Susurrate

Susurrate

I've been listening to Ecstasy of Saint Theresa's debut LP Susurrate (Along with The Spinanes' Strand) pretty much endlessly as of late. It feels like such a perfect record to me and I seem to keep getting lost in it. Some strange mixing (see: "Thorn In Y'r Grip"), but it all work so well. Their first EP Pigment is also amazing, and by all accounts probably better than Susurrate, but I love them both. Here's "Pistaccio Places", from Susurrate.

[MP3]: Ecstasy of Saint Theresa :: Pistaccio Places (Highly Recommended!)

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Frankie Rose

Cover art from "Thee Only One"

Among other things (THE ROPERS!), I'm really excited to see Frankie Rose and the Outs at the Slumberland Anniversary show in DC on November 13! Her new single, sans the Outs, is out now on Slumberland, of course, and it's a fucking gem of a record. Musically, Frankie reminds me a great deal of Linton in terms of vocal chops and melodic style. While the charging A-Side "Thee Only One" recalls "Been Hiding" or even late-period Henry's Dress ala "Only 21", the graceful epic "Hollow Life" on flip side could be comparatively called Frankie Rose's "Bang Bang Bang" – though perhaps sounding a bit more Tracyanne than Linton amidst the layers and layers of reverb. Get this single now, because in a couple years you'll regret it if you don't.

[MP3]: Frankie Rose :: Thee Only One (Way Recommended!!!)

Frankie Rose and the Outs on MySpace!

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Elm City POPFEST!

Elm City Popfest!

The news of no New England Popfest this year was a bit sad to hear when it was announced back in the beginning of September, but just a few weeks later, the announcement of the very first Elm City Popfest was like a shining beacon of hope! A beautiful, Sunny Day In Glasgow-headlined, beacon of hope! Elm City Popfest will take place this year on November 14th in New Haven, Connetticut – Tweefort HQ, as some may know. The popfest is being put on as a collaboration between both Tweefort and CT Indie and will be a sort of mini-popfest of sorts. Music will start around 3pm in the afternoon on Saturday and will probably wind down sometime around 11pm. The day's full schedule looks like this:

3:00 PM - FayRey (New Haven/New York)
3:45 PM - One Happy Island (Boston)
4:30 PM - The Sugarplums (Baltimore) *
5:15 PM - The Cavemen Go (New Haven/Boston)
6:00 PM - The Metric Mile (New York)

7:00 PM - Intermission

8:00 PM - ArtSpace Underground @ Elm City PopFest begins with DJ and performance art

9:00 PM - The Tyler Trudeau Attempt (New Haven)
10:00 PM - A Sunny Day In Glasgow (Philadelphia)

* The Sugarplums were set to play the popfest, but unfortunately, due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts and bad tires, we had to cancel.

A full day ticket for the Popfest is only $8 (!) and all proceeds will go to benefit Artspace New Haven, which has undergone more than $90,000 in budget cuts this year. Artspace is an artist and volunteer run contemporary arts non-profit whose mission is to catalyze artistic efforts, to connect artists, audiences, and resources.

For more information on Elm City Popfest visit Tweefort!

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Video: The Spinanes: "Sundays"

Been on a bit of a Spinanes kick lately. Thus,

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The Girls At Dawn: "It's The Only Time"

The Girls At Dawn

Brooklyn's all-girl three-piece The Girls At Dawn have been making fuzzed out garage pop for the past year or so. They've already got that Hozac 7" under their belt and another record on the way from Captured Tracks – a 12" EP, actually. Now while one could argue that this whole garage pop revitalization of late is getting a bit diluted (and let's be honest, some of it has been a bit shit), I think there will always be those of us who have some sort of special affinity for the sound of a fuzzy pop song. The Girls even throw on some girl-group-influenced layered vocal melodies for extra bonus points. A nice move in my book, for sure. Check out "It's The Only Time" from their upcoming Captured Tracks EP!

[MP3]: The Girls At Dawn :: It's The Only Time (Highly Rec'd!)

