This is probably my strongest post in some time, I really hope you get down on these songs in the same fashion as I have been lately:
Don’t take this lightly when I tell you to go over to Glowbug’s Bandcamp page and download this (free) album! That way when everyone’s talking about the best albums to come out this year you’ll fully understand why “Mr. Plastic” is on every-ones list (or by god it should be). I just did a post on Listen Before You Buy that is a little more verbose about my feelings for them check it out here.
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It’s no secret that Heycoolkid! has an indescribably teenagish infatuation with Neighbors, not my neighbors per say who are an eclectic group I’d be more than happy to bid farewell to, one has night terrors and collects zip lock bags the other I’m pretty sure is on that crack and spends an hour a day intently staring at my bushes (creepy doesn’t scratch the surface on that one), but the other kind of Neighbors whose music is phenomenal. “Ophelia” is jut one more example of why.
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For “Ellery,” being the first song from Conveyor to cross my path, the only word that comes to mind is impressed. It’s a song that captures you immediately, like a friend throwing their arm around your shoulder pulling you in closer to draw focus on what they have to say. You feel comfortable there in the intimacy and the lighthearted feeling of togetherness knowing in the back of your mind that this will be the last time you will feel such closeness because your bags are packed and the future is waiting. This is a song about hope and the things we leave behind in pursuit of it, about being alone and content and overall finding optimism in such contentment. No matter how I try to explain this song at the bottom of everything I’m trying to get across is that “Ellery” is an amazing track from a band I’m immediately going to get to know better. You probably should too.
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“Summer Home” is a very autobiographical song of childhood longing and standing in that pivotal moment of wondering if we’ve left our happiness behind us or if the future could really bring hope even when it doesn’t look that way. As far as instrumentation goes there is a lot going on that’s absolutely fantastic, unfortunately the lyrics just steal all attention from it. This is a good thing…
“In my peripheral sight I reach out for you but when I turn my head I’m in an empty room. A faceless clock with hands unmoved before a layer of dust a cobweb or two. In a broken mirror with my broken truths now when I comb my hair I pull the gray ones loose. My old house my childhoods tomb it is a failing light but it will come back soon.”
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Alex Drumm – “Empty Rooms” [mp3]
This is a long overdue Alex Drumm addition. I downloaded the album at the beginning of July and somehow forgot about it (just being honest). I sat down last week and really went through the tracks and found it to be a very solid start for what looks to be a strong and positive career. “Sparks In The Grass“ still remains my favorite track thus far. I just did a write up for this song over on Listen Before You Buy, if you’ve got the time check it out.
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There’s always an amount of respect I reserve for individuals that create solid fully developed music on their own. Jonathan Visger exceeds that for being able to not only create music on his own but to develop something that is upbeat and so exceedingly well-rounded that most full bands can’t come up with what he does. “Feathers (Don’t Change On Me)” is a perfect example of this with it’s head nodding catchiness, not to mention the guitar hook that’s been stuck in my head for days, I’m looking forward to seeing what Absofacto gives us in the future.
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Oregon Bike Trails – “Cayucas”
I thought of Oregon Bike Trails while writing about Absofacto so it just seemed fitting to throw one more Kevin Arnold track up since he has basically been the soundtrack to my summer. His music seems angled that way so it works out for both of us. Not to say he won’t put out something great before I’m done bitching about another Indiana winter but if he doesn’t things will be alright we’ll be friends again when the weather feels a bit more hopeful.
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With how phenomenal of a year this has been as far as great music is concerned I can’t believe the lack in solid old fashion rock music right now (I’m pretty sure I was saying the same thing last year). It seems like every band I get an email from that could fall into the “Rock” category fits into the “Crap” category as well. It’s nice to hear a band like Young Circles who focus on creating music and only on creating music, it seems like the other guys put all of their focus into what clothes they should be wearing, copying another guys guitar set-up and sitting around sipping Miller Lite and trying to convince themselves they will be needing a tour bus by this time next year. Young Circles-1 Crappy bands-0
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Peter Andrew King – “Fireflies” [mp3]
I’ve had this one slated for a specific playlist that is in the works but I’ve got the feeling it will be a while before I finally put it up. Since I’ve really been digging this 60′s garage influenced track now is as good of time as any to put it up. King is somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades in the Indy scene filling in on multiple instruments for multiple bands. Up to this point he hasn’t had the big push he deserves around town but it’s undoubtedly coming. I feel like the overall consensus is that he hasn’t yet fully figured out what direction he’s going to go in so everyone is basically waiting for it to happen, as long as he’s putting out songs like “Fireflies” that is completely fine by me.
