Frankie Rose releases first single from her new album

I think we were all knocked out by the Frankie Rose and the Outs album from 2010, the effortlessness of its gorgeous girl-pop mantras, the intimate immensity of its Spector-esque walls of reverb, the beauty of a song sung sweetly over the most graceful two-chord vamps. But are you ready for the new Frankie Rose? – her transformation into a wholly other kind of pop, the reverie and revelation of Interstellar, an album that floats free of its maker's history and offers the listener something strangely other, as alien as it is familiar, as compelling as it is enchanting.

On Interstellar Frankie takes the lessons learned with her debut album – like reverb as the holy route to pop-grandeur, scaling a wall of teenage tears – fully digests, and transfers those skills into the brave new world mapped out by ten new songs. Aided by production ace Le Chev, remixer supreme for Lemonade, Narcisse, Passion Pit, and Frankie's own "Candy," Frankie has replaced that reverbed-out classicism with the confident swagger of a singer and auteur fully aware of how to build the simplest of pop moves into aching, full-blown melodramas, how to grab hold of an emotion and ride its darker waves.

Know Me is the first single from Interstellar. It's a gorgeous piece of widescreen pop, dreamy and driving at the same time. The clean, big hooks bring to mind the best of mid-80s pop -- Smiths, New Order -- without sacrificing any of Frankie's unique melodic style. It's a single in the best sense; a three minute gem that perfectly captures the essence of the new album. Le Chev's remix on the flip side is pure 2012 - a slow-motion house burner with a tropical vibe and atmosphere to spare. Turn it up and drift away. For more info and a preview MP3 check out the single info page. Mail order copies available on cool grey & ivory splatter vinyl while supplies last.

Also available from Frankie Rose:

Frankie Rose and the Outs LP/CD

Thee Only One 7"

 

Neverever return with fab new EP

Who can decipher the true origins of Neverever? Some say it started on the roadside in Malibu when a truck driver named Eric Fisher and his childhood buddy, Shaun Puklavetz, picked up Joe Meek's great niece and nephew, Jihae and Wallace. Others believe that it began a year earlier when we released Neverever's lost classic Angelic Swells. Whichever you choose to put faith in, it was after consulting their book of Sacred Symbols of the Ancients, that Wallace and Jihae realized Eric and Shaun's rhythmical bond was most likely destined to be the missing piece of their puzzle. A mutual appreciation for Dave Hill (he of Slade fame)'s haircut soon sealed the deal one night after practice in Shaun's hot-tub.

The four began hallucinating endlessly about writing songs that could fill the void between one's love for Sandy Salisbury's "Do Unto Others" and the other's for Comet Gain's Casino Classics. These visions began to slowly creep across Los Angeles stages like a purple smoke bomb engulfing. Shortly thereafter, crowds caught on and gaggles of girls and boys began flocking to their shows in fear that the flames which burned would someday descend back into technicolor smoke.

Shake-A-Baby is that technicolor smoke turned to solid vinyl. The band says it best: "The EP is loosely about the likes of child brides and sugar empire heirs either reluctantly growing up or simply choosing not to. Clinging to pre-teen and adolescent freedoms, Miss Teen Californian girlfriends, carefree trips, and dream-like loves, whether the changing world around them allows it or not. Some influences include the Raspberries, Dwight Twilley and Phil Seymour, ELO, Kim Fowley, Fleetwood Mac, Big Star, Alvin Stardust, Sandy Salisbury." For more info and preview streams check out the EP info page. Mail orders get limited edition gold vinyl while supplies last.

Also available from Neverever:

Angelic Swells LP/CD

Blue Genes 7"

 

Sea Lions deliver long-awaited debut album

When Adrian Pillado formed Sea Lions in 2007, he wasn't really sure what it would be. His influences were something of a musical snowstorm, involving Crass, John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Syd Barrett, Lou Reed, Orange Juice, and Beat Happening. In the beginning, it was just Adrian singing and playing guitar, with his best friend Pat playing drums. Both had a history in Oxnard's D.I.Y. punk scene where a group of young kids had been listening to a lot of K, Postcard, Sarah, Creation, and (naturally) Slumberland records, and bands that were previously more into punk and noise started working in these new influences. The early days of Sea Lions were a learning curve, Adrian and Pat crashing and bashing their way through songs, often stumbling upon something beautiful in the process. Eventually they added added a second guitarist, and a bass player… and they killed. Adrian had really grown as a songwriter, the songs were still shambolic, but they were also assertive and direct.

