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. This week we get back to our punk rock roots a little bit more. Hope you enjoy the selections our writers have made. If you want to see your band on one of these lists, send us streaming music and as short bio.
Band Name: Autogramm
BMN Score: 8.1/10
What the band says: Autogramm, synth-driven power-poppers from Seattle, Chicago and Vancouver, have just announced their latest LP Music That Humans Can Play with an advance single and video for the track “WannaBe”. Their first album in over two years will be released on vinyl and digital formats world-wide on November 17th via Stomp Records (and Beluga Records EU). They continue the band’s tradition of crafting new wave gems with a power pop twist. Drawing on influences from the likes of The Cars, The Go-Go's, Gary Numan, 20/20, and Devo, Autogramm have delivered an album that will fit in easily into the 80’s section of your record collection, with songs so well-crafted they probably deserve to be on the soundtrack of Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
What we say they sound like: Lo-fi Indie garage rock with modern production that pushes the music to the edge of indie pop. If instead of guitar this was synth I'd say it's like a mix of early 80's New Wave and early 2000's indie rock like MGMT. Interesting aesthetic that is playful and 80's cliche on purpose, especially the poorly done green screen video looks like something that might have appeared on MTV it's first week on the air. I love the feel but could hear future work having a better pop hook to it in order to really play into the 80's nostalgia.
Song to add to your playlist: Wannabe
Band Name: La Rosa Noir
BMN Score: 9.1/10
What the band says: Frontwoman Yeshi Regalado says, "This is the song that formed La Rosa Noir. It was the first song we all played together. The lyrical style of the song is influenced by Johnny Cash's story telling. I was obsessed with him at the time. I love playing minor rhythm chords; they've always felt so good. Once we were all jamming to it, it wasn't long until we all were in sync with one another. The song felt heavy, fast, bold, and strong which is everything I felt when I saw that red motorcycle one day. From that point forward, we all had an idea what La Rosa Noir is and was going to be."
What we say they sound like: This to me has almost a gothy Neutral Milk Hotel mixed with Amy Winehouse feel, it's fun and quirky. It's throwback but moody and modern sounding at the same time. It's a nice mix of different styles that blend seamlessly into an amalgamation of genre's. In a way it reminds me a little of that Radiohead song “Street Spirit Fade Out”, in that it's dark and seems like a recognizable melody, almost cinematic in delivery. The horns are a nice touch.
Song to add to your playlist: Red Motorcycle
Band Name: Sick Ride
BMN Score: 9.5/10
What the band says: A Disco-Death-Rock musical act composed of two over-zealous frontmen shimmering in silver and gold garments. An entity created to organize original sound waves into a mystical blend of dirt and shine using only two voices, four hands, and four feet. An experience sure to captive spectators and instill the urge to party.
What we say they sound like: Great lo-fi Indie Rock that blends a little bit of Fountains of Wayne, Jimmy Eat World and Weezer among others but more subdued with vocals in the vein of kind of like Foster The People, Cage The Elephant and others that have that high register male vocal with some grit. The simple 60's pop song structure really bodes well for the band, and it works. Less is more I always say, why do anything other than write something short, sweet and to the point. In a way, depending on branding I could also see this being packaged as sort of a Gerard Way/ Misfits style more indie type act because it is skewed slightly towards the goth arena with it's self proclaimed “Disco-Death-Rock” genre tag.
Song to add to your playlist: Endless Summer
Band Name: The Manikins
BMN Score: 9.2/10
What the band says: ”In My Head” is a straight up garage banger telling you to not take any guff from people who want to drag you down. It features all the stuff you like, dirty guitars, trashy drums and handclaps, so you know it's good!
What we say they sound like: The Manikins have this very Hives feel to their songwriting which we all know is a study in 60's garage rock from The Seeds to MC5 and sparked the garage revival of the early 2000's. Even though it's a bit cliche, can writing a good garage rock song really be anything other than great? In it's simplicity it's ear catching, it's a cool riff and a cool lead vocal. They may not be reinventing the wheel but they sure as hell understand how to make that same old wheel cool as fuck.
Song to add to your playlist: In My Head
Band Name: wimps
BMN Score: 9.6/10
What the band says: Wimps play rapid-fire punk songs (with a smattering of angular lo-fi post punk) with shout-sung lyrics about common day-to-day woes such as insomnia, anxiety and procrastination.
What we say they sound like: Ok, so the video starts with a huge nod to Back To The Future so I'm already like 100% sold. Then Sleater Kinney style dissonant guitars shred a fun lo-fi punk tune that delves into the trials and tribulations of trying to be a punk rocker while also being a Mom. The band is one of those bands that just grabs hold and instantly makes you love them. It's genuine and it's funny but they also know how to be punk rock. As Henry Rollins has often said punk isn't dead, it just goes to bed at much more reasonable hour.
Song to add to your playlist: Mom