Happy Cyber Monday to all of those who partake. We’re assuming that our in office internet woes today were due to all the deals deals deals. Anyway, better late than never, here is today’s tune to get your week started. Who says you can’t start the week at the end of the day Monday? Not us. From the UK we have Guild Theory and their tune “Cackled Smile.” The duo of Rob Lewis and Matt Smith (probably not the Doctor Who one, but who are we to stifle your imagination while listening) have crafted something along the lines of Deftones minus the heavy parts. Does that work though? All that brooding tension without release? Yes. Yes it does. Melodic and, well not sinister, but certainly a tad dark, it’s a hypnotic feel that stays with you. I guess what we’re trying to say is it’s cool and it’s perfect for coming out of the gluttonous haze of the weekend and/or looking over your credit card statement next month.
Week Starter – Guild Theory
Week Starter – Split Parasite
Well if you need to know how our week is going let us start by pointing out we’re posting our “get your week started” post at the end of Monday. Yeesh, looks like this one is going to be a tough one. Lucky for us and you we have “The Weather” by Split Parasite to help us through. Melodic and mathy, its a tasty slice of Midwest emo influenced alternative that is both fresh and catchy while still harkening back to classic genre tightrope walkers of the 90’s and aughts. There’s the essence of Braid and Minus the Bear here without actually sounding like either one of those bands. Today was rough but a jam like this gives us hope just because of how good it is.
Week Starter – Mother Vulture
This marks the second week in a row we’ve posted a face melter as our Week Starter post. These cold grey Mondays need a little extra kick in the ass we suppose. Mother Vulture is a four piece from Bristol (England, not Tennessee) and “Monster Crunch” is a pedal to the metal post hardcore ripper that reminds in some ways of early My Chemical Romance. A smidge heavier and leaning a few more degrees toward metalcore, but with the same catchiness and touch of dramatics. Also it should be noted that releasing a song called “Monster Crunch” two weeks before Halloween would’ve been hack, but releasing one two weeks after? Artistry.
Week Starter – Dawn Riding
Not only is it Monday it’s also Halloween (heard of it?) and so we want to start your week off with this spooky little number from Dawn Riding. “Hold On” is no campy holiday tune, it’s an eerie and menacing tune that feels a bit like Nick Cave taking a few steps toward the semi-ominous gypsy folk of Leonard Cohen’s early work. Singer songwriter Sarah Rose Janko doesn’t sound like Captain Bad Seed, but there is very much a red right hand vibe to this. Like a phantom in the night the song entrances and then fades away just as you’re starting to get a hold of it. As the kids used to say, its a whole ass mood and one we think is perfect for the night of celebrating the dark shadows we walk through.
Week Starter – Sly5thAve & JSWISS
Week Starter is our Monday column where we give you a new song to help you get on out of bed & help you power on through the working week.
This week we want to start you off with the inventive hip-hop / funk jam that is “Somebody’s Got To Do It” by Sly5thAve & JSWISS. Hitting like an update on The Roots classic of the same name, this new track gives us a stripped down beat where the groove lives in the breaths between each beat and guitar riff. It’s a smoothed out stop / start rhythm that lets JSWISS shine with a flow that sounds both laid back and confident at the same time. It’s a different type of hip-hop jam than you’re probably used to – jazzier, a more esoteric head nodder – but one you need to hear. Once you do you’ll be hitting the replay no doubt.
Week Starter – Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Week Starter is our Monday column where we give you a new song to help you get on out of bed & help you power on through the working week.
We’re only a few weeks out from Halloween, officially making it spooky season. What perfect timing for Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band to drop a new fun Halloween classic; “The Wolfman Can’t Come.” Sure they could’ve waited until January to release this in a Jo-Koy-Releasing-A-Movie-Called-Easter-Sunday-In-August move, but call us crazy that we think this seems more the right move. It’s also an interesting move because instead of their usual floor stomping, hell raising high octane party blues the band has gone full surf rock on this one. They nail it, and honestly we’d be down for a full album of holiday themed surf rock from the group. BDB always have fun videos, but this one is extra special with great animation filled with fun horror movie imagery and surf rock appropriate Mosrite guitars. Crank it up and have a dance party with your little ones before Viagra realizes this is a perfect song for a seasonal ED commerical.
Week Starter – Sachee
Just because the weather is cooling down doesn’t mean the music has to. “Django/Brando” by Sachee, an international collective featuring members from the Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland and USA, is so hot that we’re pretty sure it’ll defrost your car windows in the morning if you play it loud enough. Working it like Anderson Paak jamming with Fantastic Negrito it’s funky, sultry and straddles the line between throw back and contemporary. Few songs can shift between multiple vocalists rapping and singing and have it all feel like one delicious flow as this one does. Take this energy into your week and keep it in your hip pocket for a little extra strut.
Week Starter – Goalkeeper
Sometimes you just gotta take a break from the old music blog grind and give the ears a rest so you can once again appreciate the whole magic that is notes and chords and melodies and words and singing ya know? Well after just such a break we’re happy to be back, and thanks to Goalkeeper, back in style. “Car Wreck” is the very finest of catchy as hell, melodic punk (Pop Punk feels too one dimensional for how good this song is) that is built for driving too fast with the windows down or a sweaty sing along with friends in the front row at a show. It’s big energy, big hooks and feels like a big welcome back sign not only for us but to anyone who has been looking to feel 17 again.
Week Starter – Laveda
Did you have a good Labor Day? Did you chill in the pool and hang with friends? Did you eat too much and enter a near trance state of satiated bliss? Well if you want to keep that good feeling going a little longer might we suggest “Surprise” by Laveda. Falling on the poppier side of shoegaze, it’s a hazy slice of indie rock goodness that isn’t so much a throwback to the classic 80’s/90’s sg sound as it is a timeless addition to that tradition. Turn it up and keep the dream of summertime three day weekends going.