New Releases We Can't Wait to Dig Into
Not much is coming of Chicago this week but we did manage to find some pretty amazing music from around the country and the world. We had our ear on quite a bit of good old fashioned garage rock this week, so hit our list and see what sounds good to you.
As we scan upcoming release lists, singles, and endlessly scroll through Instagram, we are still very much interested in hearing from you about Chicago music on the horizon.
Eli Winter (Chicago) Cameron Knowler (Houston)
Anticipation
American Dreams Records
Eli Winter and Cameron Knowler are producing bleached-bones acoustic guitar sounds that celebrate the beauty of the Southwest with their upcoming collaboration, Anticipation. This is playfully evident in the singles, “Strawberry Milk” and “Parapraxis of a Dragonfly.” The give and go between Winter’s and Cameron’s guitars is magical and captures the spirit of musical artistry.
Cool Ghouls (San Francisco)
At George’s Zoo
Empty Cellar Records
Cool Ghouls are a San Francisco-based quartet specializing in a classic, 60’s garage rock sound. The single, “The Way I Made You Cry” off the upcoming At George’s Zoo plays directly into that sound. The single is a state of mind, really. As the song progresses and the horns pop in and out, you’re automatically, “Saturday, in the park.” So refreshing.
Jaialai (Miami)
As Sweet As It Was EP
Super Music Group
This Miami four-piece is one part psychedelic yacht-rock and one part garage as fuck. The single “For Today” showcases this perfectly. And if you’re not completely sure about these guys, check out the video for the single and see art blending with their style of music and it all just comes together. As it goes, it seems the garage scene is swaying all over and landing somewhere in the world of shoegazers… not a complaint by any stretch.
Max and the Martians (NOLA)
All The Same
Perpetual Doom
Max and the Martians is a mixture of New Orleans musicians and artists, but is the brainchild of songwriter Max Bien Khan. Listening to the single, “Milky Way” from their upcoming album, you immediately get that retro rock ‘n’ roll feel. “Please Hold On” gives a lot of the same and pairs well with a cold beer and a hammock.
Nubiyan Twist (London)
Freedom Fables
Strut Records
The London-based collective that is Nubiyan Twist pulls together blends of jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, soul, et al to make their album Freedom Fables. The band is setting out to encapsulate the “cautionary tales and fables for modern life.” The neo-afrobeat track “Buckle Up” with Soweto Kinch is top-notch. It’s a silky smooth blend of organic and synth beats as well as hip-hop overtones that we hope to hear more of on the album.
Valerie June (Memphis)
The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
Fantasy Records
Valerie June blends her influences of folk, soul, and blues that serves up the mixture in her latest album, The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers. The two singles, “Fallin’” and “Call Me A Fool” are perfect examples of this homebrew and really showcases not only June’s range vocally, but her abilities artistically. Take two doses of this album and call us in the morning. We are sure it is exactly what the doctor ordered.
We’ve got some honorable mentions for everyone, including First Nation music from Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Colin Miller out of Ashville, NC, and a groovy Canadian group called Doohickey Cubicle. Come back next week for more new music picks from your trusty Crowd Surfer crew.
It bears repeating, we want to cover Chicago music, so if you have something coming out, please submit it!