Yes, that’s really the artwork for TOLEDO’s new EP Popped Heart. It is definitely memorable! It will haunt my darkest dreams! The lead single from this project, though, is nice and pretty, as TOLEDO songs tend to be. “In Yr Head (1818)” is presumably the “EDM” song the duo teased on Twitter a few weeks […]
Farseek – “New Short Haircut”
Farseek have been putting out heartfelt, sincere emo since 2015, and I know how that sounds, but believe me: nothing they have ever done has been predictable. Way before “y’allternative” became a popular meme, Farseek was mixing banjos and warm country into their songs that often stretch out into Built to Spill-style jam-fests. Lead singer […]
Malugi, Nils Hoffmann, & Session Victim Threw A German Electronic Music Rave At SXSW
The final energy-drink boost of electricity came from Berlin-based artist Malugi. He was beaming — and I mean grinning and bouncing — under the disco ball galaxy. While shifting levels, his headphone band covered the middle of his forehead like a thin visor. His charisma was so earnest and pure, his energy alone could persuade […]
Ride – “Monaco”
In January, shoegaze greats Ride announced their new album Interplay. They’ve shared the singles “Peace Sign” and “Last Frontier,” and today they’re releasing “Monaco.” “The backing track came from the earlier Ox4 Sound sessions we did and we gave it a demo name of ‘Monaco’ as we were naming these jams and ideas we were […]
Airsoft And Elmos Are Keeping Hattiesburg Weird
Two new EPs (demos?) dropped on the Earth Girl Tapes Bandcamp page this week. Both are extremely worth your time. Earth Girl Tapes, you may recall, is the DIY punk label run out of Hattiesburg, home base for MSPAINT and other weirdo punk bands. Airsoft and Elmos are both bringing unique kinds of off-kilter energy […]
Vampire Weekend – “Classical”
So far Vampire Weekend’s Only God Was Above Us rollout has featured two lead singles and one revealing podcast. Today they’re revealing a third song from the album. “Classical” is a noisy, blustery track with a chaotic horn section that reminds me of Radiohead’s “The National Anthem.” (To be clear, it’s not that crazy.) “Classical” […]
Kelly Moran – “Sodalis (II)”
Last month, Kelly Moran announced a new album, Moves In The Field, and shared its lead single “Butterfly Phase.” Today, she’s back with another track, “Sodalis (II),” a reimagined version of her 2020 track “Sodalis,” which originally appeared on a compilation from Field Works. This one was made with the Yamaha Disklavier, the instrumental inspiration […]
Corridor Gave A Hall Of Fame Performance At SXSW
It was way more physical than I realized it would be. I’ve been thinking of Montréal’s Corridor primarily as a psych band ever since they returned from a long absence to announce new album Mimi. Lead single “Mourir Demain” was dreamy and expansive despite its rushing-river flow, and “Mon Argent” had a similar hypnotic momentum, […]
Grandbrothers, Lisa Morgenstern, & Sofi Paez Take Modern German Classical Music To Church At SXSW
The acoustics of the Central Presbyterian Church made Paez’s melancholic pieces sound buttery and lush. “Like the sun shines again like the moon hides away and your smile, I miss it,” she sang on an unreleased song. “Staring back at me, I’m not free,” she whispered quickly at the song’s end. Towards the end of […]
The Lemon Twigs – “A Dream Is All I Know”
Last month, the Lemon Twigs announced their new album A Dream Is All We Know on Fallon after performing the single “My Golden Years.” Later, they shared “They Don’t Know How To Fall In Place,” and today they’re back with the title track. It comes with a video produced by the Long Island brothers themselves, […]