Dan Nicklin used that voice of his to fill ARCH with the sound of comforting melancholy. Perfect for the holidays.
Dan Nicklin @ ARCH Gallery 12.6.2014
The Organ Beats @ ARCH Gallery 12.6.2014
The Organ Beats stripped down their punchy power pop to please the patrons of the ARCH Gallery Holiday Bizarre. Delightful.
Vary Lumar @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 12.5.2014
Vary Lumar released Breaker at TT’s this past Friday night with an eclectic, electric set.
Aloud @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 12.5.2014
I’m not sure there’s a better band in town at consistently taking the stage and laying down a sweaty set of rock ‘n’ soul than Aloud. They did it again this past Friday at TT’s for the Vary Lumar album release show.
Velah @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 12.5.2014
Oh! Hello, Velah. So happy to have you back. What with your waves of delay and enchanting melodies, you were truly missed.
Doom Lover @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 12.5.2014
Here are Doom Lover being all Doom Lover-y at TT’s. That’s about the highest praise I can think to give this musical collective right now. I dig what they do big time.
Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents – Electric Candyland (2014)
Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents
Electric Candyland
2014
What happens when you take the handful of incredible singles you’ve released over the past couple of years and you put them all on the same record with a bunch of other great songs? If you’re Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, Electric Candyland happens. I’ve sung the praises of “Get Away,” “Don’t Tell Me” and “Bandit Of Love” in the past, but the release of a proper full-length album is as good a time as any to remind everyone how great these songs are.* The Deelinquents manage to blend ELO, Olivia Newton-John, Sweet, Darlene Love and Blondie into something new and different. It sounds wonderful. They snarl on “Bite Your Tongue.” They’re playful on “Wake It Up.” They rock on “Lookin’ For Clues.” They cover “Fox On The Run” and I’m happy. I think I’ll go listen again.
Where to get it:
* They’re really, really great.
Doom Lover – Until Everybody Dies (2014)
Doom Lover
Until Everybody Dies
2014
As a kid I had a cat named Pudge. He was a wee tiny kitten when we got him, but he grew up to be a pretty sizable feline with a bit of a belly. The name fit. Little did I know that spending my childhood with Pudge would prepare me for Doom Lover.
There’s always been something a little bit haunting and seductive about everything Doom Lover does. It’s right there in their name. When they released the eerie “Under The Alders” back in April, right before their appearance in the Rumble, they planted the seed. Until Everybody Dies shows how much they’ve grown. While a hint of the spring single’s darkness remains, Doom Lover pull back the veil on this EP. There’s an exuberance to these evocative recordings that’s hard to describe. Maybe it’s the joy of five people making music together. Maybe they’re secret optimists. Maybe their big hearts just can’t be contained. Maybe they are just lovers of doom, just like their name says.
Where to get it:
Party Bois – “Guest List” (2014)
Party Bois
“Guest List”
2014
Oh hey, Party Bois. What’s up? What? You released another slammin’ tune? C’mon. You can’t be serious. Oh, dang, you are serious. “Guest List” is on. Everything about this song – and this other song and this other song – just blows my mind. I can’t even deal anymore. It’s time to give it up for Party Bois. They win. Fuzz to the face and I’m gone.
Where to get it:
The Daily Pravda – “The Morning Was The Worst Part” (2014)
The Daily Pravda
“The Morning Was The Worst Part”
2014
The Daily Pravda have unleashed a majestic and biting single with “The Morning Was The Worst Part.” A scathing hook, a killer riff breakdown and a thematic shift to a major-key outro are all packed into a tidy, leave-’em-wanting-more 2:42. They also manage to stylistically blend Bowie, The Bends-era Radiohead and The Smiths without breaking a sweat. Impressive. Most impressive.
Where to get it: