Another collection of new music this week:
Big Ups
Brooklyn, NY
“Imaginary Dog Walker” from Two Parts Together out May 18 on Exploding in Sound.
Big Ups have been plugging away at it for years now, and have perfected their singular introspective post hardcore. A tense, spoken, grinding buildup leads to at least a bit of release at the end. Cool stuff. I’ve enjoyed their first two full lengths, I’m betting I’ll dig this one, too.
tom
Mitski
New York, New York
“Geyser” from Be The Cowboy out Aug. 17 on Dead Oceans.
You guys, Mitski is playing El Rocko on June 23. Holy shit. Wait, you don’t know who Mitski is? Umm, ok, wow. Wait, just check out this new song. See, no biggie, you’re up to speed now.
tom
The Pauses
Orlando, FL
“Digital Detox” from Unbuilding out June 22nd via Arctic Rodeo Recordings.
The Pauses are no strangers to Savannah, and that’s rad because they’re…well….rad, too. They deal in indie/pop/rock and this new single pushes all those buttons hard. Synths, distorted guitars, immediately catchy melody, this deserves WAY more airplay than it will probably get. Bonus indie cred for the J. Robbins production.
tom
Young Widows
Kentucky
“Checked In/Checked Out” from DECAYED: Ten Years of Cities, Wounds, Lightness, and Pain, out June 8 on Temporary Residence Ltd.
Young Widows have covered a lot of ground in their 10+ years of cranking out something somewhere between post punk and post hardcore. Don’t let that scare you, it’s a little dark, maybe in a heavier Joy Division way, but plenty melodic and accessible. The new album is a b-sides and rarities kinda thing, but if you dig this track, definitely check out their Old Wounds lp. Classic.
tom
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
“Refute” from Sparkle Hard, out May 18 on Matador Records.
The third great pre-release single from ex Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus, this one a country flavored jam featuring some guest vocals from indie icon Kim Gordon. If the lead singles are any indication, I expect Sparkle Hard to be a contender for album of the year for me. Just a few more days……
tom