From the opening, sickened, sweaty guitar tones that rip through “Barbarians,” Philly’s Writhing Squares singe the senses and prepare the listener for their latest sonic onslaught. The world boils, tensions mount, cancers consume, the smell of rotten capital runs rampant, and there might not be another record that could soundtrack the looming dread better than Mythology. With the boiled blood of The Stooges, Chrome, and Hawkwind coursing through their veins, the band surfs the storm and comes out smiling. It’s a wicked smile, indeed, peeking through the pall as rhythms crash in cacophonic wave ..read more

Nestled among the ranks of the latest edition of the Raving Pop Blast! Fanzine’s new companion CD is a brand new track from RSTB favorites The Smashing Times. A lovely, low-key jangler that picks up on the band’s Television Personalities meets Jonathan Richman reputation and makes this comp well worth looking into. The song swoons n’s sways, adds some tambourine shake and a chorus that holds tight. The CD comes with physical editions of the zine, or you can pick up comp from the mag’s Bandcamp. The band’s out on a jaunt opening up for The Lemon Twigs, so if they’re rolling through your town, I ..read more

A new single slides out from Denver’s Honey Blazer. The band drapes their Cosmic American curl in a soft slice of the ‘70s. A gauzy synth padding adds a stage light glow to “Carol Kang.” The band mixes the current crop of gas crisis cruisers — Foxygen, Michael Rault, Ornament, Lemon Twigs — with a touch of the Canyon creepers like Eric Silverman, Silver Synthetic, and Stewart Forgey of Pacific Range. The single hangs on the breezes with a silken glow, a perfect pairing to the warmer days ahead. Hoping there’s more where this came from. The new single is out now! Support the artist. Buy it HERE ..read more

Aussies Parsnip instantly jumped onto the favorites list around here with early singles and a debut LP for Trouble In Mind. They double down on their past pop perpetuation with a new LP, Behold, expanding their jangle-pop pedigree and adding in an eagerness to explore the ‘60s side of the genre. The band’s debut had a certain wobbliness to it, an off-kilter charm that focused on their love of ‘90s post-punk janglers like OH-OK, Confetti, and Tiger Trap. That whimsy remains, but as they dip into the blissful bindings of Behold, the band wades through some vocal harmonies that clip Wendy & B ..read more

While I’d often associate Alan Braufman with more abrasive works, there first couple of peeks into his upcoming album, Infinite Love Infinite Tears, finds the jazz luminary molding gorgeous melodies with an excellent new ensemble. The record finds him back in the studio with James Brandon Lewis, Ken Filiano, and Michael Wimberly, while adding new contributions from Chad Taylor and Patricia Brennan. “Brooklyn” gets a morning glow of vibraphone from Brennan and finds Braufman’s flute circulating through the spring air, a celebratory cut that’s vibrant and vernal. The song simmers with a percussi ..read more

Time Capsule have been shining a light on lost Japanese gems for a while now. With two excellent comps, Nippon Psychedelic Soul 1970-1979 and Nippon Acid Folk 1970-1980 released in the last couple of years, the label aims to raise awareness of some of the lost bastions of ‘70s Japanese music, much in the same way as Light in the Attic’s Even A Tree Can Shed Tears. The Acid Folk comp included a lovely entry from Niningashi, the closer off of his 1974 private press LP Heavy Way. The song fit in nicely among more recognizable entries from Happy End or Ken Narita. Now, the label has sought to brin ..read more

NZ favorite Jim Nothing has been following his 2022 album In the Marigolds with an excellent sting of singles. With an album on the way sometime later in the year, the slow trickle of pop gems has been picking up. Quick on the heels of last month’s “Easter at the RSC,” the band lets out the power pop pounce of “Hourglass” today. Littered with tight pop strums, a wry smile, and a shout along chorus, the new single falls in nicely with the previous two, giving a nice dose of anticipation for the full record. The new single is out now from Jim Nothing’s Bandcamp. Support the artist. Buy it HERE ..read more

It’s a good week for RSTB faves. Longtime friends of the site Color Green announce a new album today, moving from ORG to New West for the upcoming Fool’s Parade. The first single finds the band still in thrall with the Cosmic American careen, but this time adding a bit of haze to the mix as well. The band’s stacked harmonies peek through the production, as euphoric as ever. Jangles take the wheel as they open on “Four Leaf Clover,” before the band tacks into a slow-motion skid through the psychedelic haze in the song’s latter half. The cut only hints at bigger vistas yet to come on Fool’s Para ..read more

What the world needs is a new dose of heavy-hearted indie pop from The Reds, Pinks and Purples. If the past five years have taught me anything, it’s that Glenn Donaldson may be the defining voice of what it feels like to hang resigned disappointment on a person in the 2020s. Where past albums may have dealt with heartbreak and hubris, this time Donaldson takes aim at working in music in the modern age. Fandom, frustration, and faith in the best intentions of the listening populace collide with strains of Felt, The Go-Betweens, and East River Pipe on Unwishing Well. Glenn’s got a few gentle axe ..read more

Program’s debut was an Aussie-pop delight when it hit almost five years back, so it’s great news to hear that the band’s back today with a new album on the way for constant favorites Anti-Fade. The band embraces a worn and woollied vision of power pop — a ripped kness, faded and familiar sound that makes singles like “Sparks” feel like instant friends. The song jangles while it reclines, strums and smirks knowingly. It’s a nice slip into the new album, It’s A Sign, on the way June 7th from Anti-Fade. It's a Sign by Program Support the artist. Buy it HERE ..read more