Tagged: surf-rock

Do I even know what I’m waiting for?

mikal cronin

I’m ready for this warm weather to start becoming the norm. Especially after playing Mikal Cronin’s newest music on loop.

The Californian makes some of the tightest indie rock I’ve heard in awhile. Part surf rock to thrashing power-pop choruses all within the same song pretty much wins my ears instantly. Well structured tracks about the basic things that bring us down in life recreated into sunny anthems will most definitely leave you wanting ocean air and long coastal highways.

Listen to a few singles releases below and get your pre-order of his forthcoming album, MCII (via Merge), due out May 7th.

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[Sunday Listening] Swim Deep

swim deep

Today’s Sunday Listening is brought to you by guest poster, Corey, who has connected your ears to a majority of the Bruce Springsteen related content that’s been featured before on this blog. She’s kindly taking the reigns today.

Swim Deep is self-described as, “Birmingham boys making sun kissed noise.” This UK band has held my attention all weekend as I approach a dreary spring break in Philadelphia.

The track “She Changes The Weather” off their upcoming album Where The Heaven Are We hit me hard. The soft background noise of people talking, the looped sounds, and the steady build up make for a perfect Sunday sound.

Their videos are equally as vibrant as the sound they produce.

Head over to the band’s Soundcloud page to get more music and be sure to grab your pre-order here.

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Sierra City Center (Diamond Club) – TEAMS

TEAMS

Yessssss! Finally TEAMS has released his brand new California sun, surf, psych-rock, summer heat inspired Sierra City Center (Diamond Club). The new album, which he recorded in Sierra City and Trinity Center, California “during the insane summer heat,“ is a slightly new direction than his previous work, featuring more singing, “psychedelic” sounding songs, and some rippin’ guitar solos by Snow Wite.

You can definitely hear the influence the California heat had on the creation of this project. On a side note and also in quite juxtaposition (weather-wise at least) TEAMS recently transplanted to Russia and then Germany and has been busy playing shows and [presumably - by me at least] working on his second full length LP, OneWorld開発.

Listen to Sierra City Center (Diamond Club) below and be on the lookout for a physical tape release this Spring/Summer by Gnar Tapes & Shit.

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Stop writing songs about me, I’m not to be taken literally.

Simple jangly guitar riffs and lo-fi vocals really get me.

Created as a side-project by Michael Coomers, lead-singer of Harlem, I actually really enjoy the subtle difference. Stripped down with easier melodies, Lace Curtains, has more of Real Estate vibe with those distinct vocals of Coomers.

Listen to one of my favorite tracks, “High Fantasy,” below and be sure to listen to the rest of their August release, The Garden of Joy and the Well of Loneliness on iTunes.

High Fantasy – Lace Curtains

Right-click and enjoy.

[Music Video] LA – SURES

This past summer I randomly stumbled upon one of Australia’s cutest four piece, a young group with a massively mature surf-pop sound.

With ju

st a quick 5-track EP to their name, SURES have been stirring up quite the scene back in their homeland proving they’ve got a hell of a lot more left in them. Be sure to listen to their debut and check out their new music video for the track, “LA.”

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I’m not the one you miss.

SoCal surf-rock dominates my summer listening, always. I love lo-fi washed out guitars, strummy riffs, and sing-a-long choruses.

Hailing from San Diego, Mrs. Magician have just released their newest single, “Fools Paradise,” from their newly released 7” via Enjoyment Records. A tale of unrequited love, the track still retains peppy percussion and driving guitars. Grab your copy below and stream their latest album, Strange Heaven, on their soundcloud page.

Fools Paradise – Mrs. Magician

Right-click and enjoy.

I’ll let the waves take me away.

Simple and fun, The Droning’s track, “LCD,” is one perfect way to start off my sunny morning. I love the birds in the background, the strummy guitar, and the subtle boy/girl vocals.

Matthew Curtis (under the name The Dronings) sings observations about his surroundings, journeys, and love. He’ll even break out the ukelele when the time is just right. Released this past week, his album LCD, is a nice precursor to lengthier follow-up work. He’s put himself out there for the first time in two years, I’m excited to see what’s next.

LCD – The Dronings

Right-click and enjoy.

Sunday Listening: Don’t Be Yourself EP – Tiger Waves

After getting to know Tiger Waves and their psychedelic surf-rock through songs like, “In, Out, And Around” and “Best Coast,” I knew I had to keep them on my radar.

They’ve got Beach Boys-esque harmonies one minute, then they slow things down and cap a hazy filter on their music the next. A couple of days ago I had the chance to blare their latest EP release, Don’t Be Yourself, and found it incredibly listenable all the way through.

The best part? It’s completely free. Enjoy.

Sarongs; Growly Evil No-Wave Giveaway Contest

This little beauty (I mean “beauty” as in the kind that kicks you in the balls and then pours beer on your head while you’re hunched over) came our way a few weeks ago. Upon my first listen I was immediately taken aback and at the same time intrigued to learn more about this group.

Imagine a bunch of musician friends, stuck in attic, with nothing to do but get obscenely drunk and beat the shit out of their instruments. That’s essentially what happened in the creation of the songs found on Sarongs eponymous debut.

Dan, not our Dan, which is well…me but the Dan from Prison Art was nice enough to send us a tape. So in returning that kindness, we are going to give it to one of you!

Go to our facebook page and tell us what “alternative” medium you enjoy most! Whether it be vinyl or cassette tape, leave us a comment and we’ll pick a random winner on Monday. Consider it an early Holiday present from us to you :)

We put up a fight for the other side

While I despise making year-end lists (for many reasons), I don’t mind commenting on some of my favorites of the year.

Beach Fossils create lo-fi guitar-line focused music. The lighter surfy riffs sometimes disguise the heavier content matter, but sometimes I like that. What makes their sound different and stand out is the rooted 80′s pop elements they have managed to blend.

Below is the music video they teamed up with Urban Outfitters to produce for their song, “Adversity.” I really like the shots in the forest and how they play with exposure and shadows with darkness and light. It feels like a collection of fleeting memories..

Adversity – Beach Fossils

Be sure to keep an eye out for their sophomore effort due out next year, right-click and enjoy.

BONUS:   Just because I’m a fan of tasteful remixes..

Locomotive (Beach Fossils Remix) – Alex Winston

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