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sea Lions But Were Afraid To Ask is without question the next giant step forward for the band. A brief instrumental intro gracefully leads you into the galloping proper album opener, "I Should be Sleeping." The production throughout is shimmering, and assured. Something as simple as the backing "oohs" on the song "Grown Up," become transcendent. Elsewhere, tunes like "Tell You," "Rainfall" and "A Cloud" are pure pop goodness, pairing furiously-strummed guitars with stomping rhythms and Adrian's deep croon. Further, a song like "As Times Change" reveals a confident band that knows how to mine their record collections (particularly their 13th Floor Elevators, and Love records) and turn all of those sounds into something entirely their own.

All of this adds to the unique yet familiar sound that Sea Lions have cleverly cultivated. Bustling with nervous energy and the desire to communicate, Sea Lions share a sense of urgency with great pop forebears like Subway Sect and Television Personalities -- earnestness combined with pop knowledge and punk suss. What Sea Lions capture, where so many young bands try and fail, is not simply the sound of young Oxnard, it’s the sound of youth everywhere. Bored, underemployed, and wishing your life was something else. For more info and a preview MP3 check out the album info page. Mail order copies available on red & white splatter/swirl vinyl with poster and sticker while supplies last. CD orders receive a sticker and a badge.

Big Troubles release second single from "Romantic Comedy"

Led by two very gifted singer/song-writers in Alex Craig and Ian Drennan, Big Troubles are that rare beast: a band with two distinctive musical voices that smoothly mesh to create one integrated personality. As children of the 00's they're lucky enough to have a vast history of pop and indie rock to draw upon. Like the best of their peers they're omnivorous musical consumers, as enamored of classic Brit Pop gems as they are of 90s slacker indie rock and 80s Paisley Underground pop. Early recordings by the pair were of the lo-fi home recorded variety, but over time they've grown (with the addition of drummer Sam Franklin and bassist Luka Usmiani) into a full four piece band to more fully realize their tunes.

Their first album Worry and its attendant singles were excellent fuzz pop records in their own right, but to make their new record the band took the step of bringing in help in the form of the legendary Mitch Easter, whose resume includes stone cold classics from the likes of REM, Pavement and his own Let's Active. With Mr. Easter's expert engineering help, Big Troubles' fantastic new album Romantic Comedy is a masterpiece of modern pop; a perfect balance of grit and polish, gorgeous guitar sounds and angelic vocals, underpinned by a set of superb songs.

She Smiles For Pictures is the second single from "Romantic Comedy," following the excellent "Sad Girls." Featuring lead vocals from Ian, "She Smiles For Pictures" is a gorgeous piece of power-pop, fueled by ringing guitars, an earworm of a guitar lead and Luka & Sam's propulsive rhythm section. Ian's vocal melody is a total winner, the upbeat cadences belying the rather dark lyrics. 2:53 of pop perfection. "Polyommatus Blue" on the flip is another gem. A mid-tempo tune that recalls the lost mid-period Creation pop of groups like 18 Wheeler and pre-Screamadelica Primal Scream, it's another fine slice of classic guitar jangle, and exclusive to this single. For more info and a preview MP3 check out the single info page. Mail order copies pressed on cool orange & black vinyl.

Also available from Big Troubles:

Romantic Comedy LP/CD

Sad Girls 7"

 

Devon Williams releases digital single

"Revelations" is the latest single from Devon Williams' excellent Euphoria album. A gorgeous piece of summertime soft pop, "Revelations" brings to mind a studio meeting of Brian Wilson and Curt Boettcher, with it's soaring harmonies, strings and woodwinds. Pure audio perfection, and all in the service of a brilliant, timeless tune.

We've added a special unreleased bonus track to this digital-only single. Violens' remix of "Tower of Thought" is a note-perfect slice of 1992-style breakbeat hardcore, sounding for all the world like a lost classic on XL or Moving Shadow. Superb.

