The Lovely Bad Things: New Ghost/Old Waves

New Ghost/Old Waves is the debut EP from LA garage rockers The Lovely Bad Things. The seven tracks are from the heavy side of the garage, with a noticable edge toward punk. This EP has it all, musicicanship, strong vocals, catchy songs and pure energy. Did I say energy, oh yes, there is energy. This is a record to listen to and love. In this age of dreamy, chill, acoustic and all the other dominant forms of indie, it's good to remember why they call it rock and roll. Stream New Ghost/Old Waves at the link below. 

Grandpa Was A Lion: Archaic EP

The Archaic EP is the sophomore release from Brooklyn shoegazer Grandpa Was A Lion, aka Justin D'Onofrio. The five tracks evoke a dreamy ambient sensibility. D'Onofrio's use of layers of acoustic guitars is stunning in its simplicity and grand in its effect, creating a shimmering tonal poem on which to build his vocals. The EP has a wide sonic range from distorted electrics never breaking from the dream world, to lush synth pads never descending into an electronic exercise. The Archaic EP is anything but. This is great dream pop music. Stream and buy the Archaic EP at the link below.

Slow Magic: ▲

▲ is the debut EP from Slow Magic, a band that there is no information about. The only info on them is that they are an imaginary band. What we can tell you is that the three tracks are pristine, surreal chillwave. Minimal drum machine beats, spacey samples, other worldly vocals and lush synthesizer pads make this EP a worthy soundtrack to a Dr. Who adventure. This is an extremely impressive debut from an imaginary band. Can't wait to see what comes if Slow Magic turn out to be the real deal. Stream ▲at the lnik below.

Kids: Summer Frights

San Diego's Kids debut EP Summer Frights is garage rock at its best. Poppy songs, grinding guitars and minimalist keyboards, all topped off with Nature Fejarang's wonderful punky vocals. This is a solid debut from a band that is destined for success. The six tracks showcase strong writing and musicianship, and surprisingly good production for a DIY record. Stream and download Summer Frights for free at the link below.

Best Friends: EP

Surf tinged garage pop from Sheffield, UK is what you get on EP from Best Friends. The seven tracks are twangy, reverb heavy pop music worhty of a SoCal beach. This quartet gives us an EP to help us transition to the summer being over. With Best Friends we can hang on a little longer and keep the party going. There's been lots of surf pop this summer, but EP is great music to cap it off with. Stream and download EP at the the link below.

The Capstan Shafts: Kind Empires

Kind Empires is the latest release from Capstan Shafts, the semi-solo project of singer/songwriter Dean Wells. This is classic lo-fi music in the vein of GBV, rough, hard and edgy, just like it should be. The fourteen tracks flash past in a fuzzy, heavy guitar blur. While many bands aspire to a lo-fi esthetic, but few are as adept at it as Wells. This is the best of the genre. If one looked up lo-fi in a dictionary, it should say Dean Wells' music. Stream and download Kind Empires at the link below.

The Group Sound: Secret Girlfriend

The debut album from The Group Sound is a retro trip in a '57 Chevy. Secret Girlfriend features ten tracks of twangy, reverb soaked guitar, hooks galore and influences from the 50's and 60's, but with a distinct post-punk edge coming through loud. Hailing from Edmonton, Matthew Israelson, Mark Goetz, Jessica Kyca, Alec Meen make garage music with the kind of simple melodies missing from much of today's scene. This is music to listen to with Wally, the Beaver and the Nelsons...at CBGB's! Get you punky retro fix at the link below.

Beat Culture: Goldenbacked Weaver

For most people, being 17 years old means enduring massive high school drama.. To Beat Culture, aka Sunik Kim, it means making some of the best new chillwave/electronic music out there. Since he started making music in February of 2011, Beat Culture has been quite proliific with an album of remixes, two EP's and now his first full length release Goldenbacked Weaver. The 10 tracks are more experimental than his previous work and are also highly original. This is serious music that shows a musical maturity well beyond his years. Beat Culture is destined to become an important artist and is a must listen. Don't be surprised to see him in my year end top 10 picks. Stream and buy Goldenbacked Weaver at the linkl below.

