Noise Verse Noise

American Football

2016-08-23T12:12:00.003-07:00

American Football are back with a new song & album. Not only that, but "I've Been So Lost For So Long" sounds just like classic American Football with a complicated break down & shimmering guitars. The new album, American Football, is out October 21st on Polyvinyl Records.

Big Eyes

2016-08-12T07:57:00.003-07:00

Big Eyes are back with their latest blast of power punk pop. I could write about the hooks, licks, and lyrical content - but you really should just listen to it and enjoy it for yourselves. Big Eye's Stake My Claim is out 8/19 on Don Giovanni Records.

Beach Slang

2016-07-13T13:52:00.003-07:00

Like pretty much everyone else, I totally loved Beach Slang's debut The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us. The fact they are following it up so quickly with another album is fantastic. "Punks In a Disco Bar" feels like the natural successor to "Bad Art & Wierdo Ideas" or "American Girls and French Kisses"- it still has the up tempo and sing along choruses, but cleaned up to go out. The band recently played Pleased to Meet Me in full at a concert which is the perfect reference point for this song. Having heard a couple other songs last time I saw the band, I am sure that the new album will be a favorite of 2016. Beach Slang's A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings comes out September 23rd on Polyvinyl Records.

The Warlocks

2016-06-29T09:03:00.002-07:00

The Warlocks are a foundational band for early to mid-2000's psych bands. Albums like Phoenix & Surgery set the blueprint for modern acid drench, desert scorched rock that came after it. Which makes the fact they are about to release a new album all the more impressive. Where many of their contemporaries have either disbanded or become parodies of their former selves, Warlocks continue to turn out quality tunes. "Lonesome Bulldog" is a slow burning tune - it never really kicks off into full garage rock, but keeps itself at a constant simmer waiting for the spark to set it off. The Warlocks latest, Songs From The Pale Eclipse, comes out September 2 on Cleopatra Records.

Natural Child

2016-06-20T15:39:00.004-07:00

Get ready for more drunken, rambling tunes by the boys in Natural Child. These guys are keeping the spirit of Exile on Mainstreet Stones alive for everyone - they are the best at mixing punk scuzz, country heart, and garage amphetamines into three minute tunes. "Now and Then" is from their forthcoming album Okey Dokey due out September 16th on Natural Child Records & Tapes.

Terry

2016-06-16T09:42:00.004-07:00

Terry are a super group out of Melbourne made up of members of Total Control & Dick Diver. They blend the post punk dub reverb with noisey guitars, creating a distinctly down under sound. "Chitter Chatter" & "Don't Say Sorry" are reminders of how great the rock bands of Australia & New Zealand have been. Both songs are deceptively simple that lyrically that ratchet up the noise and over the course of the song. "Third War" reminds me of the sun burnt acid drenched tunes turned out by guys like White Fence or John Dwyer at his quietest. Terry's debut album, Terry HQ, is out July 1 on Upset the Rhythm.

GØGGS

2016-06-10T14:53:00.002-07:00

Sometimes on Friday's you just need something to turn up loud - GØGGs has got you covered. Even without looking at the credits, you can feel the influence of Ty Segall and In the Red Records. Everything goes by in a blur with Charlie Moonheart's drumming leading the way with Charles Shaw shout bark vocals letting you know these guys mean business.

Pink Mexico

2016-05-24T07:32:00.002-07:00

Pink Mexico are from Brooklyn via Los Angeles, but you would be excused if you thought they just emerged from the same sun and drug scorched earth that gave us Kyuss and other doom & marijuana infused rock. Pink Mexico mix self deprecating humor with wide open road riffs for maximum effect - think Heavy Days era Jeff the Brotherhood. All of this has lead Pink Mexico to sign with the gentlemen over at Burger Records. "Buzzkill" is the first single off the new album and if it is any indication, the new album will be perfect for summer shenanigans. Pink Mexico's latest album, fool, comes out June 24th on Burger Records.

Dentist

2016-05-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

Continuing on with our week of female fronted surf inspired tunes - Dentist are a foursome out of the Garden State. Where some surf rock is one gigantic burst of energy, Dentist understand that waves both build and recede. This push and pull makes "MeetYouThere (In Delware)" a total ear worm - the run out of the track is one of my favorite song moments of the past year. "Awful" is a fantastic uptempo kiss off with the classic surf drum beat from a million Ventures and Vivian Girls tunes. Dentist's new album Ceilings is out 6/24 on Little Dickman Records.

