Join The Facebook Group
Welcome back to another episode of The Weekly Feed. We've scrubbed the web bins again to find the newest, best, and most discussed tracks making waves in Blog Land. We also had a nice Forecastle weekend. Congrats to all involved in what looked to be the biggest year so far for the Louisville based festival. I had a great time and looking forward to next year already. And speaking of Forecastle, one of the bands who was on most folks To-See list....
These United States - I Want You To Keep Everything
Here is your early warning: looking to get a jump on a band to rub in all your friends faces that you heard them first, way back in the day? Wait too much longer and you'll be the one with mud on yer face. These United States (or as the kids would abbreviate, TUS) are on the cusp of it all. MMJ status. Blog darlings. Tour heros. The whole nine yards. While this single specifically may not be the one to send them to Bonnaroo headliners, but a few more like it will put them securely on the B stage. Grab Everything Touches Everything on Sept. 1.
The Drums - Lets Go Surfing
Brooklyn kids who you would swear were Cali kids living the day dream life. This is one of the most fun songs I've heard this summer. Perfect for the sun, BBQ / PBR parties, and hanging out by the nearest ocean (which for most of us, would be that brown Kentucky Ocean that we have). This track just got its own digital EP that also carries some cool remixes and a couple b-sides. Run over to RCRDLBL.com for a freebie.
Drummer - Feel Good Together
Patrick Carney, from The Black Keys is the big name from this Ohio collective. While they Keys were on break for Dan's solo record, Patrick got a bunch of his drummer friends and started a new band. So everybody was a drummer, previously. Get it? Carney plays bass and the music is pretty cool too. Not amazing, but pretty cool. A side project i'm excited to hear more from.
The Phenomenal Handclap Band - You'll Disappear
An 8 piece collective from NYC with a penchant for dance, funk, rock, folk, and... yeah, if its secretly popular right now, they're smashing it all into their new disc. And according to Stereogum, aside from the band having eight members, they also have guests appearances from Aurelio Valle, Carol C, TV On The Radio's Jaleel Bunton, Bart Davenport, Jon Spencer, and Lady Tigra. So far I'm impressed though. This dance track is a lot of fun. It takes a good minute of setup, but once the vocals appear it's like a roller skating party on vicodin.
Quixote - Hubris
One of the better ones I caught on Large hearted Boy's Daily Downloads. Bean Town kids with an interesting mix that starts off as a slow folky slow dance that builds into a rocker and then switches gears into a jangly pop strums that somehow recall the Doors L.A. Woman. Seriously, its cool. A minor epic. Dig it on your own from their newest disc out now.
Sin Fang Bous - We Belong
If your a fan of Iceland's music scene (which may sound sarcastic, but with as small as the population is there, I'm starting to think they're all musicians), then this newest project from the dude who usually goes under the Seabear moniker will be up your alley. Recorded at the same time as the newest Seabear record, this one utilizes the banjo n' beats sound to carry the warmly frozen vocals that seem to be lost in some distant tundra. Even at three minutes, I wish it were longer. The disc is out now, actually its been out for a while, and waiting for you to find it.
Neon Indian - Terminally Chill
Dallas's VEGA decided recently to move to Brooklyn. I guess they thought they needed to up their cred, so a couple of them did this Neon Indian project, which is total dance, bright, sunny, and neon - just as the name suggests. Keep it thumpin' on your stereo.
Elephant Stone - I Am Blind
I don't have much to say on this one. Its fine. Its getting a lot of attention due to the fact that the man behind the band is Rishi Dhir, former leadman of The High Dials. The song wouldn't totally be out of place as a lost Jam track. Take it or leave it.
The Arctic Monkeys - Crying Lightning
I'm pretty interested in the newest album from the UK kids. What's intriguing is that instead of going for the obvious hooks (ala their debut hit "Look Good on the Dancefloor"), they scaled back into a depth that would project them to the long-haul life instead of the indie buzz bin. And they teamed up with Josh Homme, which is usually good for anyone's career (just look at his wife's band, Spinnerette). This track has been growing on me, but i can't help but wonder if it just rides the bland train, or actually is something to work with. I'll check out the full when it lands on August 25 and hope for the best.
The Grates - Burn Bridges
This track really surprised me. It starts out like a run of the mill chick-punk-rock that would have fit better 7 or 8 years ago, until its hits this bridge/chorus thing and harkens to something that Katzenjammer has had me obsessing over so much lately. The Australians have apparently been crafting some decent pop rock for a bit now, but just grabbed a North American distributor through Thirty Tigers - a pretty trustworthy collective, so i'll take their word for it. Disc drops Sept. 15.
The Almighty Defenders - Bow Down and Die
I LOVE this track. So much fun. Either a bunch of burly bikers drunk around a campfire or a band of warlocks wallering in a Guinness toast. Okay, really its members of The Black Lips and King Khan who came together for this retro romp, and whoever had the idea for the pairing is genius. Pick up their self-titled disc on Sept. 22.
Hope Sandoval and the Warm Interventions - Blanchard
You'll remember Hope from the band Mazzy Star and their beautiful song "Fade Into You". While Mazzy was never able to grab that kind of success again, they did keep around a curious fanbase for a few more records who adored their sleepy-time tunes. Sandoval has laid pretty low in the past couple of years but is now back with a new solo record that keeps with her usual theme of soft vocals and dreamy melodies. "Fade Into You" it ain't, but until a new Mazzy record rises, this version is a decent conciliation.
Air - Do The Joy
From their forthcoming Love 2, these electronic guru's have given us a quick taste of what they've been up to since 2007. If you've been a fan of them in the past, this doesn't deviate from any past formulas, but for Air, its a formula that works. As the cliche goes, always imitated... sometimes duplicated, but still one of the best at it.
The Black Heart Procession - Rats
San Diego has been churning out some good lo-fi in the past years; not a place I would have expected to find it. The BHP left their old style behind to stretch their creative wings on the past two records, but are back to what made them a blog band to begin with on this album called Six, their sixth album.
And that's it for another wrap up. if ya like what you heard, pass the word to a friend or two, yeah? Also make sure to join our Facebook group to stay up-to-date on all the happenings. The Weekly Feed is produced by Kyle Meredith (that's me) and Todd Smith at MixWorks Studio in Louisville, KY and is distributed by WFPK and Louisville Public Media.
Join The Facebook Group