Euphoria is full sparkling, amazing pop tunes and we think that "Revelations" is an excellent introduction if you haven't heard it yet. We hope you'll be as excited as us to hear more. For more info and a preview MP3 check out the single info page.

	get it from iTunes now »

Also available from Devon Williams:

Euphoria LP/CD

Your Sympathy 7"

Sufferer 7"

 

Manatee show their other side

Oakland's mysterious Manatee are back, following up their Indecision single with this sharp blast of punk energy. Recorded in the same marathon session as the aforementioned single, these two tunes couldn't be any more different. Where that last single flirted with power-pop and late Replacements melodic rock inflected with shoegaze sonics, this single is straight up punk rock. Featuring two concise songs that each happen to clock in at 2:13, this limited-edition flexi wear's it's heart on its sleeve (literally) with art that pays homage to The Dils classic Dangerhouse single.

"Mr Super" is the poppier of the pair, bringing to mind mid-80s SoCal pop-punk in the same way that label-mates Terry Malts do. Powered along by the pummeling rhythm section of Nik (bass) and Chris (drums), "Mr Super" is either about our president or a super hero, only singer Keith knows for sure. "Chased By Anderson Cooper" is a nightmare brought to life, the frantic hardcore rush mirroring the protagonist's panic. Both songs are packed with guitar crunch galore, often exploding into shards of uncontrolled feedback. Not too bad for a bunch of old men.

We've been hoping to get these two songs out to you for a while, and finally found just the right format in the recently-revived 7" flexi. It's our first flexi in years, and we couldn't think of a release better suited to the format. For more info and a preview MP3 check out the single info page.

Also available from Manatee:

Indecision 7"

 

Bits & pieces…

• The Black Tambourine comp LP is back in stock on vinyl, and super special white/red/black splatter vinyl at that.
• Now SOLD-OUT: The Big Troubles and Veronica Falls albums on color vinyl. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's "Belong" on vinyl LP.
• We know how hard it can be sometimes to find new releases, especially on vinyl, so we are launching a new section of the site to showcase stuff we sell that is not on Slumberland. Keep an eye on this page for frequent additions. Just added/back in stock: the Sea Lions instrumental flexi (limited to 250 copies!), the Japanese CD edition of Big Troubles' "Romantic Comedy" w/exclusive bonus demo tracks, the excellent new Sunny Street CD on Plastilina, and re-stocks of the Japan-only 7" EP from Sea Lions on Twee Girls Club and Spectrals' hard-to-find 12" EP on Underwater Peoples.

Girls Names release digital single for Halloween

Girls Names' Dead To Me was a great summation of two years of intense woodshedding and refining. Jumping off from the dark pop of the early/mid eighties shadow world of Black Tambourine, Felt and the Sound of Young Scotland, Girls Names crafted their own urgent take on a classic sound. Spiking their shadowy sound with wiry, scrabbling guitars and punchy, rolling rhythms, they showed that there are still plenty of new avenues to explore when it comes to pop.

They haven't stopped there, though, and are hard at work on their next album, to be released early next year. Everything we've heard so far is just brilliant, so we were eager to share one of the songs with you. Black Saturday is a great example of where the band is heading. The guitars are more subdued now, sharing sonic space with a gorgeously melodic bassline and subtle synths. Clearly in tune with contemporaries like Beach Fossils and Wild Nothing, Girls Names bring their own very distinctive song-writing vision to the forefront here.

And that's really the key with Girls Names — the tunes are all first-rate and mesh perfectly with the fine, understated production to create something quite memorable. We hope you'll be as excited as us to hear more. For more info and a preview MP3 check out the single info page.

	get it from iTunes now »

Also available from Girls Names:

Dead To Me LP/CD

Girls Names' fab debut album is stuffed to bursting with brilliant, distinctive guitar pop. Combining dark, shadowy vibes with urgent, guitar-driven tunes, Girls Names have created a crucial, distinctive modern pop album.

 

Spectrals release stellar debut album

Bad Penny is the debut album from Spectrals aka 21 year old Louis Jones. Mixing ingredients of pop, soul, doo wop, and a garage rock ballad, it sounds vintage but current, while the Yorkshire lilt in his voice (a result of his hometown, Heckmondwike) places him firmly in the UK, rather than Detroit. Inspired by the music he grew up listening to as a child, from the Rolling Stones (the only CD's his mum ever has in her car) to The Style Council, Elvis Costello and The Ronettes (artists he regularly shares on mix tapes) it's all "just about love really."

