Category: Music Reviews

The feisty female group The Coathangers is not here to mess around, especially not with this fast paced banger titled “Follow Me,” the first single of their upcoming album Suck My Shirt from Suicide Squeeze Records.

The Atlanta group formed back in 2006 as a joke, without the knowledge of how to play a single instrument. Yet, their success is no a laughing matter; they have made a name for themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the punk scene of the south-east. The release date for their fourth studio album is March 18, 2014, a few short days after their album release party at Star Bar in Atlanta on March 8^th.

The initial jolt of the guitar gives rise to the strong temptation to stand up and start moving to the infectious beat. Despite the somewhat harsh opening chords, this lively tune starts to fully reach its potential at the first chorus which rings out “you gotta follow me follow me follow me, no hope.” The other two female rockers resonate in the background, the intense drum sequence and background chanting giving the chorus a fuller effect that the verses seem to lack.

All in all, a very catchy tune that should make women across America proud. The Coathangers have once again proven that you do not have to be a dude to rock hard. Be sure to catch them while on tour and download the upcoming album, its release set for March 18^th.

Tour Dates:

2/1: Green Room – Athens, GA

3/8: Star Bar – Atlanta, GA (RECORD RELEASE)

3/16:  Spillover Fest – Dallas, TX

3/17- 3/19: SXSW – Austin, TX

3/20: Pappy and Harriet’s – Pioneertown, CA #

3/21: El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA #

3/22: Burgerama Fest – Santa Ana, CA

3/23: Don Quixote’s – Felton, CA #

3/24: Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA #

3/25: Assembly – Sacramento, CA #

3/27: Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC #

3/28: Neumo’s – Seattle, WA #

3/29: Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR #

3/30: Neurolux – Boise, ID #

3/31: Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT #

4/2: Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO #

4/3: Sister Bar – Albuquerque, NM #

4/4: Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ #

4/5: Belly Up Tavern – San Diego, CA #

# – w/ The Black Lips

I think most have been in a state of unknowing and indecisiveness when it comes to the beginning stages of a relationship. Although this is the most exciting part, the game becomes strenuous. Jacob Summers debuts his single “Stop Playing With My Heart” under the name  Avid Dancer. The single is played in two versions, which reminds listeners of the waves that come with a relationship and also the fact that there are two sides of every pair. Both versions have the same lyrics but very different styles. However, Summers’ voice remains soft and hypnotic.

The first version has a surfer vibe with synthesizer sounds and staccato chords. It has a somewhat pessimistic tone, for Summers seems to be pleading, “So help me, stop playing with my heart.” He is determined but wary as he sings, “Want to know your name, and are you feeling the same.” This curiosity comes with meeting new people, and we are always eager to know everything about this other person; how easy it would be without the fluff and secrets. Summers is strong out of the gate, but the unknown takes a toll on Summers, as shown in the second version.

On the other side, the Anchorage Trails version has an old western sound with a somber tone. Combined with the same lyrics, this version is bleak and worn. Summers sounds defeated, as is the case in the ups and downs of relationships. His snare drum contribution, combined with the harmonic female voice, heightens the somber sound and gives the single an air of finality. Yet, the lyrics give no hint of resolution and it seems the couple is in a state of perpetual questioning, always searching for something new.

Drop everything, lie down, and immerse yourself in the swirling ambient tunes of Morgan Delt’s first full-length album, set to debut on Tuesday Jan. 28. The self-titled effort brings to mind the wispy vocals of Simon and Garfunkel, mixed with the psychedelic qualities of Tame Impala heard in slow motion, nothing short of pleasant.

The album, made available by Chicago Label Trouble In Mind, will contain five additional tracks to accompany those already on the EP, Psychic Death Hole, released last year in true hippy fashion: by cassette-tape only. Fortunately, the full-length effort will be released in a more accessible medium, available now to pre-order on iTunes or for vinyl pre-order via Trouble In Mind Records.

