V/A "Polyvinyl Plays Polyvinyl"
You wanna have some fun? They you want Polyvinyl Plays Polyvinyl (Polyvinyl), the label’s celebration of their 20th anniversary. This is the kind of fun you can have when you’ve never let your roster be defined by one genre. They asked 20 of their bands to play songs by 20 of their other bands. The results are an absolute blast. You want proof? Then how about Deerhoof covering Xiu Xiu’s “Hi” in the style of White Reaper? Right? What are you waiting for? Check it out!
Jay Som "Turn Into"
Turn Into is a reissue of Jay Som’s pre-debut odds and sods collection. In 2015, after too much Thanksgiving wine, Melina (the woman behind Jay Som) decided to upload a year and a half’s worth of finished and unfinished songs onto Bandcamp. Proving once again that being drunk on tryptophan is always a good idea, this is a gorgeous collection. It’s impossible to figure out what is “unfinished” about these songs, as they are as fully realized as any you’ve likely heard in a while. An obvious music fanatic, her influences come fast and furious: The Kinks, ‘90s indie and dream-pop, psychedelic music. Really, if these amazing tunes are unfinished, I can’t imagine what surprises her debut next year will hold. Imagine along with me while you check out the REM meets Apples In Stereo swirl of the super-hook-y “Ghost.”
Split Single "Metal Frames"
Oh boy! New Split Single! That means that the hooks, the power-pop, the sexy elbows, are all back. Ok. Full disclosure. Jason shot a video in the Bank Robber offices, along with Todd Barry and some other exciting celebrities, so we were destined to fall in love with Metal Frames either way. Thankfully we hitched our wagon to a songwriting machine. Stadium sized melodies, the ever fantastic drumming of Jon Wurster, and this time on the bass is Wilco’s John Stirratt. See, we aren’t the only crew that loves Jason. What’s not to love? A funny dude that writes songs that fall somewhere between his day job bands as bassist for both Bob Mould and Superchunk. Really, right between those two amazing sounds you find Jason’s own amazing sound. Ok, we’ll stop gushing and suggest you check out “Still Invisible.”
Exit Verse "Grant No Glory"
Grant No Glory (EJRC), the second album from Exit Verse is everything you want it to be. If you somehow missed their debut 2 years ago, allow me to fill you in. After all, this is the new band of ex-Karate frontman Geoff Farina. Yeah. This is some straight up rock and roll. Sure, there is a pop-punk hint here and there, but there is also some Rolling Stones at their most anthem-y. Which is admittedly a combo I don’t normally put together in a blurb. But then again, bands don’t normally sound like this. Check out the math-y syncopation and the Kieth Richards-esque riffage of “Skulls Don’t Sing.”