On June 21, Drivin N Cryin will release Live The Love Beautiful, a new album produced by Nashville artist Aaron Lee Tasjan. The album is the first full-length release from the beloved rock band since 2009’s Whatever Happened To The Great American Bubble Factory.
MammaBear gear up to their record SAY with new track “Like A Monster”, gradually reeling you in, sinking deeper into your consciousness in the form of a desperate and despairing vocal and instrumental combination, a notion that feels both invasive and thrilling.
Chugging, moody guitars and a loose, almost drunken vocal refrain; “Like A Monster” draws you in precisely because not much really happens. Vocalist and songwriter, Kyle Gordon, and his co-producer, David Prasse, wisely decided to stick with Gordon’s initial vocal take, revelling in its scene-setting simplicity and veering away from any smudging or added complexity.
The decision to go with such simplicity is an approach and ethos that speaks right to the core of “Like A Monster”. There’s the grinding dirge of industrial music, the indie haze of The Walkmen, and the circular structure of Pixies, but it’s presented as an unrushed and uncomplicated five minutes of sound.
It’s a combination that works hauntingly well, and is testament to the writing and production capabilities of MammaBear, plus David Prasse, in making something largely uneventful sound so impactful. Less certainly isn’t always more, but on “Like A Monster”, MammaBear highlight the potential power of keeping things simple.
On writing “Like A Monster”, Gordon says: “It was originally written around the time that a good friend of mine went to prison. The song was about him and people’s perspectives on his situation. Over time, the lyrics evolved more into a view of my own childhood, coming from a divorced family and subsequent feelings of neglect, loss, and lack of self-confidence.”
“Like A Monster” and Say are released 26 April via Slush Fund. Find MammaBear on Facebook.
With an intro that’s ominous with its shuffly beat, “Vampires” is a song about those times in the past when things didn’t seem quite right. Brad Byrd has a powerful joyous singing voice in the high registers, and this song captures just exactly the spirit of the poor judgement of youth. Phases is a tonal thriller from the lyrics to its textured synthesizer and all throughout its winding rhythms.
Say I’m Pretty—the gorgeous new album from Los Angeles-based musical polymath Patrick Damphier (released 2/1/19)—is a collection of sun-kissed guitar pop that effortlessly glides across its 45-minute run time. But while each track seems deceptively simple, repeat listens reveal compelling nuance and depth. READ MORE…
Lexington, Kentucky-born, Los Angeles-based country singer and songwriter Nicholas Mudd has a new album out. The self-titled record carries 8 lovely songs that carry the musician’s signature upbeat sound, a style which is influenced by old school country and rock ‘n’ roll. Of highlight is the single “Sit Right Here”, which is shared above. The song features an engaging songwriting and a gripping vocal delivery as accompaniments to the beautiful music.
Following their 2018 LP Back to the City, Atlanta garage-psych outfit Gringo Star have announced their first live album Controlled Burn (Live in Atlanta), recorded at The Earl in September 2018 and out on July 12 via Baby Robot Records. Today, they’ve shared the first live cut “Get Closer,” taken from their 2016 album The Sides and in Between. READ MORE…