mxmtoon "the masquerade"
To call mxmtoon an “internet sensation” is like calling The Beatles “a pretty popular band.” Take, for instance, the song “prom dress” that appears on her new album the masquerade. In just about 2 months, the video for that song has been viewed nearly 3.5 MILLION times. That’s… that’s astounding. That’s like a million more people than watch The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Not bad for a young woman who started out on youtube and TikTok performing songs solo on the ukulele. Here we have all of the songs from the record both in their solo acoustic fashion, and more lushly arranged versions. Sophisticated, jangly, ukulele indie-pop with constantly impressive turns of phrase that can somehow, sometimes sound like Lana Del Rey recorded an album with ‘90s R.E.M. I swear, that makes sense in my head. See if it makes sense in yours and check out the aforementioned “prom dress.”
Scoville Unit "Scoville Unit (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)"
If you have room in your heart for at least one more guitar-based, pop-punk/indie rock record full of real emotions, harmonies, and hooks, then make that record the latest (and greatest) record from Scoville Unit. Their new self-titled LP was written in secret by Gandhar Savur (but with guidance and advice from Cigarettes After Sex’s Greg Gonzales), recorded by the band, and then mastered at Abbey Road. The result is decidedly out of time for 2019, but maybe that’s why it stands out the way it does? This is clearly a personal record… no. I don’t mean like a diary (but personal record would be a funny way to describe a diary) I mean that this is obviously some from the heart songwriting. Jangly, punky, poppy, and nostalgic, this record is sure to have a little something for everybody. Fall under Scoville Unit’s spell and check out “Weight Of Misunderstanding.”
Hand & Leg "Lust In Peace (Slovenly)"
Hand & Leg are a duo from Athens, Greece and Lust In Peace (Slovenly) is BRM’s first introduction to them. We sure are glad we got introduced however, as this is as tremendous a dose of “freak-rock” as we’ve gotten in some time. Blisteringly distorted bass, drums, and vocals from Iro and Stelios. The White Stripes wish they would have rocked this hard. The Black Keys can only dream of being this rock and roll. The… uh… yeah, I know. I should have done three comparisons here for maximum efficiency but I’m having trouble thinking on another bass/drum duo, especially since all I can think about it Hand & Leg now. Check out “L.I.P.”
CR Dicks "Dick Moves (Slovenly)"
I’m not positive you’re ready for CR Dicks new LP Dick Moves (Slovenly). A bonafide in-the-red record full of noisy garage slop. This is the real deal. This is weird, weird, weird and man oh man is it ever good. The whole album feels like it’s about to crumble under its own weight. Distorted, raw, raucous, dangerous, and fun. Let them tell you about their band and they’ll tell you it’s garage rock based on “crunk and hip-hop.” But listen to “The Ends” and judge for yourself. My advice? Turn it down a bit before you press play (unless you have the guts to go in unchecked).