeg "electroblue")

#### Psychedelic Rock from His Electro Blue Voice and Native’s Spooky Sounds

If you’re a Velvet Underground/Lou Reed kind of a person, chances are you’ll dig
the loose composition, psychedelic meandering of instruments and long, disorganized,
yet strangely appealing, jams of the band **His Electro Blue Voice** on the Subpop
release, _Ruthless Sperm_, particularly on the single included below, “Born Tired.”
The menacing and dark instrumentation and vocals on **Native**‘s “Coin Toss” fits
appropriately placed right after His Electro Blue Voice – afterall, they got the
whole eerily psychedelic rock vibe going with “Born Tired.”

[“Born Tired”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/13586.mp3) – **His Electro
Blue Voice** from _Ruthless Sperm_ on Sub Pop

[“Coin Toss”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Native-Coin-Toss.mp3)–**
Native** from _Orthodox_ on Sargent House

[“Whoa”](https://youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=anRkutaPS9w) (feat.
Tyler, The Creator) – **Earl Sweatshirt** from _Doris_ on Tan Cressida/Columbia

“Troubled Times” – **Tim Easton** from _Not Cool_ on Campfire Propaganda/Thirty 
Tigers

[“Swimming In ’99”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Golden-Suits-Swimming-In-3999.mp3)–**
Golden Suits** from _Golden Suits_ on Yep Roc
 http://soundcloud.com/goldensuits/
swimming-in-99

![juliannabarwick](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/JuliannaBarwick_Nepenthe_608x608-
584x584.jpg "juliannabarwick")

#### Top Singles from Julianna Barwick, Widower and Alexander Von Mehren’s Latest Releases

This section of the new releases covers artists and bands that are not from the 
strata of popular and well-known indie musicians, like Superchunk, Crocodiles or
No Age, but at the same time are not DIY, under the radar or obscure like many of
the DIY exclusive musicians we feature are – this section is for the artists and
bands that fall in between noteriety and obscurity.

Kicking off is the wonderful musician **Julianna Barwick** and her beautiful single,“
One Half,” from the album _Nepenthe_. Another mellow song from a new release dropped
on August 20th is the single, “Oh Catherine, My Catherine,” by the band **Widower**–
what a gorgeous acoustic love song. **Alexander Von Mehren** turns out another praise-
worthy album _Natural Selections_, including the title track, among others.

[“One Half”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Julianna-Barwick-One-Half-2013.mp3)–**
Julianna Barwick** from _Nepenthe_ on Dead Oceans

[“Oh Catherine, My Catherine”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/02%20Oh%20Catherine,%20My%20Catherine.wav)–
Widower from Fool Moon on Mama Bird Recording Co.’

“Natural Selection” – **Alexander Von Mehren** from _Natural Selection_ on The Control
Group

![robvischer](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/robvischer-583x584.
jpg "robvischer")

#### DIY Nashville Singer/Songwriter Rob Vischer Delivers Indie Pop from ‘Music City’

There were some terrific releases in the fourth week of August from DIY bands and
artists that few people know about like **Nashville** singer/songwriter **Rob Vischer**.
When people think of Nashville they think of country music. But in recent years,
there are other musical styles emerging from the city that made Elvis famous (or
vice versa?), including some terrific indie music from a growing number of musicians.
Singer/songwriter and musician Rob Vischer is one of them.

On his new single, “Love For A Lifetime,” Vischer, and his band, touch on many ‘
indie’ elements, such as a cheerful beat, handclaps, grandiose, soaring choruses,
bright piano, keys and guitar playing. We’re surprised we’ve never heard of him 
before considering how excellent his songs are. You’ll have “Love For A Lifetime”
playing in your head for days; it’s an irresistibly feel-good song with an incredibly
positive and hopeful sentiment. Love is a common theme on Vischer’s new album, _Meant
to Love_. The song, “Airwaves & Envelopes” is another love song, this time about
long distance love set to flourishing guitars, big drum rolls and very tight production.
It’s not a stretch to compare his music to bands like Fun, Death Cab For Cutie, 
Jimmy Eat World and Green Day, to varying degrees; Vischer’s sound falls somewhere
in the middle of DIY indie and polished radio rock. Therefore, it’s no surprise 
that his biggest musical influences include Death Cab for Cutie, Fun, Bruno Mars,
Civil Wars, Snow Patrol, and Muse.

