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. So this is actually the second time I'm writing this entire article because believe it or not Mercury In Retrograde is a real thing and it's been fucking with me all month. Was about to hit return to save the entire thing and 'POOF' it was all gone and now I'm going to try to remember everything I said and type it exactly how it was. So let's find out together how good my memory is. The music was great, so I got that going for me. If you want to see your band on one of these lists, send us streaming music and as short bio.
BAND: KOS
BloodMakesNoise Rating: 9.9/10
Genre: Post Punk, Indie Rock, Metal
What the band says they sound like: Translated from French: KOS is a rock trio born on the limestone plateaus of Quercy in 2017. It is the seductive meeting of a jazz drummer, a metal bassist and of an inventive guitarist. The three acolytes deliver music heterogeneous oscillating between powerful riffs and catchy melodies, >real meeting of three different universes. KOS is rock progressive bartas
What we think they sound like: This band is raw, huge and live sounding and the music encompasses everything from funky indie rock in the vein of Cibo Matto to Fugazi to Rage Against The Machine & Living Colour. It's prog but it's much more as it perfectly moves from section to section of the song. This band feels like they are all students of music of the past few decades and they took everything that is cool and melded it into one song. It literally goes from what sounds like a quiet Sonic Youth verse to a Refused meets Black Sabbath chorus and everything in between.
Songs to add to your playlist: Le Bus
BAND: LUCID EXPRESS
BloodMakesNoise Rating: 9.3/10
Genre: Shoegaze, Indie Rock
What the band says they sound like: The Hong Kong dream pop group Lucid Express reintroduce their long out-of-circulation debut EP Floret to the world.
What we think they sound like: This really is a perfect modern shoegaze EP that takes lessons from Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Blonde Redhead, Ride, Cocteau Twins and more. This is a clinic on catchy shoegaze that borders Indie Rock and Indie Pop in a modern exciting way. Guitar lines like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on top of a palette of synth textures make this release a classic, it's no wonder the band is focusing on a re-release of this specific set of songs. The vocals do tend to be overly buried at times but that's ok because they aren't in english and they work well with the music to create a haunting ethereal feel.
Songs to add to your playlist: Lime, She's A Loner, Blank, Venture
BAND: EXPERT TIMING
BloodMakesNoise Rating: 9.4/10
Genre: Alt Rock, Indie Rock, Power Pop
What the band says they sound like: Expert Timing describe themselves as Bubblegrunge Power Pop and who are we to disagree? You can't manufacture growth, it just takes time. On Expert Timing's new LP "Stargazing", the band has put in that work and it shows. The songs are well thought-out and know exactly when to deliver an emotional punch and when to pull the blow back. Everything you want from a sophomore release.
What we think they sound like: I'm positive if this was 1995 that "Special Hell" would be a huge radio hit. I think this one track is a culmination of everything that is great about Expert Timing. Both vocals are stellar, the catchy grunge-ish guitar riffs and catchy vocals & lyrics. This group reminds me of every band that does really good heavy power pop, at moments it's as catchy but grittier than Jimmy Eats World or Fountains Of Wayne kind of like if you mix that with early Weezer. This band has been called Bubblegrunge but in actuality it's very Throwing Muses or Pixies but it also has modern influence and fits right in with other Bubblegrunge like Beach Bunny or Charly Bliss. Whatever they are influenced by, it's working.
Songs to add to your playlist: Special Hell, Super Ordinary Unimpressed, Autonomy, New Queen, Kick Rocks
BAND: RENEE MASKIN
BloodMakesNoise Rating: 9.7/10
Genre: Indie Folk, Americana
What the band says they sound like: Known for her distinctive voice, literally and artistically, Renee Maskin is a staple of the thriving music scene in Asbury Park, NJ. Her lyrics range from heartfelt to subtly wry, often within the same song. Musically, she draws from a wide well of influence. From country and Americana, to krautrock, to glam.
What we think they sound like: Renee Maskin is quintessential, smart, unique Americana from New Jersey. Renee has a voice that is all her own, like a more relaxed Joan Baez with grit. Her tracks all have this original feel like country twang by way of New Jersey. Her tracks are produced in the vein of someone like Buffy Sainte-Marie, it feels genuine and heartfelt like you are sitting across from her as each song is performed. It's always great in the music world when you hear something that feels real, written by a real person and beautiful sentiment that shines through with just a voice and guitar (also a little banjo).
Songs to add to your playlist: Blue Without You
BAND: THE ENDORPHINS
BloodMakesNoise Rating: 8.8/10
Genre: Alt Rock, Post Punk, Grunge
What the band says they sound like: Barnstorming new rock and roll banger from the Boston psych-punk band, a taste of their forthcoming November album. We don't even have a press release yet; they just joined our network two days ago. Yowza!
What we think they sound like: This band has a real throwback feel and lands like Linkin Park meets Alice In Chains or Stone Temple Pilots but with a bit more modern punk and metal sprinkled in. It feels like the kind of group you'd see at an arena with vocals that are like Dave Grohl and Chester Bennington had a love child. Great energy comes across from the performance and I have to say one of the main things that dates it a little is that flange effect on the guitar at some points. Overall a strong lead off track and I'm digging the art aesthetic of the single.
Songs to add to your playlist: Voyager Of The Daydream