Max Hammer – Page 30 – INDIE ROCK CAFE

7 Bands You Gotta Hear, Vol. II – Mothlight, Tiger Waves, Cherokee Red, Esther, Calling Morocco, The Casuals, The Dark Lights

Posted on 07/11/201207/22/2021 by Max Hammer

Last year, we launched a new playlist series titled 7 Bands You Gotta Hear, Vol. I, which was particularly popular. Afterwards, we posted Volume Two – 7 Overseas Bands You Gotta Hear – which focused on non-U.S. bands who sent in their music via our submission form. Both volumes were special editions of the long-running, and popular, In Dee Mail playlist series.

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A number of the tracks from each volume even made the weekly Top 10 Songs playlists, which are determined by how many times a song was streamed or downloaded. Also, many of the artists in this series have never been profiled on a major music site, and in some cases, not even on smaller, independent blogs.

In this third volume of 7 DIY Bands You Gotta Hear: Mothlight; Tiger Waves, Cherokee Red, Esther, Calling Morocco, The Casuals, The Dark Lights

Mothlight: A San Diego Shoegaze Artist to Watch

A couple of years ago we featured new music from Mothlight, the shoegaze/electronic music project of San Diego musician Matt Billings. Mothlight’s musical philosophy is based on incorporating various ideas, structures and genres that range from ambient to Top 40 pop, thus creating a lush and unique sound. His songs, Billings said, are originally composed on guitar, and later mixed with ambient pads and electronic beats to create a dense backdrop for his vocal arrangements. Mothlight’s new EP, American Spirit, was released on May 17th.

Previously Opened For: None
Musical Influences: Weatherbox, Snuffaluffagus, Lanterns, Atlas Sound, Chromatics, Panda Bear, Radiohead, Stereolab, Young Marble Giants
Artist website: http://mothlight.bandcamp.com
Year Formed: 2007

New Band Cherokee Red Fronted By Singer Christiana Bartolini

Over the past five years, there has been a noticeable increase of talented bands fronted by standout female vocalists. Add Pennsylvania‘s DIY dream pop band Cherokee Red to that list with singer Christiana Bartolini at the helm. The band calls the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area of Pennsylvania home.

Last year, Bartolini and Charles Davis embarked on a series of productive songwriting sessions, and were soon joined by a group of other musicians, including Philadelphians Brittany Thomas and Andrew Sgarlat.

Shortly there after, classically trained, multi-instrumentalist Dirk Dekker (not that guy in the movie Boogie Nights, mind you) joined Cherokee Red. The newly formed quintet have just recently completed an EP in classic DIY fashion, and now spend their time between Philadelphia, Manhattan, and Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre. Within a couple of months of forming, Cherokee Red had opened for popular indie bands like Slowdance and Royal Baths.

The only thing we have to say about the band name is that it would not be a band name we would recommend because of how it can be misinterpreted, and because it creates an unnecessary distraction. However, band member Charlie Davis said: “We borrowed it from a (now out of business) local soda, Cherikee Red; and it is also Frank Lloyd Wright’s favorite color paint…I believe the term “Cherokee Red” to be devoid of negative connotation.”

Previously Opened For: Slowdance, Royal Baths
Musical Influences: The Shangri- Las, King Tubby, Mazzy Star, Au Revoire Simone, Gold Motel, The Misfits
Artist website: facebook.com/cherokeeredmusic
Year Formed: 2011

Austin’s Tiger Waves Make Waves With New LP

Not even a year old, Austin DIY experimental folk/surf rock band Tiger Waves have been making waves of their own within the city’s bustling, and crowded, indie music community. Austin is revered as one of the epicenters of the indie and alternative rock world, rivaling cities like New York, Los Angeles, London, San Francisco and Portland. Afterall, for a quarter of a century now, Austin has hosted the world’s largest alternative music festival/conference/convention – South By Southwest (SXSW).

Within a matter of a few months following their formation, Tiger Waves started creating a buzz among critics, bloggers and music lovers in Austin and beyond. Within two months, Tiger Waves was on tour opening for popular artists like Youth Lagoon and Gardens & Villas. At SXSW in March, they were much talked about as a new band to see live.

Artists Opened For: Youth Lagoon, Gardens & Villas
Top Musical Influences: Radiohead, The Beach Boys, Grizzly Bear, The Magnetic Fields
Official Website: http://tigerwaves.bandcamp.com
Year Formed: 2011

Esther Delivers Indie Rock/Pop Disco from Sweden

Esther is an indie rock/pop disco band from Sverige, Sweden who we think are a band more people in the U.S. need to hear. Markus Magnusson, the band’s front man, told IRC that his band’s newest album is in the works and being produced by Ronald Bood (Mando Diao, Dntel). The yet-to-be-titled album will contain 10 or 12 songs, and is set to be released in the fall of 2012. The first single, “To Let Go,” released on May 17th, is a good way to kick off this playlist because it has an uptempo summer pop feel that is likely to connect with indie pop fans .

“To Let Go” – Esther from TBA

Previously Opened For: Shout Out Louds, The Realistics, The Ark, Melody Club
Musical Influences: The Beatles, Kinks and Stones to Pulp, The Clash, Edith Piaf
Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47UmG_r9G78
Band website:
Year Formed: 2001

Extra: If you dig “To Let Go,” check out this relatively new music video for another new track “I’ve Heard It All Before”. Fans of bands like Free Energy are most likely to enjoy Esther’s music. It’s safe to say, although only two songs are available right now, that Esther could catch on in the U.S. If our web statistics who a high number of streams and downloads of the songs presented in this profile, the band will be featured as a DIY Band to Watch.

Davis Band Drops Everything For Near Endless Touring

Calling Morocco is a multi-genre rock, punk and alt. country trio from Davis, California, who left their dead-end jobs, sold their belongings and sublet their apartments in the fall of 2011, loaded up a van, and have been touring the country non-stop ever since.

In the past six months, they’ve played over 100 shows in 20 states, according to guitarist and singer, Kyle Olson. He said the band plans to squeeze in 15 to 20 shows a month, and will be content to live on the road in order to do what they love.

