[SONG OF THE DAY] Starflyer 59 - "This Recliner"

I cannot believe in spite of my decades long lovefest with SoCal’s Starflyer 59 that I have missed the opportunity to make sure that y’all were hip to the homey. I guess it’s been wrong of me to assume that not everyone listens to shoegaze or dreampop records and thinks, “I wonder which SF59 record they played in the studio when [insert band name] were working on [song/album]”. Sometimes I try to guess to myself just for fun. With 15 full-length albums and a slew of EPs and singles spanning his 25 year career, I’ve always treasured SF59 as constant that I can always come home to and be delighted to find more to love every single time.

That all said, frontman Jason Martin is not showing any signs of slowing down, releasing “This Recliner” off his forthcoming EP, Miami, which is out on June 19th courtesy of the longtime loved label Velvet Blue Music. Following up last year’s LP, Young In My Head, the track recounts Martin’s worry, discomfort, and the yearning to feel safe and well after spending a handful of nights in the hospital back in February for reasons he’s chosen to not disclose. Here’s hoping all is in the clear now. 💖

velvet blue music · STARFLYER 59 - This Recliner

[SONG OF THE DAY] All Things Blue - "Chad"

photo credit: Erika Mugglin

Stepping out with one hell of a first impression, Los Angeles pysch-pop outfit All Things Blue have unveiled their debut single, “Chad”, from their forthcoming debut album Get Bit, due later this year. There’s so much to love about “Chad”. Well, except for the ‘Chad’ of a dude that frontwoman India Coombs is singing about.

Finding yourself suckered into the giving end of a situationship is incredibly exhausting and frustrating, if not rage inducing. The way that Coombs was able to encapsulate that very feel into her vocal performance is really the big winner of the song here. Although that’s not to say that the hazy lovestruck soundscapes that her vocals nestle into aren’t equally crucial, but damn if I don’t have the urge to yell, “TELL👏🏻HIM👏🏻GIRL” at her most belty moments.

Speaking on the track, Coombs shared, “See-saws are fun until you're riding an emotional see-saw; when you want someone that doesn't want you, but makes sure to keep you around. Sometimes you only realize in retrospect; that person was just a Chad.”

Also fun little factoid for you before I peace out: at the end of the song they left a clip from the recording session in. Apparently Coombs was holding co-founder Jon Joseph’s week old baby while she was recording vocals for the track and the baby FELL ASLEEP DURING THAT TAKE. HOWWWW!?!?! 😂

[SONG OF THE DAY] Big Black Delta - "Lord Only Knows"

photo credit: Josh Giroux

Omg cute internet people I have the BEST NEWS TO SHARE!

My most favoritest man crush Monday, Jonathan Bates, better known to y’all as Big Black Delta has announced that we’re getting a fourth BBD full-length AND he further blessed us with a new single, “Lord Only Knows”. This dramatic little ditty that he’s just casually launched into the universe is such an exciting evolution for Bates and his signature sound that comes through in all the right moments on this track. It’s loud. It’s lush. It’s certainly not what I was expecting what would follow lead single from back in March, “Summoner”, which makes me love it all the more. Anyone who listens to “Lord Only Knows” for a whopping 30 seconds would not be the least bit surprised that Bates has recently rekindled his romance with heavy metal. The sharp left-turn to that Liberace moment, though. *chef’s kiss* That’s when things go next-level. The track isn’t long enough for me to toss it in a rock opera-esque kinda category, but if ever there were to be an extended edit of this song, I can only imagine the places it would go.

As previously mentioned, “Lord Only Knows” comes from Big Black Delta’s [now HIGHLY FUCKING ANTICIPATED] forthcoming album, LP4, which is available for pre-order now and drops on July 10th. From first glance at the tracklisting, hopefully I don’t have to wait very long to know what a song called, “Air Conditioned Dork” sounds like and I am already bracing myself for what something titled “Ballad of the Co-Dependent” is probably going to do to me. Regardless, the t-shirt + LP combo pre-order is calling my name, possibly that slick mask, too?

While we wait, please enjoy the third installment from director Adam Osgood, who previously provided the BBD universe with videos for, “Huggin & Kissin” and “Bitten By The Apple”. At this rate I would totally watch a movie exploring this father-daughter relationship that continues throughout all three videos, if only to clarify the timeline going on here. Does god-dad get to go back in time once he becomes god-dad so he can accidentally kill the dinosaurs? Did god-dad always know he was a deity? I have so many questions, lmao.

