Tera Melos "Trash Generator (Sargent House)"
A lot of things can be said about the experimental rock trio Tera Melos and their leader, the forever inventive vocalist-guitarist Nick Reinhart. Or we could just take a look at this quote from the bossman ‘round these BRM parts, Lyle: “Omg that Tera Melos record is like the minutmen on ‘roids…..” Which makes sense, as last we heard from Nick was in his supergroup that includes Minutemen bassist Mike Watts. Trash Generator (Sargent House) is full of math-y changes, sonic experimentation, mid-song genre detours, ‘80s-era Fripp riffs, this is a band full of players with chops (unfortunately not pork or loin-which reminds me! I need to go shopping). But yeah,these dudes have the goods, as is evidenced by the thrashing good time of “Don’t Say I Know.”
Mark Fosson "Solo Guitar (Drag City)"
Rainer Maria "Rainer Maria (Polyvinyl)"
There we were. It was just a regular day at the BRM offices. Jen was being sensible. Pete was wearing a hat. AJ was hungover from the show(s?) he hit the night before. We got an email, just like any other, except it wasn’t. Our buds at Polyvinyl had something to say. “New Rainer Maria!” It didn’t matter what we were doing, when you get an email with music from a band you spent your youth loving and hasn’t released so much as a single in over a decade, you drop what you’re doing and you listen. And listen we did, my friends. Everything was there! Everyone’s favoritist DIY trio was treating our ears to introspective, rocking indie tunes once again. Lemme tell you, there was much rejoicing. You’ll be rejoicing too as you check out the power of the instant classic, “Lower Worlds.”
Rare Energy "Rare Energy (Team Love)"
If you like your drums to have an indie shuffle, your songwriter’s emotions to be worn on their sleeves, and your aesthetic to be of the ‘90s college/indie persuasion, then boy oh boy do I have a new favorite band for you. Rare Energy, the new EP from Guilt Mountain is everything someone could want from a genre that can be decidedly overproduced at times. Sounding a little bit like early Helium tracks with Kate Larson’s vocal delivery reminding me of the Deal sisters at their most conversational, this is the kind of collection that makes you want to start a band immediately. Like, right this second. But you don’t have time for that now, because you need to check out “Fever.”