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The Very Most: Autumn EP

The Very Most

I've never much investigated The Very Most until late last week, when I found out about their new Autumn EP on Indiecater Records! Now, regardless of how little I know about a particular band, I love Autumn too much to ever pass on an EP that is seemingly dedicated to it. Not so surprisingly it's three tracks of warm, welcoming indiepop. On "Autumn Air" the vocals are an absolute delight. The vocals alternate between male and female lead and backups that sound oh so sweet to the ears. Give it a listen!

[MP3]: The Very Most :: Autumn Air (Totally Recommended!)

Pick up the Autumn EP from Indiecater for way cheap!

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Introducing Brilliant Colors!

Brilliant Colors

Brilliant Colors' debut LP has probably been one of my most anticipated records of the year and in less than a month it will finally be out! November 3rd on none other than Slumberland Records! If it seems like every other word on this blog is Slumberland, than you've been playing good attention, but it's only because they won't let up. Maybe if Slumberland stopped doing so many great things, I would have less to mention – but then, how sad a world that would be.

There's talk of Introducing being some kind of great leap forward for the band, but I'm not so sure I buy that. My first listen to "Absolutely Anything" was a joy of course, and I'm sure the rest of the record is just as fucking great, but to call it anything more than Brilliant Colors just doing their thing, which they do so well, would be a bit hyperbolic. Full speed, shambling pop gems are what they've got and that's more than good enough for me. I can't wait to dance around my living room like a fool to this record.

[MP3]: Brilliant Colors :: Absolutely Anything (Way Recommended!)

Brilliant Colors on MySpace!

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Also, you should be able to comment again. I apologize for the "member-only" comment restriction that's been on for a little while, but it was the only way to make the spam commenters go away!

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Slumberland 20th Anniversary Shows!!!

20 years!

To celebrate 20 years of perfect POP!, Slumberland Records will be hosting two very, very awesome anniversary shows! Since I first heard about the shows being in the works, I've had my fingers perpetually crossed for The Ropers. Low and behold, I found out just yesterday that The Ropers will infact be on the lineup for both shows!!! They'll be joined both nights by Slumberland alums Nord Express and Lorelei, along with current Slumberland bands Crystal Stilts, Brown Recluse, Pants Yell!, and Frankie Rose! I wouldn't miss the DC show for the world. I can't wait until November 13th!!!

Fri. Nov 13
Washington DC
The Black Cat

Crystal Stilts
Brown Recluse
Pants Yell!
Frankie Rose and The Outs
The Ropers
Nord Express
Lorelei


Sat. Nov 14
Brooklyn, NY
The Bell House

Crystal Stilts
Brown Recluse
Pants Yell!
Frankie Rose and The Outs
The Ropers
Nord Express
Lorelei
Special Surprise Guest

In honor of the anniversary, Slumberland will also be reissuing classic records from Black Tambourine, The Ropers and Henry's Dress! It would be reaaaaaal nice to have Bust 'Em Green on vinyl.

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A monthly mix: October!

October!!!

It's monthly mix time again, everyone! October's the quintessential Fall month to me: It's just starting to turn into sweater-weather, the leaves are turning and getting crispier by the minute, and it's the perfect month for a walk – not too hot, not too cold. That's why this month's mix includes a slew of fourteen songs perfect for a walk through the neighborhood, the city, or even the woods! There's a good mix of old and new here, too, including a few of my favorite new bands of the moment: P.S. Eliot, Grass Widow, and Sourpatch! Check out the tracklist below and follow the download link to be listening in minutes! Hope you love it!

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Tracklist:
01. P.S. Eliot "Tennessee"
02. Rizzo "Allie"
03. Bella Vista "Dead Fish"
04. Sourpatch "Fun"
05. Girls "Lust For Life"
06. Slumber Party "I Don't Mind"
07. Girlboy Girl "Feeder"
08. The Softies "Count To Ten"
09. The Airfields "The Turning Of The Leaves"
10. All Girl Summer Fun Band "Lost"
11. Rose Melberg "Homemade Ship"
12. Velocity Girl "One Word"
13. Grass Widow "Lulu's Lips"
14. Small Factory "Happy To See"

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