4

Release Date: July 10, 2020

01. Lord Only Knows
02. Vessel
03. Politics Of Living
04. Summoner
05. Ballad Of The Co-Dependent
06. Sunday
07. Heaven Here I Come
08. Canary
09. White Lies
10. Killing Me
11. Air Conditioned Dork
12. Yes

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[SONG OF THE DAY] Nation Of Language - "Rush & Fever"

image courtesy of Nation of Language

Brooklyn-based darkwave trio Nation of Language have FINALLY announced details of their debut full-length, Introduction, Presence, which is slated for an April 3rd, 2020 release. The band has also offered the first taste from the record, “Rush & Fever”, which is sure to send you to the darkest corner of the dance floor on goth night. Chock full of shimmering synths with a looming bassline in tow, they achieve such a perfect blend of upbeat energy with a healthy dose of sardonic melancholy that it will have you saying, “Oh my goth where has this band been all my life?!?!?!”

This month the band will be hitting the road to support Adam Green on tour just before their album release show on April 3rd at The Sultan Room in Brooklyn.

Introduction, Presence

Release date: April 3, 2020

1. Tournament

2. Rush & Fever

3. September Again

4. On Division St

5. Indignities

6. Automobile

7. Friend Machine

8. Sacred Tongue

9. The Motorist

10. The Wall and I

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Nation of Language on tour supporting Adam Green

Sun, Mar 8 - Boston MA - Great Scott w/ Heart Bones
Mon, Mar 9 - Montreal QC - Bar Le Ritz
Tue, Mar 10 - Toronto ON - The Horseshoe Tavern
Thu, Mar 12 - Cleveland OH - Mahall's
Fri, Mar 13 - Chicago IL - Schubas Tavern
Sat, Mar 14 - St Paul MN - Turf Club
Sun, Mar 15 - Moline IL - Rust Belt
Mon, Mar 16 - Detroit MI - Deluxx Fluxx
Wed, Mar 25 - Los Angeles CA - Bootleg Theater
Thu, Mar 26 - San Diego CA - Soda Bar
Fri, Mar 27 - San Francisco CA - The Chapel
Sat, Mar 28 - Portland OR - Star Theater
Sun, Mar 29 - Seattle WA - The Sunset

[SONG OF THE DAY] Steve Cousins - "Coffee"

image lovingly lifted from Steve Cousins’ Instagram

I have located the perfect Sunday anthem and it’s from Melbourne singer-songwriter Steve Cousins. His newest track, “Coffee” is the kind of unassuming upbeat tune that could be the soundtrack for anything, from the perfect day trip to haggard crawl to your hangover cure, and everything in between. The multi-instrumental loop artist has only been on the scene for a little while now, but has already cooked up catchy enough tunes that Slum fam couldn’t help but brag on him a bit, which is how he stumbled into my view.

For anyone on that side of the world that is delighted to see someone in Brooklyn writing about Steve, I’m happy to pass along that he’s got a single launch party for “Coffee” on March 20th at Yah Yahs. Apparently there will be espresso martinis all night long at the celebration, clever marketing from this one!

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A post shared by Steve Cousins (@steve_cousins_music) on Feb 23, 2020 at 10:18pm PST

[SONG OF THE DAY] Cory Becker - "Rivers"

image courtesy of Cory Becker

ICYMI, last Friday Los Angeles indie folk singer-songwriter Cory Becker released his debut, One. Created in the dirt floored basement home-made studio in his Echo Park rental, this introductory solo effort is conjuring a lot of same feels one would get listening to the likes of Wilco, Matt Pond PA, David Bazan, Josh Rouse, and maybe even a little Pete Yorn. It’s wild that this is Cory’s first go at recording and producing everything on his own because it’s got this timelessness to it that can take the most well-seasoned musicians decades to perfect.

Although opening track, “Rivers” has been out in the wild for some time now, I’m taking advantage of the album dropping to highlight it again, because I really think it highlights the essence of the sonic journey that Cory will take you on if you choose to give the album a spin. It’s earnestly straightforward and uncomplicated, yet also somewhat familiar, like meeting someone for the first time that makes you feel like you’ve known them your entire life.

