do you believe in magic?: Not much happened in the second half of last year. jake brower After releasing a new single in February, they have released two new songs this month. The first song is called “Gotta Lotta Beans,” and it’s sweet, quirky bubblegum pop, just like the calendar describes this music.This month’s release includes 2 songs. High n’ Low & New Name In Your Phone— which is actually just the name of the song, but it doesn’t rot your teeth all that much. “High n’ Low” is a gentle acoustic number influenced by at least some folk traditions. The second, “New Name In Your Phone,” has an early 1960s pop waltz rhythm and a very light melody that is strong enough to follow the entire song. The whole package is sad and desolate, with a kind of bedroom pop that’s often imitated but shines when it’s authentic. This clearly seems to be the case.These are released courtesy of the Athens label attaboy tape Available at attaboytapes.bandcamp.com.
The curtain opens on the cast: Max Boyd There is a new slowcore project named (ConSec, The Skippers, etc.). eternal. He just released a new four-song EP called . poison darkener, and ran through it several times before it caught me. Going into it, I was expecting something very heavy and devastating. What’s actually here is surprisingly textured and very melodic, and the absence of the expected noise waves leaves its layers open to discovery. Of the four songs, his first two (“Outshifted” and “Separated”) are the obvious highlights, but his later two aren’t exactly shabby either. Check it out at eternalbandeternal.bandcamp.com.
reactor: Songwriter Chris Ezell He remained silent for over 10 years until releasing his full-length last year. 60 silver pieces. This week, he releases a new album with 10 songs. In On It. It’s basically genre-less, or rather genre-filled, so this is also pure Ezelle. As you can see, most of these songs are in the basic category of country blues, but Ezelle uses electro with his drum beats, effected vocals, proggy guitar riffs, and organ trills. They are decorated with etc. Ezell doesn’t make music for anyone but himself, and clearly has no intention of selling wine until the time is right. Find him at chrisezelle.bandcamp.com starting in April.
the world is soft like lace:I’m sure so marcel sletten I don’t sleep anymore. In addition to running his release-heavy label Primordial Void, he is constantly playing music with others, creating new projects, and continuing his own solo release schedule.But just recently, he formed Chair atlanta singer reed winkler. Their first single, “Dilaudid,” is a perfect lesson in turning admiration for past musical works into your own. At its simplest, this is a mid-tempo jangle-pop tune laden with influences from Felt to early Dreams So Real to Field Mice and the associated Sara Record Group. However, the twist here is that the song cuts out without warning at his 1:31 mark. It was incredibly offensive and attention-seeking, and that may have been exactly the point. I’m not crazy about it, but I certainly like everything that happens up to it. Word on the street is that the full album should be released by the end of the year. Find this at primordialvoid.bandcamp.com.
blatant regionalism: Local hardcore punk delta 8 They released an extremely impressive 8-track album. oiled lightning. The work is available on cassette and name-your-price digital from the label Hard Tack, and as a free digital download from the band themselves. These recordings closely resemble the band’s live sound, so it’s no surprise to learn that this was all essentially recorded live. But honestly, I don’t know. What matters is that it’s relentless, lithely muscular, and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Of the many subgenres that could legitimately take its place, it’s the one closest to his 1980s skate punk. Particular highlights here are the title track “Stay Down,” “Beach And A Mule,” and the menacing album closer “Do Not Ask.” Find the tape at Hardtackk.bandcamp.com and free download at delta888.bandcamp.com.
permanent change: MG Williams Just released a new EP from his long-running project Psychoop. Produced by Kyle Spence (Harvey Milk) and featuring impressive guests such as Chris McNeil (Vinkus, Maserati) and Gene Woolfolk (T. Hardy Morris, Powder Room). The problem is, this is a record, so I don’t know what to do when looking for an identity.Musically speaking, it bears only a passing resemblance to the band’s 2020 album. utopia now, missed the mark at times, but overall stayed firmly within bass-heavy hard rock parameters. This new EP, blipapproaches listeners as futuristic with its Outrun-style cover art and presentation, but slips into Primus territory with the title track, early 1970s prog with the opening song “Ghost In My Mind,” and “Soft Kill.” We arrived at Space Cowboyland. For the epic grandeur of EP closer “Outside Of Exile.” For the band’s 2020 record, they chose to use the category “naughty” to describe it, and that’s pretty spot on. Of course, your understanding will vary, so if you’re curious, try finding this on Spotify and have just as much fun digging through every possible iteration of the band name “Psyop” before you find it.
Did you like what you just read? Please support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you donate helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.