Fox Royal – “How It Always Ends”
A perfectly themed post, thanks to Austin, Texas-based Fox Royal who’ve just finished recording their EP, Us Against Us Again. The four piece met and formed in Lubbock, TX then relocate to the Music Capital of the World and have been performing shows around Austin ever since. They’ve got a couple coming up: Tuesday, 10/12, at Red 7, and 11/9, at The Mohawk.
*sigh* Austin. I miss you.
Fitting in so well with this Best Coast-y, 60’s lo-fi surf music era we’re in right now, Seapony has a limited 7″ release on the horizon that will satisfy that craving. The single ‘Dreaming’ is out on the 15th of November and available to pre-order now.
the band in Heaven – “Summer Bummer”
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled lo-fi programming. This yummy bit of shoegaze goodness comes from the South Florida outfit the band in Heaven, whose track ‘Summer Bummer’ I’ve officially christened as my theme song for the season, and Miami’s Weird Wives who is comprised of 3/5 of Surfer Blood and seem inclined to write songs with wifey, motherly connotations like ‘Head Bugs’ and ‘Wet Blanket’. Whatever the case, this split tape sure sounds good to me. Download it now here.
Artist: Depression State Troopers
Album: The Reason for the Fall
Release Date: October 5, 2010
Track: “Take My Hair”
While I’m not usually a big fan of the alt country category, there are two things I do have a soft spot for – the pedal guitar and singer/songwriter Tim Williams. Both of which are featured on the debut project by him and Jacob Jones called Depression State Troopers. But don’t let the name get you down. It’s a refreshing breath of fresh air in a sea of music sameness. Lovely.
There’s no confusion here, this local lady is ready to blow up. Signed to tastemaker label Mexican Summer – who released her debut, The Waves, last week – her music is a heady concoction of ethereal dream pop and reverb drenched, MBV-esque shoegazy guitar goodness. Which is perhaps why I like it so much. Her debut album is available now. Get it.
The Radio Dept. – “The New Improved Hypocrisy”
“The New Improved Hypocrisy” is the latest single from Sweden’s The Radio Dept. A track with a political bent inspired by the country’s recent elections. Though this song sounds so nice I don’t get the sense that things are so bad over there. Not hearing any angst or suffering in here. If they want something to get upset about, might I suggest they live in the US for a while. And might I also suggest that if you don’t already have The Radio Dept.’s recent album, Clinging to a Scheme, you get it pronto. It’s lovely.
Wintercoats – “Overture”
*sigh*… I think if I could split my time between San Francisco, Australia and London, my OCMD would be cured. I just love getting new music in my inbox from artists in these locales. This ethereal/dream pop number came in my inbox late last night from James in Melbourne, Australia and was oh so lovely with its string arrangements and vocal harmonies I just had to share. It’s free. Enjoy!
Wow, I was introduced to Simon Says No!, an Oslo-based shoegaze 3 piece, at a @FutureSounds Rumble more than a year ago. They blew my mind (and my eardrums) then with their EP Ahoy de Angst. Now, finally, their getting ready to release their new album September 13 in Scandinavia. “Solitary Rush” is their new single and I’m still in shock after seeing this video. They’re just all polished up and ready for success. Check it out.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – “Nothing But Our Love”
I’m betting on Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Why? Because I know how to pick a name. Ask my Dad. Being the daughter of a race horse breeder, I spent far too much time at the race track learning how to gamble at a tender age. Oh, the countless hours he spent trying to make me a shrewd and savvy horse gambler. Teaching me how to read the programs, analyze the stats, make a wager. Instead I would tune him out and study all the race horse names and their intended puns…B Sharp, Flurtini, Let’s Make Ideal, Minor de Best. See, isn’t that so much more fun than crunching numbers and stats? I think so.
So I’m putting $5 on Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. to Show. Described as “Michigan’s answer to The Morning Benders”, I love their EP Horse Power with it’s Beach Boy-esque harmonies and bubbly beats. It’s pure feel good music. Plus I appreciate the duo’s ethos to become professional men of music and leisure. Let’s all support them in this quest, shall we? You can start by seeing them September 8 at The Rumble San Francisco. RSVP here.
Apparently everyone in the music industry has been a buzz the past few weeks over this demo from London’s The Vaccines. So much so that attempts were made to keep the band and it’s members a mystery so as not to fall victim to the hype mill. With a little Beach Boys, The Ramones and The Jesus and Mary Chain influences all mixed up they’ve got themselves quite a catchy concoction of vintage rock and roll goodness going on. Will they be a one track wonder or the real deal? We’ll have to wait and see.
the OCMD 