Spectrals has always been a small operation. Now in its third year of existence, Louis started by recording in a friend's knocked-together studio and posting the songs on MySpace. Despite originally only being for his closest friends, his Myspace soon attracted the attention of discerning labels all over the world: from Captured Tracks (Dum Dum Girls, Wild Nothing) to Sex Is Disgusting (Mazes, Human Hair) to Slumberland (we released his excellent 7th Date single last year) to Underground Peoples, where he eventually released last year's Extended Play.

On Bad Penny, recorded with Richard Formby (Wild Beasts, Spacemen 3) in early 2011, Spectrals' knack for writing a great tune is more obvious than ever. "I just love these songs" he says "all I'd hope is for people to come away saying, 'they were 11 ace songs' or if there's a a guy or girl getting messed about, that it makes sense to them. I'm not wanting make out I'm a genius, I hate it when groups do that. People don't like being talked down to, y'know? This is just songs." Packed with great song-writing, smart arrangements and main Louis' distinctive, jazzy guitar, this is one amazingly complete and accomplished debut album. For more info and a preview MP3 check out the album info page. Mail order copies available on blue/green/red tricolor vinyl with poster and sticker while supplies last. CD orders receive a sticker and a badge.

Also available from Spectrals:

7th Date 7"

Excellent Spector-esque pop that combines classic 50s/60s songwriting with modern suss and a punk rock vibe.

 

The name of this band is Terry Malts

San Francisco's Terry Malts follow-up their smash I'm Neurotic single with another blazing three song EP. Their heads-down live shows and immaculate power-pop song-writing has made this irreverent punk trio has become one of the most talked about bands in SF in ages. Mashing up the best bits from such stellar forebears as The Undertones, Buzzcocks and Descendents, Terry Malts haven't forgotten that one of the key elements of punk has always been FUN.

All three songs on "Something About You" are full of fuzzy/crunchy riffs, galloping drums and sing-along vocal hooks. The title tune speeds by at a brisk clip, full of "ooh ooh" backing vocals and classic SoCal punk vibes. "No Sir, I'm Not A Christian" is possibly the catchiest statement of atheism we've ever heard, 1:35 of self-determination. "Fun Night" is a current live favorite, always sure to get the kids in the crowd jumping around.

Fast and furious, it's feedback-laden guitars are the exclamation at the end of the excellent single. Another future classic from Terry Malts! For more info and a preview MP3 check out the single info page. All copies pressed on luvverly pink vinyl.

Also available from Terry Malts:

I'm Neurotic 7"

Great punk-flavored power-pop from this mysterious San Francisco trio. Their tunes are catchy like fishhooks, jumping off from such familiar touchstones as Ramones and Buzzcocks, stopping off with some fine SoCal friends like The Descendents and Red Cross.

 

Big Troubles release brilliant second album

Big Troubles were formed by a group of kids who had been friends since high school, playing in bands, listening to records and coming of musical age together. Like the best of their peers they're omnivorous musical consumers, as enamored of classic Brit Pop gems as they are of 90s slacker indie rock. Led by two very gifted singer/song-writers in Alex Craig and Ian Drennan, Big Troubles are that rare beast: a band with two distinctive musical voices that smoothly mesh to create one integrated personality.

Their first album Worry and its attendant singles were excellent fuzz pop records in their own right, but to make their new record the band has taken the step of bringing in help in the form of the legendary Mitch Easter. With Mr. Easter's expert engineering help, Big Troubles' excellent new album Romantic Comedy is a masterpiece of modern pop; a perfect balance of grit and polish, gorgeous guitar sounds and angelic vocals, underpinned by a set of superb songs. Romantic Comedy kicks off with "She Smiles For Pictures," a brilliant slice of jangle-pop marked by an ear-tugging guitar lead and gorgeous choirboy vocals.

