Puberty - Invitations 7"

Puberty, an offspring of the band Intelligence, has recently released their debut 7". Lighthearted and super fun pop music. It's definitely awesome. See Telephone Explosion to get a copy.

Telephone Explosion, 2011
1. Invitations
2. parties

Sample the 7"

The People's Temple - Son Of Stone LP

Amazing record from Michigan's Psychedelic foursome, The People's Temple. Recently released on Hozac Records, their debut LP oozes with authentic sounding 60's psych.
Buy the LP, it's a real gem.

Hozac Records, 2011
1. Sons of Stone
2. Led As One
3. Mephedrone
4. Visions of the Sun
5. Where You Gonna Go?
6. Starstreamer
7. Sons of Stone (Revisited)
8. Axeman
9. Keeper (of Souls)
10. Pretender
11. Miles Away
12. Stick Around
13. Never Really (Saw Me Comin Round)
14. The Surf

Sample the Album

Coasting - Various

Not long ago I attended a free gig where Coasting performed as the main act. I made it through the first two acts, but by 12am there were no signs of them performing anytime soon. I bailed. Curse my early wake up calls. I imagine they would have been awesome, though. The duo consists of Fiona, ex-member of now defunct NZ punk outfit The Coolies, and Madison of Brooklyn based Dream Diary.
Their sound reminds me a lot of Vivian Girls' sophomore album, dreamy tunes with some lo-fi grit. Worth checking out.

1. Hots For Teacher
2. Kids
3. Same Old, Same Old
4. Snoozefest
5. What You Want
6. Coasting

Sample the Mix

Jr. Walker & the All Stars - Shotgun

Happy new year everybody, I hope that 2010 treated you well!
As the year wrapped up, I was beginning to enjoy a lot of Motown classics, and I imagine that 2011 will see me delving into a lot more rhythm and blues, soul and funk. Shotgun is the first release from Jr. Walker & the All Stars. First released in 1965, the record centers around a funk jazz fusion sound. Some truly great tracks here.

Motown, 1965
1. Cleo's Mood
2. Do The Boomerang
3. Shotgun
4. Road Runner
5. Shake And Fingerpop
6. Shoot Your Shot
7. Tune Up
8. Hot Cha
9. Monkey Jump
10. Tally Ho!
11. Cleo's Back
12. Ain't That The Truth

Sample the Album

Various - Wild Things - Wyld Kiwi Garage 1966-1969

Psychedelic garage rock from '60s New Zealand. Many a gem among these tracks, and like other Flying Nun releases, this is quite sought after release nowadays.

Flying Nun, 1992
1. The La De Da's - Don't You Stand In My Way
2. The La De Da's - How Is The Air Up There?
3. The Smoke - No More Now
4. Sandy Edmonds - Come See Me
5. The Cresendos - Now She's Mine
6. The Action - I Can't Make a Friend
7. Tom Thumb - You're Gonna Miss Me
8. Tom Thumb - I Need You
9. The Bluestars - Sociel End Product
10. The Challenge - The Crunch
11. The Principals - I Can't Stop
12. The Pleazers - Hurtin' All Over
13. Chants R&B - I Want Her
14. Chants R&B - I'm Your Witchdoctor
15. Chants R&B - Neighbour Neighbour
16. Tomorrow's Love - 7 and 7 is

Sample The Compilation

Moonhearts - S/T LP

I haven't been so good at keeping up with new releases lately, so I don't know if this LP's been getting much buzz, but it's damn good, regardless. Though they've trimmed the band name (was Charlie & The Moonhearts), their raging rock n' roll surf sound has stayed put.

Tic Tac Totally, 2010
1. I Hate Myself
2. I Said
3. Shine
4. Can't Find My Way
5. Never Lose Control
6. Deathstar Pt. 1
7. Deathstar Pt. 2
8. Let Go
9. Eat My Shorts
10. Love Is Gone
11. I Can Go On

Sample the Album

Psychedelic Unknowns Volume 2

Here is a collection of quality tracks that somehow got lost in the crowd. I love discovering records like this, compilations of lesser-known original recordings that represent a certain portion of time or place. It's the closest thing to being there and experiencing the music as it was, and it's especially interesting to hear where modern music genres have stemmed from. This is a solid mix of psych based tracks that sums up the psychedelic era of the '60s really well. The entire series is brilliant, but volume 2 of Psychedelic Unknowns is probably my personal favourite.

