Our inbox is over flowing again so we are letting you good people know exactly what is new and available out there in the music world. Just so readers of this blog are aware, we comb through hundreds of emails to bring you what we consider the cream of the crop, hence why most of the stuff we put in our singles column has a high grade on it. This week is no exception, everything from indie folk to heavy alt rock but it's all great. If you want to see your band on one of these lists, send us streaming music and as short bio.
Band Name: Derek Smith
BMN Score: 10/10
What the band says: This record is very 'glass half empty'. I have that specific outlook on life. But I am not always a pessimistic person. I get into my mood and then I write. I don't think I know how to write a song in a good mood. But I asked myself how I could tell a story with songs without having a linear storyline. I just wanted songs to fill gaps. If my brain was a puzzle, I needed to find the right pieces to make it feel like one complete thought. That is Obscura in a nutshell.
What we say they sound like: Derek Smith has a style that is a chilled out mix of soul and R&B but still feels like it falls under the indie umbrella. It feels simple and classic as everything for the most part happens over just two chords with slick 70's jazzy guitar licks. It's really refreshing to hear artists that understand what “Less is More” means and how to implement that into their overall sound. There is no bridge, not really a chorus, the only key change is at the end under the guitar solo but this song works as something I could definitely listen to over and over again.
Song to add to your playlist: Everyday
Band Name: Elle Belle
BMN Score: 9.8/10
What the band says: “In a way,” he says, “I was less concerned about the answer, and more concerned about the importance of asking myself the question, trying to grab ahold of this wild ride that I was on and exert some sort of control. Like, I haven’t lost a parent and I brushed up against it—I got a little taste of it and it didn’t feel the way I thought it was going to feel.”
What we say they sound like: Lo-Fi drums with jangly guitars and great synth/organ tones kick off the track before the low key vocals kick in. The song structure and overall feel are similar to Lucy Dacus or Phoebe Bridgers but with a male vocal and it's just really nice without an ounce of anything abrasive. It's a warm recording with a genuine singer/ songwriter who has crafted an indie pop gem. It's got the feel of something like The Shins but more pop. I can't say enough good things about it, really digging this artist.
Song to add to your playlist: Gone Are The Days
Band Name: Tabitha Booth
BMN Score: 9.5/10
What the band says: Inspired by artists Portishead, Bjork, Florence + The Machine, Booth’s original songs showcase a confident freedom in melody and timing. Booth also understands control. She studied with a linguist before performing Ukrainian traditional “In A Glade,” a song recorded to honor the people of Ukraine. The time-bending album features lyrics from the poetry book, Wisdom Lines. The author Paula Patrice, her grandmother, was present to experience 50 year old poems musically come alive. Booth is heavily influenced by metal.
What we say they sound like: This recording is live so it gets bonus points for that. It's haunting and has a very Florence & The Machine meets Tori Amos feel. I would say the dark chord progression at times feels Radiohead-ish but the moody smokey vocals give the overall tone and feel to the song something that is darker than most indie folk. The exquisite violin playing adds to the gothic vibe. An interesting and unique artist, looking forward to checking out more from the album.
Song to add to your playlist: Curiosity
Band Name: Glimmer
BMN Score: 9.2/10
What the band says: Formed earlier this year by cousins Jeff and Jaye Moore, Glimmer is a Brooklyn / Hudson Valley-based band that plays grungy shoegaze, pairing layers of fuzzed-out guitars with dreamy, swirling reverb.
The band came together at warp speed: after taking a nearly two-year hiatus from music and then releasing a self-recorded demo called "Breathe" under the name Glimmer, Jeff realized that writing and playing music was crucial to his mental health, and was ready to put a new band together. In only eight weeks’ time, Glimmer was a fully-functioning four-piece, with Jaye on drums, additional guitarist Johnny Nicholls, and bassist Kevin Dobbins. They played their first show after only six short practices together, but their instant chemistry and explosive on-stage energy was palpable. Debut single “Self Destroyed” was recorded the following week.
What we say they sound like: The intro starts with a guitar tone pretty similar to Foo Fighters “Everlong” and it kicks into a wall of guitars as well that is reminiscent of the Foo Fighters with a vocal that is kind of Dave Grohl-ish. However by the chorus it breaks into more of a traditional Power Pop sound with just a hint of Americana style. It's hard to pigeon hole the group based off this song because I would guess they just have similar influences to Foo Fighters, like Sunny Day Real Estate, My Bloody Valentine, I think I might hear a little Failure, even some Soul Asylum thrown in. It's a good mix of cool 90's influences that I'm sure any fan of 90's Alt Rock will definitely dig. It has it's Shoegaze and Dream Pop elements too which I think bodes well for them with more modern audiences.
Song to add to your playlist: Self Destroyed
Band Name: Velcros
BMN Score: 8.8/10
What the band says: “Spit Takes” brings five songs that burst with energy, enthusiasm and creative exuberance. Take “Secret State”, the fast-paced opener with breakneck drums, relentless downstroke guitars and an irresistibly catchy chorus, merging Tom Petty’s charisma with the Wipers’ raw energy. Or the mid-tempo track “Bad Device”, fusing garage spirit with Beatles-inspired songwriting, balancing the band’s melancholic undertone with fiery aggression and sizzling guitar solos. Or finally, the hypnotic fade-out ending of “Astronomical”, which combines Thin Lizzy-esque twin guitars and the lighthearted pop appeal of Wavves.
What we say they sound like: This track has a cool feel to it and a really great video. The driving bass and drums playing sort of a gothy progression give it a sort of Gang Of Four meets Interpol type sound but the jangly guitars that are not angular at all kind of yank it out that genre. The vocal is a higher register almost nasally tone with a melody that is catchy and memorable. The melody has a haunting quality to it. The driving pulse of this track is
Song to add to your playlist: Secret State