The album boasts a wide range of sounds that reverberate through the multiple layers of audio and trippy effects that have been cast in a beautifully complex way. The complexities become immediately apparent in “Make My Grey Brain Green,” the first track on the album that certainly does not beat around the bush to reveal Morgan Delt’s signature sound of rich psychedelic pop/rock.

Highly pitched guitar riffs slide right out of the speakers during the stand out track, “Barbarian Kings,” resembling a slow meandering river of sound.  A similar effect can be heard on “Obstacle Eyes,” almost reaching the same level as the pleasing rising and falling sensation of sound blossoming from the latter.

The pace picks up slightly with tracks “Beneath the Black and Purple” and “Chakra Sharks,” in which Delt ironically croons “I’m gonna ruin your meditation.”

Things begin to turn slightly eerie and melancholy during “Sad Sad Trip,” an aptly named deeper cut off the album. The eeriness lingers through “Backwards Bird Inc.,” characterized by an inaudible voice that echoes in and out of the foreground, building until finally crashing into a downward spiral of heavy guitar.

The echoes continue throughout “Tropicana,” as multiple voices are layered over each other in melodic fashion, complimentary to the ear. A ghostly sound that resembles an organ fades out onto a set of foot steps walking away, a brilliant finish to a carefully composed track.

“Main Title Sequence” rounds the album out quite nicely, returning to the wistfulness of the first tracks, suggesting repetitive listening as a compelling possibility.

Delt’s self-titled album does not easily lend itself to be played in the background. Despite its easy listening tracks of psychedelic rock/pop, it demands our attention from start to finish.

Morgan Delt comes out January 28th on Trouble in Mind. You can pre-order your copy here.

Singer/Songwriter Jenny Lewis, formally of Rilo Kiley (and contributing vocals of Postal Service– we might add) is coming clean in her new single track titled, “Completely Not Me”.

In this celebratory song of rebirth-produced by Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend– Lewis lays bare her story as she reminisces of “a night back in June” when things went a little crazy.

Lewis’s voice is velvety and playful as she demonstrates her vulnerability in the form of raw high notes, and pulls through self assuredly. Lewis confesses her sins in a way that makes it easy for us to forgive her in this upbeat and almost choral-sounding tune- not to mention the girl sure can strum a guitar! You’re gonna want this track on your playlist in time for the next sunny day…think windows down, wind in your hair.

The song, which has been recently featured on the 3^rd season premier of popular HBO series Girls- is included in the shows second soundtrack titled Girls Volume 2: All Adventurous Women Do…’ along with some other amazing singles by the likes of M. Ward, Beck, and Lily Allen to name a few. (scroll down for the whole playlist)

“Completely Not Me” is available officially Feb 11- but preorder and get a free download of the song now.

And if you just cant get enough -Lewis will be coming to Atlanta soon on tour as part of the Shaky Knees Festival May 9^th– 11^th at Atlantic Station- Ill be seeing you there my friends!

1. Vampire Weekend – “I’m Going Down”

2. Jenny Lewis – “Completely Not Me” *

3. M Ward – “I Get Ideas”

4. Lily Allen – “Late Comer”

5. Beck – “Blue Moon”

6. Miguel – “simplethings” *

7. Christina Perri – “I Don’t Wanna Break”

8. Oasis – “Wonderwall”

9. Zero DeZire – “It’s My Birthday (Remix)” *

10. Aimee Mann – “How Am I Different”

11. Father John Misty – “Nancy From Now On”

12. Jake Bugg – “There’s A Beast And We All Feed It”

13. Cat Power – “Free (Gigamesh Remix)” *

14. Daniel Johnston – “Life In Vain (Live At Austin City Limits)”

15. Michael Penn – “Daisy (From One Man’s Trash)” *

On a wave of cotton candy vocals, brother-sister duo Blondfire manage to simultaneously show off some L.A. edge on their first full-length album, Young Heart. Set to release February 11, this indie-pop record is the ideal mixture of sugar, spice and everything nice.

