by marissa bea
We have a great variety of new albums and incredible bands for y’all this time around. From Boston, to Oklahoma, these bands all explore something great about mixing the modern with the tried-and-true. Look out for each and every one of these in your local music stores or online. Get to know them, learn them, love them. Anya Marina kicks us off with a track from her January release Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase 2 .via Chop Shop Records. Without further adieu here’s More Music Volume 18.
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Hands and Knees – Et Tu, Fluffy?
This quartet lives in western Massachusetts but comes straight from the Boston indie scene, which, because of the sheer number of students and young people, is thriving. The music is quirky, poppy, and catchy, with hints of some country thrown in, but so sneakily that you must take a second to say, “Wait, is that…?”. They played two shows in NYC last week, and they have a new album out called Et, tu Fluffy?, which I have been having a love affair with. Expect that they will be back soon.
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Starlight Mints – Change Remains
For all the albums and quality music these guys have put out, they sure aren’t known well enough. They’re based in (of all places) Norman, Oklahoma and are on Barsuk records, alongside the likes of Death Cab, and John Vanderslice. They consistently put out amazing records and are on every playlist on my ipod. The news of their newest album release just came a few days ago: Change Remains will be released digitally June 9th and physically July 21st. I might be more excited than I’ve ever been.
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Miniature Tigers – “Cannibal Queen” Video
QC originally wrote about this track in a More Music last December but this is one of my favorite new albums this year, with its horrific sounding song titles, to the bubbly-indie lyrics and melodies. The songs are all clean and simple, with the same odd quality sound that has been coming out of Phoenix lately. You can sing along, jam in silence, or pretty much anything to this album. June 7th these guys will be at the Music Hall of Williamsburg with Kevin Devine, at the tail end of a tour all over the country. Seeing them will probably be one of the better ideas you have.
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Halston – “From Here to Here” (single) – Album to Follow
In the small township of Brighton, Massachusetts lurks a band consisting of two brothers. Dando and Carlos create tunes that are awkward in their creativity and danceable without being irritating. Their newest single, “From Here to Here” came out May 11th, and it’s got some disco, some funk, and some soul to it (but mostly lots of fun disco). The songs get under your skin, and to top it off, the band is friendly as hell.
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The Devil Makes Three – Do Wrong Right
Anyone who doesn’t like bluegrass, or at least appreciate it, can’t really call themselves a music fan. Though rock ‘n’ roll has taken over contemporary popular culture, the beginnings of American music are still around and doing just fine. The new album, Do Wrong Right came out April 21st and the title single made its way to #1 on the Billboard bluegrass charts. I’m already partial to anything with banjos, and this is actually quality. Go back to the roots folks.
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Photons – Glory!
A group of eight, Photons reminds me of every campfire song, set to good music and lyrics and sang by a bunch of happy friends. Perhaps its the large group dynamic, but be that as it may, they are an enjoyable time. With the employment of many different instruments, influences like lullabies and fairytales, they are just a fun time. Around only for a short while, they have quickly gained a following and are already on their second EP. Glory! is in pre-release now through Insound, and out everywhere June 23rd.
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Menomena – “Evil Bee” Video
Menomena is another wonderful band from Barsuk records, and I happened across this new video of theirs and fell in love with it. My jaw dropped and I think I even cried a little. There is not much more to say about it except, wow.
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8 Comments
Yay, Anya is getting some love out there. I’ve been digging her album like crazy lately, it took a while but it just clicked for me, glad to see you are liking it as well!
You know she’s on Chop Shop Records which was started by Alex Patsavas who, along with Josh Schwartz, just did a web- series Rockville CA (www.rockvilleca.com) which Anya performed on and has a cute lil’ interview. Whew!
Love your comment on Halston!
“From here to here” is a brilliant song, but then all their songs are great, each in their own way.
I’m sure we will hear more from them.
Great review of Halston’s From Here to Here. I frequently get their songs stuck in my head and end up dancing around my apartment. Halstons music is so eclectic that if disco isn’t your thing they’re sure to have something else you’ll love. It’s true the band is friendly as hell. I went to their myspace page \halstonboston and Carlos Haslton sent me free mp3s just because I asked nicely.
Halston rocks mah socks. That is all.
Thanks Marissa Bea for the best description of Halston’s music I’ve heard yet.
Great job on the Halston review. Nice to see them getting some much deserved attention.
From Here to Here is catchy and very dancable but Halston covers such a great range of genres you really can’t pick one song as an example of their sound. Anyone who hasn’t heard them yet should check out the bands myspace page http://www.myspace.com/halstonboston. You wont be sorry.
Great Blog. Nice feature to have the music right on the page. After hearing the sample songs I’m going to be checking out more of Halston and the Photons.