Vischer started writing songs when he was 16. Four years ago, he travelled across
the U.S. on bicycle, working odd jobs, performing and selling his CD of demos door-
to-door along the way. With additional money he earned in the ensuing three years
following his cross-country journey, Vischer had enough money saved to pay for the
studio time, mixing and mastering to produce a proper CD release.

“Love for a Lifetime” – **Rob Vischer** from _Meant to Love_

“Airwaves & Envelopes” – **Rob Vischer** from _Meant to Love_

![](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/appalachians.jpg "appalachians")

#### Sacramento Indie Band to Watch Appalachians Release New Seven-Inch

Our top pick for the best DIY release of the fourth week of August 2013 is the new
7″ two-song release from **Sacramento** band, **Appalachians**, a terrific and promising
band we featured not long ago after coming across their music in our submission 
box. We think they’re one of the best new DIY bands we’ve heard in 2013 and ask 
ourselves: “why don’t more people know about this band?”

The single, “Dolly” is one of the best of all the lead singles for the week altogether,
among new releases by both popular and well-known indie artists and unsigned, obscure
bands, such as Applachians. On the second track, “Lo-Hi,” banjos are picking, mandolins
are strumming, and a bass is humming, along with the gentle, reassuring vocals that
add another appealing quality to an already appealing song. And it’s totally family-
friendly too. Along with the songs that we featured the first time we profiled Appalachians,
the two songs featured here on a two-song released titled, _Bereaved_, are by no
means wholly representative of this band’s incredible talents, and the enjoyment
their music has brought to all of us that have latched on as fans from the get-go.
If you want to hear more from Applachians, stream The Rolling C’s, their brilliant
July 2012 debut, on Bandcamp at http://appalachians1.bandcamp.com/album/the-rolling-
cs

> [5 DIY Bands to Watch, Vol. I – Hemmingbirds, Jumpiter, Cloud Lantern, The Jesus Rehab and Appalachians](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/01/5-diy-bands-to-watch-in-2013-vol-i-hemmingbirds-jumpiter-cloud-lantern-the-jesus-rehab-and-appalachians/)

 “Dolly” – **Appalachians** from _Bereaved_

“Lo-hi” – **Appalachians** from _Bereaved_

![danjacobs](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/danjacobs-584x584.
jpg "danjacobs")

#### Indie Singer/Songwriters Blake Walker and Dan Jacobs Cross the Radar with New EP

**Blake Walker** is an indie pop/rock singer/songwriter in Los Angeles who sent 
us a couple of impressive songs from his debut EP, _My Poor Joy_. In 2003, he left**
Dallas** in a car and drove to LA in pursuit of his dreams, a quest millions of 
young people have ventured on for nearly a century now. That’s what America is all
about and you can get a sense of that in Walker’s heartfelt music. He listed his
musical influences as Deerhunter, The Walkmen, and Velvet Underground. Walker provided
one of the best answers we have heard of to the question asked on the submission
form – “what is indie rock.” He replied: “Whether or not Indie refers to truly independent
music, or music on a subsidiary label owned by a larger company, the term represents
qualities of purity, earnestness, immediacy, exuberance, experimentation and fun.
The spirit of good Indie music is always liberated, regardless of how it’s distributed.”

Another singer/songwriter, **Dan Jacobs** of **Washington**, D.C., caught our attention
with a couple of tracks that he sent in from his self-released album that he quietly
dropped on August 27th. The world didn’t really notice, but we did. Since officially
becoming a DIY artist in 2012, this is his first exposure on any blog or other publication.
We love that we are often the first music site, or site in general, to exclusively
premiere a promising new artist or band that has been overlooked for too long.

Hopefully, enough people will dig the two songs here and want to listen to more 
and purchase his album, which you can get by searching for his name together with
the album name. We like his raspy, almost Dylanesque voice, a reference that is 
appropriate since he listed in his submission Bob Dylan as his greatest musical 
influence. If you know someone that is making an indie film that needs a great folk
song, it’d be worthwhile to contact Jacobs to see if he’d provide one of his songs
for an indie soundtrack.

