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.
Free Cake For Every Creature "The Bluest Star (Double Double Whammy)"
There I was, walking down the street and minding my own business. A song in my heart and a hunger in my belly. All of a sudden, a sign caught my eye. It read: Free Cake For Every Creature and there was an arrow pointing to a door. I’m no dummy, if a sign promises “free cake” I follow it. When I went into the room, I immediately noticed a definite lack of baked goods. “Let them eat cake indeed…” I thought to myself as I noticed the sweet sounds that were filling the room. The room was filled with records. I was in a record store. I pointed up to the ceiling and looked blankly at the record store clerk-the universal sign for “what is this playing?” “It’s Katie Bennett’s band Free Cake For Every Creature” she replied without looking up from her phone. It didn’t matter, I was sold. The jangly indie strains and warm vocals had me hooked like the best slice of Black Forest money could buy. But money couldn’t buy cake at a record shop (though, I suppose, it could buy Cake). It could, however, buy the latest FCFEC LP The Bluest Star (Double Double Whammy), with it’s DIY/lighter side of The Vaselines vibes. Check out “Around You.”
Little Ugly Girls "Little Ugly Girls (Chapter Music)"
The debut LP from Australia’s Little Ugly Girls has been 20+ years in the making. They made their bones touring live, never having released more than a handful of CDRs. They’ve opened for Fugazi, The White Stripes, and Bikini Kill, all before they ever released a proper album. Well this self-titled debut on Chapter Music is here to change that story, my friend. Full of high energy tunes, punishing drums, and guitars feeding back, it’s quite a trick to sound this punk and vital on your debut LP when you’ve been at it longer than 2 decades. For evidence of this, check out the first single “Tractor.”
Shy Boys "Bell House (Polyvinyl)"
With a sound that falls somewhere between The Beach Boys at their most reclusive and sandbox-y and the best of California greats Love, Shy Boys are here to bring the ‘60s back in all their harmonious glory. The Kansas City weirdos are here with Bell House, their first LP since signing to Polyvinyl. Likely to be the soundtrack of your summer, and also next summer, and the one after that too. Throw in a few winters, an autumn or two, and a melange of springs… What I’m saying is that these dudes are a welcome tonic for a confusing present by mixing in the best of the past. Smile along to the CSNY/Fleet Foxes sounds of “Tragic Loss.”