There’s some gems out this week, here’s my top 5 plus something from the archives that is back on my radar….
First up it’s Connecticut trio Perennial with new track ‘How the Ivy Crawls‘ which is taken from their new album ‘Art History‘ which is out today. It’s a stripped back garage punk track that at various points erupts into a 60s inspired, full on rollicking anthem. There’s some groovy breakdowns with some girl group-esque ‘yeah yeahs’ but always with a pounding heartbeat keeping the action moving. Absolute banger- check out the whole album for some mod-inspired, post-hardcore experiments. The band have quite the reputation back home in New England, known for their bombastic, arty live sets. Check out the new track and album HERE.
Next up, it’s the new track from Sacramento punks Destroy Boys. The quartet have just announced their fourth studio album ‘Funeral Soundtrack #4‘ which will be out on 9th August via Hopeless Records. Their first official single from the new LP is ‘Boyfeel‘ is a song a long time in the making for vocalist Alexia Roditis who started penning the track at 17, exploring an evolving relationship with gender nonconformity. The video reflects similar themes of identity, sexuality and finding your place or perhaps rejecting restrictive labels altogether.
Femegades are one of my faves- the insightful and unapologetic group tackle a long list of feminist issues across their tracks- division of labour, motherhood, body image, objectification, trauma…..all with an astute ability to link these issues to wider structures and systems in society, it’s political thesis wearing a catchy punk jacket. New track ‘Broken Bones’ is classic breathless Femegades territory tackling over medicalisation of trauma. The tight and brooding track is taken from their new EP ‘Sex Robots‘ – five tracks of radicalising, dystopian punk. Get on it now HERE.
Now for something a wee bit dreamier and head-swaying rather than head-banging. I’ve been quite taken this week with the new track by Melbourne’s Quivers- ‘Oyster Cuts‘. It’s an alluring, gentle track with some beautiful laid back vocals and synth-driven pulse with a melody that would be perfect for the Stranger Things soundtrack, all 80s lovey pop with a touch of early The National. I listened to it when I was on a train and watching the landscapes go by with this in my ear made me feel like I was in a film. Get a hold of it HERE.
Last but not least for this week’s releases is Manchester’s post punk trio Liines who have new track ‘Holding On‘ out this week which wins award for hardest working bass so far- what a hook! Zoe McVeigh’s vocals are strong but emotionally brittle, a combination emitting frustration, heartbreak and yearning. All the good stuff! It’s a welcome return for a band who have a new EP out later this year, their follow up to 2018’s ‘Stop-Start‘. Have a listen to ‘Holding On‘ HERE.
Aaaaand every week I pick a track that I missed the first time around but now absolutely love and this week it is….’Stars’ by Hum. Now it seems everyone already knew this song but IN MY DEFENCE, I was 9 years old when this was released and I can’t say how much airplay it got in the UK anyway (the band themselves are from Illinois). But this track was doing the rounds on social media the other week and since hearing it, it has been pretty much on steady rotation for me, it’s a fuzzy, but strangely poignant and melancholic with that classic ‘quiet/loud’ dynamic that it has in common with a lot of great 90s indie.