Max Hammer – Page 12 – INDIE ROCK CAFE

In Dee Mail, Vol. XXVII – Lilly Wolf, Victors, Michael Kroll, Rusty Shipp, Telamor, The Disappearing Act, Hannah Kirby

Posted on 03/24/201612/18/2019 by Max Hammer

With a sound that will appeal to fans of CHVRCHES and Grimes, the Brooklyn electro duo Lilly Wolf creates darkwave synth pop with a sharp edge. But it is Wolf’s powerful and magnificent – at times, borderline angelic – voice that stays with you long after listening to outstanding songs like “Violence” from the band’s latest release, Deleted Scenes. What a remarkable track – we can see why the hype machine is in motion for Lilly Wolf.

MP3 “Violence” – Lilly Wolf

Fronted by Wolf and her best friend and bassist Alex Neuhausen, the project started out across the country at Stanford University when the two realized a mutual love for music and math. Another top track, “Promises and Plans,” is a straight-up, strapped down darkwave groove that highlights Wolf’s remarkable vocal talents. In fact, there are a number of songs on the EP that qualify as singles by themselves. Take your pick.

https://soundcloud.com/lillywolf/sets/deleted-scenes

The duo have toured around the United States, and performed at SXSW and CMJ, as well as opening for artists such as Skyroads, Solander, Akrobatik, Shanaz Dorsett. Lilly Wolf’s biggest musical influences include Stromae, Elliott Smith, Robyn, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, and Rachmaninoff.

Without Wolf’s emotive, well-honed vocals, the duo would not stand out as much as they do from the parades of new synth pop duos that pop up left and right like tulips in spring these days. Neuhausen’s obvious production skills and deep bass lines (with contributions from drummer Tareq Almulaifi) are critical to what makes Lilly Wolf stand out. Their songs have been aired on shows like The Real World, The Bad Girls Club, among others.

Bonus Track: MP3: “Witness” – Lilly Wolf

Lilly Wolf official website

Victors – “Tonight”

On April 8th, the Leeds electro pop/rock quartet Victors, will drop their new single, “Tonight,” produced by Andy Hawkin, who has worked with Maximo Park, Kaiser Chiefs, The Damned, Floggy Molly and Motion City Soundtrack. The production level that fans of any of those bands may be used to is also found on Victors’ new single.

“Tonight” has the potential to be a spring/summer hit with fans of any of the other bands listed above, and thanks to its passionate verve and attitude. After a triumphant 2015 of performing around the UK, including a sold out show with The Pierce Brothers at London’s 02 Academy, Victors are now putting the finishing touches on their debut EP to be released later this year.

Michael Kroll – Clamorous

Connecticut native and musician Michael Kroll, who would best be described as a heart and soul musician, will release his new album, Clamorous, on April 22nd. The album features intimate, lyrical stories in the grand tradition of a dyed-in-the-wool American singer-songwriter backed up by musical compositions which are at times delicate, sweeping and propulsive, as featured on the catchy, yet stark lyrical beauty, of “Soul of a Summer Day”, or the uplifting rush of the album opener “Blue.”

The record was produced by Andy Green (Lou Reed, John Cale) and features Tony Mason (Joan Osbourne, Norah Jones) on drums as well as Kenny White (Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin) on keys. Kroll will perform at the Bowery Electric in NYC on April 8th with Emily Duff and Dina Regine.

Telamor – “Flash”

As a founding member of Boston‘s seminal punk pop bands of the late 70’s, the Atlantics, musician Tom Hauck‘s song, “Lonelyhearts,” rocketed to the top of the New England radio charts, making the band regional rock stars.

In recent years, Hauck has released a number of solo albums, including fun, witty and melodic albums like Pistonhead (2012) and Afterlife (2013).

Now, Hauck has released perhaps his most ambitious album to date. In fact, it is the fourth CD from Telamor. The album, Outside The Lines, is guitar based pop rock, with standout songs like “Flash.” As with all of his CDs as Telamor, he was assisted by Grammy-nominated producer Warren Babson.

Telamore on Bandcamp

The Disappearing Act – Born To Say Goodbye

Blending subtle rhythms, quiet programmed beats, lo-fi vocals, acoustic guitars and a melodically-oozing bass track with reverb-coated vocals, and a background flute, on songs like, “You And Me,” and the more uptempo, psychedelic Beatlesque “Peace by the Sea,” are some of the musical hallmarks of the El Paso alt. rock (hard to ‘genre-fy’ these guys) band The Disappearing Act.

Band members include Salim Nourallah (vocals, bass); Bob Blumenfeld (acoustic guitar); John Leffler (electric guitar); Nick Earl (electric guitar, effects); John Dufilho (drums), and Gabe Gonzalez (synthetic beat programming). Their biggest musical influences include Beatles, Clash, REM, Guided by Voices, Wilco, and Elvis Costello.