Bos Angeles: Demo

Bos Angeles is a new post-punk trio from the UK and they have released a 3 song demo as thier debut effort. The three tracks range from the summer surf tune on Beach Slalom, to a lo-fi anthem on June, to dark lo-fi ballad on Days of Youth. This is a sterling first effort, full of garage goodness and promise. We can only hope for a full release from Bos Angeles soon. Stream Bos Angeles' demo at the link below (and buy their cool psychedelic t-shirt).

Triptides: Psychic Summer

Here's the debut full length from one of our favorite bands, Triptides. After two stunning EP's the Bloomington, Indiana trio delivers thirteen tracks of their best landlocked surf music. The 60's babes on the cover say it all. This is retro garage music brimming full of surf, psychedelia and summer. Triptides never fail to satisfy with jangly guitars, in the pocket drums and solid bass holding it all together. Reverby vocals and a sometimes lo-fi sound finish it all off. It's great to finally have a full length from Triptides. Stream and buy Psychic Summer at the link below.

Hands and Knees: Wholesome

Wholesome is the latest album from Boston garage pop band Hands and Knees. This is fuzzy, energetic indie rock at its best. The 12 tracks have a slight 60's feel, abundant hooks and feel good vibes throughout. These are simnple, straight forward pop tracks laid bare of pretense and meant to be enjoyed. Dancing around the kitchen is what you'll be doing, having fun, fun ,fun with Hands and Knees. Stream and buy Wholesome at the link below.

Little Scout: Take Your Light

Take Your Light is the debut album from Brisbane, Australia's Little Scout. The record features eleven tracks of dreamy pop music with a heavier edge that is at once dark and energetic. The beautiful vocals of Melissa Tckle really stand out on this album, backed perfectly by understated instrumentals that are stylistically reminiscent of Coldplay. The whole album has a balance and maturity worthy of much more seasoned artists. This is a band that could well end up in my year end best of. Stream and buy Take Your Light at the link below.

Dog Day: Deformer

Deformer is the latest album by Halifax band Dog Day, aka Seth Smith & Nancy Urich. The twelve tracks feature a lo-fi esthetic and punk sensibility, blended with pop stylings into a compelling garage offering. Fuzzy and melodic, the tracks invoke comparisons to No Age, Times New Viking and similar garage aristocracy. This album is pure garage goodness from a duo deserving of a wider audience. Stream and download Deformer at the link below.

Spaces: Nothing Exists but Atoms and the Void

Nothing Exists but Atoms and the Void is the latest release from Brooklyn duo Spaces. The ten tracks take one on a journey through expansive post-rock. Spaces blend huge rock elements with orchestral textures to create progressive experimental rock music that pushes the boundry of what instrumental rock can be. There is much in the album to appreciate. Heavy and poppy, electronic and near metal, Spaces weave a multitude of influences in a truly great musical experiemnce. Stream and buy Nothing Exists but Atoms and the Void at the link below.

Swahili Blonde: Psycho Tropical Ballet Pink

Psycho Tropical Ballet Pink is the latest EP from L.A. post-punk experimental band Swahili Blonde. A semi-solo project of Nicole Turley, Swahili Blonde has a unique sound that seems to combine post-punk, lo-fi and pop influences with an art-punk, musical theater type of soundscape. One can also imagine influences of artists like Lydia Lunch and Exene Cervenka in Swahili Blonde's music. This is music that has to be heard rather than described. Swahili Blonde is a true innovator on today's indie music scene. Stream Psycho Tropical Ballet Pink at the link below.

Chains of Love: Singles

Singles is the debut EP from Vancouver garage band Chains of Love. Fronted by Nathalia Pizarro and Rebecca Marie Law Gray, the band delivers high energy lo-fi with a decidedly 60's R&B feel. Featuring a thoroughly modern garage pop instrumental sound, the combination of retro feel, jangly fuzzy guitars and prominent vocals creates a real winner. The four tracks showcase a band on the cusp of breaking out to a wider audience. Get in on the ground floor. Stream Singles at the link below.