Acapulco Lips

2016-05-10T09:11:00.003-07:00

Photo Credit: Trevor Crump

Acapulco Lips are from Seattle, but you would be forgiven if you thought they washed up on the shore of Huntington Beach with a Surfaris record in one hand and some sort of neon blue cocktail in the other. They specialize in the kind of scuzzy, lo-fi fun that bands like Shannon & the Clams or King Khan practice. Songs like “My Time”, “Awkward Waltz”, and “Shoes On” are all jungle stop monsters designed to soundtrack John Waters beach scenes. “Tonight” is an absolute broken heart barn burner with an excellent outro riff/solo - the sort of thing you dance around your room to forget about how your boyfriend is being an idiot. Really everything here is perfect for when you want to be stoned and hang out by the beach or at least think about the beach while you are in the drive through for Taco Bell. Acapulco Lips self titled debut album is out now on Killroom Records.

Peach Kelli Pop

2016-05-06T08:46:00.001-07:00

Photo Credit: Julie Pinzur

Peach Kelli Pop has a new 7” of groovy tunes out on Lauren Records. The 7” tackles more mature themes than the previous records with songs about beauty, power, and heartbreak taking center stage. “Halloween Mask” tackles the idea of the false faces that women wear for society. “Hundred Dollar Bill” explores the power dynamics around men, women, and money. Closing out the 7” is “Stuck in a Dream”, a quieter track that focuses in on a relationship not in a good place. While the subject matter is heavier, the music continues to be fun and groovy - I am particularly fond of the ‘70’s style guitar on “Halloween Mask”. Overall, a very enjoyable release that has much more buried under the surface.

Perfect Pussy

2014-05-20T17:40:00.001-07:00

Perfect Pussy are the new face of art-hardcore. Taking parts of girl group charm, no age style experimentalism, and blood brother shrieking intensity they are a whole new animal. "Driver" off their recently released debut is a perfect example of why the band has become an indie darling for the Brooklyn set.

PP recently covered Bruce Springsteen's "Candy's Room" and turned it into a hellish synth fun house of mirrors. The original, an anthem song about teen love, is turned into to something even more warped than Suicide - a favorite of the Boss. In PP hands "Candy's Room" sound like an art film that Larry Clarke wouldn't go near.

Glass Animals

2014-05-13T20:57:00.001-07:00

Glass Animals specialize in the kind of rhythmic, art rock that Bombay Bicycle Club and Foals are also exploring. The band takes queues from bands like Alt-J and Everything Everything, but lack the annoying vocal tics of those bands.

"Pools" is the latest single from the UK band, it continues to expand the already enormous sound. Tropical percussion mixes with synth pop melodies and layered vocals. It is the sound of a jungle dance party. Glass Animals debut album, Zaba, is out June 9.

Little Big League

2014-05-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

Little Big League are from the same fertile Philly scene as Menzingers, Restorations, and countless others. They make the kind of classic indie guitar punk that is always appreciated. They toured with Paws last year and the two make a perfect 1-2. Where Paws channels 90s into fun, riff happy rock that pushes the high notes of your 20s - Little Big League remind you have it is your first taste of stress and responsibility.

Blackbird Blackbird

2014-05-06T18:16:00.001-07:00

Blackbird Blackbird has released eponymous song off his forthcoming album, Tangerine Sky. "Tangerine Sky" is everything you want out of a late spring/early summer chill out track - squiggly synths, gauzy vocals, and infectious vibes. It makes for a great ride bikes at sunset tune. Blackbird Blackbird's latest album Tangerine Sky comes out June 3. Check out tour dates after the jump!

6/14 - Los Angeles (King King)
6/15 - San Diego (Soda Bar)
6/18 - El Paso (Lowbrow Palace)
6/19 - Alberquerque (Sister Bar)
6/20 - Dallas (Three Links)
6/21 - Austin (Empire Automotive)
6/22 - New Orleans (Hi Ho Lounge)
6/24 - Orlando (Backbooth)
6/25 - Tampa (Crowbar)
6/26 - Athens (New Earth)
6/27 - Atlanta (Drunken Unicorn)
6/28 - Raleigh (King’s Barcade)
6/30 - DC (Rock &Roll Hotel)
7/1 - Philadelphia (Johnny Brenda’s)
7/2 - Brooklyn (Glasslands Gallery)
7/3 - New York (Mercury Lounge)
7/4 - Montreal (Il Motore)
7/5 - Toronto (Wrong Bar)
7/7 - Chicago (Empty Bottle)
7/8 - Madison (Frequency)
7/9 - Des Moines (Vaudeville Mews)
7/10 - Denver (The Walnut Room)

