Hit Bargain – Potential Maximizer

hit bargain potential maximizer lp 2018 HIT BARGAIN is a four-piece punk band from Los Angeles. Their new full-length Potential Maximizer is being released by Buzz Records in Toronto, which coincides with an east coast tour for the band through June. They self-describe their hard-nosed sound as “queencore,” leaving it difficult to settle on any other descriptors once you’re exposed to their heavy sound paired with Nora Singh‘s thoughts.
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Simply Saucer – Lo Fi Garage Symphonette 7″

Simply Saucer Lo Fi Garage Symphonette label obscura 2018 It’s been a long strange trip for metalloid cult Canadian band Simply Saucer who after forty years of cryogenic sleep, have emerged with some fresh music courtesy of a new released 7” via Label Obscura. Hot off the heels of In The Red’s recently released definitive reissue of the band’s 1970’s recordings, Cyborgs Revisited; group leader, Edgar Breau leads a newly reformed incarnation of the band featuring original Saucer bassist Kevin Christoff alongside a crack team of new recruits through two new tunes.
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The 4th Movement – s/t

The 4th Movement lp death drag city 2018 Is there life after Death? Well, I guess it depends who you ask. For fans of the lost and then found sounds of Detroit’s band called Death, then The 4^thMovement might have some answers for you. Continue reading “The 4th Movement – s/t” →

Monthly Roundup #04: Miscellaneous May Madness

warm swords la pochette surprise records 2018 cs monthly roundup demostruction Welcome to the May 2018 edition of the Monthly Roundup. The deal here is to give a shout out to all of those submissions that became victims of time in our inbox over the past 30-ish days. This month was loaded with some dirty (and downright pretty) gems that we simply did not have the time to cover, but they still deserve attention from your little ears. See below for a list, with some purposely brief and succinct summaries of what you will encounter while listening. Keep it thorough and listen to as many as you can – it’ll be good for you! Promise!
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SOLD – Jay Free Never Times EP

sold jay free never times demo ep philadelphia 2018 SOLD is a new Philadelphia based post-punk trio led by Ted Quann (guitar and vocals), Scott Signorino (bass), Jon Murphy (drums) and Steve-O (organs and synths). “Additional guitar” is credited to Chris Sigda, who, along with Quann, made up a good half of the Likers Men of Honor cassette from 2014. This new demo EP from SOLD is a different beast entirely, concocting a brand of snarling and angular basement-bred scuzz that hits hard.
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Leroy Francis – S.O.R.E. EP

leroy francis s.o.r.e. sore ep intoxicated dreams world state recordings 2018 S.O.R.E. is our first true encounter with LEROY FRANCIS, a multi-instrumentalist and known insomniac originally from Sydney, Australia. Considering those facts, the story goes that Francis has spent countless sleepless nights, resulting in a rather large library of self-made tape recordings at home from his bedroom. This new EP includes 6 tracks from those bleary-eyed, wee-morning-hour sessions, and you certainly get that sense while listening.

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Omni, Zula, Mavis the Dog – Live in Philadelphia (05/14/18)

omni live in philadelphia 051418

Of all of the live music events in Philadelphia last night, those who made it out to see OMNI were the ones who made the right decision. The Atlanta-based trio was supported by hometown heroes MAVIS THE DOG and ZULA, who came in from New York City.

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Cool Sounds – Gristle EP

cool sounds gristle ep 2018 With their latest EP Gristle, Melbourne’s COOL SOUNDS have crafted a fine collection of bittersweet indie pop. It was cobbled together by group leader Dainis Lacey following the sessions for the band’s upcoming second album. Gristle boasts a sound as instantly familiar and warm as a worn vinyl copy of any of Todd Rundgren’s early records or those well-loved d.i.y. vinyl seven inches from the 90’s that you keep close. The EP also marks a departure from the group’s more 80’s-inspired debut and finds them leaning further into singer/songwriter territory with even a few folk and country inspired moves lurking around the corners. Continue reading “Cool Sounds – Gristle EP” →

Connections – Foreign Affairs

connections foreign affairs lp trouble in mind records 2018

Foreign Affairs is the latest album by Columbus, Ohio’s CONNECTIONS. It’s a record that basks in the warm fuzzy glow of 1990’s lo-fi indie rock. For men of a certain age, like myself, it’s an approach that creates a certain kind of nostalgic buzz. It’s a sound as reliable as the battered 8-track cassette recorder that the band probably tracked this album on.

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Yuzo Iwata – Daylight Moon

yuzo itawa daylight moon lp siltbreeze records 2018 Daylight Moon is largely an instrumental record by YUZO IWATA, focusing on textures and instrumental soundscapes. It’s more like a band trying to paint you a picture rather than tell you a story. Released by the Siltbreeze Records label based in Philadelphia, the record comes in just a short edition of 250 pieces and likely will not be around for long.