Today I’m so excited to share with everyone an early listen to indie/power-punk band, Virginity, and their new album called Bad Jazz. The songs on Bad Jazz come from a place of musical tangents, digressions, and what-ifs. A place of realizing that sometimes your best ideas are the ones that started out as jokes. Bad Jazz is about going with your gut, taking the mistakes and running with them, and letting curiosity take the lead. It’s not necessarily an album about fun, but it sure sounds fun—and it sounds like it was fun to make. If you’re enjoying the early listen, please consider purchasing the new album here that will be released tomorrow via Smartpunk Records.
Read More “Virginity – “Bad Jazz” (Album Stream)”Evan Boyer – “The Devil In Me” (Album Stream)
Today I’m so excited to share an early listen to the talented artist, Evan Boyer, and his first album The Devil In Me. The record was produced by Bradley Prakope and showcases Boyer’s attention to intricate details in his songwriting. When asked about the sprawling opening track called “Mockingbird and Monticello” Boyer shared:
What’s interesting about the first track is that I started writing the song when I was going through a breakup in 2014. But then we got back together so I stopped writing it after the first chorus, and I hadn’t even thought about it for years. So, fast-forward to 2022, we’re married now, and I’m writing my album, and my wife mentions that I should go back and try and finish that song. So, I ended up writing the second half of the song through a totally different perspective, and I think it’s just a unique song for me because it’s coming from two very different points in my life.
If you’re enjoying the early listen to The Devil In Me, please consider pre-ordering the vinyl here. I was also able to catch up with Evan Boyer for a brief interview below.
Read More “Evan Boyer – “The Devil In Me” (Album Stream)”Adam Lytle – “This is the Fire” (Album Stream)
Today I’m excited to announce that singer-songwriter Adam Lytle has released his new LP called This is the Fire. Adam Lytle writes songs that explore the darker regions of the heart. When speaking on his new record, Lytle shared, “I wanted to write in a way that spoke to the feelings of anxiety and disillusionment that many in my community are feeling. This is anti-escapism. It meets the issues head-on.” Known for the mysterious power of his live performances, Lytle honed his craft for years leading acclaimed bands, Quicksilver Daydream and Wild Leaves. He has won over crowds all across North America; sharing the stage with Marlon Williams, Daniel Romano, Imarhan, and appearing at festivals like NXNE, MidPoint Music Festival, and CMJ. If you’re enjoying the album stream, please consider supporting this talented artist here.
Read More “Adam Lytle – “This is the Fire” (Album Stream)”Hallie Spoor – “Heart Like Thunder” (Album Stream)
Today is a great day to get reacquainted with modern folk artist, Hallie Spoor. Her new EP, Heart Like Thunder, has now been released, and her sound channels 70’s music stalwarts like Joni Mitchell, but with the modern pop sheen of Sheryl Crow. When speaking on the direction of her new EP, Spoor shared:
Heart Like Thundertells the painful truth that when things get difficult, sometimes it’s easier to slip away than try. Yet, ironically, writing and recording Heart Like Thunder allowed me to do just the opposite: to live authentically, to rewrite my stories in their purest, truest versions. When I look at this record as a whole, I realize that I’m much more honest — and far wiser — in songs about my life than I am in my real life. Writing these songs gave me the chance to re-frame experiences in a way that healed me. In place of villains and martyrs, now I could see the characters as both flawed and beautiful.
Hallie Spoor is delivering the goods in more ways than one.
Read More “Hallie Spoor – “Heart Like Thunder” (Album Stream)”Wilson Getchell – “This To That” (Album Stream)
Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone that Thirsty Curses’ front-man, Wilson Getchell, is releasing his debut EP called This To That on October 13th. This To That opens with the puerile and playful coming of age tune, “Brand New Nintendo,” in which Getchell humorously retraces his life’s missteps, and ponders the resulting twists and turns. It’s followed by the Pavement-esque “This Just Might Take Some Time,” a cathartic post-breakup anthem with a banging saxophone solo, and then the toe-tapper “Trauma Queen.” The EP is rounded out by the existential crisis themed “Fifty Straight Nights,” and the ballad “Are You Still There?”, an orchestral-ish rearrangement of a tune which previously appeared on Thirsty Curses’ To The Ends of The Earth. Getchell shared, “Earlier this year, my band Thirsty Curses took a couple months off and I started recording a handful of songs which ultimately became This to That. When we’ve recorded Thirsty Curses material in the past, we’ve always tried to present the songs in the same way we would perform them live. This solo EP was much more of a studio record which allowed me to explore some different sounds and instrumentation. I performed all the instruments on the new EP with the exception of guest appearances by Jason Froeber (saxophone on “This Just Might Take Some Time” and “Trauma Queen”), Tee Corbett (trumpet on “Brand New Nintendo”), and Lodge McCammon (cello and bass on “Are You Still There?”). I think the new tunes came out pretty great and I’m excited to finally get to share them.” If you’re enjoying the early listen, please consider purchasing the EP.
