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Girls Names
Over the course of 2 EPs and a split single, Girls Names have effortlessly refined their own personal take on the early/mid eighties shadow world of Black Tambourine, Felt and the Sound of Young Scotland. Dead To Me, their fab debut album, is stuffed to bursting with brilliant, distinctive guitar pop. An instant classic.
[more info + MP3s]Crystal Stilts
Amazing second album that deftly combines the spooked 60s Texas psych of 13th Floor Elevators and Red Crayola, the gothic blues/punk howl of Gun Club, the dark, experimental DIYism of early Flying Nun/Xpressway groups and a dash of classic 60s pop by way of early Mary Chain b-sides and LA's Paisley Underground. Includes the single "Shake The Shackles."
[more info + MP3s]The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
In 2011 The Pains teamed up with Flood (Depeche Mode, U2) and Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, Jesus and Mary Chain, Ride) and delivered a second album that was as amazing as we had all hoped. It's a massive sounding album, sonically ambitious but still grounded in the peerless song-craft that The Pains are known for. Anchored by classic tunes like "Belong" and "Heart In Your Heartbreak", Belong is every inch a Pains record, but louder, bolder and and brighter.
[more info + MP3s]Sarandon
Brilliant post-punk pop that pays homage to the best of 80s UK DIY. Short, angular tunes that combine the brusque drive of Big Flame and Bogshed with the spiky melodicism of June Brides and Josef K. "Sarandon's Age Of Reason" tells the story of Big Trev, a man frustrated with his lot and determined to change his life, and is Sarandon's finest, most focussed record yet.
[more info + MP3s]Brown Recluse
The long-awaited debut full-length from this brilliant Philadelphia band. Imagine the sunshine pop of Curt Boettcher's The Millennium/Sagittarius projects crossed such familiar touchstones as Brian Wilson, The Clientele and the Elephant 6 collective and you're on your way there. Amazing song-writing and savvy arrangements make this one of the top pop albums of the year.
[more info + MP3s]Brave Irene
Excellent pop from this Vancouver band led by Tiger Trap/Go Sailor/Softies alumnus Rose Melberg. Prominent keyboards and the fuzzed-out guitars lend slightly psychedelic vibe that slots in well with early Flying Nun bands and even some of the LA Paisley Underground scene. Eight fab songs, including "No Fun" and "Longest Day."
[more info + MP3s]Phil Wilson
Ex-June Bride Phil Wilson is back with a new band and his first new songs since the late 80s, and it's an absolute tour de force of smart, punk-infused power pop. Quality tunes that are simultaneously rocking and tender, tough-minded and honest but not immune to a dash of sentimentality. Features the single "I Own It."
[more info + MP3s]Weekend
Aggressive, noisy music that combines dark post-punk with the squall of the noisy end of shoegaze, scything No Wave racket, nearly psychedelic soundscapes and surprising bursts of melody. Features "Coma Summer" and "End Times."
[more info + MP3s]Phil Wilson
Ex-June Bride Phil Wilson is back with a new band and his first new songs since the late 80s. Taken from his forthcoming album God Bless Jim Kennedy, "I Own It" combines electric and acoustic guitars to create a light, folky atmosphere. It's a brilliantly catchy tune that showcases Phil's finely-honed pop sense. The b-side, "What Time Can Do," is exclusive to this single.
[more info + MP3s]Crystal Stilts
"Shake The Shackles" is Crystal Stilts' first release since "Love Is A Wave" and is a great snapshot of where the band is now and a taster for their second album, due in early 2011. Driven by echoed guitar strum and droning keys, it's a dexterous update of 60s garage pop that places it alongside late 80s Paisley Underground heroes, but the song itself is totally timeless, and impossible to place anywhere but firmly in Crystal Stilts' own unique style. B-side "Magnetic Moon" is exclusive to this single.
[more info + MP3s]Frankie Rose And The Outs
Smashing debut album from Ms Rose and her excellent new band. Spooked, melancholic pop with echoes of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, The Aislers Set, Shop Assistants and Opal. Features "Candy" and "Little Brown Haired Girls."
[more info + MP3s]Tender Trap
Helmed by Talulah Gosh and Heavenly alums Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, Tender Trap combine the harmonies, oohs, ahs and sha-la-las of classic girl-pop with the stripped down beats and dirty guitars of the Shop Assistants and The Vaselines. Revitalized by the addition of key new members, Dansette Dansette is a smashing and very welcome return for some of indie-pop's most influential players.
[more info + MP3s]Procedure Club
Noisy lo-fi pop with the emphasis on NOISE from this Connecticut duo, wherein carefully constructed tunes are given a fierce work-over by layers of guitar fuzz and synth scree. An amazing album packed with excellent songs that strike just the right balance between the songs and the noise, between structure and chaos.
[more info + MP3s]Spectrals
Excellent Spector-esque pop that combines classic 50s/60s songwriting with modern suss and a punk rock vibe. 7th Date is Spectrals' first release for Slumberland and it's a corker - an understated slow-dance shimmy punctuated by tambourine shakes and tinkling bells. Lovely!
[more info + MP3s]Tender Trap
Tender Trap are back and man did we miss them. With two extra girl voices (from new members guitarist Elizabeth and drummer Katrina) this great single combines the harmonies, oohs, ahs and sha-la-las of classic girl-pop with the stripped down beats and dirty guitars of the Shop Assistants and The Vaselines. The punk-rocking flip side "The Sum and The Difference" is exclusive to this single.
[more info + MP3s]Manatee
Straight-ahead power-pop inspired by bands as diverse as Velvet Underground, The Ramones, The Feelies and The Replacements. Impassioned, timeless noise-pop, featuring Mike from Whorl/Black Tambourine/Bright Coloured Lights/Crabapples.
[more info + MP3s]Neverever
Brilliant power-pop that takes in 50s rock 'n roll, 60s girl-group sounds, the 70s glam heyday of Slade and Suzi Quatro and 80s power-pop on its way to creating a bang-up-to-date idea of what pop should sound like in 2010. Timeless tunes, fuzzy riffs, pounding rhythms drive these tales of teenage love and lust. Includes "Young & Dumb," "Coconut Shampoo" and "Teardrop Tattoo."
[more info + MP3s]Brilliant Colors
Inspired in equal parts by post-punk DIY fervor and the spiky pop of C86 and early Flying Nun/Creation label output, Brilliant Colors are back with two brand new songs that further cement their status as first class purveyors of crash pop. Both tunes are non-lp!
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