Tag Archives: check ’em out
Check ‘Em Out: Teeel
Listen: Teeel – “Runners”
Check out this song, “Runners”, which is a new track from Teeel’s album Hydrostatic (out digitally now via Mush Records, followed by the physical release in November). “Runners” is the follow-up to Teeel’s first single “Disk Go”, which also has a super fun music video (see below).
On Hydrostatic, intricate synth and guitar work dance around bouncing basslines, laying foundation for an album full of vocal hooks. Teeel switches up styles from track to track, delivering dancefloor-ready grooves, dark washes of synthesized brooding, and pop hook after pop hook. If you dig folks like Holy Ghost! or Chromeo, you’ll probably love Teeel.
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, listen, new albums, Newest Love, video
Free Download: NOIRE – “Those Days”
NOIRE are a new and exciting band from Sydney. Their second single “Those Days” was recorded with multi-ARIA award-winning producer Wayne Connolly (The Vines, You Am I, Youth Group).
NOIRE posses a pop sensibility that is dark as it is colorful and as emotional as it is uplifting.
Listen: NOIRE – “Those Days”
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads, listen
Check ‘Em Out: Code Pie – “Let Me In”
Listen: Code Pie – “Let Me In”
Filed under Check 'em Out!, listen
Brand New: The Cold And Lovely
The Cold and Lovely is the brainchild of indie-rock goddesses, Meghan Toohey (The Weepies, Lenka, Schuyler Fisk) and Nicole Fiorentino (The Smashing Pumpkins,Veruca Salt, Spinnerette). The duo came together to form The Cold And Lovely with a singular sonic vision. The deceivingly moody yet bold new Ellis Bell Deluxe EP will be released on June 17.
Mastered by Dave Cooley (M83, The Silversun Pickups), the release features driving rock tunes that are as heartbreaking as they are anthemic. Upon discussing their influences, Toohey explains, “I dug deep into albums that changed my life, such as My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless, PJ Harvey’s entire catalog, and the work of bands like The Cure and U2. But it was Nicole who really helped me shake out the sound and pinpoint what I loved about the guitar tones and production.”
Shoegaze masterpiece “Oh, My Love” is a brooding lovesong strapped with melancholy lyrics and a bass line that commands listeners to move. Infectious title track “Ellis Bell” blends the duo’s slightly distorted vocals over lush instrumentation and dramatic, driving bass. With celestial backing vocals and hard-hitting lyrics, the percussive nature of “Radio” at once lends itself to road trip mixtapes and late-night ragers. “Radio” was released with VICE’s Noisey and you can check it out here.
Listen: The Cold And Lovely – “Radio”
The Cold And Lovely have launched begun a Pledge Music campaign, offering backers behind-the-scenes video snippets as well as a variety of brand new exclusive merchandise. The duo will hit the road this spring with their first ever East Coast run, launching in NYC:
6/10: New York, NY @ Pianos NYC (New Music Seminar)
6/11: Long Branch, NJ @ The Brighton Bar
6/12: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
6/13: Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
6/14: Pittsburgh, PA @ Howlers Coyote Cafe
6/16: Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands
6/17: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
6/18: Cambridge, MA @ T.T. the Bear’s Place
6/19: Easthampton, MA @ Flywheel Arts Collective
Filed under Check 'em Out!, listen, new albums, Shows
Check ‘Em Out: Lux
“…filled with synthy goodness, fuzzy guitars, and purty purty duets, making them a band worthy of your attention” – Three Imaginary Girls
“It’s My Bloody Valentine assaulting The Raveonettes with an antique synthesizer.” – The Devil Has The Best Tuna
The Seattle-based duo Lux has sewn a unique sleeve to wear its influences on. Inspired by some of the most essential artists of the era of indie and underground music (Pavement, The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, The Magnetic Fields, The Jesus & Mary Chain, New Order, Blondie), this boy-girl duo offers its own take on these sounds with the debut album We Are Not The Same, set for release on April 3rd, 2012.
Lux was formed in early 2010 when David Chandler, a Seattle transplant from Los Angeles began looking for a girl to form a band with. At the same time, Leah Rosen, a Seattle native with a decade of songwriting experience was looking to team up with a male musician. With some luck (and Craigslist), the pair found each other.
The duo set up shop in Rosen’s basement and set about writing, playing and recording the first Lux songs with Rosen and Chandler trading off on vocals, guitars, synths and drum programming. The tunes immediately found their way onto the internet in the form of the digital EP, Disorders, released just a scant five months later in July of 2010.
Lux is still contemplating how it will play live (they never have!) as both Rosen and Chandler are self-confessed control freaks susceptible to the unpredictable nature of the stage. “Really, we just haven’t got around to it yet,” says Chandler. “We were actually offered a tour of Europe, but decided to focus on recording the album instead.”
It’s a good thing that they did as our ears are better for it. Check out the single, “The Window” from their debut album, We Are Not The Same, due for release on April 3rd.
Listen/download: Lux – “The Window”
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads, listen
Chief – “Breaking Walls”
This song is absolutely AMAZING. It pulls you in from the beginning (which reminded me of Fleetwood Mac) and it keeps you listening with it’s sunny & sad-at-the-same-time melody. Chief released their album Modern Rituals last month, and you can check out the album over at Amie Street and download “Breaking Walls” for free.
Filed under Newest Love
My New Favorite Song: The Mama Papa
Click to watch the video for "The Mama Papa"
I can’t get enough of Plants and Animals “The Mama Papa”
Disclaimer: Be prepared to have this stuck in your head!
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Newest Love, video
Newest Love AND Highly Anticipated: The Drums
First of all, by going to their site you’re immediately hit with a video and if you type in your email address you can get a free mp3 of “It Will All End In Tears” sent to your inbox.
Awwwwweeeeesssssssooooooooommmmmeeeeeee.
The Drums self-titled debut album was released digitally two days ago from Downtown Records. The vinyl will follow on August 10 and the physical CD will hit stores in September. The US version of the CD will contain bonus tracks not found on the UK release. After the release of their debut EP Summertime! and a string of tour dates in the UK, The Drums were listed at #1 on both Clash and NME’s Top Tips of the Year and #5 on the BBC’s Sound of 2010 poll. Pitchfork’s readers voted the band as ‘Best Hope for 2010’ in their 2009 Readers’ Poll.
You’ve heard the buzz and with the release of the band’s debut album, the songs speak for themselves.
Filed under downloads, Highly Anticipated, new albums, Newest Love, video
Musically Amusing 