“Summer” – Calling Morocco from Outside Providence – May 21st

“Break Your Heart” – Calling Morocco from Outside Providence

Previously Opened For: Chad Price (Drag The River), Lizzie Huffman, Terrible Things, Gringo Star, Wires In The Walls, The Hooten Hallers, Boom Chick, My Life In Black And White, among others
Musical Influences: Lucero, The Gaslight Anthem, Drag The River, Uncle Tupelo, Queen, Against Me!
Artist Website:
Year Formed: 2010

Long Island Band The Casual Hearts’ ‘Melodic Emo Hip Hop’

The Casual Hearts are an unsigned rock quintet from Huntington, New York who sent us their new double-sided single, dropped back in May. Roctober Magazine described the band’s music as “melodic emo hip hop.” That’s not a bad way of putting it, especially after you listen to both songs – which ironically sound very different from each other. However, of the two tracks, “The Taurus Song” is definitely better overall, even though it’s almost 10 minutes long. The B-side track is included below just to give people an idea of their varying sound and style.

With its emo/hip hop stylings, the B-side of the single, “My Cold Feet Is Karma,” [sic] is a total departure from the first single. The band describe their music as “multi-genre influenced rock that seems to find a place in a wide variety of music lovers’ collection.” We’re not entirely clear what that means, but so be it. The Casual Hearts are currently playing shows in the NYC area.

“The Taurus Song” – Casual Hearts from The Taurus Song single – May 29th

“My Cold Feet Is Karma“- Casual Hearts from The Taurus Song single

Previously Opened For: Patent Pending
Musical Influences: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eric Johnson, Michael Jackson, Fall Out Boy, Brand New, Led Zeppelin, The Mars Volta, Jay-Z, 311
Artist Website: http://www.casualhearts.com
Year Formed: 2008

London-via-Australia Indie Electronic Band, The Dark Lights

The Dark Lights is a London-based Australian indie elecronica band that are beginning to get more attention beyond their homeland, especially following the release of their latest EP, The Boy Who Saw Through Walls, on June 4th. The EP was recorded across two continents and mixed by Adelaide-based American producer John DeMichele. The Boy Who Saw Through Walls intertwines layered soundscapes around heartfelt vocals, with experimental guitar melodies and tight drums, driving the pace of their songs as demonstrated by the two singles below. The band has definitely elevated the craft of indie electronic. In fact, The Independent Music News wrote: “Get ready kids – indie is modern again…with the sound of music.” Having completed an extensive U.K. tour in late 2011, and selling out their single “The Eye,” on pre-orders alone, The Dark Lights are planning another U.K. tour in September and an Australian tour in 2013.

“The Eye” – The Dark Lights from The Boy Who Saw Through Walls – June 4th

“Makers” – The Dark Lights from The Boy Who Saw Through Walls

Previously Opened For: Dukes of Windsor, Cassette Kids
Musical Influences: Bloc Party, Acrade Fire, Battles, Friendly Fires, The Presets
Artist Website:
Year Formed: 2008

Best New Music Releases, Week of July 3 – Sunglasses, Easter Island, Gold Motel, Johnny Hickman, Teenage Bottlerocket

Posted on 07/08/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

This past week was the thinnest week of new releases since the first week of January. The holidays usually are light on new releases because labels know people’s attention is elsewhere. Still, we have some releases definitely worth checking out, including singles from Easter Island, Gold Motel, and Johnny Hickman. But the singles that get our attention the most are two tracks from the duo Sunglasses’ first EP in two years, Swim/Namesake EP. Unfortunately, we can’t find a link on Amazon to purchase the EP, so you might want to check out the link that goes to the Lefse Records label website.

“Swim” – Sunglasses from Namesake/Swim EP on Lefse Records

Double-shot: “Namesake” – Sunglasses from Namesake/Swim EP on Lefse Records

“Frightened” – Easter Island from Frightened (self-released)

“Always One Step Ahead” – Gold Motel from Gold Motel on Good As Gold/Thirty Tigers

“Measure of a Man” – Johnny Hickman from Tilting on Campstove Records

teenagebottlerocketdonewithlove — Photo by Dawn Wilder for Rolling Stone

Teenage Bottlerocket Release Fifth Album, Plus New Single, “Done With Love”

The riotous Wyoming punk rock band Teenage Bottlerocket released their fifth studio album, Freak Out!, this week containing the infectious single, “Done With Love!” The lyrics are all about a guy who just doesn’t have the time or will to deal with the requirements and dramas of being in love – something probably most of us have encountered at one time or another. A few lines from the lyrics include the following pronouncement: “I got shit to do/No time for hanging out and no time for you/I’ve got no time to waste/I’d rather be some other place.”

From Rolling Stone magainze, June 26, 2012:

According to vocalist and guitarist Kody Templeman, the lyrics were inspired by his own experience ending a relationship.

“I wrote it after my ex-wife and I were divorced,” Templeman tells Rolling Stone. “It’s about finding strength in keeping people at arm’s length and not letting anyone close enough to hurt you again. I had the idea of going completely overboard with this idea, to the point of writing off love completely for the rest of my life, when I penned the tune.”

Let’s start a club for people that don’t want to deal with “love,” and members can end their membership at any time, but before doing so, fellow members need to remind you of why you joined in the first place. Maybe call it “Safehouse for the Broken Hearted.” E-Harmony: harmonize this. Now that’s a punk rock song right there.

“Done With Love!” – Teenage Bottlerocket from Freak Out!

Recent Releases Almost Missed, Vol. XXI – TRMRS, The D.A., Pale Seas, Starlight Girls, Finn Riggins, Buxton, AJ Nutter

Posted on 07/06/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

The southern California band, TRMRS, which is an abbreviation of “tremors,” released a split 7-inch vinyl, Good Time Blues, on April 7th with Seattle rock band The Night Beats. The title track, “Good Time Blues” is a five-minute guitar jam that switches between ‘trash-pop’ and surf rock. The B-side single, “Enter The Door,” is a crashing psychedelic rock track that also includes elements of space pop and chill wave.

