Sad Planets "Akron, Ohio (Tee Pee)"
Besides being the tire capital of the world, Akron, Ohio also turns out some serious music. Devo. The Cramps. Chrissy Hynde. Add to that list the newly formed Sad Planets. Who, you may ask, comprises these new favorite sons of Akron? Well, please welcome John Petkovic (he of GBV, Sweet Apple, Cobra Verde, and more) and Patrick Carney (he of The Black Keys) to this blurb. The two dudes have been friends for a while and finally decided to commit said friendship to album for posterity. As you would expect, Patrick handles all the drums – but also plays some synths among other stuff, and John handles the guitars and vocals. The sound on Akron, Ohio is a little bit of both of the boys band’s sounds mixed together, as is evidenced by the peppy “Want You To Want You.”
Sego "Sego Sucks (Roll Call)"
What do I think of this new Sego record, Sego Sucks? No no no no. I don’t think Sego sucks. And I don’t think Sego Sucks sucks. See, Sego sucks was seen by the band as a comment online and they liked the sound of it, and sort of ran with it. They went so far in their troll sleighing that they named the new record after it. But whatever the opposite of “suck” is, that’s what the new record does. This is an indie rock record in the classic sense of the words. Quirky, punk-y, post-punk-y, post-post-punk-y, post-post (sorry, you get the idea). Bouncy bass parts, angular, experimental guitar parts, deadpan vocals, creative drumming… It’s an early-Beck meets LCD Soundsystem meets the best of ‘90s college radio (this is really hitting some sweet spots for me..) Check out “Heart Attack” (the song, not the cardiac event).
8mm "Heart-Shaped Hell EP"
It’s been 7 years since the goth-tinged, orchestral alternative duo 8mm have released new music. Sure, the pair have been busy in the interim: writing and recording music for films, producing other artists music (NIN, Marilyn Manson, Depeche Mode, acting roles, repainting the ceiling for the Sistine Chapel… Ok, you caught me. I made the last one up. But I’m not making up how atmospheric and trailer-ready their “slinky dark pop” is on Heart-Shaped Hell. Check out the EP’s lead-off track, the Massive Attack covering “Heart Shaped Box” sounds of “Self-Inflicted Heartache.”
Small Feet "…With Psychic Powers (Barsuk)"
Simon Stålhamr is back with his second album as Small Feet. (I wonder if anyone accidentally downloaded a Small Feet record thinking they were gonna get back into Little Feet and thought “woah, they are way weirder than I remember”) …With Psychic Powers (Barsuk) finds Simon leaning more experimentally than his last (critically acclaimed) effort Far Enough Away Everything Sounds Like The Ocean. He’s mixing in more of that neo-psych rock sound-leaving the whole thing sounding a little Beach Boys, a little Syd Barrett, a little Congratulations-era MGMT, and a lot amazing. Reverb soaked and mysterious, often with a multi-tracked chorus of one. Check out the incredible album opener “Let The Guys Down.”