MP3: You and Me – The Disappearing Act from Born To Say Goodbye

MP3: Peace by the Sea – The Disappearing Act from Born To Say Goodbye

The Disappearing Act on Facebook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_j31z78B8k

Rusty Shipp – “Sinking Scarabs”

Rusty Shipp is a Nashville rock band formed in 2014 by vocalist and guitarist Russ T. Shipp who recruited bassist Dustin Herres, whose bass grooves are dope and frenetic drummer Andrew Royer.

With heavy influences like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Thrice, Chevelle, and The Beatles, Rusty Shipp continue to tunnel forays into the clubs, halls and alleys of Music City, making notches in their rock and roll belt with kick-ass music videos like “Sinking Scarabs,” Beatlesque hooks, punk and grunge verve, and the southern rock tenacity of Shipp himself.

Rusty Shipp on Facebook

Hannah Kirby – Fire in My Soul

As one of the top contestants on The Voice, singer-songwriter and musician Hanna Kirby has gone on to continue her career in music, creating an assortment of styles like folk, pop and electronica. Her debut solo album, Fire in My Soul, realizes many years of singing and creating music, that is very much like a fire in the soul when you listen to singles like the title track.

Fire in My Soul compilation via YouTube

Songwriting Competition Winner Katie Stump’s New Video and SXSW Showcase

Posted on 03/14/201612/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Singer/songwriter Katie Stump has dropped her new video, Minnesota, the second video from her critically acclaimed EP, Feels Like Home. The video, set to the breathtaking song itself, is a heartbreaking song of loss and longing of someone close, and the emotional turmoil it causes.

Born and raised in Fullerton, California, Stump grew up in a musical family, and was encouraged to pursue music at a young age. Over the past year Katie has emerged as one of the most exciting up and coming young artist, and recently won the coveted U.S.A. Songwriter competition.

With the kick-off of SXSW today, the album and video release are perfect timing as Stump will be the featured artist at the USA Songwriting Competition Showcase this Friday evening at Mozart’s in Austin.

Her new EP was produced by Grammy Award winning producer Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, One Republic).

Katie Stump on Facebook

In Dee Mail, Vol. XXVI – Jack Kotz, Small Culture, Benji Lewis, Tomlin Hill, The Polaris, Area of Refuge, Code Pie, Amateur Eyes

Posted on 03/12/201607/22/2021 by Max Hammer

As 2016 marches on, we’re just now dropping the first 2016 installment of In Dee Mail, featuring an incredibly diverse cornucopia of music from artists and bands of every imaginable (and unimaginable) genre, style and sound.

In this installment of In Dee Mail:

Jack Kotz – Wilmington, North Carolina
Small Culture – San Diego, California
Benji Lewis – Melbourne, Australia
Tomlin Hill – Norfolk, Virginia
Amateur Eyes – Saline, Michigan
Code Pie – Montreal, Quebec
Archi Deep and the Monkeyshakers – Lion, France
Area of Refuge – Saratoga, New York
The Polaris – Conventry, England
Drink Me – Jacksonville, Florida

Jack Kotz – What’s All The Fuss About?

North Carolina songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jack Kotz‘s debut album, What’s All The Fuss About? , is a musical compendium of amazing, mostly instrumental tracks featuring dreamy, soft grooves, sunny California rock melodies, funky beats, punk rock, and psych rock guitars with swirling, ambient keys.

The top single from the album, “Burning Sensation,” is a wonderfully upbeat that is fitting for spring – I could see a beautiful kite flying high and free against the royal blue sky. With the addition of the uplifting chorus (which should have been used more throughout), the song is just pristine – and reminded me immediately – and more so in subsequent spins – of Burt Bacharach’s score for Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.

Soon after, you’re airborne again, but this time, you’ll stay much closer to the ground, and hear the frogs and water, on the ambient tune, “My Intentions Were Not Intended,” a track that has some tones and shades that remind us of the legendary (although most people outside of music heads never heard of…) Michael Hedges (RIP).

Song after song on Fuss prove that Kotz is a multi-faceted, talented and expressive musician who has a particularly astute appreciation, and interpretation, of different styles, genres and sounds.

After dreamy and chill grooves of tracks like the gorgeous title song, and others like the airy, drifting notes of “I’m The Only Road You Know,” and “Pull The Level,” with its slapping bass lines and high-octane electric guitar – all wrapped in a very funky rhythm that propels the song forward – it becomes

And there’s more funky bass on “Melt My Way,” which fades out suddenly, followed by a pause and silence, and then all of a sudden, the peace is shattered by the hard grinding stomps and trippy, spooky guitar and keyboard riffs of the sinister “JR.” At another crossroads on Fuss, you’re listening to what sounds like the opening music to a tripped out 80’s episode of Miami Vice via “Depends On Your General Location.”