Different people have different ways to describe the same songs. With that caveat, the music blog, The Hollow Eyed, described the B-side single, “Enter the Door,” as “Dream Syndicate-style paisley power pop with reverby , slacker surfy shine,” and continued, “whereas the preview’s title track takes the sun-bleached mentality and, like a rocket into the basement, covered in slime, gives off a much bouncier and squirming blaze.” However, there is confusion, and conflicting accounts, around what The Night Beats contribution was to the double single.

“Good Times Blues” – TRMRS from Good Time Blues – April 7th

“Something Or Nothing” – Pale Seas from Something Or Nothing – March 6th

“Big Woman” – The D.A. from You Kids! – March 13th

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9hMzB1Qq68

“Benchwarmers” – Finn Riggins from Benchwarmers EP – April 17th

“The Hunch” – Starlight Girls from Starlight Girls – March 24th

“Boy of Nine” – Buxton from Nothing Here Seems Strange – Jan. 31st

“When The Sun Sets” – Mouth of Ghosts from When The Sun Sets – May 1st

AJ Nutter Inspired by Hitchcock’s Classic, ‘The Birds’

From Lancaster, Pennsylvania, ambient electronic artist AJ Nutter released a 10-inch vinyl double-sided LP in February via 16 Pound Rabbit, featuring hand-dripped wax on the jacket. Influenced by Alfred Hitchcock‘s film, The Birds, Nutter created a musical composition that reflects his admiration for the horror film classic.

He wrote that the 100 limited blue vinyl LPs are likely most interesting to Hitchcock fans and soundtrack enthusiasts. Here are two tracks from the album, including “Bodega Bay,” which is a small seaside town about 35 miles north of San Francisco where Hitchcock filmed many scenes from the movie. In fact, the old school house from the film remains in tact and has been a tourist attraction for more than 60 years.

“Bodega Bay” – AJ Nutter from The Birds – March 1st

DIY Artist of the Week: Chicago Musician Esta Vivo

Posted on 06/30/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

It wasn’t a surprise that starting up the DIY Artist of the Week series would generate interests in the artists featured. The first DIY Artist of the Week for 2012 was 20-year-old Florida lo-fi musician, singer and songwriter Thad Kopec. His profile on IRC got a pretty strong, positive reaction from listeners.

The second Artist of the Week, Ronnie Slogun, didn’t get the same degree of love as Kopec has, but Slogun’s self-recorded and self-released tracks did still manage to drum up kudos from folks who enjoyed his music – again keeping in mind these are young DIY musicians.

This week the spotlight turns to Chicago solo musician and singer/songwriter Ryan McMahon, who releases music under the moniker of Esta Vivo, and like Thopec, is only 20 years old. His work, all DIY to this point (with some very small indie label involvement), has gradually been receiving more recognition with each song he puts on SoundCloud and Bandcamp. However, we actually first heard Esta Vivo after he submitted some tracks via the IRC music submission form.

Esta Vivo, which means “is alive” in Espanol, sent us that new single, along with a couple of others that we’ve included below. McMahon’s music is a terrific mix of styles, including tropical, pop, folk, and new wave – with plenty of songs that are ripe for lazying on the beach, by the pool and summer playlists.

McMahon was previously in the electronica band Bearries which he toured with in 2008 and 2009 during his late teens, opening for artists such as Justice, So-Me, Bloody Beetroots, Danger, Don Rimini, Yelle, and Acid Girls. When Bearries dissolved, McMahon went his own way to create Esta Vivo.

One of his newest tracks, “Smile Back,” released May 4th via his Bandcamp page, is the first single off a planned album release, which McMahon desires to release on his own if he’s not able to find a record label. We think he has a good chance to get picked up by a label, but he may also want to consider Kickstarter to raise money to master and release the album on his own.

“Smile Back” – Esta Vivo from single

His melodic, tropical pop sounds, including the use of xylophone, on “Smile Back,” got our attention right away, and which we have spun numerous times in recent weeks. As he wrote on his LastFM page, “I use everything and anything as an influence leaving myself with no limitations to encounter. While mostly writing folk/tropical type tunes, I ultimately just create by feeling and what comes out is what comes out. If I can guarantee one thing about my art it’s that it will always remain unattached, open, and free-spirited.”

Some of his earlier songs, like “We Do The Skies” and “African Run,” from the self-released album Split, dropped in late 2011, demonstrate McMahon’s terrific talents in composing sunny, upbeat and memorable compositions all on his own. Split is available via Esta Vivo’s Bandcamp page on a name your price basis. We can only hope that music lovers will pay what they can to encourage artists like McMahon to remain DIY and keep putting out terrific music that you’ll never hear on the radio or MTV.

“We Do The Skies” – Esta Vivo from Split

“African Run” – Esta Vivo from Split

It’s something when a band puts out stand-out music, but when one guy does every aspect – from the songwriting and instrument playing to the recording and mixing it all together by himself – it’s nothing short of amazing.

Little by little, we are getting to hear more of Esta Vivo’s terrific talent manifest itself, as he reveals more songs from his upcoming album release. As a follow up to the release of “Smile Back,” McMahon released his latest single, “Sweet Tooth,” on June 12th, under the Esta Vivo alias. The track is a departure from his more sunny, upbeat songs, with a darker, lo-fi electronic intensity.

“Sweet Tooth” – Esta Vivo from TBD

McMahon described his songwriting process, telling IRC that he usually begins with a melody, but rarely starts out a song on an instrument. Although he does the majority of the tracking and mixing himself, McMahon says he has a collective of music-loving friends who help out and play with him live, even though he is considered a solo artist.

“After I have a pretty good understanding of it set, I’ll start figuring out the melodies on the instruments I use in the arrangement.” The instruments, he said, include guitars, bass, drums, pianos, xylophones, violins, congas, shakers, bells, trumpets, synths, and midis.

“Once it’s all worked out I usually sit on it [for] a while and try out different variations and ways to play it until I finally choose the one that stands out to me,” McMahon said. “From there, I record in basements, forests, bedrooms, etc. Really wherever I can go that specific day haha. Some songs I track all the instruments myself with the occasion of having a friend do a bass line or guitar.”

