For this week’s post, we have new work from:
Guided By Voices
Fleet Foxes
Sorority Noise
Radiohead
The OBGMs
Guided By Voices
Dayton, OH
“Just To Show You” from How Do You Spell Heaven, due out in August
Nope, this isn’t another song from Robert Pollard’s 100th (literally!) album, August By Cake, released in April. This is the lead single from his 101st, and his second this year. Compact indie rock gems like this just drip from his brain, apparently. This comes out in August, giving him several months to release another album or two this year. Not kidding. – Tom
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Fleet Foxes
Seattle, Washington
Crack-Up
On their third studio album, Fleet Foxes keep the core of their folky, indie-rock alive, but have tended towards more musical experimentation. Crack-Up is perhaps their most compelling record to date with loads of sonically interesting things. Unexpected rhythmic shifts ebb and flow the entire album drastically, and an array of natural sounds are sprinkled in the background creating a fascinating ambiance. Front man Robin Pecknold, a phenomenal songwriter, delivers a new batch of striking tunes in his sluggish and sometimes soaring vocal traditional, reminiscent of the band America in the most obvious ways. This album tends toward that soft-rock vibe, but then they jolt you from those rather pedestrian melodies into a something entirely different and far more interesting. As a whole, this band is wonderfully unique for what they do. — Joshua
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Sorority Noise
Hartford, Connecticut
You’re Not As___As You Think
Probably a little behind for New Music Monday, but this March release is worth mentioning. Somewhere between emo, pop punk, and indie-rock, Sorority Noise’s latest LP is an emotional wreck from beginning to end. This album rides a sentimental rollercoaster behind upbeat tracks with driving garage-rock guitar riffs, accented by indie-rock lead guitar and front man Cameron Boucher’s weary vocals. Simple, introspective verses give way to anthem-style choruses in songs mostly about friends dying. The lyrics here are pretty depressing at times, but the music is so cathartic and uplifting, it all seems to balance itself out in the end. — Joshua
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Radiohead
Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England
OKNOTOK
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Ok Computer, Radiohead pushed a reissue of their highly-influential album last Friday. Behind a glorious remastering of the original tracks, the 22-track double LP has resurrected the music world’s appreciation for this album. The New York Times has probably the most interested coverage, with a track by track break down featuring songs that influenced the tracks and songs that were influenced by the original tracks. The real highlight here is the later half of this double LP which features three unreleased tunes, eight b-sides and outtakes. — Joshua
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The OBGMs
Toronto, Canada
“Torpedo” off of their upcoming self-titled album
Oh, Canada. You’ve been on a roll recently, pumping out some of my favorite punk rock jammers recently. The OBGMs just recently popped up on my radar and their newest single, “Torpedo”, is already one of my favorite releases of the summer. Fast, riffy, catchy, and just scuzzy enough to mix things up a bit. Their self-titled album due out later this summer is sure to be a ripper.~Petee