Spider Bags "Someday Everything Will Be Fine (Merge)"
Spider Bags are back with their second record on Merge Records. But really, it feels like their first. Having left behind the trappings of modern recording, Someday Everything Will Be Fine was laid to tape a legendary Tascam 388-warts and all. The result is a garage rock take on crafted songwriter-y artists a la Tom Petty and Bob Dylan (ESPECIALLY Dylan on the whiskey soaked “My Heart Is A Flame In Reverse.” So if you’re looking for a rough around the edges, classic rock ‘n’ roll time-I’m talking like period piece about the ‘70s-then look no further than this! Check out the aforementioned best Dylan song Dylan didn’t write, “My Heart Is A Flame In Reverse.”
The Love Language "Baby Grand (Merge)"
Ok. Normally I listen to a new record before I read the PR for a new record. But my internet was being weird when I tried to get Baby Grand (Merge), the new LP from The Love Language, to start playing. That’s when I read this “The song “Juiceboxx” is what you’d get if Mick Jagger crooned his “Emotional Rescue” falsetto over a backing track by the Style Council” and for the first time ever I had a new favorite song before I even heard it! There’s a lot of that here. From the soulful Beach Boys balladeering of “Let Your Hair Down” to the Neutral Milk Hotel crooning of “Castle in the Sky” to the Frankie Goes To Hollywood meets Portlandia sounds of “Shared Spaces”… Every single one of these new tunes could be your new favorite song. So go ahead and start figuring out which one now.
Phantastic Ferniture "Phantastic Ferniture (Polyvinyl)"
The immensely talented Julia Jacklin is known for her heartfelt, emotional tunes. Being something of a folky, it occurred to her that “ every experience I’d had on stage was playing sad music with a guitar in my hand. I thought, I would love to know what it’s like to make people feel good and dance.” So she got together with her friends Elizabeth Hughes, Ryan K Brennan, and Tom Stephen and formed Phantastic Ferniture. Their self-titled debut is a chance to set-aside their “meticulously crafted solo work” and have some fun. Everyone decided to not play their primary instruments and just have a blast playing some tunes. Now it’s your chance to have a blast listening to their giddy, danceable dream-rock. It’s like Liz Phair, The Breeders, and Elastica finally got together to jam and everyone was having their best day ever. Check out the bouncy “Gap Year.”
ShadowParty "ShadowParty (Mute)"
(takes headphones off) “What’s that? Oh, I’m listening to the debut record from ShadowParty. They’re sort of a supergroup. Who is in the bad? No big deal… just members of New Order, Devo, the Rentals, and appearances from members of The Verve and Primal Scream. Hmm? Sounds like your record collection come to life you say? Well then you are gonna love this self-titled album. Trust me. Say again? Oh, well I guess if you had to start somewhere, I’d suggest the single “Celebrate.””