The sonic journey glides, sails and chugs through various sonic landscapes, further illustrating Kotz’s refusal to play into conformity for the sake of conformity, or to allow himself to be boxed in by one genre or sub-genre. His album title question is answered by the music itself.

Try this: kick back with headphones, fire this up, close your eyes and roll on those clouds with tangerine trees and marmalade skies.

Jack Kotz on Soundcloud

Small Culture – “Synthetica”

Small Culture is an indie pop kaleidoscope rock band produced and fronted by Jerik Centeno from San Diego. The name ‘Small Culture’ derives from being raised on a small island with a long tradition of a strong and vibrate culture. “My music is a kaleidoscope of sounds influenced from world, classical, electronic, and indie rock,” Centeno says. His musical influences include Two Door Cinema Club, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Sigur Ros. He’ll soon release an EP. Check out Small Culture on Facebook.

Synthetica – Small Culture from single

Benji Lewis – “Reach You Where You Are”

Pretty much out of nowhere, we received the single, “Reach You Where You Are,” from Melbourne, Australian ambient/electro musician Benji Lewis. It hits you hard; it’s foreboding, and has an element of sadness that is also wonderfully beautiful complete with a Middle Eastern mystique.

Turns out he had some professional help along the way. “I have been lucky enough to cross paths with the right people who have then put me into contact with some really talented producers and production companies.” Lewis is currently working on his debut solo LP.

“Reach You Where You Are“ – Benji Lewis from Reach You Where You Are

Tomlin Hill – “True Side”

Tomlin Hill is an alt. rock DIY band based out of Norfolk, Virginia. Creating a classic, unique sound that spans across genres from rock and reggae, to funk and soul.

“True Side” features staggering guitar work and minimalist, reggae-like chords with sharp, understated vocals and a guitar and percussion jam in the second half of the song. The band has opened for Nico Vega and are fans of Foo Fighters, Killers and SOAD.

“True Side“ – Tomlin Hill from True Side

Amateur Eyes – “Borrowed Time”

After a short time at the University of Michigan, John Pederson decided it was not for him and set out to record a batch of songs he’d written as a teenager, and now as a young adult under the moniker of Amateur Eyes.

The ten songs on his debut album, incorporating influences from post punk, indie and alt. rock, were finally able to be “properly recorded” the way he intended them to sound using a collection of microphones, computers and other gear at Cleveland‘s Danger House studio with producer Dave Douglas. It’s an ambitious and spirited recording with many hook-filled moments and blazing guitar rock.

“Borrowed Time“ – Amateur Eyes from Amateur Eyes

Code Pie – “Rockets”

Code Pie is a rock band from Montreal. In the last nine years, the group has released three LPs, and a number of singles, including a well-received doo-wop version of Justin Bieber’s “Baby” and a companion piece to Tommy Wiseau’s much maligned film The Room.

The band’s new single, “Rockets,” represents a slight departure from the band’s past, offering a dreamy, 80s-tinged slice of radio-ready pop/rock sway.

“Rockets“ – Code Pie

Archi Deep and the Monkeyshakers – “Nowhere Man”

Archi Deep and the Monkeyshakers is a French indie rock band who are obviously influenced by their favorite bands, including Supersuckers, Kid Congo, The Warlocks, Nirvana and Led Zeppelin as evidenced on the hard-rocking “Nowhere Man,” a single from their latest release, #3. The trio features Archi Deep (vocals, guitars), Martin Leroy (bass), and Camille Sullet (drums).

Nowhere Man – Archi Deep and the Monkeyshakers from #3

Area of Refuge – “Leap of Faith”

In the upstate New York town of Saratoga, twenty-something songwriter, musician Christopher Morin took a break from making rock music in order to focus on creating an album of serene and easy listening music. It’s something different for us too, but we really enjoyed the brilliance of his musicianship.

He teamed up with local violinist very Jahna Stanton to craft these wonderful songs. Their duo is officially called Area of Refuge. Morin counts some of his musical influences, for this style, to include Philip Glass, Max Richter, Ólafur Arnalds, and Sigur Rós.

“Leap of Faith” – Area of Refuge from Series One

“Reptile” – Area of Refuge from Series One

The Polaris – “Nowhere To Run”

Based in Conventry, England, the DIY alt. rock band The Polaris have been working on their debut EP for many years, and perhaps it was well worth all that time. The lead track, “Nowhere To Run,” is an expansive, almost arena-sized, emotive track that has leanings to 80’s and 90’s rock, which makes sense since some of their top musical influences include The Stereophonics,The Smiths, Flickerstick, and Mogwai.

