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. Everything this week from Shoegaze to Indie Pop but for the most part on the lighter side. We even threw in some NJ Ska Punk for you. Hope you enjoy todays selections. If you want to see your band on one of these lists, send us streaming music and as short bio.
Band Name: Public Serpents
BMN Score: 8.4 / 10
What the band says they sound like: Since Public Serpents first entered the scene in 2008 with their debut album "The Feeding Of The Fortune 5000", they've appeared on splits with bands UpperDowner and recent Fat Wreck Chords signee Escape From The Zoo, receiving critical acclaim in the worldwide crack-rock-steady scene. After dealing with a succession of professional and personal setbacks over the last decade, including incarceration, homelessness, and the end of his marriage, Skwert says of the 13 tracks that make up the new album: "My whole life is invested in this. Artistically, physically and mentally, I’d probably die without it… there literally would be no point in living at this point."
What we say they sound like: If you like the snottiness of NOFX and throw it in a blender with Operation Ivy and Rancid you get an approximation of this very fun new single from Public Serpent. It's fun, it has it's roots in The Clash but brings that 90's punk rock energy and production value. For people asking why does nobody make ska punk anymore this is what you've been waiting for.
Song to add to your playlist: Not Forever
Band Name: Catharsis
BMN Score: 8.9 / 10
What the band says they sound like: Dave here from the post shoegaze band Catharsis, we are based in Scotland and have just released a new single
What we say they sound like: If you love My Bloody Valentine, shoegaze in general and labels like Shoredive you are going dig this band. At moments it also has bits of Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones and other elements that were great about some of the more drone type bands of the mid-90's. I really dig this, this song gets added to my shoegaze playlist because it's just as good as anything in the genre I've heard the last few years!
Song to add to your playlist: Forget It
Band Name: The Natural Lines
BMN Score: 9.7 / 10
What the band says they sound like: "True story. The scene starts with me at the end of my rope on the east coast. At this point in late summer, I sent a text message to the love of my life — before she was the love of my life — to see if she'd like to sleep under the stars. She was performing on the opposite coast and stopped mid-show to respond. We did not go camping. But every ensuing message brought us closer and closer until we became an inseparable team. Until recent years, it was out of character for me to be openly grateful. And further, to appreciate the virtues of modern technology. I was better at destroying phones than using them as a proper tool. But I believe people — including me — are capable of change. We are capable of being better people. And we are even capable of love."
What we say they sound like: We've covered this band before and it was one of our favorite things of last year. So we're happy to give a listen to the new single and it's just as good as everything else these guys do. This band is the same band as Matt Pond PA, just a new name but also a new exciting sound. To me this track has a Wilco mixed with Americana and modern country feel. Other tracks from this project have skewed more indie folk but this one feels like the big hit song type of vibe. I feel like this band is going to grab national attention with their newest efforts.
Song to add to your playlist: A Scene That Will Never Die
Band Name: Oropendola
BMN Score: 9.9 / 10
What the band says they sound like: singer-keyboardist-songwriter-arranger-frolicker.
What we say they sound like: This is superb, it starts out kind of sparse and I was worried it was some kind of experimental folk but then it turns into a pop gem. This has elements of a lot of great classic 70's tracks from ELO type melody's to an overall 70's AM radio type sound but mixed touches of modern pulses and sonic touches. This is really really well produced and built to keep your attention as it ebbs and flows between full beautiful lush choruses and sparse in between verses.
Song to add to your playlist: Knocking Down Flowers
Band Name: Spirit Award
BMN Score: 10 / 10
What the band says they sound like: This idea for this song came about at a time of growth and realization, during some sleepless nights. I had so many things getting thrown my way throughout my musical career; Vans getting broken into, gear stolen, rehearsal space getting robbed, identity getting stolen, van getting stolen, health problems, and most of all financial problems. The worst of all these has been a post-pandemic landscape which has changed how bands tour and put out music and try to make a living doing so. This has not only affected musicians but also music venues. Throughout all this, as a person and as a musician, I have always tried to keep ‘pushing forward’. So this song became a motivation to do so and sort of a rallying cry for our music community. I am thankful to have had the support of MusiCares and friends that helped me through a journey of growth and discovery. And knowing that no matter how low things get, there is hope.
What we say they sound like: Some of the comments on the youtube video for this are "This. Is. Fire" or "This is perfect" and I have to say I agree with both of those sentiments. This has a very cool LCD Soundsytem type vibe and just has this amazing groove that reaches out and grabs you. Some of that comes from the production and the amazing biting bass tone that makes the whole song. Little background things like a high pitched sliding guitar note or perhaps a keyboard add the icing on top of a very cool song that has an amazing video to go along with it. It's like a David Lynch inspired romp mixed with a Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas drug trip and everything I have mentioned in this paragraph are favorite things of mine, so I love this.
Song to add to your playlist: Pushing Forward