“The Winter Classic” – **Dan Jacobs** from _Creatures_

“You Say” – **Blake Walker** from _My Poor Joy_

“My Little Singaporean Princess” – **Blake Walker** from _My Poor Joy_

**Picture Atlantic** is an alternative indie-rock band from **San Jose**, California
with an explosive sound and an openhearted approach to song craft. Since their formation
in 2006, the band has released two full-length albums and three EPs. They’ve also
become a popular band in the competitive **San Francisco Bay Area** music scene 
and have performed at the annual Live 105’s BFD festival and headlined at San Francisco
legendary venues like Bottom Of The Hill and Popscene. Their new video single, “
Edgewood Road,” shot in a redwood forest, is a pretty good song. Recently, _Absolute
Punk_ named them of the Top 100 Best Unsigned Bands. Picture Atlantic’s new YouTube
[“Edgewood Road”](https://youtube.com/watch?v=uwz7EOOENdU).

 ⌊franz⌉

#### Top Singles & Albums of August 27th-Sept. 2nd

The final week of releases for August 2013, compared to the previous week (August
20-26th) was thin. However, within that thin pile of releases from popular and well-
known indie artists, were some of the summer’s most highly anticipated albums, including
new releases from Franz Ferdinand, Capsula and The Dodos that all have sweet first
singles to give you a taste of what the albums offer.

Plus, the last week of August also included other worthwhile releases from artists
and bands like the wildly popular Scottish rockers **Franz Ferdinand**, who offer
more dance beats and less synths on their fourth album, featuring the single “Right
Action,” one of the band’s best singles in years.

With the blood-pumping from Ferdinand’s “Right Action,” it was **Argentinian** band**
Capsula**‘s new single, “Blind,” that really blew the roof off and blaze through
while the song, “Substance,” from **The Dodos** wrapped up the trio of top singles
nicely with it’s uptempo beats. Plus, one of the best singles of August, “Bootlegs,”
an infectious, lo-fi garage pop rock track by **New Zealand**‘s rising indie rockers,**
Ghost Wave**.

[“Right Action”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Franz-Ferdinand-Right-Action.mp3)–**
Franz Ferdinand** from _Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action_ on Domino Recording
Co.

[“Blind”](https://youtube.com/watch?v=3_Wr2cuuAqI&noredirect=1) – **Capsula** from
_Solar Secrets_ on Krian Music

[“Substance”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Dodos-Substance.mp3)–**
The Dodos** from _Carrier_ on Polyvinyl Records

[“Bootlegs”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/07%20Bootlegs.mp3) – **
Ghost Wave** from _Ages_ on Flying Nun Records

[“Turn the Radio On”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Suburbs-Turn-the-Radio-On.mp3)–**
The Suburbs** from _Si Sauvage_ on Twin Tone

 ⌊joeblacklewis⌉

#### Singles from New Albums by Joe Black Lewis, King Krule, Ghost Wave and Others

Fiery funk and gritty soul comprise the latest work of **Austin** music icon, **
Black Joe Lewis**; genre gumbo, with chunks of hip-hop, spoonfuls of rock and pinches
of jazz is one way to describe the new album from British musician **Archy Marshall**,
better known as **King Krule**; and listen to and download new singles from **Disappear,
Dent May, The Suburbs, Flaamingos** (not a mistype), and **Ghost Wave**. Let’s keep
the beats and electric guitars going with the single, “Turn The Radio On,” from **
The Suburbs**, a terrifically catchy, radio-ready (oddly enough) pop rock song with
a great rhythm, and even a horn section. Overall, the band seems to be influenced
by artists like **The Eels, David Bowie** and **Nick Cave**.