Calico Records, 1979

01. The Starfires - I Never Loved Her
02. The Kings Ransom - Shame
03. The Caretakers Of Deception - X + Y = 13
04. The Jury - Who Dat?
05. First Crew To The Moon - Spend Your Life
06. We The People - In The Past
07. The Painted Ship - Frustration
08. The Squires - Going All The Way
09. The Front Line - Got Love
10. The Nobles - Something Else
11. Yesterday's Children - To Be Or Not To Be
12. Dave Diamond & The Higher Elevation - The Diamond Mine

Sample The Compilation

Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-Rock & Fuzz Funk In 1970's Nigeria

This is quite an impressive compilation. The mix showcases the underground rock scene of Nigeria in the 1970s, which was largely influenced by the psychedelic movement of the western world and traditional African music. 

Soundway, 2008

1.Ofege - Adieu

2.The Action 13 - More Bread to the People

3.The Hygrades - In the Jungle (Instrumental)

4.The Wings - Odenigbo

5.Ofo The Black Company - Eniaro

6.The Elcados - Ku Mi Da Hankan

7.Mono Mono - Kenimania

8.Tabukah ‘X’ - Finger Toe

9.The Funkees - Acid Rock

10.Colomach - Cotocun Gba Gounke

11.Joe King Kologbo & His Black Sound - Another Man’s Thing

12.Question Mark - Freaking Out

13.Original Wings - Igba Alusi

14.Tunji Oyelana - Omoba D’Eru Ri

15.BLO - Chant To Mother Earth 

Sample The Compilation

The Clean - Mister Pop

2009 saw the first original release from The Clean in almost a decade and, during that time, it seems The Clean have had time to evolve in sound. Mister Pop, overall, is more hazy dream pop than the band's earlier work. They've shed the heavy organs, have favoured softer vocals and have adopted a cleaner sound (this pun was unavoidable). It's certainly different from Compilation or Vehicle, but the band have in no way lost any of their appeal.

Arch Hill Records/Merge, 2009
1. Loog
2. Are You Really On Drugs?
3. In The Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul
4. Asleep In The Tunnel
5. Back In The Day
6. Moonjumper
7. Factory Man
8. Simple Fix
9. Tensile
10. All Those Notes

Sample the Album

Liam The Younger - After The Graveyard

For the most part, this is just one man and his guitar. His minimalistic approach to writing and performing result in a totally organic sound. I'm totally in love with this music, it's simplicity and it's basic folk sound stripped down to it's acoustic minimums.

2009
1. Current Joys
2. This Land Pt. 1
3. Ode To Then
4. This Land Pt. 2
5. After the Graveyard
6. Songs Of Living
7. I Will Be Good Pt. 1
8. It Is Good
9. An Easy Place Pt. 1
10. If I Ever Live Alone
11. I Will Be Good Pt. 2
12. Two Sides
13. An Easy Place Pt. 2
14. An Easy Place Pt. 3
15. Sleep Pt. 3

Sample the Album

Splendora - In The Grass

Splendora are probably best known for performing the theme song of the late '90s MTV cartoon, Daria. Watching the show actually led me to the first and only release from the band. The appealing blend of heavy distortion and sweet female vocals make me wish they hadn't stopped at just one album. Fans of female fronted grunge acts, such as Hole, should like this one.

Koch Records, 1995
1. Bee Stung Lips
2. Rat Fink
3. Breeze
4. Rocker
5. Beautiful
6. Pollyanna
7. Reanimator
8. Shirt On
9. Sever
10. Rattle
11. Cover the River
12. No Place
13. It's Great
14. Busted

Sample the Album

Big Troubles - [Various]

To pick up where I left off, I'm still totally into the whole (what appears to be) revived shoegaze sound. While this is a basic sound of Big Troubles, the duo also dabble in a bit of tropical daze (a la Ducktails) and all round dream pop bliss. I think a few of these tracks might be older demos, so i'm not sure in which direction the general sound has headed, but you can pick up their debut EP over at Blackburn Recordings.