But it’s no surprise that Erica and Bruce Driscoll have released pure gold; these two have years of industry experience. Having already been in the bands Nectar and Astaire – a name that they were forced to drop after Fred Astaire’s estate threatened rather large legal fees – the Driscolls peeled off their cocoon to become Blondfire. Soon enough, they were the first unsigned act to become #1 on the iTunes Alternative chart.

There’s no doubt that Young Heart will keep them on their fizzy rise to fame. The album features fan favorites from their Where the Kids Are EP, including “Walking With The Giants” and the “Where The Kids Are” track. These two synth-y titles are insanely catchy, but most notable for the way they make you feel: as if the world was made for adventure and anything could happen.

But we want to take a moment to focus on the album’s title track, released before the rest of the album. Exploring the darker side of youth, its shady lyrics are balanced by its dreamy instrumentals, which are slightly reminiscent of a lullaby. Similarly, lyrics like, “Crawling to feel/What you need isn’t all that matters now” speak to the lost child in all of us.

Despite all that wonderment, “Dear In Your Headlights” is undoubtedly our favorite track. Danceable enough to be heard on Top 40 radio yet sophisticated enough to be on any indie devotee’s playlist, this song sounds like what would happen if Gwen Stefani decided to front Phoenix. And that would be epic.

All in all, Blondfire’s new release bounces back and forth from a pop-y, almost Katy Perry sound to one that – electronically, at least – reminds us quite a lot of Empire of the Sun. I know that combination sounds entirely off-kilter, but paired with lyrics about grasping your youth and embracing the everyday, Young Heart proves to be pure magic.

There’s a picture of Death Valley on Xiu Xiu’s website. It is here, in this vast landscape, that I imagine the first track of Xiu Xiu’s most recent album reached its inspiration, or some place like it. What sounds like a steady breeze opens the album, Angel Guts: Red Classroom, along with a few ominous notes – as if singer songwriter, Jamie Stewart, hopes to hint at the emotional sound of this album for his devoted listeners.  Most who hear it may find it distressing or even scary – and it is just that – but it is Xiu Xiu’s talent for evoking these feelings from listeners that makes it a piece of art.

Jamie Stewart began Xiu Xiu in San Jose, California and has taken on members Shayna Dunkelman and Angela Seo. The name comes from a 1998 Chinese film, Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl, about a 15 year old girl who is betrayed and violated by government officials, and Xiu Xiu is not afraid of being as controversial as their name’s source.  But don’t be swayed. Angel Guts: Red Classroom is a surprisingly relaxing journey and offers release from the day’s events, specifically when listening to the softer songs of the album like “Botanica de Los Angeles” and “New Life Immigration”. Whether or not it is Stewart’s choleric, deep voice, or the rhythmic synthesizers, or a combination of the two that can cause a jump from solemnity to rage is up to you.

Since Xiu Xiu’s first album, Knife Play, released in 2002, their sound has gone through minor changes, but Stewart’s voice has remained the same, a unique one. Deep is the only way to describe it, but never monotone, deep in the sense that his voice somehow gives a deeper meaning to his words. And then at times, you can feel the pent up emotion when Stewart screams in “El Naco” and “Silver Platter”. Although “deep” may seem to limit Stewart’s style, he is very capable of sounding soft as in A Promise, and also sensual as in Nina, a Nina Simone cover album released right before Angel Guts: Red Classroom.

“:Red Classroom” ends the album with the continuous breeze, but no ominous notes. Instead, a frightening noise similar to that of a revving engine, then the breeze as a note of relief, and then nothing.

Angel Guts: Red Classroom is to be released February 4.

