TALsounds "Love Sick (Ba Da Bing)"
I swear I am trying to break myself of the bad habit of copying record label PR. But there are times, like for instance this time, where a sound is so steeped in mystery that unless you work for the label you might be scratching your head trying to figure out exactly what you are listening to. TALsounds LP Love Sick (Ba Da Bing) is one of those times (which I think I said already….). See, how can I describe the sound better than this: “Natalie Chami’s project TALsounds documents solo sessions of improvised synthesis and live-looped vocal performances, presented to the listener as discrete takes without overdubs.” I mean, that’s perfect. Ok, you don’t know it’s perfect yet because you haven’t heard the soft analog synth sounds yet, but give “I Saw The Way” a listen and I’m sure you’ll agree.
Mutoid Man "War Moans (Sargent House)"
What does the world need right now? Mutoid Man! War Moans, Mutoid’s Man sophomore album (Sargent House,) is the record to scare your 2017 terrors away. Ironic indie RAWK? Nope, straight ahead blistering metal, like Metallica mixed with Voivod and Dischord’s Void (sorry Romeo Void you aren’t invited). Yes, this is a Big Gulp of rockers from the opener “Melt Your Mind” to the oh so fast “Kiss Of Death” and the haunting, almost power-ballad of “Bandages” with bonus haunting by Chelsea Wolf. I’ve been playing this record evey morning with my black coffee as I read through the twitter storms of 2017-thanks Mutoid Man-i might just make it through another morning. Check out the aforementioned opener “Melt Your Mind.”
Pet Symmetry "Vision (Polyvinyl)"
For a band that was never really meant to happen, Pet Symmetry sure happen. What started out as an “excuse to goof off” for Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It.), Erik Csaja (Dowsing), and Marcus Nuccio (What Gives), a place for them to funnel their lighthearted whims that might not have a place in their full-time bands is now a band with multiple LPs and famously fun live shows (silly matching outfits will do that to a band’s reputation). Vision, their first for Polyvinyl, is a riotous pop-punk potpourri of pleasure (unnecessary alliteration all my own). Sometimes they sound like the brothers Kinsella, other times they sound a bit like the Nirvana b-sides and rarities collection Incesticide. Other times their sound shifts to… you know what? This is a side project born of indulging weird ideas, and thusly makes the sound hard to describe, but easy to enjoy. Check out the energy to spare rock of “Stare Collections.”
Soft Swells "Be Young"
Be Young (Bushwick Recordings), the new album from Tim Williams’ Soft Swells, is a cathartic collection of poptastic rock tunes. You know, dudes and guitars. This time around, Tim was reacting to “feeling locked into life choices we all clearly have the ability to change. So often the easier decision is to let hopelessness blanket you into submission, when in fact, the bottom is the best place to make a real change.” So what does that mean for the listener? It means that somewhere between the rebellious strains of Tom Petty, the stadium quirk of early Weezer, and the sheen of Soft Swells (what a trick! they sound like themselves!) we have Be Young. Why not be young yourself (it works!) and check out the first single, “Reins.”