The White Panda: Pandamonium

Pandamonium is the latest album from California duo White Panda, aka producers/DJs Procrast and DJ Griffi. Pandamonium is a massive work of 40 short tracks consisting of mashups, raps, samples, electro, techo and about every other electronic style one could think of. This is music to dance and party to. This is music to live life to. This is music to make you happy and make your cares melt away. Stream and download Pandamonium and just do it.

The Faults: The Faults EP

Back in June we reviewed the debut single by Australian duo The Faults. We now have a followup in the form of a self-titled EP. Simply put, The Faults EP kicks serious arse (that's ass for us Americans). The Faults give us four tracks of bare bones, no nonsense blues rock in the vein of Black Keys or early White Stripes. They do it with their own unique feel and enough energy to power a city. This is a band that should be on everyone's radar as one of the best garage bands going. The Faults are a must have. Stream and download the Faults EP at the link below.

Electrocado

Electrocado is an Australian duo that makes fun and inventive electronic music. Their debut full length LP, The Hass Effect, is chock full of techno goodness with gamey synths, minimalist beats and quirky samples. The 11 tracks combine dubstep influences with psychedelic textures and a little R&B feel to craft catchy electronic pop that is an ear candy treat. Electrocado is not your parent's dance music, but rather they are more progressive and experimental, while still providing a beat that lingers. Stream and download The Hass Effect at the link below.

Ritualz: Ghetto Ass Witch

Ritualz full length Ghetto Ass Witch is a huge record. Spanning electronic, noise, witch house and black metal, the tracks are expansive and sinister. The music's darkness descends over the listener like a claustrophobic veil. Creepy in texture and brilliant in execution, the eight tracks come at you like a nightmare that you don't want to wake up from. This is how dark ambient records should be made, great music, played expertly, with imagery everywhere. If you haven't tasted this musical form yet, Ritualz is the best example for one to start with. Stream and download Ghetto Ass Witch at the link below.

Sun Glitters: The Wind Caresses Her Hair

Luxembourg artist Sun Glitters, aka Victor Ferreira, is back with the track The Wind Caresses Her Hair. I reviewed the Sun Glitters Cosmic Oceans EP back in April and since then there has been a steady flow of new tracks appearing on the Sun Glitters Bancamp page. The Wind Caresses Her Hair is a lush, lo-fi, chilwave track featuring sampled vocals by Deborah Lehnen. Sun Glitters is at the forefront of dreamy shoegaze music with this track, that is delivered through tight electronic passages propelled by swirling synths and a heavy synth bass. Sun Glitters is an important artist that, like Blackbird Blackbird, should be signed to one of the larger indie labels. Again, a call to Sub Pop, Matador, Fearless, etc. to wake up and take notice of these great artists. Stream and download all of the new Sun Glitters tracks through the link below.

Laura Hocking & The Long Goodby: Laura Hocking & The Long Goodby

Laura Hocking & The Long Goodbye is the self-titled debut EP from the UK based singer/songwriter. The EP blends together Hocking's exceptional voice with strong instrumentals and production. This is freak folk the way it should be. Lush strings, soaring vocals and compelling stories abound. Absolutely everything about this EP is great. The only drawback is that we are given only four tracks. We need more from this artist, much, much more. Laura Hocking & The Long Goodbye is a virtuoso work and a must have for any indie aficionado. Stream and buy the EP at the link below.

Idaho: You Were a Dick

You Were a Dick is the first release in 6 years from singer/songwriter Jeff Martin aka Idaho. The 14 tracks that Martin shares with us on this LP were worth the wait. Soft and dreamy, with understated vocals and lilting musical elements. Vaguely psychedelic, dimly lo-fi, hazily pop and distantly produced, Idaho's music draws one into a world where slo-core becomes its own aesthetic.  Expertly crafted and meticulously executed, You Were a Dick should bring the attention back to Idaho. Stream and buy You Were a Dick at the link below.