Read More “Wilson Getchell – “This To That” (Album Stream)”Calmgrove – “True Color” (Album Stream)
Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone an early listen to the new EP from LA pop-punk band, Calmgrove, called True Color. On this electric set of songs, Calmgrove channel their love for big pop hooks paired with alternative rock elements in a crowd-pleasing package. The band shared, “We’re so excited to be premiering our EP True Color with Chorus.FM. True Color is several years in the making and we feel like it’s the best collection of music that we have put out. The main things that make up the Calmgrove sound, like palm-muted riffs, catchy vocals, and energetic drums are still present, but we pushed ourselves creatively with these songs. These songs are meant to be played loud, so go for a drive and blast it with the windows down. We hope you enjoy it and we’ll see you at a show this summer!” If you’re enjoying the EP, you can purchase it wherever you stream your music on June 16th.
Read More “Calmgrove – “True Color” (Album Stream)”FRANKIIE – “Between Dreams” (Album Stream)
Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest full-length record from indie pop band, FRANKIIE, called Between Dreams. The album was just released this past Friday, and it showcases the band’s growth that nails the vibe of dream-pop, and breathtaking vocal harmonies on their sophomore set. If you’re enjoying what you hear, please consider purchasing the LP here. I was also able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.
Read More “FRANKIIE – “Between Dreams” (Album Stream)”Ghost Love – “Mourners Disco” (Album Stream)
Today I’m excited to share with everyone a listen to the new LP from synth-pop trio, Ghost Love, called Mourners Disco. On this 80’s-inspired LP, Ghost Love channel their adoration for haunting synths, breathtaking vocals, and unique beats for a great listening experience. David Rancourt shared:
Read More “Ghost Love – “Mourners Disco” (Album Stream)”As band members we all love the tension between writing simple pop songs, but including more left field and more free form influences as well – which I think is what defines Ghost Love in terms of songwriting.Thematically, it is a dark record about loss and grief but there’s also a sort of ecstatic and escapist mood that combines with that darkness where we also wanted that tension to shine through. My own personal favorite albums tend to straddle those lines in terms of pop and experimentation as well as light and dark emotionally.
Occurrence – “Slow Violence” (Album Stream)
Today is a great day to share the latest LP from electronic band Occurrence, called Slow Violence. On this expansive double album from the NYC-based band, it tackles themes from the blissful feeling of love all the way to lowest of lows of failure. Occurrence is Ken Urban (electronics, synths & beats), Cat Hollyer (vocals, flute) and Johnny Hager (vocals), and the album is out everywhere music is sold today.
Read More “Occurrence – “Slow Violence” (Album Stream)”Todd Morse – “Time Stopper” (Album Stream)
Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the new EP from Todd Morse called Time Stopper. This release will be on legendary label Manic Kat Records, and features some great songs from Morse tinged with punk, pop, and a plethora of anthemic moments. Morse shared, “Signing with Manic Kat has inspired me to become more prolific which is what I needed. I try to live in the moment as much as possible these days but I do want to leave a musical legacy. Sometimes you have those moments in life where it feels like time stops and I live for that. Songs can hit you that way. I hope I create that moment for someone.” Todd Morse may have just crafted the next great punk record.
Read More “Todd Morse – “Time Stopper” (Album Stream)”The Clamor – ‘The Clamor’ (Album Stream)
Today is a great day to share the self-titled debut LP from The Clamor, that comes from the mind of Aaron Louis. This new punk rock project channels musicians like Joe Strummer and Billie Joe Armstrong into a crowd-pleasing package. Louis shared this about the record:
The album is not me trying to recreate that atmosphere but a place to begin where I left off. Even if that just means having fun – like not being too precious, finding ways to be vulnerable, and embracing the collision of styles, all of which I hope you feel in this album. I like this moment in my life and feel like this album was a way to create a sort of sonic snapshot of what I’ve been thinking about and what’s important to me. And thinking of how fast it goes.