“Nowhere To Run” – The Polaris from A Beginning’s End

Drink Me – “Hi Ho”

Lo-fi, swaggering electro fuzz rock is the signature of Jacksonville DIY band Drink Me. The musical collaboration between Michael La Manna and Sadie La Manna started back in 2010 when they decided to record a few tracks in the living room, drawing from their love of bands like The Kills, The White Stripes and Smashing Pumpkins.

“Hi Ho“ – Drink Me from In The Living Room

New Video from Man Made Time; Pierce Turner’s Album Release Benefit for Historic Chelsea Landmark

Posted on 03/07/201612/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Emotive, dreamy electro pop is just part of the mystique of the track, “Sail Away,” the lead single from the Los Angeles duo Man Made Time‘s debut EP, which will officially drop on April 8th. The video for the track officially introduces the duo to music lovers around the world.

Hillary Grace and Albert James Babanian‘s sound and style is inspired by their backgrounds with 80’s and 90’s pop rock, having both grown up in musical families. So it was not much of a leap for the two young musicians who are now posed to bring their blossoming talents to the dynamic LA music scene.

Pierce Turner – Love Can’t Always Be Articulate

Irish musician Pierce Turner, who has collaborated with Philip Glass and Iggy Pop, and appeared on the cover of New York Magazine, will perform a benefit for Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in Chelsea on March 12th to kick-off the release of his new album.

Hailed by the Irish press as “one of the most important Irish rock stars of the past 20 years” (The Irish Times), and lauded as “the finest body of work in contemporary irish music, bar none” (The Sunday Times). Add to the list of kudos – The New York Times and Rolling Stone magazine.

On March 12th, Turner will conduct the premiere performance of his beautiful new album, Love Can’t Always Be Articulate. Turner recorded the album with a pipe organ and grand piano, with some of the recording taking place at the church itself.

The grand and refreshing Irish contemporary music found on Turner’s new album is stunning and epic.

And to boot – there is a wonderful cover of Marc Bolan‘s “Life’s A Gas.”

Blizzard of 2016 Playlist – Matt Pond PA, Arcade Fire, Bill Ricchini, Fleet Foxes, Atlas Sound, Joy Division, Black Lips

Posted on 01/22/201607/22/2021 by Max Hammer

At this hour, a major blizzard of historic proportions pummels the northeastern United States with heavy snow and high winds.

Here is a playlist to keep you warm this weekend.

See that little built-in player below? It will automatically stream all of the songs in the playlist uninterrupted. Cool, huh?

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Snow Day – Matt Pond PA

White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes

A Cold Wind Is Gonna Blow Through Your Door – Bill Ricchini

Breaking The Ice – Mojave 3

Artificial Snow (Notown Version) – Atlas Sound

Deep Frieze – Chris Letcher

Angel In The Snow – Elliot Smith

Cold Wind – The Arcade Fire

A Cold Night Close to the End – Said The Whale

Winter Wooskie – Belle and Sebastian

Winter- The Dodos

Mrs. Cold – Kings of Convenience

Ice Age – Joy Division

Asleep On The Snow – Comet Gain

Winter Windows – Seawolf

The Snow That Never Falls Down – Nheap

Fallen Snow – Au Revoir Simone

Windstorm – School of Seven Bells

Snow Shoes – Throw Me The Statue

The New Ice Age – The Horrors

Blizzardy Songs from DIY Artists and Bands

*artists featured in the past on IRC

Ice Box – * The Human Natures (Pottsville, Pennsylvania)

Snow Bone – Aware Wolf (New York City)

Snowflakes – * The Citie (Los Angeles, California)

When The Storm Is Near – Ostrea Lake (Halifax, Nova Scotia )

Whether The Weather – Paul Mcilnden (Glasgow, Scotland)

Ice Machine – Palmetto Beach (West Palm Beach, Florida)

Carried Away With the Wind – * Cold Country (Chicago, Illinois)

Stormbound – The Machinery of Other Skeletons (Shanghai, China)

Cabin In The Snow – * Driftwood Miracle (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Superstorm – HUK (Los Angeles, California)

Best Alt. & Indie Rock Christmas Songs Playlist – The Shins, Stars, The Killers, Weezer, Bright Eyes, Eels, Phoenix

Posted on 12/25/201512/06/2023 by Max Hammer

Here’s yet another best of alt. and indie rock Christmas Songs’ Playists series, which has amassed over 8 million visits from 2008-2015. Woah-ho-ho.

Plus, watch some popular videos for the songs on this playlist, including The Shins‘ cover of Paul McCartney‘s “Wonderful Christmastime,” which replaced Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” as the No. 1 most requested Christmas song, according to PlayNetwork, which creates Christmas playlists for more than 400 retail stores. Enjoy and spread peace and love.