McMahon has opened for a number of bands, including My Brother, She’s My Sister and Radiation City. Among his top musical influence include artists like Devendra Banhart, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Vetiver, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Nina Simone, The Zombies, Vashti Bunyan, Edward Sharpe, and The Flaming Lips, among others.

Esta Vivo Bandcamp Page

Esta Vivo on Soundcloud

Best New Music Releases, Week of 6/26, Vol. II – The Flaming Lips, A Place to Bury Strangers, Light Asylum, Edmund II, Exray’s

Posted on 06/29/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

On Thursday, we posted Volume One of this week’s Best New Music Releases, featuring new singles from fresh album drops by The Henry Clay People, Ty Segall Band, Beachwood Sparks, Seventeen Evergreen, Milk Maid and Everest. Volume Two includes new tracks from fresh albums by Jeans Wilder, A Place to Bury Strangers, Light Asylum, Parallels, Edmund II and others.

But first, one of the absolute treats of this year’s Record Store Day was the limited edition vinyl Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends which featured collaborations between the Lips and Ke$ha, Bon Iver, Nick Cave, Yoko Ono, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Erykah Badu, Tame Impala, Prefuse 73, and Neon Indian. The songs that were a result of these collaborations were released in a number of odd formats throughout 2011. The Lips took their favorites and put them into an amazing double album masterpiece that debuted on Record Store Day 2012 via limited edition handmade vinyl albums. Now the album is available via MP3 and CD.

“You, Man, Human” – The Flaming Lips from The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends (MP3 or CD)
via GramoTunes.com

Double-shot: “Children of the Moon” (featuring Tame Impala) – The Flaming Lips from The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends (MP3 or CD)

“Spanish Tile” – Jeans Wilder from Totally

“You Are the One” – A Place to Bury Strangers from Worship

“Dark Allies” – Light Asylum from Snacky Tunes Volume 2

“Riptide” – Edmund II from Floating Monk (self-released)

Not Our Bag, But Not Bad Either

“Blame” – Air Traffic Controller from Nordo

“Born To” – Jesca Hoop from The House That Jack Built

“Confess Child” – Jezzy and the Belles from Compasses and Maps

“I’m Beginning to See the Light” – Joe Jackson from The Duke

Double-Shots from Beachwood Sparks, Exray’s, Jon Lindsay

“Forget the Song” – Beachwood Sparks from Tarnished Gold

“Ancient Thing” – Exray’s from Trust a Robot

“After Dark” – Jon Lindsay from Summer Wilderness Program

Best New Music Releases, Week of 6/26, Vol. I – The Henry Clay People, Ty Segall Band, Beachwood Sparks, Milk Maid, Everest

Posted on 06/28/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Last week, some of the top new indie rock singles from fresh album and EP drops came from bands like Orca Team, Glen Hansard’s (Swell Season) debut, Hard Drugs, White Arrows, Zulu Winter, Fiona Apple and many others. Plus, the Top 10 Songs playlists for the month of May were tallied and finalized.

This week’s new music releases features some two dozen tracks in two volumes from some familiar, but mostly new-to-us, artists’ albums. Choose from numerous sunny and wild pop, folk and rock tracks to create your own customized summer playlists, and bookmark, Tweet, Like and share this playlist with other music lovers. Or, simply sit back and fire up the built-in Yahoo player to automatically, and without interruptions, stream the entire playlist from start to finish.

Volume One of the Best New Music Releases for the week of June 26 features a good number of notable rock songs with blazing guitar solos and raucous drumming, adding credibility to a trend in 2012 – that is, that rock is making a big comeback in 2012. This playlist kicks off with a terrifically new single from The Henry Clay People, “Hide,” complete with blistering guitar solos, feverous drumming, and even some Star Wars-like sound effects, followed by a catchy new rocker from the new-to-us San Francisco duo Seventeen Evergreen.

After an 11 year hiatus, Beachwood Sparks has released a new album, The Tarnished Gold, which we have two singles – one in this post, and the other to be included in Volume Two, later this week. Following Beachwood Sparks, there indie rock singles from the Ty Segall Band, Milk Maid and Everest.

“Hide” – The Henry Clay People from 25 for the Rest of Our Lives on TBD records

“Burn the Fruit” – Seventeen Evergreen from Steady On, Scientist!

“Sparks Fly Again” – Beachwood Sparks from The Tarnished Gold

“I Bought My Eyes” – Ty Segall Band from Slaughterhouse

“Do Right” – Milk Maid from Mostly No on FatCat Records

“Rapture” – Everest from Ownerless on ATO/Vapor Records

New Singles from Jon Lindsay, Exray’s, DIIV, New Beard, Arc in Round

Singer/songwriter Jon Lindsay offers up two new melodic pop tracks from his new album Summer Wilderness Program, one for each volume of this week’s Best New Music Releases, which is also the same case for the band Exray’s. As you can see, there are a good number of artists this week with double singles to offer up to music lovers, so make sure to check back for Volume Two, which is slated to be published on Saturday, June 30. The last trio of tracks are from new-to-us bands that we’ll certainly keep tabs on in the months to follow – DIIV deliver one of the few surf-rock tracks of the week with the bright, beachy track, “How Long Have You Known?” And to close out Volume One, check out new MP3 singles from debut albums by New Beard and Arc in Round.

“Vapor” – Jon Lindsay from Summer Wilderness Program

“You Can Trust a Robot” – Exray’s from Trust a Robot

“How Long Have You Known?” – DIIV from Oshin on Captured Tracks

“Here Goes Nothing” – Infantree from Hero’s Dose on Vapor Records

“Hallowed” – Arc in Round from Arc in Round

“Doom” – New Beard from New Beard City

Top Ten Songs Playlists May, 2012 – Here We Go Magic, Hallelujah the Hills, Beach House, Best Coast, Silversun Pickups

Posted on 06/27/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

herewegomagicband — The indie pop band, Here We Go Magic, placed two songs in the Top 10 for May 2012

After analyzing the web statistics to determine which songs IRC listeners streamed and downloaded the most during the month of May, the Top 10 Songs playlists for the last full month of spring 2012 are in. Once again, our listeners have proven once again they have great tastes. For this post, we included the top five songs for each playlist with a link to the Top Ten Songs page for the complete playlist for each week in May. We’re currently collecting and analyzing our website data to determine the top songs for June. Please understand it takes time to do this and to create the playlists.

