Tracyanne & Danny "Tracyanne & Danny (Merge)"
There you are, just a regular ol’ fan of the Camera Obscura as well as the album Danny Coughlan released as Crybaby. “Great” you think to yourself “I like these two bands” and then you go about your day like nothing is happening. WRONG! Get ready to have those two great tastes taste great together! Tracyanne & Danny is both the name of the group and the title of their debut. Tracyanne Campbell, of Camera Obscura fame, and Danny (of aforementioned in this blurb fame) have teamed up to create music that invokes their shared influences such as Lou Reed, Dion, Serge Gainsbourg, The Style Council, and more. A vintage, simple sound that reminds the listener of times long gone. Check out “Home & Dry.”
Wooden Shjips "V (Thrill Jockey)"
Are you ready for a wild journey? Are you ready to float through your own headspace Alice In Wonderland style? Then you MIGHT be ready for the newest release from Wooden Shjips. V (Thrill Jockey) was written to combat the anxiety that, well, everyone is experiencing these days. So here floats V, a slow-building psychedelic playground filled with sonic shimmers and chill summer vibes–the mood vibes, not the vibraphone vibes. At least, I don’t THINK I heard any vibes on here… What I did hear was a thrilling mix of groovy bass lines, distorted guitars thick with reverb and delay, Ok Computer-era Radiohead drums, and other fun things that are sure to make your summer a little more trippy. Check out the chilled out buoyancy of “Staring At The Sin.”
E "Negative Work (Thrill Jockey)"
We make no secret our love of Thalia Zedek around the BRM office. So when Thalia is releasing music in any capacity, we are always very excited. So word of a new album from E, Thalia’s trio with Jason Sidney Sanford and Gavin McCarthy (I wonder how Gavin feels being in the band E as the only member of the band without the titular vowel in his name?). Negative Work (Thrill Jockey) is not only the name of their new LP, but also the ethos behind the LP. Recorded and mixed in 4 days at Machines With Magnets, they took full advantage of their trio status, and gave each of their individual tracks the room to breathe and shine on this energetic, idiosyncratic band. (get it? negative space?) Check out the first single from the album “Untie Me.”
Beach Slang "Everything Matters But No One Is Listening [Quiet Slang] (Polyvinyl)"
You remember MTV Unplugged don’t you? Actually if you are the age I think you are then let me step that back: Do you remember when MTV used to play videos? Well, on top of that they’d have bands play acoustic versions/more intimate versions of their jams in front of a bunch of candles and drapes. Obviously Nirvana’s “Unplugged” was legendary (Hey, I was there for the taping!), and its influence is still felt today in such releases by Beach Slang. Yup, break out the acoustic guitars, ask your friend who plays piano to bring his friend who plays the violin to show up and well, in this case, tell the drummer to go buy beers since he isn’t needed (What, no Hot Rods™ were available?). Regardless, these versions of your favorite Beach Slang jams will have you holding hands, burning patchouli oil and singing along (quietly). Check out “Bad Art & Weirdo Ideas.”