Speaking on the track, Cory told Buzzbands.LA, “‘Rivers’ is a song I wrote to a person I was in a relationship with, who struggled with fear and uncertainty of the future, and our future specifically,” Becker says simply. “The track is inspired by a basic sentiment: You cannot stop what will be, so let it happen, whatever it is.”

One is out now and would be the perfect album to give a first spin on a carefree Saturday.

[SONG OF THE DAY] SuperParka - "Kawabunga!"

image courtesy of SuperParka

VIBE

OCLOCK

FRIDAYYYYYYYY

ALSO

600TH SONG OF THE DAY

Holy shit. Kinda makes me wanna yell….

KAWABUNGA!

Last week Parisian electro-R&B duo SuperParka dropped a new track, “Kawabunga!”, which is part of a double-A side single, which is out courtesy of Kitsuné Musique. The song is funky and wobbly in all the right places. Maybe because the buzz around how well the movie did opening weekend, but this sounds like a song Sonic The Hedgehog would get the fuck down to in the best possible way. The other half of the double single, “You”, which dropped earlier this year, showcases the softer side of the dynamic duo, offering a more laid back vibe if that’s what you’re in need of.

I came to know the duo by chance in 2018 with their track, “Skip”, off their debut LP, Sushiboubou#1 (which you should circle back to once you’re done obsessing over these new tracks). Hopefully you caught that in the diSKOAver weekly update when it was there. Speaking of, that’s been updated this week, too! While I make it a point to update everywhere when it’s live, if your preference for updates is email, definitely go sign up to receive updates the second I swap the tracks out (I literally swap out the tracks and then hit send on the mailing list blast within 15 seconds).

[SONG OF THE DAY] Methyl Ethel - "Majestic AF"

image courtesy of Methyl Ethel

Just a week after their third studio full-length Triage officially turned a year old West Australia’s Methyl Ethel have returned with a brand new single along with news of a brand new EP and a slew of tour dates. The new track, “Majestic AF”, is a captivating opening for the forthcoming EP, Hurts To Laugh, which is due out on April 10th. Full of a variety of burbling synth melodies, kick-free drum beats, and brainchild Jake Webb’s signature falsetto, it comes of somewhat minimalist at first and then builds incrementally, incorporating layer upon layer of texture until it swiftly comes to a close.

Hurts To Laugh was recorded at the same time as Triage, so it’s fitting that both album covers feature art by Sydney-based artist Loribelle Spriovski. Despite being recorded simultaneously, Triage was the final of the trilogy of albums, following 2016’s Oh Human Spectacle and 2017’s Everything Is Forgotten.

On the heels of the release update, the band unveiled a slew of solo tour dates in Australia and support dates in the US for Peter, Bjorn, and John in March and April.

Did the whistling from “Young Folks” immediately slam straight into your head the second you saw their name, too?

ANYWAY.

Tickets for the dates in Australia go on sale tomorrow (2/28) over on their website.

PS - the Webby Hall date is 3 days before my birthday, so you should come party with me I am just saying.

Methyl Ethel - Solo - Tour Dates [Australia]
Wed 15 April - The Outpost, Brisbane
Thur 16 April - The Night Cat, Melbourne
Fri 17 April -  Mary’s Underground, Sydney
Sun 19 April - Goodwill Club, Perth
Tickets on sale Friday 28 February via methylethel.com 

Methyl Ethel - Solo - Supporting Peter, Bjorn & John [USA]
Mon 23 March - Teregram Ballroom, Los Angeles CA
Tues 24 March - La Santa, Santa Ana CA
Wed 25 March - New Parish, Oakland CA
Fri 27 March - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR
Sat 28 March - Crocodile, Seattle WA
Tues 31 March - Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City UT
Wed 1 April - Bluebird, Denver CO
Fri 3 April - Amsterdam, St. Paul MN
Sat 4 April - Empty Bottle, Chicago IL
Sun 5 April - Loving Touch, Ferndale MI
Tues 7 April - Johnny Brendas, Philadelphia PA
Wed 8 April - Union Stage, Washington DC
Fri 10 April - Webster Hall, New York City NY
Sat 11 April - Brighton Music Hall, Boston MA

Hurts To Laugh EP

Release Date: April 10, 2020

1. Majestic AF
2. Honest
3. Charm Offensive
4. What Memory Found
5. The Quicker

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