Category: Art Rock


The Mast “UpUpUp”

Here’s a sexy yet eerie tune from Brooklyn duo The Mast off the EP UpUpUp(Remixes). The beat flows in and out as it rides a cosmic wave of energy while Haale Gafori’s ethereal vocals hover beautifully over it adding just the right amount of poison to create a track that’ll make you want to take your clothes off. How can you go wrong there? Well I guess if you are in the grocery store or going through security at the airport or jogging you can. Just be careful where you play it, but on the other hand if I see or hear about a nude jogger epidemic I will at least know I got my point across. Enjoy the awesome video with a chalked up Pandora Marie below.

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"He must be listening to The Mast's UpUpUp"

On The Rise: Quiet Hounds

At times I will hear a band or song that just grabs my ear and immediately I give in to fully embrace what it is I am hearing. Quiet Hounds is such a band. I found them on their Bandcamp page and I liken the find to that of miner who has toiled for days searching for that one piece of gold that will make him rich and happy for the rest of his life and alas after all his hard work he stumbles upon it with great joy, satisfaction, and reward. Such was I when I first played Southern Charm and instantly realized the quality of this gold piece I had just found. MASSIVE! I then proceeded to play “Hemlock” and “Night Parade” and I almost cried at the beautiful pop melodies I was hearing. Did I just find my Holy Grail of Indie? My Wilson on an island of mainstream radio horribility(this word may be made up)? I believe the answer is a resounding YES!!!!! I have literally had these guys on rotation since that wondrous day and I implore you to listen in hopes you will do the same and realize the talent that lies within the Quiet Hounds. Fun fact for you: They perform in hound masks. Hounds of the Maskervilles perhapsical(I’m outta control, so sorry)? Stream the album below and check out the first single “I Get Up” off their upcoming second LP Megaphona to be released June 4th.

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Time to let the dogs out.....and into your ears!

The Twilight Sad

Wikipedia says: The Twilight Sad are an indie rock band from Kilsyth, Scotland, comprising James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane (guitar), and Mark Devine (drums). The band are currently signed to Fat Cat Records and have released three full-length albums, as well as several EPs and singles. Their 2007 debut album, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, drew widespread critical acclaim, noted by Graham’s thick Scottish accent(ala Groundskeeper Willie) and MacFarlane’s dense sonic walls of shoegazing guitar and wheezing accordion. The Twilight Sad’s notoriously loud live performances have been described as “completely ear-splitting,” and the band toured for the album across Europe and the United States throughout 2007 and 2008. Sessions inspired by stripped-down and reworked live performances yielded the 2008 mini-album, Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did.

Their second album, Forget the Night Ahead, marked a shift in the band’s direction; lyrically more personal and musically darker and more streamlined, it was released in 2009 to further acclaim. Recording sessions for the album also produced the mid-2010 release The Wrong Car, which followed the departure of founding bassist Craig Orzel in February 2010. The Twilight Sad’s third album, No One Can Ever Know, was released in February 2012 and marked another stylistic shift, with the band citing industrial music and krautrock influences for a darker, sparser sound. The band describes their sound as “folk with layers of noise,” and music critics have described the band as “perennially unhappy” and “a band that inject some real emotion and dynamic excitement into a comparatively standard template.” So there! Their albums aren’t going to contain any party anthems by any means but they are albums that need to be heard indeed. Stay in touch and buy all their stuff on their website and check out the video(it’s kinda dirty) for “I Became A Prostitute” from “Forget the Night Ahead” and then the track “Dead City” from the newly released “No One Can Ever Know”.

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I was listening to The Twilight Sad while you were still suckling at your mother's teat!

Beach Fossils

Beach Fossils is a Brooklyn-based group, formed in early 2009 by Dustin Payseur. After signing to Captured Tracks and quickly pulling together a live band, they took off playing countless shows across the U.S. gathering a slew of devoted fans in their wake. In May of the same year, their debut LP Beach Fossils met with favorable reviews and became known for its jangly, single note guitar style, dusted with summer-fueled romance.

As the heavy touring schedule progressed, the band became scattered with many line-up changes, including twelve different drummers and three guitarists. In between tours, Payseur decided to expand beyond solo recordings and collaborate with bassist John Peña (and label-mate Jack Tatum of Wild Nothing on the song “Out in the Way”) for the EP, What a Pleasure, which was released in March of 2011.

Payseur takes influence from music, poetry, art and philosophers (Don Cherry, Ravi Shankar, Rumi, Lao-Tzu and Jean Cocteau), having an equal and crucial impact on his work. Beach Fossils is busy recording their sophomore LP, which is due for release in 2012. Steady members of the band have actively formed their own groups, guitarist Cole Smith with DIVE and John Peña with Heavenly Beat. Both of which have recently signed to Captured Tracks.–Taken from there website here. Check out the video for the fantastic “Adversity” off of their “What A Pleasure” LP as well as the newly released “Shallow” and the aforementioned “Out in the Way” with Wild Nothing. Then when you’re done with that stop on by iTunes and buy their stuff. It’s worth it for sho!

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Long Walks On The Beach

Looks like somebody likes Long Walks On The Beach!

I thoroughly enjoy Long Walks On The Beach is the first thing I tell a girl when I meet her. She doesn’t need to know I’m talking about a band. Not much on this guy except that it’s bedroom pop project from out of Washington D.C. He may be the only beach for miles but it’s a beach I will be visiting over and over again no doubt. These are great tracks that are really unique. They are very addicting so be warned. I’ll start you off with “True Love Or Bust” which is the first stage in searching for love then next with “Literally Crazy For You” which is how you feel when you find your True Love followed by “metaPhysical” which is the highest level attained in the love game. Enjoy you sappy lovebirds. Grab the free download here on his Bandcamp page.
I’m in my VW Wagon searching

OMG you are the greatest!

We are as one.

iamamiwhoami “Clump”

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Ready to be left dumbfounded? Then press play and let me introduce you to Jonna Lee from Sweden and the electronic/singer songwriter act iamamiwhoami(say that 3 times fast, no need for 5 it’s difficult enough to say it once). You tell me what’s going on in this video. Notice the toilet paper rolls she’s laying on? Is she a hippie nudist? and what pray tell is happening to her whilst laying upon the dookie rolls? Hmmmmmmmmmm…….? Yeah, me neither. I know what it looks like but it can’t be right? Wrong! She’s into some weirdness but then again who isn’t? I also enjoy the weird on occasion as I’m sure most of us do. So what if the only condiment worth using is mustard and that I put it on my cereal. So what I have an assortment of mildly offensive t-shirts that rival that of Corazon Aquino’s shoe collection. So what I raise whistlepigs to do my bidding. So what. So what. So what. I’m sure you guys have some interesting hobbies as well. Most of her songs are letters. iTune it and see for yourself but first hit play and check out this cool ass song. Thank you and good listening!

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