Day Wave–The Days We Had
Genre: Indie Rock, Synthpop
FFO: Diiv, Wild Nothing, Beach Fossils
I remember the first time I looked deep into the alluring stare of Jackson Phillips. The song “Deadbeat Girl” was playing on Music Choice on my girlfriend’s television and it seemed as if his promotional photograph was looking deep into my soul trying to seduce me.
Phillips still channels his seductive, clean, guitar pop on his debut LP. While more simplistic and not as atmospherically driven as previous EPs and Demos, The Days We Had is a well-written, well-produced, fun pop record similar to the likes of Diiv and Wild Nothing.
Hoops–Routines
Genre: Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Post Punk
FFO: Mac Demarco, Diiv, Beach Fossils
Hoops began as a bedroom project of Indiana-based musician Drew Auscherman utilizing four tracks and tape reels to achieve a warm, nostalgic, sound.
Years have passed and their debut LP Routines basks in studio magic but finds the band at high points in terms of their writing. Twinkly, harmonizing leads mend well with Auscherman’s pristine vocal performance channeling the trending Jangle Pop comeback movement Mac DeMarco appears to be partially responsible for starting.
Routines is an ironic title as it appears to be absent of the routines the group previously utilized to record their music, but the makeover works in the favor delivering track after track of fun, upbeat, summery jams.
Loss–Horizonless
Genre: Funeral Doom, Death Metal
FFO: Bell Witch, Hooded Menace, Evoken
Tennessee-based Doom outfit Loss returns with a sophomore LP after a six year gap.
Crushing, spacey, sorrowful Funeral Doom along the lines of Bell Witch encompass the record. Like most records of this particular subgenre, this is not a recommended listen for anyone with a short attention span.
Lastly, check out that beautiful album art.
Lulls in Traffic–Rabbit in the Snare
Genre: Indie/Hip Hop/R&B/Ambient
FFO: Copeland, inc. no world, Foxing
I’ve been patiently waiting for this album for six years and it is currently at the top of my year end list. For those of you unaware, Lulls in Traffic is a musical duo consisting of Copeland’s Aaron Marsh performing vocals/instrumentals/production alongside Russian MC Ivan Ives.
Ever since Copeland released You Are My Sunshine (which I consider to be their magnum opus) it became clear Marsh’s pipes we’re the group’s biggest strength. I remember thinking to myself the first time I heard his stellar falsetto on “Should You Return” how incredible it would be if Marsh channeled his vocals skills and songwriting abilities into a solo R&B/Pop record.
After Copeland split in 2009 and Marsh focused on production, my pipedream became more and more real. In 2011, Lulls released their first single “The Rope to Pull Yourself Together” and I had been in deep anticipation ever since.
Rabbit in the Snare is a masterpiece honing in on all the strengths that made Copeland’s later work so memorable. I hear a lot of complaints about Ive’s vocal performance being underwhelming in comparison and waving the album down, but his lyrical content far outweighs what many consider to be a lackluster flow. I view Ive’s work on this LP more as delicate spoken word gently coinciding with the beautiful ambience Aaron generates.
Highly recommend this record to anyone that loves Copeland, the “PBR&B” movement (Frank Ocean, Inc no world, How to Dress Well, etc.) and Post Rock/Indie acts such as Foxing or Caspian. The composition here is outstanding, and Marsh still remains one of my favorite current songwriters.
Ostraca–Last
Genre: Screamo, Post Hardcore, Powerviolence
FFO: Orchid, pageninetynine, City of Caterpillar
Richmond, Virginia-based screamo outlet, Ostraca, presents an excruciating, emotional thrill ride blending tendencies of modern Screamo with legends such as Orchid or Ampere.
Melodic yet ear-piercing- this release showcases what I consider to be the most promising young act in the New Wave of the genre.
Succumb–Succumb
Genre: Death Metal, Black Metal, Grindcore
FFO: Behemoth, Pig Destroyer, Full Of Hell,
Hailing from San Francisco, Succumb terrorizers listeners with a horrifying self titled debut seamlessly blending the opposing forces of Black and Death Metal.