Sonnymoon’s ‘Bio’ page on Plug Research’s website (Plug Research being their record company, an independent west coast label) includes the information that Sonnymoon is a duo consisting of Anna Wise and Dane Orr, and also that they’re aliens sent from the planet Sonnymoon to help earth figure its problems out. Their eponymous record released in May of this year definitely has an otherworldly vibe—dreamy experimental-synth, deep, hypnotic bass tones, washed-out fx, and on one track jazz drums and bass that sound caught off a radio station 10,000 miles away. Anna Wise’s vocals, though, keep reminding me of Rihanna. She has a soulful, hip-hop influenced style, and she’s a really powerful singer, especially on the second track, ‘Greatness’, below. - Geoff Noble
On October 30th, CreaturoS (Cambridge, MA) released their debut SWAMPP THINGG, available on cassette by DIY label pRIMORDIAL sOUNDS. This release will hit a magnificent distorted note for fans of JEFF the Brotherhood and Colleen Green. Garage psych-rock that leaves you want for nothing, this is spliff music at its finest. One of the consistent factors on the album is the vocals which sound like they were recorded through an air circulation vent. I don’t know if it was the bathroom they recorded it in, but “Three Times” is one of the album standouts, with a true psych sound that could’ve come directly out of the mid-60s with a sitar-sounding melody and fuzzy percussion. Get psyched, according to their blog they’re in the studio this month working on a new release.
By my calculations, Friday is going to be one of the worst days to go on Facebook, or the internet in general. So if you’re planning on avoiding what will be the worst social media blowout of the century, try going to We’re All Fucked Fest at Wilder Zangcraft in Lowell, MA instead. Doors are at 3pm and the show is celebrating the re-launch of Driftwood records and, of course, the end of the world. The venue is small, so get there early to see touring bands, and later on see some locals including Old Gray (Manchester, NH), Jack Burton Vs David Lo Pan (Allston, MA), and The Navidson Record (Brockton, MA). One set not to miss at the fest is I Kill Giants (Boston, MA), who play math rock with punk and jazz influences. In great punk tradition, their release "We Can Live in the Exact Same Place" is a bedroom recording with 8 songs and barely over 5 minutes long. The album opens with some opera vocals, midway through fits in some spoken word, and features heavy tempo changing guitars and a great deal of hollering. Not a bad way to spend the apocalypse. - Hillary Anderson
Northampton, MA’s Bella’s Bartok started as a gypsy-punk band (think Gogol Bordello, they even covered a few of their songs), but as the years passed and members changed have since morphed into something different. You can still hear the oom-pa-pa klezmer beat, but their new EP, "We Are Not a Cult," features tribal drumming, sexy electric guitar riffs, wacky, unhinged vocals, a good deal of whispering, electronic elements a la Animal Collective, and just about anything else you can think of. ‘How many people are even in this band?’ you might ask? Eight, give or take a violinist. They tour extensively, and their live shows aren’t to be missed, bringing all the wide-eyed fervor you hear on the album to the stage. See here for upcaoming dates - Geoff Noble
Child Actor are two cousins hailing from New Haven, CT and Boston, MA. Sedgie Ogilvy sings while Max Heath lays down the beats. Their sound is indie electro with an R&B twist. Lyrically mysterious, with reverb and auto-tune tugging the vocals back and forth between the beats on the hip hop landscape, their EP Window has a beautiful surface tension which speaks of a darker underbelly if you only stop passively listening. But why would you? In my opinion it’s the perfect thing to throw on while you’re doing just about anything. Child Actor has put together some great pop songs for a modern age. Check out a track from their full length album Victory below. - by Hillary Anderson
Speedy Ortiz is a year old post-punk band featuring former members of Quilty. A total no brainer for classic 90s noise rock fans, they channel the metallic guitars and distortion-heavy hooks that made bands like Sonic Youth fixture. Speedy Ortiz brings plenty of their own songwriting savvy to the table. They’ll be playing with the legendary Sonic Youth frontman himself for a few dates to promote their "Sports" EP. The Northampton natives define themselves as “snack rock” – you can pick up the slacker vibe from the tunes on the EP, sports theme aside. They definitely deliver the noise on tracks like "Silver Spring" (streaming below) which invites you to yell along with singer Sadie Dupuis’ jilting vocals, which she complements with some spooky yells of her own. - Hillary Anderson
BANDITAS performed at the Boston Music Awards as one of the “Americana Artist of the Year” nominee on December 2nd, joined by Margaret Garrett of Mr. Airplane Man. Their album "Save the Rats," released in September 2012, features garagey, slightly sick folk-punk female vocals that fans of everything from Patsy Cline to Dum Dum Girls will find appealing. A full band backing the crooning duo rounds out the 9-track album that was recorded and mixed on cassette. If that doesn’t have the analog nerd in you running to purchase this band's record - just wait. Your 12 hard-earned dollars doesn’t just get you an immediate download; you’ll also get the vinyl. Don’t take my word for it: you can preview the whole album at BANDITAS bandcamp. - Hillary Anderson
Everybodys favorite form of instant pix is back as a... band, with a debut EP! Polaroid is Tim Oxton’s new music project. One can see the correlation between the 5 track lo-fi self-titled EP with the legendary instant photo format - these tunes are totally bleached out and instantly gratifying. "Eighties Night" - streaming below - is a standout, with a super Real Estate-y vibe and a thrummed guitar chord progression reminiscent of Beach House. The combination of home recording with synths, a drum machine, and guitar reverb puts this band straight up in the chill-wave department. Polaroids performed for the first time at Great Scott November 28th for local blog Allston Pudding’s November Mixtape show. - Hillary Anderson
Sometimes living in the northeast this time of year can be a drag. November is a harbinger of long nights inside, brooding, staring into the fire, wondering when you’ll be able to once again dust off the old ten-speed and go for a ride around Harvard Square; or simply step outside without looking like a bag lady with circulation issues. Luckily, Boston indie pop quintet Parks is here to get you excited about one aspect of this season: Sweater Weather is the new jangle heavy first single from the upcoming full-length debut of Parks. Head bobbing is imminent, with super catchy hooks and thoughtful transitions. - Hillary Anderson
If you’re in need of some glitchy goodness, Boston’s answer to Flying Lotus is producer Ian Barnett’s solo project, Mallow. Be prepared to throw these suckers on your working/running/what the heck ever playlist. The latest single Shocks, Locks, and Shambles is balanced on the cusp of hip hop, electro, and instrumental genres. When you hear the multi-layered quality of the beats Barnett drops, you’ll be less inclined to try to define it – don’t be surprised if you find yourself hooked. Not to worry, Nimbus Land drops November 20th from Urban Waves Records. Hillary Anderson
