Always having their feet somewhat submerged in the pool of indie-pop, Reports have seen a gradual shift from those straight forward numbers found on their first album to what has become a noticeably more garage and fuzz filled sound for this second LP Dinamo Cambridge. The single that preceded this album a couple years ago featuring the excellent “Bill Wyman Metal Detector” was a pretty good indicator as to the direction they were heading. For those that enjoyed that, well Dinamo Cambridge should hit the spot as it’s punched up some with healthier doses of noise and one that boils the songs down to the absolute essentials. Every song here keeps things quick and to the point while cramming in all the pop hooks that one could hope for. The only outlier is the interesting title track that runs roughly twelve minutes that makes good use of a droning organ as a backdrop for the track as it slowly gains steam over its hypnotic travel. For these guys the releases have been few and far between since their ‘07 debut, but those that have been following know that it’s been well worth the wait. Don’t sleep on this one.
Reports – Sub Toucher [MP3]
Anyone interested in picking this one up would be wise to do so in a timely manner as I believe these are reaching the point of being nearly sold out with a pressing of only 150. They can be had currently over at Ride the Snake, who have been releasing nothing but quality for awhile now.
Life Partners have been kicking around Boston for awhile now, releasing what is now an impressive six albums with their latest Music is Hard. Their previous LP, Men Are Talking, got some praise on these pages a year or so ago with its unabashed bar rock/70’s riffage combined with the bands usual hard line wit. At that time I also professed my love for their sprawling ballad “Planet of the AIDS”, to which I am still waiting for a chance to bust out in a turntable.fm room without getting the boot, much to my dismay. However, they’ve topped themselves on this most recent effort…and by a significant amount. First and foremost, Music is Hard is littered with tracks that skewer the nether regions of the incestuous bar rock scene and the pitfalls that often come with the territory, along with some other rockers that dive into various other humorous scenarios. If you have acquaintances that are in bands, well you need to stop reading and just go ahead and scroll down and click on the MP3 below. The title track “Music is Hard” is an anthem that probably won’t be surpassed for awhile, if ever. While I was sitting spinning this record the sudden turn into blunt honesty after the first verse nearly made me ball up on the ground in tears due to laughter. And this is coming from someone who has never really had to deal with the awkwardness and constant dodging of having to see terrible bands that unfortunately have people you know in them. But I’ve been there, and this track says it all. And while it may be the best song on here, it shouldn’t overshadow other great numbers like “Make Out Party”, “Are We Practicing Tonight” and “Lyrics” where the band lays it out textbook style for you, with a bit of an extra jab for prog-rock fans. Absolutely loving this. Music is hard indeed…
Life Partners – Music is Hard [MP3]
For those that wish to pick up Music is Hard, then just head over to Ride the Snake where it’s available. Or give it a free download over at their Bandcamp page.
Meant to have this up earlier, but mid week I was struck with an awful head cold that seems to be going around. Pretty much put me out of commission for a couple days. Better late than never!
Pile are a band killing it in Boston right now for those that haven’t had a chance to hear them yet. They’ve already released an album called Magic Isn’t Real that is fantastic and available on their Bandcamp page as a name your own price purchase. However, what I am really writing about here is their recently released 7-inch that is currently blowing me away, especially with the lead track “Big Web” that sounds like everything that was awesome about indie-rock back in the early to mid-nineties. The single (and their album as well) reminds me of the more adventurous nature of some of those bands during that time, where going from track to track was hardly predictable but still able to maintain a distinct sound of their own. A track like “Afraid of Home” throws a nice curveball with a completely unexpected quick, poppy, and upbeat rocker that fits very nicely with the sunny 70 degree weather that has finally arrived here in KC. However, they pull the string again with the track “Scissors” that mixes in some post-punk with a bit of 90’s alternative crunch that in a way, or at least in the beginning, vaguely reminds me of the great Chavez. Anyway, this is a band that deserves your attention and has certainly already won over mine. For those that are in or around the Kansas City area, then be sure to head out to the Replay Lounge in Lawrence, KS on September 11th where they will be playing and should have physical copies of the single. Don’t miss it.
Pile – Big Web [MP3]
For those interested in picking up the single then just hit up their Bandcamp page where you can grab the real deal or it’s also available at a name your own pricing. Give it a spin and enjoy!
Last year I was made aware of the Boston group Soccer Mom with their solid debut single for “Bill Cosby in Glamorous Chains”. Having connections to a few other Boston bands that have been featured on the pages of the blog in the past, I’d figured them to be much more in line with the post-punk or straight up rock and roll types that I’d heard before. However the band surprised me with a fantastic blend of throwback melodic indie-rock and wrapping shoegazy type fuzz. At the time I think the influence of Sonic Youth was far more prevalent in their sound, but it was obvious that the band with just those two songs had something good going.
Now come October 3rd Soccer Mom will be set to release their EP You Are Not Going to Heaven through 100m Records as both a 10” and digitally. At first listen, lead track “(A) Natural History” and its opening chords and vocals had me a bit weary since it sounded as if the band had really decided to go hard for the Sonic Youth thing, but as the song progressed it transformed into something quite melodically pleasing and far different from where it had started with it ending on a strong airy poppy quality. And from that point and through the next five songs You Are Not Going to Heaven really continues to impress with a great melding of jangly indie-rock/pop and subtle jabs of harsher/woozy feedback that seems like it would have been right at home on a label like spinArt or something similar. However, some of the later tracks like “Celebrity Unrest” and “Unwanted Sounds” carry a faster paced hook driven grungier crunch to them while mixing in a strong wash of feedback that reminds me heavily of what Swervedriver did so successfully on their first couple of albums, minus the sort of slacker drawl of an Adam Franklin. Folks who yearn for indie-rock of old or are just fans of shoegaze should find this to be something of interest and should certainly be seeking it out when it becomes available in an another month and a half.
Soccer Mom – Unwanted Sounds (stream)
For those that are interested in picking up You Are Not Going to Heaven, continue to keeps tabs on the bands Facebook page or main website. It should be available by October 3rd, so be sure to grab it then.