May 1st – May 7th

The first week of May was another great week for great singles from new album releases. Interestingly, of the Vol. I and Vol. II post playlists for the week, Ane Brun came out with the No. 2 spot of the week. That wouldn’t have been our choice for top track of the week, but hey, the Top 10 is determined by listeners. At No. 2, a more likely No. 1 song for the week, Reptar offer the standout track, “Sebastian.” To round out the Top 5 of the week are new singles from Mystery Jets, The Mowgils and Ramona Falls, respectively.

“Do You Remember (feat. First Aid Kit)”– Ane Brun from It All Starts With One on America

“Sebastian” – Reptar from Body Faucet on Vagrant Records

“Someone Purer” – Mystery Jets from Radlands
Track via SideOneTrackOne.com

“I’ve Been Around” – The Mowglis from Sound the Drum

“Spore” – Ramona Falls from Prophet on Barsuk Records

See the rest of the Top 10 Songs for May 1st to May 7th

May 8th – May 14th

Here We Go Magic has built a loyal following over the past few years with their unique style of infectious indie pop. Their new single, “How Do I Know?,” is rhythmically upbeat and infectious pop – in fact, a friend has already added it to a summer 2012 playlist she’s making, which will likely be posted on IRC, to kick-off the first summer playlist since the past couple of years successful Summer Mixtape Series.

The No. 2 spot went to Silveruns Pickups‘ newest single from their new release, Neck of the Woods. A second single from Here We Go Magic took the No. 3 spot, followed by Dana Boy and The Cribs to round out the Top 5.

“How Do I Know” – Here We Go Magic from A Different Ship

“Bloody Mary” – Silversun Pickups from Neck of the Woods on Dangerbird Records
Track from CauseEqualsTime.com

“Make Up Your Mind” – Here We Go Magic from A Different Ship

“Call To Be” – Dana Buoy from Summer Bodies on Lefse Records

“Chi Town” – The Cribs from In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull (Bonus Edition) on Witchita Recordings

See the rest of the Top 10 Songs for May 8th to May 14th

May 15th – May 21st

The second week of May delivered a number of anticipated new releases, especially from Beach House and Best Coast, whose singles, not surprisingly, took the No. 1 and No. 2 spots of the week, respectively, according to IRC listeners. Brooklyn’s synth pop trio Plushgun ranked at No. 3 for the week of May 15th, followed by Duquette Johnston and The Rebel Kings and Parlovr, at No. 4 and No. 5. The lower half of the Top 10 Songs for the week include, in order, new singles from fresh album drops by Apollo Ghosts, Carousel, Black Tambourine, Concubines and Violens.

“Myth” – Beach House from Bloom

“The Only Place” – Best Coast from The Only Place

“Wasted Away” – Plushgun from Me.Me

“Roll Baby Roll” – Duquette Johnston and The Rebel Kings, new single for the season finale of Private Practice

“You Only Want It Cause You’re Lonely” – Parlovr from Kook Soul

See the rest of the Top 10 Songs for May 15th to May 21st

May 22nd – May 28th

This is a great week for lesser known bands with new albums as the Top 10 results clearly show; there are plenty of great songs in this playlist. A band that we named a band to watch a couple of years ago, Hallelujah The Hills, rocketed to the No. 1 spot this week with their lastest single, “Get Me in a Room,” whatever that means. The band’s newest album, No One Knows What Happens Next, received a five-star rating on Amazon. At No. 2 is the newest single, “Passage,” from the band Exitmusic, followed by an IRC 2010 Band to Watch, The Danks at No. 3; Shrouded Strangers at No. 4 and JBM to round out the top five.

“Get Me in a Room” – Hallelujah the Hills from No One Knows What Happens Next on Discrete Pageantry Records

“Passage” – Exitmusic from Passage on Secretly Canadian

“Automocar” – The Danks from Are You Afraid of the Danks on Hidden Pony Records

“(Don’t Look At The) Pink Lightning” – Shrouded Strangers from Lost Forever on Trade Root / Izniz

“Only Now” – JBM from Stray Ashes on Western Vinyl

See the rest of the Top 10 Songs for May 22nd to May 28th

Note: May 29th to May 30th will be included in the June Top 10 Songs

Best New Releases, Week of June 19th – Orca Team, Glen Hansard, Hard Drugs, Zulu Winter, White Arrows, Fiona Apple

Posted on 06/24/201201/29/2022 by Max Hammer

The top two featured artists this week – Orca Team and Zulu Winter – are new to us, and probably most listeners. But they both have a sound that is fresh and exciting, and definitely worthy of being radar bands, if not bands to watch list – it’ll take more spins of their new albums to determine that, and to see what the response will be from listeners in the Top Ten Songs listing for this week (usually take three weeks on average to come out). Orca Team is a Seattle post-punk band that are fairly popular in the Emerald City, and at least for us, a new band from the Pacific Northwest that we’ll be keeping an ear out and eye on. Zulu Winter is a five-piece indie rock band from London who released their debut album, Language, after only one year together.

Fiona Apple released her first album in seven years this week. Plus, listen to notable singles from new releases by Orca Team, Glen Hansard, White Arrow, Hard Drugs, Zulu Winter, Sam Densmore, Fiona Apple, Blues Control, Can, Efren, and others.