Hooray for Earth

2014-05-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

Hooray for Earth are back with their first single "Keys" off of Racy, the follow up to 2011's excellent True Loves. "Keys" continues where True Loves left off with a synth-pop sound influenced by dance music, psychedelia and alt-rock. The guitars mid-way through the song have a very grunge tone to them, that works well with the thundering drums and the smeared, gauzy vocals. Hooray for Earth's new record, Racy, is out July 29 on Dovecote Records.

Pink Mountaintops

2014-04-29T19:46:00.001-07:00

Pink Mountaintops are back with a new album, Get Back,out today on Jagjaguwar! These guys always produce enjoyable psych-pop that is a more uptempo version of Black Mountain. Pink Mountaintops are the speed addled garage rockers to Black Mountain's stoned out hippies.

Temples & Drowners @ Bluebird Theater April 22

2014-04-25T06:07:00.002-07:00

Temples and Drowners played Denver's Bluebird Theater on Tuesday April 22.

Drowners opened the show. The band plays a brand of UK rock that instantly recalls early 2000'sm bands like Arctic Monkeys, Strokes, and Libertines. Their songs are incredibly enjoyable and catchy. If you ever found yourself buying Mando Diao or Supergrass import b-sides definitely check these guys out.

Temples followed up with a fun set of swirling psychedelic 60's inspired rock. The songs on the album feel a little thin, but live the bass and drums really hold down the songs and let the guitars take off. My personal favorite was a jammed out, slightly heavier version of "Ankh". Temples have earned numerous comparisons to Tame Impala and this is understandable, but not quite accurate. Tame Impala go for slightly weirder and prefer a 70's style arena psychedelic rock. While Temples are mining the always fertile 60' UK scene for inspiration. This leads to pop-y song structures and shorter run times on record.

Live the bands are equals. Both like to stretch out song lengths and let the song ride. The extra low end really helps the songs stay front and center. I hope on the next album that Temples are able to capture the magic of their live show on record. Definitely check them out if you get the chance, everything really comes alive in person!

Coachella 2014 - Weekend 1

2014-04-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

I tend not to do a Coachella recap every year since - A) every blog/magazine/publication does one and B) I am frequently shooting from my phone or far away, so decent photos are hard to come by. However, I am going to this year because there were some excellent bands that I am not seeing much coverage for.

Can we take a minute and appreciate Neko Case? The woman has been at it forever and continues to turn out great music. She is hysterical and has the voice of a god. Anytime she is on the bill I am going to make sure I see her.

Ty Segall has become a full fledge star. Whenever your crowd doubles from beginning to end of set you know you are doing something right. In this case that means turning out quality product so quickly that until he said these were new songs, I wasn't sure if half the set was new or just an album I had missed.

Bombay Bicycle Club were fantastic. Great sound that totally drew me in without trying too hard. I only hung out for two songs because I was off to see Chvrches.

Chvrhes were fantastic. Last years Bones of What You Believe was one of my favorites and the songs totally work live. Many synth-pop bands have a hard time translating record to live show, but these guys totally brought it. Plus Lauren Mayberry is completely charming and adorable live.

Holy Ghost! are continuing DFA's long run of great Coachella shows - LCD Soundsystem 2011, Rapture 2012, Hot Chip 2013. Like those bands, there wasn't one hit that every lost there minds for, but a long build where everyone danced the entire time - really kicking off on the second song "Dumb Disco Ideas".

Washed Out are just totally made for 5pm Coachella. Its hot, you are tired and semi-dehydrated, and not sure what you want to listen to. Washed Out sound like the heat ripples you see and it is perfect.

Superchunk are indestructible. These guys just keep going and going and it is fantastic. New songs, old songs both come alive when they play with this much energy and passion. It didn't matter that the tent was mostly empty, they were here to bring it.

There are many more bands that I saw and could write about, but I like images to accompany the blurbs. Neutral Milk Hotel were fantastic and I am happy to have been able to see them. Disclosure had star making set and bring out Sam Smith for "Latch" was stunning. Scuba had the best DJ set I saw all weekend. Classixx brought out Yacht to do "Psychic City". Queens of the Stone Age welcomed us to their home in the middle of a dust storm and showed how much swagger is missing in rock. Coachella is certainly a scene and has a lot of ish, but it is still the best festival in the US.