Recovered Recordings of Cold War KGB Transmissions Inspire EP and New Band, Thin Blue Line

Posted on 10/23/201512/18/2019 by Max Hammer

A few years ago, veteran Montreal musician, photographer and filmmaker Toby Andris was sifting through boxes at a Budapest flea market when he came across quite a find. It was a box of quarter-inch tapes together with a notebook filled with numbers and names scribbled on the thin blue lines of the ledger paper inside.

As the story goes, references inscribed to the 4625 kHz frequency lead Andris on a months-long investigation during which he was able to trace the tapes to “the now well-known, though poorly documented, ‘buzzer’ number station transmissions, used to transmit covert messages to spies during the Cold War.”

The tapes contain recordings of short wave radio station scans from the KGB’s Cold War era. Andris believes the tapes are from the late 60s or early 70s. On some tapes, as he discovered, there are sections where the scanning pauses long enough to capture an unknown piece of music “obscured by hiss and dirt and the tape’s natural demagnetization and decay.”

Hauntingly affected by this mysterious music, Andris set out to replicate, interpret and expand on the the dusty, bygone era recordings in order to create all new sounds, styles and other audio and musical influences. To take his vision to the next level, he needed help.

Andris set out to create a band, simply named Thin Blue Line, that featured himself on guitar, synth, and sampling, and veteran indie and alt rock musicians Greg Paquet (The Stills, Peter Peter), Mathieu Dumontier (Kiss Me Deadly, Le Husky), and Michel Aubinais (Hey Hey My My, FareWell Poetry, SAF).

“Matt and Michel I’d played with in my previous band, Statue Park, and they’re incredibly talented and inventive musicians,” he said. “I also knew they’d be open to trying something different like this.”

Much of the EP is of course music composed by Andris. In fact, the tapes serve mainly as an inspiration for the songs the band recorded for the EP. And yet it’s a rare musical project that actually incorporates snippets from actual Soviet spay transmissions.

“The tapes mainly contain what sounds like someone scanning the radio airwaves, probably listening to intercept other spy transmissions,” he says “But the operator [of the Budapest station allegedly] was also transmitting secrets via the airwaves. In his case, it sounded like an intermittent buzzer for an intercom, and every once in a while that was interrupted by lists of names and numbers.”

In April, after months of recording, mixing and mastering, the band dropped it’s self-titled EP, Thin Blue Line.

The collection of mixed genres and styles – instrumental, post rock, post punk/C86, and krautrock – like the glistening and dreamy, “Tungsten Fields,” and the fragmented, radio intercepts of “Telegraph 3am,” are unique and original, especially when you consider how amazing it is that the tracks are inspired by, and featuring, excerpts of rare Cold War-era KGB radio transmissions.

“Tungsten Fields“ – Thin Blue Line from Thin Blue Line EP

“We still have a lot of tapes to sift through,” Andris added, “so it wouldn’t be surprising if future installments of our recordings should eventually surface.”

This past summer, Andris moved to Paris, which he plans to use as a home base while “scouring the former eastern bloc for more tapes.”

“Telegraph 3am“ – Thin Blue Line from Thin Blue Line EP

Thin Blue Line on Facebook

Fourth of July Indie Songs Playlist with Galaxie 500, Animal Collective, Neil Young, Violent Femmes, The Strokes, Modest Mouse, Pavement, Wavves

Posted on 07/04/201512/18/2019 by Max Hammer

It’s time to party the country’s independence with this Spotify playlist. Fire it up!

Or check out these popular playlists – Fourth of July Playlist Mix, Vol. I and Vol. II – from the past – perfect for your outdoor or indoor party.

Top Indie Rock Releases, May 2015 – Best Coast, Tallest Man on Earth, Thee Oh Sees, Hot Chip, The Vaccines, Patrick Watson

Posted on 06/15/201512/18/2019 by Max Hammer

The month of May was a blockbuster month for new releases. In fact, there were so many great releases that it took us longer to listen to them all and sort them out. This playlist features dozens and dozens of lead singles from new albums officially dropped during May – so if you missed any top releases from signed indie artists and bands, you’ll find them below, including Best Coast, Mumford & Sons, King Tuff with Ty Seagall, Crocodiles, The Tallest Man on Earth, Hot Chip, Thee Oh Sees, The Vaccines, Patrick Watson, The Barr Brothers, Palma Violets, Grave With No Name, The Holydrug Couple, Michael Rault, Mac McCaughan, Coliseum, Millencolin, Giant Sand, Novells, Braids and many others.

If you’re on a desktop or laptop, you can use the little Flash player right down there to stream all of the songs in this playlist uninterrupted. Just click the play button and the player will stream continuously, and uninterrupted all the way through the playlist.

