[mp3] Churches // Feel Alright

Tag Archive: California

[mp3] Churches // Feel Alright

Written on February 20, 2012 by Adam in Music, New Releases, News

churches band [mp3] Churches // Feel Alright

Out here, on the West Coast that is, the weather is always sunny. No matter what anyone tells you. There is no rain, no clouds, no smog, just sunshine and music festivals. As for music festivals, I’m positive that you, dear reader, have already taken the time to get excited about the Coachella lineup. As the hours went by and the publicity grew, so did others’ resentment at ticket prices and how the lineup seems to be the same every year. That all seems like eons ago, in internet time.

Coachella is not the only festival the West Coast has to offer, for there’s also Sasquatch and Noise Pop, the latter of which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Starting Tuesday, February 21st and going through the 26th, San Francisco will be host to tons of bands like The Flaming Lips, Cursive, Atlas Sound, Disappears (that boasts Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley), Fresh and Onlys, as well as Churches.

[mp3] Churches // Feel Alright

Churches’ music hearkens back to the days of 120 Minutes, when MTV used to actually play videos. Big fuzzed out guitars and heartfelt vocals that are deeply moving while being alternately sad or celebratory, and sometimes even a seemingly incongruous mix of the two. In their own words Churches is “loud, melodic power-pop, rooted in teen angst nostalgia and heavily reflecting its influences – Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., the Pixies. Churches is salvation through distortion for the disaffected small-town weirdo in everyone – a sonic cathedral of symbols and guitars for the modern outcast.” They have made available a new single, “Feel Alright,” ahead of their Noise Pop Fest debut on their soundcloud and bandcamp pages, and it is certainly worth checking out and downloading. Additionally, Churches is recording a special Noise Pop Daytrotter session.

Churches // Bandcamp | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud

1 Comment - Leave a comment!

[mp3] Lady Danville // Operating

Written on February 15, 2012 by Andy in Music

Los Angeles outfit Lady Danville sound like they might make effete indie pop, but their brand of piano-laced rock has decidedly more balls than I gave it credit for when I saw their name. It’s not in the same vein as Ben Folds Five (who the band has opened for already), but their sound is still a solid one.

Their track, “Operating,” is from their three-song EP of the same name which was released yesterday. It showcases solid harmonies, and it sounds like the band has channeled any band you already love, from Freelance Whales to The Morning Benders to Local Natives. It’s easy to digest, and easy to love, because it’s solid songwriting. Even if you don’t find it to be groundbreaking, it’s impossible to ignore.

There are no tour dates lined up for the band at the moment, though I would assume that with a new release under their collective belt that should change soon.

Connect with Lady Danville // Facebook | Twitter | web

Lady Danville // Operating [mp3] from Operating EP

0 Comments - Leave a comment!

[mp3] Saint Motel // At Least I Have Nothing

Written on February 3, 2012 by Andy in Music

Saint Motel’s “At Least I Have Nothing,” the A-side from the band’s first 7″ single from late last year, doesn’t exactly paint a pretty picture of twentysomethings in the Twenty-First Century. Lamenting a general lack of goals, the song doesn’t spare anyone the band’s disdain, though it’s said to be open to interpretation. It’s strange, however, that a song that is as bleak as this one can be so damn catchy. It’d be a miracle if you could listen to it and not have “we are just stuck inside their business model” wrapped around your brain.

In the end, though, the band is onto something. There’s a certain freedom to having nothing, and it’s that pulling oneself up feeling that will undoubtedly work in their favor. Saint Motel is bringing their live act out on the road starting later this month on a tour that includes a few dates with Toronto’s Young Empires, as well as a stop at The Bug Jar here in Rochester on Monday, March 5th.

Connect with Saint Motel // Facebook | Twitter | web

Saint Motel // At Least I Have Nothing [mp3] from 7″1

0 Comments - Leave a comment!

[mp3] Princeton // Florida

Written on February 1, 2012 by Andy in Music, New Releases

Between the release of the Hospitality album yesterday (which you need to get your ears on, if you haven’t already) and the upcoming album from Princeton, the market for 2012 indie pop has already been effectively cornered. The Santa Monica band released the second single from their new album Remembrance of Things To Come, entitled “Florida,” yesterday amidst the horror of the Republican primary taking place in that state.

The band has always been adept at creating lilting, saccharine tracks, and “Florida” is no exception to that. The song itself brightened by piano and filled with references to tanagers, waiting for a phone call from an agent, ending up in Brooklyn before heading back to the Keys.

The album itself will be released on February 21st through Hit City U.S.A., and can be pre-ordered now on 12″ vinyl. All pre-orders come with another 7″ single from the band of their track “To The Alps,” which will also be on Remembrance of Things To Come. The wax is limited to 500 copies, so if you’re picking up what the band is putting down, you might want to get on picking up a copy for yourself soon.

Connect with Princeton // Facebook | Twitter | web

Princeton // Florida [mp3] from the forthcoming Remembrance of Things To Come

0 Comments - Leave a comment!

[video] Active Child // Hanging On

Written on January 23, 2012 by Andy in Music, Video

Though I’m not quite certain what fly-fishing has to do with Active Child’s “Hanging On,” but it seems like whoever came up with the concept for the video might have taken the title a bit too literally at the end. Regardless, the video itself is a pretty gorgeous one, and with it soundtracked by one of my favorite songs of the past year, it’s too good not to watch.

Active Child’s You Are All I See is out now.

Connect with Active Child // Facebook | Twitter | web

0 Comments - Leave a comment!