Born

“Born” by Fear of Men // Green Sea 7” (2012)

It’s hard to beat the jangle pop vibe that Fear of Men pull off on both “Green Sea” and this b-side, “Born”. Sounding something like a mash-up of Belle & Sebastian and The Sundays, this dreamy blast of sweet melodies and lush harmonies is absolutely the kind of sound that I have been craving as of late. I can’t wait to hear more from this UK band, as soon as possible. Highly recommended for fans of Belle & Sebastian, The Sundays, and Dum Dum Girls. 

Lace Curtains - High Fantasy

“High Fantasy” by Lace Curtains // The Garden of Joy & The Well of Loneliness (TBD 2012, out on Female Fantasy)

Michael Coomer, of Harlem, sent a new track to GorillaVsBear under his new moniker, Lace Curtains, and it’s a great little blast of confessional lo-fi, power pop. Jangly guitars and killer melodies are all over this gem, which you can grab for free from GVB. Highly recommended for fans of Harlem, Cloud Nothings, and The Wrens. 

(download) “High Fantasy” by Lace Curtains (via GVB) 

Heavenly Beat - Messiah

“Messiah” by Heavenly Beat // Talent (Out 7.24.12 on Captured Tracks)

John Pena’s Heavenly Beat, has a decidedly more upbeat, (balearic) pop sound than his work in Beach Fossils, and that’s in fairly stark contrast to the work being done by other Beach Fossils off shoots, Diiv and Real Estate, but one thing is clear, the members of Beach Fossils have talent for days. Here, on “Messiah”, swirling synth lines build into an island beat and by the time the hushed vocals slip in, the song shifts into almost a post-punk type thing then back again, blending sounds and genres seamlessly. The overall effect is a dazzling, hypnotic pop track that’s another reason to be absolutely excited about the forthcoming full length, “Truth” (released July 24th, on Captured Tracks). Highly recommended for fans of jj, Keep Shelly in Athens, and Beach Fossils. 

Summers Down - FREE download at blueboats.bandcamp.com

“Summers Down” by Blue Boats // Sun Burns (2012)

UK Based bedroom poppers Blue Boat is actually the project of one man, Oliver Gale, and his infectious dream pop beauties have a way of embedding themselves into your brain. Cassette-Rewind (a great blog to follow for fans of the things that I post) brought to my attention the release of Blue Boats’ new two track Bandcamp release, “Sun Burns” and I’ve had “Summers Down” on repeat ever since. Having been a fan of the band’s previous online releases (“First Release” especially), this was an extremely pleasant experience as I’ve lately been missing that jangly, bedroom pop love in my life. Highly recommended for fans of Wild Nothing, Beach Fossils, and Minks.

(download) “Sun Burns EP” by Blue Boats (for free @ Bandcamp)

(via cassette-rewind)

The Fresh & Onlys - Do What I Came To Do

“Do What I Come to Do” by The Fresh & Onlys // Stash Rituals (a Mexican Summer Comp.) (2012)

While The Fresh & Onlys record the follow up to their excellent 2010 LP “Play it Strange”, I’ll take whatever jams I can get from them. Luckily, Mexican Summer has released a compilation record which features this outtake from the recording sessions that won’t be making the final album, and if that’s any indication of the quality of that album, then we’re in for a scorcher. “Do What I Come to Do” is a jangly, charging, garage pop jam that takes full advantage of it’s two and half minute run time by cramming it full of killer melodies and aggressive guitar lines and even a sexy horn line. It’s a stellar jam and highly recommended for fans of Ty Segall, The Men, and Dum Dum Girls. 

(download) “Do What I Come to Do” by The Fresh & Onlys (via Mexican Summer Soundcloud)

We Gotta Wait

“We Gotta Wait” by HOUNDSds // Phone Thou (2012)

Looking for a late night dream pop fix? Look no further. HOUNDSds have some gems for you in the form of their new release, Phone Thou (available now at Bandcamp). The track “We Gotta Wait” has been on repeat for the bulk of my day. It’s a hazy, jangly dream pop lullaby with a driving beat that embeds itself in the pleasure points of your brain and doesn’t let up. It’s one of seven tracks that can be yours for the price of “Name Your Price”. Get on it. It’s a must listen for fans of old school dream poppers Pale Saints as well as newer acts like Minks, Beach Fossils, and Wild Nothing.  

(stream and download) “Phone Thou” by HOUNDSds (via Bandcamp, Name Your Price)

Fanzine - L.A.

“L.A.” by Fanzine // L.A. 7” (2012)

I’ve been waiting to hear some new Fanzine ever since “My Stupid Brain” came out a while back. Well, Best Fit is releasing their new 7” on April 30th, and the title track is “L.A.”,  a jangly noise pop jam that perfectly shakes off the wintery vibes of the end of the season and welcomes the sun back with open arms. It’s an upbeat treat with a melancholic tone that is just way too much fun to listen to on repeat. A must listen for fans of Yuck, Big Troubles, and Pavement. 