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“California Nights” – Best Coast from California Nights on Harvest / Virgin EMI

“Believe” – Mumford & Sons from Wilder Mind on Glassnote

“Web” – Thee Oh Sees from Mutilator Defeated at Last on Castle Face

“Sagres” – The Tallest Man on Earth from Dark Bird Is Home on Dead Oceans Records

“Burn Card” – The Barr Brothers from Alta Falls EP on Secret City Records

“Alligator Years” – Twinsmith from Alligator Years on Saddle Creek Records

“Queen Lullabye” – King Tuff/Ty Segall from Live at Pickathon on Easy Sound Recording Company

“Crybaby Demon” – Crocodiles from Boys on Zoo Music

“Need You Now” – Hot Chip from Why Make Sense? on Domino

“First Light” – Django Django from Born Under Saturn on Ribbon Records

“Multi-Love” – Unknown Mortal Orchestra from Multi-Love on Jagjaguwar

“Witness” – Mew from +/- on PIAS

“Machines” – Modestep from London Road on INgrooves

“Dream Lover” – The Vaccines from English Graffiti on Columbia

“Miniskirt” Braids from Deep in the Iris on Arbutus Records

“Love Songs For Robots” – Patrick Watson from Love Songs for Robots on Domino / Secret City Records

“I Will Ride A Horse” – Grave with No Name from Feathers Wet, Under the Moon on Lefse Records

“Lost Again” – Mac McCaughan from Non-Believers on Merge

“I Wanna Go Fast” – Warm Soda from Symbolic Dream on Castle Face

“Danger In The Club” – Palma Violets from Danger in the Club on Rough Trade

“Invisible Ways” – Tanlines from Highlights on True Panther Sounds

“I’m Not Like Everybody Else” (Kinks Cover) – The Chocolate Watchband from I’m Not Like Everybody Else reissue on Cleopatra / Purple Pyramid

“I’m Not Like Everybody Else” (Original, 1968) – The Kinks

“Nature” – Valet from from Nature on Kranky

“Re Run Home” – Kamasi Washington from The Epic on Brainfeeder

“ii) Gold” – Mikal Cronin from MCIII on Merge

“Let Me Love You” – Gacha from Send Two Sunsets on R&S

“Do What You Want” – Guantanamo Baywatch from Darling… It’s Too Late on Suicide Squeeze

“History” – Crushed Beaks from Scatter on Matilda/Moshi Moshi

“Streetcar Love” – White Eyes from White Eyes on Numero

“Upward Mobility” – The Helio Sequence from The Helio Sequence on Sub Pop

“Acetate” – METZ from II on Sub Pop

“Hurtin’ Habit” – Giant Sand from Heartbreak Pass on New West

“Arcana” – Death and Vanilla from To Where the Wild Things Are on Fire Records

“Won’t You Cross Over To That Other Shore” – Daniel Bachman from River on Three Lobed Recordings

“Infrared” – Prefuse 73 (feat. Sam Dew) from Rivington Não Rio on Temporary Residence

“Holiday” – Hard Left from We Are Hard Left on Future Perfect

“Ein Li Makom” – Vaadat Charigim from Sinking as a Stone on Burger Records

“All This Wandering Around” – Ivan & Alyosha from It’s All Just Pretend on Dualtone Music

“Suckcess” – Michael Rault from Living Daylight on Burger Records

“Sunlight In A Snowstorm” – Coliseum from Anxiety’s Kiss on Deathwish Inc

“Sense & Sensibility” – Millencolin from True Brew on Epitaph

“Most In The Summertime” – Rhett Miller from The Traveler on ATO

“Full Circle” – George FitzGerald (feat. Boxed In) from Fading Love on Domino / Double Six

“Actions” – Turn to Crime from Actions on Mugg & Bopp

“Sentences” – Novella from Land on Sinderlyn

“Baby, I’m Going Away” – The Holydrug Couple from Moonlust on Sacred Bones

“Full House” – Nick Catchdubs (feat. Troy Ave & Heems) from Smoke Machine on Fool’s Gold

“Sirens” – The Weepies from Sirens on Nettwerk

Artist of the Week – The Hot Dark

Posted on 05/22/201512/18/2019 by Max Hammer

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The Hot Dark is a collaborative post new wave jazz rock dance sextet (there’s a mouthful) from northern California whose uptempo, sprawling and diversely crafted songs have a way of pulling music lovers into their potions of vocals and instruments to listen more closely.

Nearly two years since we first featured the band, The Hot Dark have been evolving and growing the way a promising and talented DIY band should. During that time, the evolving band wrote, recorded and dropped their debut album, Live Young, on March 28th.

The Hot Dark’s origins trace back to 2013 when the studio duo known as Descendants of Prospectors, featuring guitarists and vocalists Kiel Williams and Owen Ridings, decided to form a full band, and set out to recruit other members, eventually acquiring bassist Andy Merrill, keyboardist and saxophone player Rick Moore, drummer Nicholas Lefler, and keyboardist Gabriel Cronos.