[“Come To My Party”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/cometotheparty-jbl.mp3)–**
Black Joe Lewis** from _Electric Slave_ on Vagrant Records

[“Easy Easy”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/01%20Easy%20Easy.mp3)–**
King Krule** from _6 Feet Beneath the Moon_ on True Panther Sounds

[“When You Get To The Bottom”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/when-you-get-to-the-bottom-by.mp3)–**
Robbie Fulks** from _Gone Away Backward_ on Bloodshot Records

⌊dentmay⌉⌊dentmay⌉
 [“Let Them Talk”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Dent-May-Let-Them-Talk.mp3)–**
Dent May** from _Warm Blanket_ on Paw Tracks

[“Power”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Disappears-Power.mp3) – **
Disappears** from _Era_ on Kranky

[“All I Wanna Do Is Live” ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Flaamingos-All-I-Wanna-Do-is-Live.mp3)–**
Flaamingos** from _Flaamingos_ on Felte Sounds

 ⌊modoc⌉

#### MODOC Officially Release Album Featuring Popular Single

The **Nashville** alternative rock band **MODOC** was originally formed back in 
2009 by friends from **Ball State University** in Indiana. After they became a pretty
big deal in the local music scene, the band decided to move to Nashville in 2011
to up their game. Not long after, ABC picked up the band’s single, “Devil On My 
Shoulders” for a promo of the television series _666 Park Avenue_. Seemingly little
things like that can give a band a nice bump, as it seemed to do for MODOC. They
signed to Zavitson Music Group and released their self-titled sophomore album that
featured a reworked version of “Devil On My Shoulder” as well as another single,“
Runnin’. Last year the band drummed up excitement in ‘Music City’ with the song 
and video for the track, “Coward.” We are always welcoming of a great new band that
knows how to rock and roll and has fun doing it.

 “Devil On My Shoulder” – **MODOC** from _Devil On My Shoulder_

“Runnin” – **MODOC** from _Devil On My Shoulder_

![gamblegambledie](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/gamblegambledie-
391x584.jpg "gamblegambledie")

#### San Francisco Artists Gamble Gamble Die and TaughtMe Drop Fantastic New LPs

The year-old **San Francisco** post college-rock, post-punk folk rock band **Gamble
Gamble Die** released their debut EP, _Badman_, on August 30th totally DIY style.
The title track is a sunny, but mellow, indie pop song with looping guitar notes,
melodic bass and a mid-tempo drum beat with crashing cymbals. The lyric that stood
out was “everytime you tell a lie/the baby Jesus cries.” The band goes all out experimental
punk and semi-psychedelic on the Yoko Ono-like track, “Chicken.” It’s a rather strange
song, and not appealing to many, but in their home base of San Francisco, a song
like “Chicken” is not out of place. While cities like New York, Seattle and to some
extent Austin and Los Angeles, might be contenders, no other city in the U.S. beats
San Francisco when it comes to weird, trippy experimentation in all arts, including
music. The city has been the epicenter of underground, experimental and avante garde
music movements in the U.S. for five decades now. So Gamble Gamble Die are right
where they probably need to be for what they want to do musically.

“Badman” –** Gamble Gamble Die** from _Badman_

“Chicken” –** Gamble Gamble Die** from _Badman_

![taughtmeamiold](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/taughtmeamiold.
jpg "taughtmeamiold")

The unusual, but intriguing, album cover for TaughtMe's 'Am I Old?'

 Interestingly enough, another unusual, but talented, musical outfit from **San 
Francisco**, TaughtMe, also dropped a new album, _Am I Old?_, on Aug. 31st. Like
Gamble Gamble Die, the songs are not the regular fare. Instead, **TaughtMe**, the
musical project of acclaimed songwriter and musician **Blake Henderson**, crafts
theatrical pop compositions that puts Henderson in the category with artists like**
Bjork**, which just happens to be one of his top musical influences – go figure.
_Am I Old?_ is Henderson’s fifth release in a decade, and in between writing, recording
and mixing, he toured extensively, performing in towns and cities across the United
States and Europe. His music has received wide acclaim partly because it touches
on guilt and innocence and other themes that are directly or indirectly affected
by Henderson’s upbringing as a strict Mormon in **Utah**. San Francisco is about
as far as one can get (less geographically) from Utah in terms of societal norms,
culture and population.

Henderson wrote about this latest album: “I accepted that I was composing soliloquies
and chose to own the fact rather than temper it. I named the collection _Am I Old_?
and… my rawest album, and my best try so far to get real deep.”

“Into The Thicket” – **TaughtMe** from _Am I Old_?

“The Truth (Really?) Every Time” – **TaughtMe** from _Am I Old_?

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Whirr, Twin Peaks