First Single from MAUCH

"Shades of Blue"

Sometimes the Universe works in pretty mysterious ways. Without boring you with the details, let's just say that writing and blogging (or sleeping or exercising or cleaning or anything) haven't been coming particularly easily for me for the last several weeks. Today, in particular, I've been struggling with a few things I want to get out the door but that I just can't seem to tie up.

Then, I came across the first single from MAUCH. LKFFCT / NGHTCRWLRS drummer (and one of the hardest-working people in NJ music), Max Rauch, got himself a couple of vowels and recorded "Shades of Blue" with Subtitles' Ben Petty. The song is our first taste from MAUCH's upcoming EP for Sniffling Indie Kids, Feed Your Head.

So here I am, wallowing a bit in my inability to get anything done; and I click on a Bandcamp link only to be presented with a song dealing with "the hereditary cycle of clinical depression and mental illness." Mind blown.

Anyway, "Shades of Blue" comes at its serious subject matter from a jangly and poppy perspective, even employing some whistling right at the beginning. It reminds me a little bit of those Mitch Easter-produced R.E.M. sounds from back in the day.

Check out MAUCH's "Shades of Blue," which is available as a Name Your Price download over at MAUCH's Bandcamp page, and stay tuned for news on the band's EP.

Also, consider this your TMI post of the week.

Premiere: First Single from Ice Giant

"Blondie"

LKFFCT's Keith Williams will be releasing a 4-song EP this week under the name Ice Giant. Williams goes totally solo on SADBOI/FUCCBOI, playing every instrument himself and singing. His LKFFCT bandmate and one of the hardest working guys in the NJ music scene, Max Rauch, recorded and mixed the record. We've got the first single right here.

"Blondie" is a lo-fi-ish bit of jangly indie pop. It does have kind of a sad boy forlorn quality to it as Williams sings of that "you and me against the world" feeling common to so many relationships.

Our friends at Sniffling Indie Kids will be releasing SADBOI/FUCCBOI for download via Bandcamp this Friday. In the meantime, check out "Blondie" below.

New Videos from C.R. Gennone and NGHTCRWLRS

Max Rauch

They Make Videos

I know what you're saying. You're saying, "I need more videos with Max Rauch from LKFFCT and NGHTCRWLRS. I don't need vowels. I just need videos with the guy who seems to be on a whole bunch of NJ records lately." Well, here at CoolDad Music, we've got what you need.

NGHTCRWLRS, "Smiling"

A little over two weeks ago, NGHTCRWLRS released a video for the opening track to their self-titled Sniffling Indie Kids debut. The video features several clips of NGHTCRWLRS performing at some pretty iconic venues around NJ, rehearsing, and hanging out. There's plenty of Max Rauch, too. The song highlights the fun and humor that runs through just about everything NGHTCRWLRS do, while also showing off the band's unique combination of indie jangle and post-rock noise.



C.R. Gennone, "Lookin' Back"

A couple of months ago, I shared with you the video for C.R. Gennone's "Angels." That was an under three minute bit of noisy indie pop. The second single from Gennone's Goodbye Wisdom EP, "Lookin' Back," goes for a more wide-open feel. It brings in strings and acoustic guitar that lend to the build-up and epic vibe of the track.

Appropriately, much of the video takes to the open road. Oh. And I think I see Max Rauch.