The band’s commitment, Williams said, is a “dedication to bringing high quality artistic writing to a fun, high energy performance” on and off stage. This is evident on the album which features a cornucopia of different styles and sounds going on, including post new wave synth pop, jazz rock and dance infusions as highlighted by gems like the excited, sax-intoxicating and “The Cure-ish” track, “Private Caller,” the raw and emotive “I And We,” and the melancholy, but somehow also sexy, song, “One Time.” Williams’ voice sounds so similar at times to that of Robert Smith’s (The Cure) that it’s almost surreal. Any Cure fan will hear the likeness immediately.

But the unforgettable power pop track, “Blossom,” is perhaps the most unforgettable and universal song on the album. With infectious, driving rhythm, jangle-heavy guitar hooks, oh-oh-oh choruses, shinny keys and magnificent sax playing from Moore, the would-be indie hit single jumps out and envelopes the listener. Live Young is an album of keeper songs.

The band has opened for artists like Major Powers and The Lo-Fi Symphony, French Cassettes, Golden Drugs, Biosexual, and Religious Girls. As far as their musical influences, the band members refer to Francis and The Lights, Talk Talk, Rubble Bucket, and The Cure. The Hot Dark are on the radar and officially a band to watch just like they were in 2013.

“Blossom“ – The Hot Dark from Live Young – March 28th

“Private Caller“ – The Hot Dark from Live Young

“One Time“ – The Hot Dark from Live Young

The Hot Dark official website

The Hot Dark on Facebook

Led Zeppelin Tribute Album Celebrates 40th Anniversary of ‘Physical Graffiti’

Posted on 04/16/201507/22/2021 by Max Hammer

In celebration of Led Zeppelin‘s 40th anniversary since the drop of their ground-breaking album, Physical Graffiti, England’s MOJO Magazine curated a dozen contemporary and indie/alt. rock musicians to record cover songs from the rock gods’ 1975 masterpiece.

The Zep covers CD, Physical Graffiti Redrawn, was available exclusively in the UK editions of MOJO for the month of February. However, some of the tracks from the covers CD leaked onto the web.

The following UK site, GreatMagazines, apparently has a limited number of the covers album available in vinyl; a vintage replica of the 1975 Led Zeppelin Express poster; an original copy of MOJO‘s Zep edition, featuring a recent interview with Jimmy Page, and an exclusive singed magazine cover by Page.

The exclusive tribute release features the iconic packaging of the original album release, including the die-cut album sleeve housing the double vinyls.

40th Anniversary Edition of Physical Graffiti – Remastered by Jimmy Page; order it via LedZeppelin.com

In addition to the covers listed below, the tribute includes covers from artists like Blackberry Smoke (“The Rover”), Sun Kil Moon (“Sick Again”), and Songhoy Blues (Kashmir), among others.

“Custard Pie” (Led Zeppelin) – White Denim from Physical Graffiti Redrawn

“Bron-Yr-Aur” (Led Zeppelin) – Laura Marling from Physical Graffiti Redrawn

“Ten Years Gone” (Led Zeppelin) – Laura Marling from Physical Graffiti Redrawn

Stream the original Physical Graffiti via Spotify

Artist of the Week – Pseudonym

Posted on 03/31/201512/18/2019 by Max Hammer

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San Francisco musician Paul Desjarlais, aka, Pseudonym, sort of lives in an imaginary world, and has done so for at least two decades, according to his own autobiographical details. Desjarlais, and the “other imaginary band members that pretty much live in my head,” has made some of the best indie pop most people have never heard.

Even though his newest album, Revolving Door, is his first release of new material in 17 years, Pseudonym has already created a small, but substantial, discography of whimsical, experimental and thoroughly enjoyable indie songs. We’ve spun Revolving Door more than a dozen times, and will again and again for a long time to come.

A good sign of a truly great album is one that you like a lot on the first spin, and that you come to love with each subsequent spin. And what makes Revolving Door even more magical and thrilling is the fact that it came out of nowhere – it was, at first, just another submission in our email box from a total stranger. Tracks like “Art School Lady” and “Better” are just a couple of examples that Desjarlais’ talent and creativity have not faded with time.

Art School Lady – Pseudonym from Revolving Door

Better – Pseudonym from Revolving Door

As a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist, he decided two decades ago to go solo and write, record, mix, master and distribute his own music under the Pseudonym moniker after years of playing bass in Boston bands like The Uncalled Four and Haberland while attending Boston University. Within a three-year period in the mid to late 1990’s, Desjarlais wrote and recorded some of the best under-the-radar indie pop songs we’ve heard in a long time.