Unknown
1. Freudian Ships
2. Opposites
3. Desire For A Certain Thing To Happen
4. Drastic & Difficult
5. GreyDayz
6. Sick Days

Sample the mix

Trailer Trash Tracys - Candy Girl 7"

It's been a while since there's been anything distinctively shoegaze posted, so this fills that void. Trailer Trash Tracys sounds like they have stepped directly out of the early '90s - distorted guitar riffs, pretty vocals and an all round hazy sound. Also included is their song "Stranging Good Guys" from the No Pain In Pop Compilation.
Buy the single here.

No Pain In Pop, 2009
1. Candy Girl
2. You Wish You Were Red
+
3. Strangling Good Guys

Sample the 7"

Reading Rainbow - Songs To Sing To

'Songs To Sing To' is a dreamy little collection of noisy, sun soaked melodies. Like Wavves with more charm. Or a friendlier No Age. Each of the 60 copies of this CD have sold out, but order their latest LP, 'Mystical Participation' here.

Self-released, 2009
1. The Sun is Out
2. A Life To Find
3. In The City
4. Totem Pole
5. I Will Follow You
6. We Are Too Young
7. Great Sky Bear [Keys]
8. Be My Sunrise
9. Animals Take Control OF Me
10. Oh Deer Lord
11. Great Sky Bear [Strings]
12. Where My Body's Found
13. Feral Kids
14. New Safety
15. I Will Wait

Sample the Album
Here
or
Here

Beach Fossils - [Various]

Sure, it may seem to follow this whole tropical-lofi-pop trend that's emerged this year, but this stuff is gold. These songs radiate pure joy. Like that of Real Estate, Ducktails, etc., Beach Fossils' music is heavily string based, favours delicate vocals, and is bathed in reverberation. This should tide you over until the release of his debut on Woodsist.
Unknown
1. Vacation
2. Lazy Day
3. Daydream

Sample the mix
here
or
here

REPOST: Thought Creature - Teleport Palace

REPOST: Just 'cause they've been rocking my socks lately.

"Something to check out if you're keen on the sound of surf psychedelia. The debut album from New Zealand three piece, Thought Creature.

Involve, 2008
1. Words Can't Save You
2. Kamakaze TV
3. Shake About
4. Plastic Fantastic
5. Went To A Party
6. One Day I Turned Into A Spider
7. Your Telepathy
8. Swamp Babe
9. Winter Is Over...
10. Favourite New Machine
11. Ice Scream Ice Queen
12. Picnic With The Bears"

Sample The Album

White Mystery - Powerglove 7"

Fresh from the oven over at the HoZac Hookup Klub, this single is 1 of 3 7"s from the second batch in the series. This one in particular stood out to me due to it's contrasting grittyness and poppy goodness. It can easily be likened to The Bitters, Pens, or most girl-fronted noise pop bands, really. I've got my fingers crossed for a lot more future releases from this band, very cool.
HoZac, 2009
1. Powerglove
2. Aaron
3. Ye Olde Stone

Sample the 7"

The Rantouls - The Songs Of The Frontier Villagers 7"

Yet another recent release from The Rantouls. The Band stick to their '60s influenced bubblegum/rock n' roll style that has won you over before.
Self-Released, 2009
1. Little Dune Buggy
2. Still 16

Sample the 7"

See Also: The Rantouls - Little Green Hat 7"/ The Rantouls - Chug-a-Lug 7"

King Tuff - Was Dead

This record caught my attention through a recent reissue on cassette (Burger Records). Such an awesome album. At times, King Tuff reminds me of Nobunny. The two share an upbeat rock n' roll style and similar vocals. The tracks vary between slower, more blues rock songs and fast-paced songs with intense rock n' roll riffs.
The Colonel, 2008
1. Dancing On You
2. Connection
3. Sun Medallion
4. Lazerbeam
5. Lady
6. A Pretty Dress
7. Ruthie Ruthie
8. Just Strut
9. Kind Of Guy
10. Freak When I'm Dead
11. Animal
12. Stone Fox
13. So Desperate

Sample the Album

The Rantouls - Little Green Hat 7"

Hot off the press, a brand new single from bubblegum rock n' rollers, The Rantouls. Worth your pocket money for sure. Buy it here.
Chocolate Covered Records, 2009
1. Little Green Hat
2. Little Bit Of This

Sample the 7"






See Also: The Rantouls - The Songs Of The Frontier Villagers 7" / The Rantouls - Chug-a-Lug 7"