Weird Dreams - Little Girl

“”Little Girl” by Weird Dreams // Choreography (2012)

This is a pleasant little surprise. “Little Girl” is a swooning, guitar pop throwback that feels like it was born out of three different generations, the 50’s teenage love song era, the 80’s new romantic revival, and today’s lo-fi retro pop that draws from garage and beach sounds. All of them are perfectly solid places to mine from, but Weird Dreams make it sound easy by reminding you of each of them all at once. It’s a pretty, dreamy little thing that is a must listen for fans of The Morning Benders, Gem Club, and Dum Dum Girls.

(download) “Little Girl” by Weird Dreams (via P4K)

Real Estate - In My Car (Smugglers Way FlexiZine)

“In My Car” by Real Estate // Domino Presents: Smugglers Way (Record Store Day) (2012)

What a pleasant surprise from Domino Records. They’ve gone and released a new studio cut from Real Estate that will be featured later on their Record Store Day release, Smuggler’s Way, which is going to be a magazine that comes with flexidiscs containing new music from the label’s bands (including John Maus, Cass McCombs, and Dirty Projectors). For now, you get the dreamy autumnal sounds of Real Estate to wet your whistle. Absolutely press play. 

Black Tambourine - What's Your Game

“What’s Your Game?” by Black Tambourine // One Two Three Four (2012) // Originally by The Ramones

Black Tambourine have brought their jangly, fuzz pop out of retirement after 21 years for an EP of covers based on the songs of The Ramones. “What’s Your Game?” is the first taste and truth be told, this feels like it could have been recorded 21 years ago. This is a band not missing a beat, and just picking right back up where they left off, with warm fuzz pop riffs and killer hooks. This track also features backing vocals from Dee Dee of the Dum Dum Girls, Rose Melberg of Tiger Trap, and Jenny Robbins of Honeymoon Diary. A must listen for fans of the C86 sound.

(download) “What’s Your Game?” by Black Tambourine (via Soundcloud)

Beach Fossils - Lessons

“Lessons” by Beach Fossils // Shallow b/w Lessons (2012)

Last week, the A-Side dropped and it was a killer track. This week, we get the B-Side and it’s further proof that Beach Fossils are one of the most reliably strong bands regularly producing music. They never seem to dilute their output with throwaway tracks and this b-side is further proof that they’ve got plenty of room to explore in the jangle-pop/ dream pop/ post punk worlds that they’ve been mining for the past couple of years. Absolutely worth your time. 

(download) “Lessons” by Beach Fossils (via p4k)

Beach Fossils - Shallow

“Shallow” by Beach Fossils // Shallow b/w Lessons (2012)

For me, Beach Fossils have become one of the most consistently great bands of the past few years. Everything they touch just works for me, be it their remixes, side projects, or album work. This new single (in anticipation of a forthcoming full length on Captured Tracks) is no exception. It’s a dreamy, jangle pop wonder like they do best. An absolutely stand out of the year so far. Highest recommendation. 

(download) “Shallow” by Beach Fossils (via P4k)

The Holiday Crowd - Never Speak Of It Again

“Never Speak of it Again” by The Holiday Crowd // Over the Bluffs (2012)

There’s no getting around it, The Holiday Crowd is clearly inspired by The Smiths. I’ll leave it at that. They’ve got a knack for recreating that sound of moody-yet-dreamy love-lost while keeping the sounds upbeat and jangly and loaded with melodies. There are plenty of other bands that are much worse choices to draw heavy inspiration from, it’s just really out in front. This is an album that could have been made in 1986 and it’s actually kind of refreshing to hear it played so unabashedly tight to the time. The C86 sound has been a fairly popular touchstone in recent years with lo-fi indie bands embracing the sound wholeheartedly, but rarely has it sounded so purely from that time. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of The Smiths (or Morrissey), Orange Juice, or Belle & Sebastian. 

(stream) Over the Bluffs EP by The Holiday Crowd (via Soundcloud)

Wild Nothing - Nowhere

“Nowhere” by Wild Nothing // Nowhere (single) (2012)

It sounds like Jack Tatum has been spending some time with the Beach Fossils boys. That is by no means a knock. It’s just a comment that this deliciously addictive new jam from Wild Nothing has a little more jangle in it’s step than what you may remember from the Gemini sessions. This new single from a forthcoming full length features backing vocals by Twin Sister’s Andrea Estella. It’s pretty much a must listen to help elevate you out of the coldness of winter. The warm harmonies and jangle pop back beat mix well with those melancholic guitar lines, but that melody will be the thing that’s lodged in your head for hours. 

(download) “Nowhere” by Wild Nothing (via P4K)

Wild Nothing - Velocity Girl (Daytrotter Session 1-2-12)

“Velocity Girl” by Wild Nothing // Originally by Primal Scream // Daytrotter Session (1.2.12)

Wild Nothing stopped by Daytrotter recently to lay down some in studio goodness featuring Jack Tatum and a full band. They primarily cut versions of tracks from the wonderful album, Gemini, but they also put down a solid version of one of their go-to live covers, Primal Scream’s “Velocity Girl”. What came out was 90 seconds of swoon-worthy, dreamy, jangle pop bliss. You can pick up the entire performance at Daytrotter.