“Ocean Ghost” – Orca Team from Restraint on HHBTM

“We Should Be Swimming “ – Zulu Winter from Language on Arts & Crafts

“Need You by My Side” – The Sun Parade from Yossis on Spirithouse Music

“Get Gone” – White Arrows from Fireworks of The Sea EP on Votiv Music

“Lo Hi” – Peaking Lights from Lucifer on Weird World / Mexican Summer

“Love Don’t Leave Me Waiting” – Glen Hansard from Rhythm and Repose on Anti-

“The Hardest Part” – Hard Drugs from Party Foreverer on The Storyboard Label

“She’s Going to Want You” – Sam Densmore from Ku-Thar’-Tik on Buddy Cat Music

“Secret Knowledge of Back Roads” – Silver Jews from Early Times on Drag City

The title of Fiona Apple‘s new album has to be one of the longest titles of the 2010’s – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do. It’s poetic and definitely not commercial friendly, if you will. We’d love to know how she came up with that title, and exactly what it means. Nevertheless, Apple’s new single, “Every Single Night,” is getting the attention one would expect from any new single by the talented artist, and already the long, mouthful of an album title, is being shortened to just The Idler Wheel.

“Every Single Night” – Fiona Apple from The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do on Epic Records

“Iron Pigs” – Blues Control from Valley Tangents on Drag City

Classic Rock Band Can Release Box Set, ‘The Lost Tapes

The band, Can, posthumously released a new album this week, The Lost Tapes, from their legendary krautrock sessions. The album is a compilation of songs that were left, of all places, in a cupboard in Can’s recording studio, all but forgotten until they were rediscovered, remastered and released. In all, the three CD box set includes dozens of unreleased tracks and demos recorded from 1968 until 1977. The song, “Millionenspiel,” has been released as the promotional single from the box set. A fan on YouTube wrote: “Can was so far ahead of its time that these songs will probably sound fresher than most music we have today.” If you’re a fan of classic, psychedelic rock, you can now listen to a piece of lost rock history rediscovered.

“Millionenspiel” – Can from The Lost Tapes on Mute
Track vis Swanfungus.com

“The Woods & The Wild” – Efren from Write & New Song on Slo Pro Records

“The Bear Eats Me” – Amanda Jo Williams from The Bear Eats Me on Requiemme Records

“Dream Baby Dream” (Suicides Cover) – Neneh Cherry & The Thing from The Cherry Thing on Smalltown Supersound
Bonus: “Dream Baby Dream” – Four Tet Remix

“Guitar Plume” – Portable Sunsets from Mercy on Magical Properties

“Unreal” – Craig Wedren from BABY on Nerveland Recordings

Best New Releases, Week of June 12th – Jaill, The Tallest Man on Earth, These United States, Metric, Stepdad, Guided By Voices

Posted on 06/14/201201/09/2020 by Max Hammer

This is the last Best New Releases for the spring of 2012, and if you’ve been following along over the weeks, then you know there have been some spectacular new albums, EPs and singles released so far. Just in case you missed any of them – they’re all in one place, containing hundreds of free and legal MP3s, or you can just stream them for days while you do other things.

Kicking off this week’s Best New Releases is the fresh single from Jaill, “Perfect Ten,” off of the band’s latest album, Traps, which just so happens to be our Album of the Week, even though the album cover doesn’t cut it for us (check it out by clicking on the album link). Sub Pop Records signed the Milwaukee psych pop/garage rock trio in 2006 and we’re sure glad they did.

Sub Pop has an uncanny ability to pick out talented and unique artists and sign them; they’re also known for granting their artists tons of creative freedom, and it reflects in the work their line-up has produced for over two decades now. Too bad the “big” labels don’t do more of that, and lose the formulated crap, which by now almost everyone can identify in the first 20 seconds of a song (ugh).

Jaill was a band to watch for IRC the first time we spun their debut album, That’s How We Burn, upon it’s release in 2009. It was full of surf punk glory, and just one of dozens upon dozens of amazing debuts that year. The band has returned with a new single that signals a new sonic direction for the band. If you want to hear more, check out our Jaill archives, and you can also stream Traps via AOL/Spinner for the next four or five days. Also, look out for Vol. II of this week’s Best New Releases where there will be double shots from bands in this post, including Jaill.

“Perfect Ten” – Jaill from Traps on Sub Pop

Note: Vol. II of this week’s BNR’s will include another track from Jaill.

The Tallest Man on Earth, the alias of 29-year-old Swedish singer/songwriter Kristian Matsson, quickly made a name for himself within the indie folk music genre in the past five years by way of his profound nasal-prone vocals, which have earned Matsson endless comparisons to the legendary Bob Dylan, while simultaneously maintaining his own unique identity. Too bad though that the album cover, like Jaill’s new record, sucks. Look out for an expose we’re working on about modern album art, and why it matters in the digital age.

Also, check out new singles from These United States, Metric, Jonathan Boulet, Stepdad, Capitol 6, Fallon Crush, Giant Giant Sand, Stepdad and others. There are some sah-wheet singles out this week. Volume Two coming up next.

“1904” – The Tallest Man on Earth from There’s No Leaving Now on Dead Oceans

“Born Young” – These United States from These United States on United Interests

“Youth Without Youth” – Metric from Synthetica on Metric Music International
via MusicisArt.ws

“Must Land Running” – Stepdad from Wildlife Pop on Black Bell Records

“You’re An Animal” – Jonathan Boulet from We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart on Modular

“Cold Ride” – Capitol 6 from Pretty Lost on Light Organ Records
via Blahblahblahscience.com

“Class Clown Spots a UFO” – Guided By Voices from Class Clown Spots a UFO on Guided By Voices, Inc.

“Honey Honey” – Fallon Cush from April (self-released)

“Detained” – Giant Giant Sand from Tucson on Fire Records

“Livin’ Free” – The Young from Dub Egg on Matador

Have any comments or opinions on any of the singles, albums and artists in this post? Go ahead and write something into the Comments box below (no sign-up required; email is kept private) and not only will your comment be potentially seen by tens of thousands of people, we also pick some of our favorite comments to enter into a drawing for free albums and sometimes concert tickets and merchandise.

DIY Artist of the Week: Tele Aviv Musician Ronnie Slogun

Posted on 06/12/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

With so many DIY artists flooding our inboxes, last week we decided to revive the DIY Artist of the Week series, that featured a talented and relatively unknown musician, Thad Kopec. IRC has always been about profiling DIY/unsigned artists who have something important to contribute to the musical experience, but for a long time they were included with the big weekly playlist post series, Best New Releases.