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Ducktails – “Sit Around With Ya” [mp3]
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Ducktails is an artist where you are either a fan or you are not, there isn’t much middle ground. Sure he could easily be some random dude playing at a party but if in fact he were some random dude at a party I would love it all that much more, not less. “Sit Around With Ya” is the bonus track from Arcade Dynamics, I think it came as part of the digital package but I’m not positive. This is number two on my list of favorite ducktails songs, “Killing The Vibe” being number one.
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Little Jungles – “Drive Yerself Crazy” [mp3]
“You’re always telling me all the negative things that I know I could change but it takes a long time to change. You always say that I’m driving you mad but I think you got it backwards cause you’re driving yourself mad“
Off the top of my head I could list more girls than there are songs on this playlist that if I had a little more to drink tonight would be receiving this song as a personal message, nothing else typed just the link to the this song, maybe the message would have a cute little title like “Here’s a song that made me think of you 
” thanks Little Jungles for saying what needs to be said. Name your own price on the “Wuts Goin Thru Yer Head” album over on Little Jungles Bandcamp page.
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I Break Horses – “Hearts“
Where are you heading? Wherever you are going take this song with you! With it’s everything will be alright vibe, the optimistic tone, the racing drum beat, “Hearts” is constantly pushing forward in a steady development of sound that sinks deeper and deeper, share “Hearts” collectively, preferably while driving into the sunset with friends.
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Stroik – “One More Time” [mp3]
I came across “One More Time” as part of my blog feed and from the first listen I was in. Without knowing anything about Stroik this song has made me an instant fan with his relaxed vocals this song does it for me (whatever it is). He’s just spotting up right now but in a few months we’ll all be familiar.
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This is my favorite Seapony song, I’ve been trying to keep it to myself but since I’ve noticed that only “Dreaming” has been getting the sort of attention that all of Seapony‘s music deserves it seemed only right for me to share “Late Summer” with anyone who hasn’t heard it yet. Not to mention there probably wouldn’t be a more fitting time to share it than now.
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Gem Club have completely stolen my heart! As long as they continue creating amazing art like this they can keep it. I realize I already posted this over on LBYB and recently put up “Breakers” on my “Definitive(ish) Hooded Sweatshirt Playlist” but one of the perks of running a website is that I get to make the rules myself and personally I think it would be worth it to put these guys up every day until a Gem Club monument is erected. These are how words can feel, this is how a song is supposed to feel, REAL!
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Venice Is Sinking – “Okay (Henslee Version)” [mp3]
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Yes Nice – “Mountain Man” [mp3]
“Mountain Man” settles deep and feels like a friend’s hand in some long dark tunnel of emotion. If you hear this and agree hold tightly, don’t think about letting go.
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Bon Iver – “Beth/Rest (Solo Piano Version)”[mp3]
I’m just another voice in the sea of Bon Iver praise, I know this, but when I thought I had finally come to realize how amazing Justin Vernon is and how grateful we should all be to have one of the greatest songwriters of all-time creating music right before us he goes and and puts out this version of “Beth/Rest” and makes it crystal clear that he has barely even begun to show what he can create with his troubled soul. This song is the absolute, the pinnacle of greatness, emotion at its truest rawest form, sadness shaped into a mountain of understanding, this is everything, EVERYTHING, that I love from music and am thankful each and ever time I replay this song to have it in my life.
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All songs are for promotional use only. If you or an artist you represent on this page would like something removed or corrected just let me know either in the comments or by sending me a direct email (the address can be found in my “About Me” section.
Also if there’s any music you think I’m missing or missing the point on let me know.