In 1995, he dropped his debut LP, Pabz, an exciting and multi-faceted album that was a harbinger of things to come. Not long after releasing his debut, Desjarlais began writing and recording new demos. By 1998, he decided to leave the faster-paced northeast behind to make the trek out to the sunnier, warmer side of the continent, following Horace Greeley’s famous advice penned back in 1871: “Go west, young man.”

Shortly after arriving in San Francisco at the dawn of a new century, Desjarlais began to mix and master a new collection of magnificent indie pop, rock, lo-fi, psych, shoegaze and experimental tracks that would become his masterpiece sophomore album, Pig Tail World, an album that remains obscure even though it received enthusiastic reviews from the underground press at the time (before there were bloggers).

The Underground Music Monthly wrote that Pseudonym’s “unique and upbeat songs burst forth happily from your speakers with the same elation a young child leaps forth from bed on Christmas morning to open brightly wrapped gifts.” The zine Mommy and I Are One hailed Pig Tail World, writing that “the vocals are absolutely astounding and, you would never guess that this record was made in an attic and a basement. This is a big album with big sounds and songs that really give weight to the word ‘catchy.'”

Not surprisingly, Desjarlais lists his biggest musical influences as The Beatles, Big Star, Elvis Costello, Matthew Sweet, The Beach Boys, XTC, Magnetic Fields and The Pixies. There’s a little bit of each of these artists in his work. He maintains, however, that “the actual music is whatever comes out on the way there.” There, we surmise, is the journey that he travels from his imagination, musical influences, and his own whimsical admiration of, and exceptional talent for, catchy pop tunes.

“I shoot for a unique sound, but I’m still a sucker for a good pop hook,” he said. And yet Desjarlais still manages to masterfully weave other genres, like psychedelic, lo-fi, rock and shoe gaze, throughout his discography with stunning results and originality.

That is pretty much the mantra of the majority of his songs, whether on Pabz – which was recently re-mastered as a MP3 album – Pig Tail World or Revolving Door .

Two years ago, he released a six-song EP, Stupid Star, featuring songs that did not make it onto Pig Tail World for one reason or another. The EP boosts the significance of Pig Tail World recording sessions even more so as an important moment in the best of ‘underground music’ history.

The Pig Tail World–Stupid Star recordings are bursting at the seams with Beach Boys-like harmonies, Guided By Voices guitars, Pixies quirkiness, Beatles-influenced hooks, lush melodies, hazy summer reverb, typewriters, sound effects, percussions and rhythms created by banging on cardboard boxes, bottles, pots and pans (“Throw Some Love My Way”), and an occasional melancholy song (“Kill Me in The Rain”) as well.

“I tried to keep things pretty organic; there’s no midi, SMTE, or any computer stuff really at all, except…traces of drum machine on a few songs. For rhythm, I mostly hit objects with drum sticks.”

Pig Tail World leaps right out from the beginning with the opening track, “Crashing,” on which you can hear the battered bottles, pots and pans in the background. (Considering he originally recorded these songs in 1998, it is not a stretch to proclaim that Desjarlais was an original DIY one-man band – the real ‘real deal’)

“Crashing” – Pseudonym from Pig Tail World

“Kill Me In The Rain” – Pseudonym from Pig Tail World

On track after track, it’s all there for everyone to hear: lo-fi indie (“Pig Tail World” and “Blow Up”), dreamy Brian Wilson-channeling tracks (“Live Angel Wire” and “Broccoli Blues”), pure power pop indulgence (“Ice & Snow“), psych pop (“Disappearing” and “Over My Head”), and tracks ( like “Ray Gun”) that Apples in Stereo fans will surely dig, with varying influences from musical periods like “mid-60’s Top 40, late-60’s psychedelia, early 70’s pop, and late-70’s punk rock,” he added.

“Disappearing” – Pseudonym from Pig Tail World

“Ray Gun” – Pseudonym from Pig Tail World

It’s curious, of course, that Revolving Door, released on February 12th, is only Pseudonym’s fourth release in nearly two decades; he strikes us as much more of a prolific artist even though he wrote on his Bandcamp page that he “record new songs once in a while if I get a chance.”

Perhaps he is much more intent on making each release a deliberate and worthy endeavor rather than dropping albums for the sake of satisfying a small, but loyal, army of music critics and indie fans that Desjarlais has acquired, and even reacquired, over all of that time. That said, because he writes and records such amazing music, it would be a treat to all lo-fi, indie, power pop, shoegaze and rock music lovers if Desjarlais recorded more frequently.

The important thing is that he is no longer under the radar with the publication of this Artist of the Week feature, an honor well deserved, a number of times over. Let’s just hope it’s not another 17 years before he releases another album of new songs.

Pseudonym on Facebook