Just in case you forgot this wasn’t a blog dedicated strictly to witch house, I bring you the one-woman lo-fiisms of Ant Parade. Hailing from the god-forsaken hole that is Florida (one-time resident so I know what I’m talking about) Brigid represents the duality of how this sort of thing usually goes. She’ll lure you into a false sense of security with sweet melodies and lovely words and then shatter your nerves with ghost-vocals over noisy clanks and hiss. Beautiful and frightening stuff.
Oh Marnie. You make me believe in rock and roll again. Your mind-altering guitar riffs made me melt when I first played In Advance Of The Broken Arm, and you injected me with thrumming adrenaline when I heard This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That (even if I refuse to say the title aloud.) Now I hear you’re releasing a new self-titled album on October 18th (thanks for the brevity, by the way) and Ican’t hold it in. I have to stomp and flail my arms and thrash my head to your infectious grooves. I know, I’ll post your new song from the upcoming album on my MUSIC BLOG so other people can enjoy it too. Life owns.
Fuzzy noise pop never gets boring for me, so of course I’m wrapped up in the shimmering melodies of Aias, an all-girl trio from Barcelona. They take their vocals to celestial heights, creating a soaring, epic tune that could lift even the most dour of moods.
Aias’ debut LP A la Piscina is out on Captured Tracks. Get it.
HAVE ONE ON GREEN
A couple days ago I got an email from Colleen from the criminally underrated Have Mercys. She has a new solo project simply called Colleen Green that she feels is even better, and I can’t help but agree. Upping the Ramones-style punk rock vibe while keeping her lovely cassette-pet vocals a bit fuzzy, Colleen whips together a sound that will make you want to pogo in the sun.
Leaving on tour tomorrow, but I’ll update occasionally when I can! Expect more pictures!
A CROSS THE CEMETARY
Vivian Girls by way of 4AD? Yes please. Glass Graves is the new project from San Francisco’s Gaby, and its echoey production brings to mind all of the unhappy post-punk music I listened to as a young teenager, as well as the more jangley lo-fi stuff I listened to as a slightly older teenager/now. A little sad, a little mellow, this is perfect stuff for overcast days reading abstract novels under your Lydia Lunch poster.
Glass Graves’ first LP Architecture is available at her website. Get it.
GIRLS LIKE US
Alternating between tour work and enjoying everything New York City has to throw at me before I leave her for five months, so I haven’t had much time for my triangular baby here but here’s something I can’t ignore. Las Robertas make gorgeous C86-style music that will send shivers down your spine - perfect from cooling off in this sunny summer weather! Best of all you can download their whole album for free here. Get it. And fall in love.
BANHART OF GOLD
I’m moving + starting my tour soon so that’s why no updates. I’ve also been hiding in my sewer lair listening to massive amounts of grime (a positive addiction I got out of my last failed relationship, w00p) and haven’t had much brainspace for anything else. I popped out of my grimehive to express my joy at this new Devendra Banhart vid, which features a bunch of other dudes including my LA lovebunnies Hecuba. JME stopped spitting rhymes specifically to tell me how much it owns, and if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for me. Pay it forward.
ICE CREAM CAKES
Like most people, I’m noticeably more happy when the weather is warm, and that perfect moment when you feel spring edging into summer is my favorite. This is a warm-weather mix that’s currently cycling through my earphones as I cycle through the neighborhood. A few obvious choices, a few weird ones, but all perfect for sunny days with sockless feet and cold drinks.
DOWNLOAD SPRING INTO SUMMER Featuring tracks from The The The Drums Lemonade Shonen Knife Sonic Youth Matt & Kim The Coathangers Twin Sister Gorillaz The Organ Animal Collective Music Go Music Tiger Trap Best Coast Cristina Cibo Matto Gayngs Fad Gadget Delorean Empire of The Sun Korallreven Schneider TM
FALL IN LOVE WITH ME
I admit to not being overly impressed with Twin Sister’s Vampires With Dreaming Kids EP; I filed it under ‘pleasant’ and moved on. But with their latest 12”, the gorgeously ethereal Color Your Life, they’ve snared my ears and mind completely. Full of melancholic guitars and synths and wistful vocals that could break your heart, it’s the perfect soundtrack to a summer romance. Twin Sister are creating sounds both fresh and timeless, and I can’t wait to hear more.
Color Your Life is available for pre-order on Infinite Best. Get it.
COME MY WAY
Yeah, you probably saw it first on GVB, but there’s no way I’m not posting this beachgaze wonder from Vivian Girls’ dreamboat Kickball Katy and this dude Gregg from Cat Power. Even if it’s shitty and gray outside, it’s summer in your heart if you’re listening to this.
Is CocoRosie too ‘mainstream’ for this blog? Not sure, but all I can think about is partying next to Sierra Casady at one of the much-maligned KILL WHITEY parties way back when, someone coming up to me and sloshing half of a drink on both of us and her startled exclamation of what sounded like (but probably wasn’t) “BOAR BARF”. Thanks for continuing to make really good, wistful music, dudes. Now how about a new Metallic Falcons LP?
CocoRosie’s new album Grey Oceans is out May 11th on Sub Pop. Get it.
FOREST FRIENDS
This is the best thing I’ve seen in the last two weeks (not counting the ‘bundy pon de floor’ video I just watched) and I bet it’ll be topping your list as well. Explode Into Colors goes off to a cabin in the woods with their friends to play music and make lentil soup and talk about pee and shoot off fireworks in a hot tub. I wish I could have been there.
A TOUCH OF LIFE
I’ve spent the last few days basking in the sun, enjoying the beautiful heat that I’ve missed for so long. Also there really hasn’t been a ton to talk about in the last few days, aside from a new album by The Bitters that’s fantastic, of course. Weather like this, however, caught between the bleakness of winter and the hope of summer, inspires me to listen to light, delicate music with a touch of melancholia. Free Kisses is perfect for that, gorgeous airy vocals treading lightly on the slowly-warming ground.
Taking a break from illness to listen to something ill. Low Sea is a girl/boy duo from Ireland who create beautiful jangly dirges for the shoegaze set, equal parts ethereal melancholy and sweet desire that will leave you aching for love and dreaming of the last day before summer vacation.
Low Sea’s debut album Las Olas is available from the band’s Space. Get it.
SOUND MIRAGE
Got a beautiful EP from Royal Rhino Flying Records by London-based duo Visions Of Trees, and I’ve been playing the heck out of it. Their sound has echoes of High Places and Fight Bite, with clattering synthetic percussion and lovely vocals. Perfect for getting lost in on a spring morning.
Better Than Sex is(pick one)
- a blog for new music/art/style - a loving tribute to Rodney Dangerfield - gay and for faggots - a Native American Ghost - a safe and fun place for teens! - going to take a nap - totally triangles!!! and is run by
DANIEL
If you want to send me something new and interesting, contact kingtreehouse AT gmail DOT com The music and photography I post on here is to help people find out about all the stuff I love. If I've posted some of your stuff and you want it taken off, contact me! I'm legally allowed to call you a little gay baby if you do this, however.
