cardigans & fistfights

Fear of Men - Erase (Aubade) from Fall Forever (Kanine Records)

Two years ago Fear of Men released their first album Loom, which earned itself a cozy spot on my heavy rotations list for the next year and more. Needless to say, I really loved it; it was a perfect album exploring somber themes of betrayal, loss, and acceptance and mixed in with the sort of dreamy jangly guitars I adore so much.

Earlier this year, the Brighton-based three piece released a followup record Fall Forever, expanding upon same Fear-of-Men themes as their previous releases, but with a slight deviation in sound (less straightforward jangles and more experimental sounds). Despite the shift in sound, Fall Forever has really grown on me and it’s well on it’s way to a spot to my heavy rotation.

Panel of Judges - The Faces Change from Moods on the Move (Mistletone)

It’s no secret that I have a mad infatuation with Australian indiepop. With a rich early roster of bands like The Go-Betweens, The Cannanes, and The Cat’s Miaow, to modern new acts like Twerps and The Goon Sax, there’s something about jangly shambling guitars accompanied with twangy vocals that I find absolutely irresistible.

Sometime inbetween the 1980s and the present day (in 1997, to be exact) Panel of Judges came about, building upon the beloved jangly repertoire which in part influenced the scene as it is today.

The track above is taken from their last album circa 2008, joined in by lovely Twerp[s] Martin Frawley. The group later went on hiatus when founding member Dion moved to New York, now in Free Time.

Jupiter Sun - Violet Intertwine from Why Popstars Can’t Dance (Slumberland)

“Why can’t popstars dance?” “Because guilty feet have got no rhythm!”

It’s the punchline written on the back of Slumberland’s 1994 compliation Why Popstars Can’t Dance, whose name is a reference to Big Flame’s 1986 postpunk single of the same name. This joke earns itself a half-hearted chortle from me, but I’ll let it slide because the contents of this comp more than makes up for the dry humor. With bands like Stereolab, Rocketship, Glo-Worm, Henry’s Dress, and more this record is a 90s indiepop kid’s dream come true.

Back at it again this week ! There are lotsa cool things to look forward to in the bay area this week, so many things I just had to dedicate a show to ‘em, sandwiched inbetween some pretty rad new releases. So tune in, and if you’re in the bay area, come out and support your scene.

Tuesday July 12th - Ducktails, Nic Hessler @  Starline Social Club Tuesday July 12th - Crush, Heavy Petting, White Knuckles, Future Shapes @ Different Fur Studios Friday July 15th - Fear of Men, Puro Instinct, Plush @ Swedish American Hall

Until next time, folks.

Crush - Familiar from Crush II (Self Released)

Despite the tech influx, I’m happy to say that pretty rad things are still happening in the bay area. Oakland’s DIY punk scene is killing it right now (and has been for a long time, really) and one of the groups keeping it alive are four dudes in a band named Crush.

Despite being a fairly recent band, these folks perfectly capture the ‘90s punk/postpunk and Teenage Fanclub vibes that make me oh so weak in the knees. To top it all off, the album features the fantastic art of local peers Meat Market and UNITY’s very own Jeffrey Cheung.

Galaxie 500 - Fourth of July from This Is Our Music (Rough Trade)

Mercury Girls - Beverly from WXPN’s The Key Studio Sessions

Oh damn, Mercury Girls are at it again. This time they’re back with a new track, making me believe they’re absolutely incapable of disappointment. Beverly will appear on an upcoming 12″ split with Tigercats, Wildhoney and Spook School from Slumberland and Fortuna POP!, so be sure to grab yerself a copy when it comes out!

The Pontoons - Landslide from Landslide (Self Released)

In the late 80s and early 90s, the UK’s indiepop influence was spreading throughout the globe. One of the bands that emerged from this time is the New York/Hoboken-based The Pontoons.

Johnny Dee - Motorbike Loves You from Motorbike Loves You...EP (Vinyl Japan)

In 1987 The Chesterf!elds told the world to Ask Johnny Dee, and six years later Japan’s Johnny Dee had an answer. Their response was perfectly jangle’d pop music capturing the spirit of the late 80s scene in the UK (of course, what else would you say?).

Last night The Chapel and still my favorite type of malt.

I've expressed my admiration for Terry Malts in the past, and my sentiments remain the same. It's more than just their delightfully fuzzed out punk songs about love and heartache, but their overall approach and reaction to the world around them. Just look at their two line'd description vs Real Estate's eight paragraphs on The Chapel's show info page. Cheeky and self depreciating, you can't help but smile and love these guys.

Hey !  It’s that time again where I’d like to present you with an hour of lovely music finds that I’m really stoked about, sandwiched between my stupid-excited-(and ridiculously nervous) airbreaks.

This week’s show features a buncha indiepop and jangle pop! Including a combination of new releases (Failed Flowers, Parasol, Trust Fund), older ones (The Fizz Bombs, Choo Choo Train), and some releases from 1993 which some argue may be the best year for indiepop. Enjoy !

Until next time !

Failed Flowers - Supermarket Scene from Failed Flowers (25 Diamonds)

I’m a firm believer that everything Fred Thomas touches becomes gold, kind of like the metaphorical Midas of Ann Arbor; from Saturday Looks Good to Me to Swimsuit to his personal work, Failed Flowers is no exception to this.

Supermoon - Witching Hour from Playland (Mint Records)

Snowbirds - Love Will Come My Way from Split with Les Poissons Solubles (Bring On Bull)

For a brief period in the early 1990s four pop fans from Cardiff University, inspired by the Sarah Records acts and DIY twee scene at the time, banded together to create Snowbirds (with the tunes to match!).

The Cry - Nothing Lost from Beautiful Reasons (Balance Of Power Music)

A couple of weeks ago my friend Josh of Caves XL invited me to cohost with him at the ol’ KDVS stomping grounds (you can stream the show in its entirety and view the playlist at kdvs.org).

During the show Josh introduced me this lovely record by The Cry. Based out of San Diego, these folks appeared out of nowhere one day with two of their tracks featured on a H-Street skate video, and proceeded to disappear from the limelight after putting out one full length release.

Healing Potpourri - Laney from My Eyes Never Really Adjusted to the Light (Death Records)

Featuring overlapping members from Gnar buddies Emotional, San Francisco’s Healing Potpourri are doing pretty great things, making delightful pop songs while aiding in keeping the local music scene alive. 

Dogbreth - Hunger Pains from Chookie (Self Released)

I’ve been a huge fan of Dogbreth since catching them at Think and Die Thinking fest back in 2014. Following the gig, I’ve probably listened to their first album Chookie in its entirety at least five times every day for the next few weeks (I was really, really into it).

Forming from the unforgivingly flaming heat of Phoenix, Dogbreth combines bone crushin’ rock n’ roll and power pop tunes with sappy and sweet lyrics about friendship and love. If you’re a sucker for really positive songs that remind you of the youthful mentality of love, Dogbreth may be your fav brethren.