This next artist also made an impression on us with his beautiful and brilliant songs that we’ve listened to numerous times. From Tele Aviv, Israel, Ronnie Slogun is an unsigned indie musician and singer/songwriter who sent in some tracks from his new DIY album release, Yonder Our Despiser. The lead track from the album features the dreamy folk pop track, “Baby Blue Eyes,” a song that has quickly become one of our favorite DIY singles of the month.

“Baby Blue Eyes” – Ronnie Slogun from Yonder Our Despiser

Slogun told IRC: “Right now, I am searching for a label that might be interested in my project, sending out a copies of my first album as a demo, and currently planning a few club performances, as well as a live session in the studio.” He added that his indie folk, dream pop sound is influenced by artists like Husker Du, Slowdive, Evan Dando, Belly and John Frusciante.

After years of playing in various bands in Sweden – where he was also working on a master’s degree – and in Israel, Slogun decided last year to record nine tracks from his “nearly 100-song music book.” And we’re sure glad he did. What is important to keep in mind – and we have to be aware of this all the time – is that Slogun is a DIY artist, and wrote, recorded, mixed, released and promoted his own material.

“River Blues” – Ronnie Slogun from Yonder Our Despiser

“In my songs,” Slogun told IRC, “I combine acoustic/semi-acoustic sound with simple melodies and unobtrusive, low-key lyrics.” For those interested in listening to more of Slogun’s tracks, visit his Bandcamp page which features all nine original songs and one cover song.”

In the next track, “The Night Song,” reminds us of Billy Corrigan of The Smashing Pumpkins. The lo-fi demo, featuring only Slogun’s soft vocals and an acoustic guitar, projects a sincere melancholy that is heart-felt, and highlights the mixed emotions of young love. The song “Mrs. Katsuragi” is about a woman Slogun had seen walking up his street almost every day, and when he had just got up the courage to go out and talk to her, she never returned. Eventually, he found out who she was.

“The Night Song” – Ronnie Slogun from Yonder Our Despiser

“Mrs. Katsuragi” – Ronnie Slogun from Yonder Our Despiser

Best New Releases, Week of June 5th, Vol. II – Ian McGlynn, Knesset, M. Billy, Mynabirds, Alejandro Escovedo, The Temper Trap

Posted on 06/11/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

In Wednesday’s posting of Volume One of the Best New Releases for the week of June 5-11, top choices went to The Hives, Japandroids, Crocodiles, Pomegranates, Teen Daze, Pujol, Michael The Blind and others.

Volume II kicks off with a new single from Ian McGlynn that will probably end up on some summer playlists. His new album is titled, Now We’re Golden. Phoenix-based band Knesset follow with sprawling melodies and intricate structures on “Steady Hands,” followed by an artist we only know as M. Billy, and Mynabirds pick up with the pace with a track that sounds like world music more than pop. Austin‘s legendary Alejandro Escovedo’s and The Temper Trap‘s new singles are delivered via SoundCloud.

“Gold Morning Mend” – Ian McGlynn from Now We’re Golden on Bailey Park Records

“Steady Hands” – Knesset from Coming of Age on Japan & Records

“All Lives Lived” – mbilly from Malheur (self-released)

“Body of Work” – Mynabirds from Generals on Saddle Creek

“Two x Two” – James Apollo from Little War, Little Less on Marterry Music

“Man of the World” – Alejandro Escovedo from Big Station on Fantasy/Concord

“Trembling Hands” – The Temper Trap from The Temper Trap on Glassnote/Columbia

New Singles from Mystery Jets, Masha Qrella, Kelli Scarr, Schmu

“Sister Everett” – Mystery Jets from Radlands on Rough Trade

“Crooked Dreams” – Masha Qrella from Analogies on Morr Music

“Dangling Teeth” – Kelli Scarr from Dangling Teeth on Silence Breaks Records

“House of Stares” – Schmu from Discipline/Communication on Grand Theft Zamboni Records

“Walking Aimlessly (feat. Will Oldham)” – Anna Ternheim from The Night Visitor on V2/Cooperative Music

Album of the Week: ‘Lex Hives’ by The Hives

Posted on 06/08/201201/09/2020 by Max Hammer

Swedish garage rockers The Hives released their first album in nearly five years on Tuesday, and man, it was worth the wait. Lex Hives is not only one of the best albums of all of this week’s U.S. releases, but, along with The Walkmen‘s Heaven, released last week, one of IRC’s Top 10 Albums of 2012.

Lex Hives kicks off with a one minute blitzkrieg of rock, “Come On!,” which acts as a rallying call of sorts, almost as if to prep and excite fans (who actually listen to album track lists in the order they’re intended) for the splendor that is to follow. On the album’s second track, the band launches right into the infectious and undeniable hit, “Go Right Ahead” – the first single from Lex Hives that dropped earlier this year, along with five teaser videos that were posted on The Hive’s official YouTube channel.

“Go Right Ahead” is one of the top rock songs of 2012 in our book, but not because it was the first single; the fact is that it’s simply a fantastically written, recorded and mixed song that stays true to the raw, lo-fi identity of the band. The official video (below) of the single was released on May 9th.

“Go Right Ahead” – The Hives from Lex Hives (only $5 for limited time via AMZ)

In March, The Hives officially announced the details of Lex Hives via their Facebook page and The Hives official website. The band revealed the album would be a 12-track LP, with a deluxe version containing bonus tracks produced by Josh Homee, the frontman for Queens of the Stone Age. Of course, die-hard Hives fans worldwide will be vying for a copy of the deluxe version. A few days later after the announcement, Hives’ frontman, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, revealed, in a roundabout way, to NME two other track titles on the album, “I Want More” and “My Time is Coming,” both of which are songs that stand on their individual merits, most especially “I Want More,” personally one of our favorite songs on the album.