Get ready to fall in love with The Clamor.
Read More “The Clamor – ‘The Clamor’ (Album Stream)”Mothlights – “Walking The World With A Leaky Umbrella” (Album Stream)
Today is a great day to share the latest album from Mothlights called Walking the World With A Leaky Umbrella. Mothlights come from the mind of Rishi Gupta, who also owns the label Strawberry Moon Records. This DC-based artist would be perfect for fans of Julien Baker and Low. Gupta shared:
More than once was a guitar take on this record interrupted by the sound of an armored police vehicle rolling past my window in mid 2020, and more than once did I give up recording a vocal take after yet another news buzz on my phone left me exhausted. I feel like we all feel it, seeing it on our screens, before our eyes and in the way it’s affecting our personal behaviors. Rising global fascism, rising tides: we’re in the end stage now. I’m still reckoning with the fact that we will never get the pre-COVID world back and how this new world was born from that one. Being terminally stuck in my 700 sq ft apartment for two years in downtown DC amidst all of that was pretty rough as I was writing and recording this album, so I retreated heavily into fantasy. Almost all of the songs are informed by what was going on around me contextually but set in this surreal other place I had retreated to. I tried to let the quarantine, the Floyd uprising, the loss and declining health of loved ones and the wave of reaction bleed into this completely hypothetical folk music from some place I made up in my head.
Welcome to the world of Mothlights.
Read More “Mothlights – “Walking The World With A Leaky Umbrella” (Album Stream)”Belted Sweater – “Requiem” (Song Premiere)
Today is a great day to share the new single from indie synth/punk band Belted Sweater, called “Requiem.” For those unfamiliar with Belted Sweater, it is the indie solo project of Christopher Patrick Gregory, who largely builds his songs on this record around percussion elements. Gregory shared:
The first Killing Joke album is one of my favorite records. The energy of the opening track, “Requiem,” is so infectious, especially for a half time feel, I air drum and shout along every time I hear it. Revisiting the album during the pandemic, I wanted to try and cover it. I had never covered a song solo before, so it was an interesting challenge, but I still get the same feeling playing it as I do listening to it.
If you’re enjoying the early listen of the single, please consider purchasing the EP here.
Read More “Belted Sweater – “Requiem” (Song Premiere)”The Co Founder – Gymnasium (Album Stream)
Today I’m excited to bring everyone a stream of the recently reissued LP by The Co Founder, called Gymnasium. The reissue of Gymnasium, previously released in 2018 on Slang Church, features two live acoustic versions of the singles from the record that were recorded and released by Slang Church via their Brunch Tunes sessions. The band will also be recording new music next month with producer Jordan Krimston (Oso Oso, The Obsessives, Weatherbox). I was able to catch up with songwriter Hayden Eller for an exclusive track-by-track look at this reissue. If you’re enjoying the LP, please consider purchasing it here.
Read More “The Co Founder – Gymnasium (Album Stream)”Youth In A Roman Field – ‘Get Caught Trying’ (Album Stream)
Today is a great day to share the new album from Youth In A Roman Field, called Get Caught Trying. Youth In A Roman Field is led by Claire Wellin, the violinist and vocalist of Brooklyn’s indie rock band, San Fermin. On her latest offering, entitled Get Caught Trying, Wellin channels sweeping instrumentation backed with breathtaking vocals in crowd-pleasing arrangements. Wellin shared:
“I’ve struggled with depression and anger my entire life (grappling with it led to our band name) but it’s been really difficult to identify what anger is mine and what does not belong to me. It became necessary to figure that out over the last six years, and create a path for living with instead of against it. What began as an exercise in self-soothing culminated in my exploring generational patterns and trauma, and the anger that accompanies it, as a thread between myself and the women who came before me. Get Caught Trying is an attempt to make sense of that, while opening up time & space for enjoyment, humor, and healing in the process.”
If you’ve been looking for the next great artist to put on your radar, look no further than Youth In A Roman Field.
Read More “Youth In A Roman Field – ‘Get Caught Trying’ (Album Stream)”