It's New Year's Day for me today, so I decided that I'd try and get better about mentioning things that I really wanted to mention before getting lazy or distracted by something shiny. That's not to say that any of these can't hold my attention. It's just that, well, I'm not particularly organized here. I can make it another resolution to fix that, I guess.
Anyway, stuff I probably should have mentioned by now...
Mauch, Feed Your Head
Max Rauch is so busy recording other people's records and playing in other bands that it's hard to figure out where he found time to put out a solo EP. Feed Your Head is three songs very much in the jangle pop tradition of a band like R.E.M.
The EP makes several references to the struggle with depression. "You ask yourself - when will the ride be over?" on "The Ride." "You gave up... You gave in..." on "Shades of Blue." The serious and personal subject matter, though, comes packaged in some light and ethereal arrangements making for an enjoyable -- and cathartic -- quick listen.
Grab Feed Your Head as a Name Your Price download over at Bandcamp.
Denizens Of Soil, "You Fill Me with Inertia" / "Closure Junkie"
Featuring members of Prehistoric Forest, Grand Mariner, and Yawn Mower / toilet. / more, Denizens of Soil bring a strong pedigree to their first single. This pair of songs features a heavy early-aughts, guitar-centric indie rock influence; but I also hear in some of the vocal arrangements and word play ("Neptune stood there oxidized, he just rolled his eyes at the conversation.
Referential punditry from the too cool coterie") maybe a hint of They Might Be Giants minus some of the absurdity.
Head over to Bandcamp to grab this one as a free download and see for yourself.
Cutters, "both // neither"
This 7" from New York's Cutters covers a lot of ground over 8 or so minutes. Opener "List of People Buried at Arlington National Cemetery" swerves between post-hardcore and classic indie rock. Similarly, the driving drum beat that opens "Wicked & Divne" gives way to Pierce Lightning's pained vocals until the chorus, reminiscent of Built to Spill, arrives. "Fade to Black" doesn't veer between styles but builds to something epic by its end.
Throughout, Lightning sings of coming to grips with their personal gender identity from coming out to others to self-medicating through some of the hard times. These are three deeply personal songs expertly delivered.
"both // neither" is available via Jam Eater Records or at Cutters' Bandcamp page.
OK. That's it for now. I'll sift through the pile and see what else I may have for you later this week. New Year's resolutions and all.
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