Farewell Young Lovers is the most current album of Todd Gautreau and Jeff Ryan, out January 21^st. The euphoric album opens with the upbeat “Flowerbomb,” for which they just released a video. Crushed Stars has kept their dream-like style since their earlier albums such as in In The Bright Rain and even their cover of “99 Red Balloons.”

The album takes on a somewhat psychedelic sound in “Our Interest in Claire,” but still eloquent, as if this would be the theme song to watching a lava lamp move. Then “Fly,” a lullaby of sorts, follows with a sprinkling of piano keys and harmony from a female voice. “Poppies” takes an instrumental approach, an intermission in the album. The second half opens strong with “Haters,” a sound different than most of Crushed Stars’ tracks. “Haters” is easily the most energetic, but still maintains that weightless feeling of the entire album. Finally, “Crocodiles” ends the album on a peaceful note.

The album is languid and simply beautiful. Everything should move in slow motion while this album is playing, and that goes for all of Crushed Stars’ albums. It can sing you to sleep (as it did to me late one night), ease your daily woes, or make you see objects in a softer light. Farewell Young Lovers is a unified album that brings to mind summer sunsets, nostalgia, thoughtfulness, and contentment. The album opens optimistically and closes with a sweet farewell.

Although Crushed Stars has a continuous and particular style, they are very versatile as shown in this album. They are able to evoke a feeling of high-ness and also one similar to a dream state. “Fantastic Birds” for example, Gautreau describes, “And we are like fantastic birds/ With our voices still unheard/ Under a canopy of trees/ Laughter and iridescent streams.” The vividness continues in “Haters”, “Singing in the churches with our hearts too full of hate/Shining on the surface but they won’t get through the gate.” Crushed Stars ends appropriately with “Crocodiles”, bidding farewell to all the young lovers, “So long my friend, we’ll see what tomorrow brings.” A complete album made truly with love and delicacy.

Got someone’s hand to hold on Valentine’s Day? Whatever your relationship status, we suggest you make your way to 529 in Atlanta to catch The Casket Girls. Straight out of spooky Savannah, this ethereal trio just released a new single off their second album, True Love Kills The Fairy Tale. And much like the group, we don’t believe in coincidences – they’re coming on February 14 to sweep us off our feet.

First things first, though: this kickass single. “Day To Day” is a mystical track from CG’s upcoming album, True Love Kills The Fairy Tale, featuring shoegaze-y beats by Ryan Graveface, of Black Moth Super Rainbow fame (or you may know him from our awesome interview last year). These instrumentals remind us subtly of My Bloody Valentine, but the beauty is in how they mingle with the harmonies of sisters Phaedra and Elsa Greene. Light but not too frothy, their voices play well with quite an intense backdrop. What we’re most impressed by, though, is how this release manages to be both moody and uplifting at the same time.

Don’t be afraid to let your mind wander when listening to the track – after all, the chorus puts you in a dark fairy tale sort of mood with lyrics like, “Day to day/Straight from the rabbit hole/But we’re still going down.” Feeling like Alice yet? Good. We’re betting that’s no coincidence either.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the release of True Love Kills The Fairy Tale, out February 11 through Graveface Records.

Casket Girls Tour

2/14/2014 Atlanta GA @ 529
2/15/2014 Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
2/16/2014 Washington DC @ DC9
2/17/2014 Brooklyn @ Shea Stadium
2/18/2014 New York NY @ Mercury Lounge
2/19/2014 Philadelphia PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
2/20/2014 Allston MA @ Great Scott w/ TW Walsh!!
2/21/2014 Montreal QC @ Casa Del Popolo
2/22/2014 Toronto ON @ The Garrison
2/23/2014 Grand Rapids MI @ Founders Brewery, Co. *FREE*
2/24/2014 Chicago IL @ Empty Bottle *FREE*
2/25/2014 Minneapolis MN Triple Rock Social Club
2/26/2014 Fargo ND @ The Aquarium
2/28/2014 Missoula MT @ VFW
3/1/2014 Seattle WA @ The Vera Project
3/2/2014 Portland OR @ Holocene
3/4/2014 San Francisco CA @ Bottom of the Hill
3/5/2014 Santa Cruz @ The Crepe Place
3/6/2014 Los Angeles CA @ The Echo
3/7/2014 San Diego CA @ The Void
3/12/2014 Austin TX @ SXSW
3/13/2014 Austin TX @ SXSW
3/14/2014 Austin TX @ SXSW
3/15/2014 Austin TX @ SXSW
3/17/2014 New Orleans LA @ The Circle Bar
3/19/2014 Tampa FL @ Crowbar
3/20/2014 Miami FL @ Churchills
3/21/2014 Orlando FL @ Will’s Pub
3/22/2014 Savannah GA @ Dollhouse GRAVEFACE FEST 2