"Misery" is a perfect 2:23 of teen angst, fired by a huge bassline and echoed, chorused riffs that are as much 90s Brit Pop as they are 00s indie rock. First single Sad Girls is a lovely slice of updated power-pop based on a catchy stop-start verse that gives way to an indelible, spiraling chorus; this tune is as big and bright as they come. And so the record continues, through sure-fire entries into the noise-pop canon like the Boo Radleys-esque "Minor Keys," the lovely rush of "Softer Than Science" and the glam-tinged feedback-fest that is "Time Bomb." Romantic Comedy wraps up with the dreamy "Engine" and the driving "Never Mine," adding two more gems to this excellent album. For more info and preview streams check out the album info page. The red vinyl edition is SOLD OUT.

Also available from Big Troubles:

She Smiles For Pictures 7"

Sad Girls 7"

 

Veronica Falls release long-awaited debut album

The very best type of pop music is the kind that mixes sweetness and light with dissonance and darkness, the sort which injects a perfectly addictive harmony with something sadder, stranger. Welcome to the slanted and enchanted world of Veronica Falls, where serendipity, subversion, providence, and a shared love for Beat Happening, Velvet Underground, Galaxie 500, Felt and Roky Erickson's worldview all have a crucial part to play.

Initially forming two years ago when drummer Patrick Doyle and Roxanne Clifford (guitars, vocals) moved to London from Glasgow and met James Hoare (also on guitars and vocals), later recruiting bassist Marion Herbain. The band quickly worked up a set of songs and released a string of singles on taste-making labels such as Captured Tracks, No Pain in Pop and Trouble Records. Debut single "Found Love In a Graveyard" is a great example of what Veronica Falls are about; it's a singalong slice of deliciously morbid pop, the breezy harmonies and chant-along choruses slyly belying the off-kilter undercurrent of falling in love with a ghost, and neatly setting the tone for what was to follow – instantly addictive pop songs streaked with shades of grey.

With this superb album, Veronica Falls have crafted a brilliantly concise, superbly concentrated hit of spiky, marvelously contagious indie pop with a twist – these are songs which will lodge themselves in your head as well as your heart, with style and attitude to burn. Smashing new tunes like "Right Side Of My Brain," "The Fountain" and "Misery" fit right in next to "Found Love…" and "Beachy Head," making for a gorgeous, well-rounded album. For more info and preview streams check out the album info page. Sorry, the color vinyl is SOLD-OUT. Mail order copies of the LP will still get a poster and sticker. CD orders will receive sticker and badge.

Also available from Veronica Falls:

Bad Feeling 7"

The first single from their long-awaited debut album. This great London quartet, with roots in The Royal We and Sexy Kids, specializes in urgent, tuneful guitar pop with a dark undercurrent. With a non-LP demo of "Try Again" on the flip.

 

Weekend return with amazing new EP

After spending the bulk of the past year on the road in support of last November's excellent Sports LP on Slumberland Records, Weekend have also been hard at work on their followup record. Prior to their European tour in July, the band spent three weeks in the studio with producer Monte Vallier crafting their new EP, simply titled Red. Prepare yourself for yet another gorgeous, violent sonic assault, because this EP packs a serious punch.

Opener "Sweet Sixteen" is mesmerizing grind, stately bass and drums underpinned by soaring vocals and echoed shards of guitar feedback and plucked notes. This leads directly into the noise-pop gem that is "Hazel" -- 3:50 of cascading bass chords, guitar clangor and a melody and chorus most pop bands would kill for. Amazing. "Your Own Nothing" is clattering piece of post-punk, spiked with layers of guitar noise and a dubbed-out atmosphere.

"The One You Want" is a rather more straight-forward tune in the manner of "Hazel" and further proof that Weekend can craft melodies just as well as they can innovate with guitar textures and dazzle with sonic overload. The EP concludes with "Golfers," a song that downshifts into an extended minimal intro before building to a gorgeous crescendo of rumbling drums, chiming/fizzing guitars and as always that unerring sense of melody that Weekend always have in even the most noise-laden tunes. For more info and preview streams check out the album info page. The 12" vinyl is now in stock; mail order will receive red vinyl while supplies last. The limited edition 12" is now shipping. See the info page for full details.

Also available from Weekend:

End Times 7"

Sports LP/CD

 

Up next on February 21st are the new Frankie Rose and Terry Malts albums. After that, look for singles from Allo Darlin', Roommates and English Singles, as well as albums from Allo Darlin' and Evans The Death. Stay tuned for more info soon!