Flume @ Gothic Theater

2014-04-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

On April 17 Flume played Denver's Gothic Theater. The show was a microcosm of why Flume is becoming one of the biggest Producers/DJs in the world.

His set was packed with hits - both his and remixes of hip hop classics. Songs like "Run this Town" and "Mathematics" were blended seamlessly with the "mixtape" versions of his own songs. The crowd sang a long like lunatics for "Insanity" and then lost it when the Killer Mike verse hit. He also played an unreleased remix for Lorde's "Tennis Court" - you will want to get the vinyl single when it comes out.

One of the things that was great to see with Flume, was he was focused on making the best music and set rather than having an elaborate stage. His set up was a simple table for synths, pads, and sequencers with an LED screen behind him. Too often dance music becomes focused on the stage and forgets to make sure the music is up to par. Flume put on one of the best shows I have seen in a long time and very shortly he will be one of the biggest artists in the world.

Herzog

2014-04-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

Herzog are a band out of Cleveland. Above is "Mad Men" the first single from their new album, Boys" out May 20th on Exit Stencil Records. Due to the Cleveland connection, everyone wants to compare the band to Cloud Nothings. This is a total disservice to Herzog. Cloud Nothings never wrote a fuzz pop song this catchy. Herzog remind me of bands like the Soft Pack or early Japandroids. "Mad Men" is so sugary that I have a cavity, but it is one of the best slacker pop songs of the new year.

Craft Spells

2014-03-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

Craft Spells are back! After a couple quite years, Craft Spells are back with the first tune from their forthcoming sophomore album, Nausea. "Break the Angle Against the Tide" is a fantastic mix of strings, shoegaze twang guitars, and hushed lyrics. Where previous songs were tighter, "Break" less the music reflect off the broken angles. Craft Spell's album, Nausea, is out June 10 on Captured Tracks.

Warm Soda

2014-03-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Warm Soda played Denver's Lions Lair on Thursday March 20. Ned Garthe and Big Tits opened the show.

Show started off with Ned Garthe who were pretty hysterical. They played solid garage pop, but the guys kept the jokes and silliness coming. The perfect intro to the show.

Big Tits are a side project of Warm Soda. The guitarist, pretty sure it was the guitarist, of Warm Soda fronts Big Tits and they play a little more debauched version of the same speed up, stoned out power pop that Warm Soda plays. Big Tits didn't have too many songs, but the singer ran all of the place and got the crowd into.

Where Big Tits had fewer sloppier songs, Warm Soda came with polished songs and were pros. All of the sugary, carbonation on the records really comes alive in person. The band was tight and the songs were excellent. The kids at the show went nuts for it, dancing like lunatics the entire set.

Summer Heart

2014-03-18T18:53:00.001-07:00

It is warming up here in Denver, which means its time to start finding songs for spring and summer nights. The type of tunes that will make you want to ride bikes, drinks beers, and dance. I proudly present "U Got All I'm Looking 4" by Summer Heart. The song is one of those slinky, dubby pieces of bubble gum pop that sounds like a Rick James beach party.

Paws

2014-03-16T12:42:00.002-07:00

Paws have posted a new song, "Tongues", the first single from forthcomming sophomore album, Youth Culture Forever. Great to hear that Paws have kept the core of their sound, but enhanced it slightly. Really looking forward to hearing it.

Tour Dates After the Jump

Tour Dates:

04/16 Philadelphia, PA - Boot and Saddle
04/17 Washington, DC - Black Cat
04/18 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
04/19 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
04/20 Montreal, QE - Il Motore
04/22 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
04/23 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
04/24 Columbus, OH - The Basement
04/25 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
04/26 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry
04/28 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
04/29 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
05/01 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
05/02 Vancouver, BC - Electric Owl
05/03 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
05/06 Santa Cruz, CA - Catalyst Atrium
05/07 San Francisco, CA - Independent
05/08 Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
05/09 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
05/10 San Diego, CA - Casbah
05/11 Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room
05/14 Dallas, TX - Dada
05/15 Austin, TX - Red 7
05/16 Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds
05/17 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
05/18 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
05/19 Raleigh, NC - Kings
05/20 Greensboro, NC - The Blind Tiger
All dates w/ We Are Scientists