Photo by Dean Chalkley/NME
Other tracks on the album, such as “Days,” “Wait A Minute” and “Take Back The Toys” were already expected to appear on the next album since The Hives played them while on tour in 2010 and 2011. All put together, intrepid fans and followers of The Hives knew the titles to most of the album’s new songs by mid-March. But, on March 23rd, the band held a contest on their Facebook page with the scrambled letters of track titles.

Since, again, many of the track titles were already known to loyal Hive-sters, if you will, the unscrambling of the most of the titles was not difficult. One song in particular deemed to be the hardest to unscramble.

The band listed the scrambled letters of the track as follows: “LEX IX: TSHETALCHLESRATECGIALTESESPCNOEVES.” Amazingly, dedicated fans where able to come up with the correct title, “These Spectacles Reveal the Nostalgics.” How they were able to do that, we have no idea, and keeping in mind this was not one of the tracks that had been previously performed on tour or that was previously revealed as a track on the album.

There are so many songs we love on this album, and one of them is this straight up rocker, “Midnight Shifter.” Other memorable tracks from the album include “Patrolling Days” and “Without The Money,” to name just a couple more. You can stream Lex Hives here via Spinner for the next few days, but we’re sure that if you love rock and roll, you will want to buy the high-fi MP3 version of Lex Hives, the CD version or the vinyl – all of which come with bonus tracks (see the tracklisting below).

“Midnight Shifter” – The Hives from Lex Hives

As with any band that started out underground and then “sold out” to the mainstream, there are going to be supporters and opposers. That’s exactly what is happening with Lex Hives in some respects. While the general consensus among many music sites and bloggers who praise The Hives’ latest effort is that the album largely delivers the edgy rock and roll the band became famous for.

The Boston Phoenix wrote: “If there was ever a worry of the Hives maturing – or simply becoming less like the Hives – there isn’t anymore.” The NME noted: “Let it be said that Lex Hives is amazing.” The impeccable All Music Guide agreed: “All the Hives really need is energy and good songs, and they have enough of both on Lex Hives to bring smiles to their fans’ faces.”

Other critics were not as enthusiastic. Rolling Stone, which gave the album a 6 out of 10, noted: “They lose steam at times, but by the LP’s end, their toga party is back pogo’ing and the neighbors are knocking.” PopMatters wrote: “It all seems too clean, too polished, and too shiny. Now and then, there are little hints of the raw power of their early work. But generally it all seems so sadly professional,” and Pitchfork blasted the band’s newest album: “The negatives far outweigh the positives…sounds entirely manufactured.”

The Hives Return To Their DIY Roots

Now free from total control by their Universal Records contract (although Universal still handles distribution), the band recorded and released Lex Hives on their own label, Disques Hives. The band did have some production assistance from Grammy Award-winning producer Andrew Scheps (Adele and Red Hot Chili Peppers), D. Sardy (Slayer and Marilyn Manson), and Joe Zook (Weezer and Modest Mouse).

The fact that the band produced much of the album themselves, and released it via their own label, adds more credibility to their status, and makes Lex Hives all that more compelling. But guys, please lose the top hats and penguin suits. Seriously – the attire trip doesn’t match the rocker status. So uncool.

Now firmly established, the band can afford to be DIY, self-released – that’s one of the sweet things about bands that started indie, went mainstream, and because of great success, have the luxury of returning to their DIY roots. Even though it’s clearly a gamble, The Hives’ fans are already letting them know they made the right choice because we can all do with a little less corporate influence in our lives.

The last time fans heard any new, original material from The Hives was in 2007, upon the release of The Black and White Album, an LP that only solidified the band’s reputation as one of the most talented garage rock bands of the 2000s. The Black and White Album spawned a series of wildly successful (and yes commercial, which at least shows there is some taste among the mainstream hordes) tracks, most notably “Tick Tick Boom,” “Return The Favour” and “Try It Again.”

“Tick Tick Boom” – The Hives from The Black and White Album

The Hives’ Story: Break Through Ironically With A Greatest Hits Album

The Hives are easily one of the best garage rock bands of the past decade. Even though they supposedly formed almost 20 years ago in 1993, the Swedish quintet did not break-through until the rock revival days of the early 2000s. Interestingly, it was their 2001 greatest hits compilation album, Your Favourite Band, that propelled The Hives to worldwide recognition. Among other tracks, the indisputable rock staple, “Hate to Say I Told You So,” fueled the band’s astronomical success and enormous (and still growing) fan base, which manifest via thousands of radio stations, dozens upon dozens of magazine and newspaper covers, countless music blogs and websites, and regular rotation on MTV, not to mention numerous movie soundtracks, TV shows and video games.

Since their greatest hits release in 2001, The Hives have been on a tear, releasing a string of fantastic albums, amassing more than a dozen prestigious music awards from Sweden to the U.S., Canada to Australia, and selling out shows and festivals wherever they went. The Hives have also inspired a whole new generation of rock bands, and will continue to for a long time, even if they never put out another album. But let’s hope that never happens – as fans, we obviously want more, and preferably not five years from now. It makes our mouths water to think of how many unfinished and unreleased tracks, whether original material or cover songs.

The Hives’ riveting, energetic shows, and signature black and white suits, combined with a stellar discography, have earned them praise as not just one of the best live rock bands of the past decade, but also as one of the best bands across the board. While The Hives have achieved great commercial success – including a rumored $50 million recording contract with Universal Records – they remained true to their music, and have proven with their new DIY release that they are better than ever at delivering memorable, raw and powerful new music.

Bonus: “A Christmas Duel” – The Hives and Cyndi Lauper

Can anyone think of another band that rocketed to fame based on the release of a ‘greatest hits’ album?

“Come On!” 1:09
“Go Right Ahead” 3:06
“1000 Answers” 2:07
“I Want More” 2:52
“Wait a Minute” 3:02
“Patrolling Days” 4:01
“Take Back the Toys” 2:54
“Without the Money” 1:54
“These Spectacles Reveal the Nostalgics” 1:57
“My Time is Coming” 2:34
“If I Had a Cent” 2:01
“Midnight Shifter” 3:37
“High School Shuffle (Bonus Track)” 3:03
“Insane (Bonus Track)” 2:47

Total length: 31:14