When Los Angeles based psychedelic singer-songwriter Morgan Delt released his latest single to accompany his debut self-titled album (coming January 28 via Trouble in Mind) and previously released as a limited edition cassette, you can only expect a song as mysterious as Delt. Operating off the grid, Delt is notoriously hard to find information about, only adding to his anachronistic brilliance.

His single, “Obstacle Eyes,” is a nod to sixties psychedelia with cascades of layered chords and twisty melodies anchored by Delt’s smoothly elusive vocals that lure the listener into a hazy drone of melodic repetition. With an instantly catchy hook, Delt creates a trippy fusion of druggy sixties rock with the ambient textures of Ariel Pink.

The song rambles back and forth like a tinkering old music box, igniting a thoughtful introspection that remains transfixed by an enigmatic forward and backward progression. This is a track that deserves your full attention, so sit back and let Delt transport you to a summery sixties acid trip on the California coast.

Take a listen here:

With a 90’s garage-band punk sound, Midnight Reruns opens with energy in “Going Nowhere”, in which Graham Hunt sings, “I’m here for you and no one else…I ain’t going nowhere without you.” It’s as if Hunt exclaims his longing and promise to his restored project from 2010. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, Graham Hunt retired his position as guitarist of Trapper Shoepp & The Shades to dedicate his time to Midnight Reruns (both are Milwaukee-based). With the contributions of Karl Giehl, Brady Murphy and Sam Reitman, Midnight Reruns has proven to be quite versatile and layered.

The band has an expansive capacity for layered sounds and moods. For example, in “T.V.Z” and “Basement Guy”, a piano sets the tempo that the rhythmic drums work well with. Likewise, in most songs, two guitars can be identified, both very strong and harmonic, to create a somber mood, as in Grand Slam, or a sprightly sound, as in “King of Pop”. Although most of Midnight Rerun is upbeat, there is no lack of soft sounds. In fact, some of the most upbeat songs on the album start slow, like “King of Pop” and “Stop Lyin’ Down”. “Interlude” is the best example of this dream-like, lullaby sound. One would definitely be mistake to consider Midnight Reruns a flat sound, instead they force you to rethink your judgments and listen more than once, as stated in “Pharmacy Eyes” when Hunt sings,  “Don’t look at me with those judging eyes, I can tell you’re sick of me.”

Moreover, Midnight Reruns brings about nostalgia, hence the name of the band, a message of replaying and feeling comfortable with past midnight mishaps.  Hunt sings of memories, misadventures, and future ambitions (or lack of). “Grand Slam” relates of heartbreak, loneliness and tears, while Hunt reminisces in “Summer Smoker”, “I go to a place where I can smoke or get high…can we all just go back to that day in July”. The album ends with “Basement Guy”, which seems to be a reply to the monotonous and vague question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Apparently, “scarfing down on Cheetos”, being complacent, and never leaving the basement. Midnight Reruns is Dazed and Confused.  It is high school. It is regret. It is contentment. And it is available November 12^th.

FOR FANS OF: Superdrag, The Replacements, Weezer, Mean Jeans