[LP] Wild Cub – YOUTH (w/ “Thunder Clatter” + “Jonti”)

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Wild Cub - Youth

i see you hidden in the night

  • Who: Keegan DeWitt (TBE alum!) & Jeremy Bullock
  • What: Danceable indie rock, like Generationals, Kisses, Young Empires
  • Where: Nashville, TN + Facebook
  • When: Buy debut LP Youth now.
  • Why: First of all, I’m sorry. Sometimes I find an album that takes me by such surprise, that makes me so satisfied with it’s sounds, that I keep it to myself for far too long. I’m caught between the disbelief that it is as good as I think, and the nerves that come with writing a review of an album I love. It’s all illogical and foolish at best, but its the way I am. I’m like the partner that loves you so much that they don’t even know how to show it. Sorry Keegan and Jeremy, I do love you. And I love the beautiful baby Youth you’ve raised into this world.

My recent favorite tracks “Thunder Clatter,” “Straight No Turns,” and “Jonti” are are the perfect triangulation of their sound somewhere between the shaggy indie rock appeal of Generationals and the synth dance shades of Kisses. Hell, “Wishing Well” even throws some 80s nods to classic Peter Gabriel. Wild Cub draw rich water from a variety of wells but the cocktail they mix is undeniably their own.

[LP] Peter and Kerry – LA TRIMOUILLE (w/ “Annie” + “Fifty In The $lot$”)

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PETERKERRYALBUM_final_1600

but all your sighing heavily and semi-silent mutterings are another guarantee that it’s too late to stop me

Peter & Kerry’s “Knees” is one of my favorite sad-sack breakup folk songs in recent years so it was a pleasant surprise to hear them pepping things up for the sonically fun yet still break-up-y “Split For The City.” The fun kept coming when months late I finally got my hands on their debut full length La Trimouille. The album takes the elements of “Knees” that made it so infectious and blends them with a variety of fun and quirky songs stylings and a dash of hip-hop delivery that all adds up to and endlessly pleasing album. Even though the lyrical content is often classically English and mopey I can’t help but Read more

[EP] Jamestown Revival – THE KNIVES & PIPES EP (w/ “Ain’t It A Shame”)

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Jamestown revival

we’re never gonna away, from dreaming of the good ol days

♫ Jamestown revival – Ain’t it a shame

  • Who: Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance
  • What: Southern slanted Indie Rock, like Brown Shoe, Kings of Leon, Y Luv
  • Where: Los Angeles, CA + Facebook
  • When: The Knives & Pipes EP is out now.
  • Why: Jamestown Revival play music that you can feel the history in. And not just of the south-folk tinged genre itself, but in the songs and stories they tell. Its no surprise that Jonathan and Zach go way back. Growing up together in Austin, Texas, they have built their chemistry through years of friendship. “Ain’t it a Shame” is my favorite song on their solid 4 song EP. I think. It’s hard to pick. Even harder when you see them live, which I was lucky enough to do in someone’s living room at a recent Sofar Sounds event in Venice. Pretty amazing.

[MP3] Poindexter – “Helpless”

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Poindexter - Forever

i can hear your heartbeat when you’re dancing next to me

♫ Poindexter – Helpless

  • Who: Andrew Rodriguez
  • What: Tropical summer pop, like Viceroy, Twinsy, St. Lucia
  • Where: Portland, Oregon + Facebook
  • When: The Forever EP is out now for free!
  • Why: Don’t talk about “Helpless.” Just listen. And move if you must (you must). Know that Poindexter is sitting on the kind of talent that is criminally under-appreciated at the moment. Perhaps even by himself! The rest of the Forever EP is fun, for sure, but nothing as magical as this three and a half minute brain cruise. And since it is a cruise, you’ll need a sunning playlist. Throw these remixes on there.


[EP] Blackbird Blackbird – BORACAY PLANET (w/ “It’s A War “)

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which are you waiting for?

  • Who: Mikey Maramag
  • What: Oversized dream pop, like Toro Y Moi, KidsOf88, Humans
  • Where: San Francisco, CA + Facebook
  • When: Buy Boracay Planet now.
  • Why: Blackbird Blackbird was booked by Joel and scheduled to play day 4 of our SXSW showcases but a transportation disaster kept Mikey from the venue for hours. Had I heard him play that day I guarantee you this post would have happened months ago. I just didn’t know what I was missing. After finally tracking down his latest EP I was immediately blown away by “It’s A War.” What a rollicking piece of slightly dark tropical pop. The rest of Boracay Planet is full of shuffling and twitching beats under dreamy guitars that blend together brilliantly. Especially “Happy With You” (& this great Yalls remix of it here!) So it turns out the guy has been making music for years. His Bandcamp is a treasure trove of previous releases. Cheers to many more!

[LP] Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – THE HEIST (w/ “Cant Hold Us ft. Ray Dalton”)

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y’all can’t stop me, i go hard like i’ve got an 808 in my heart beat, and i’m eating at the beat, like you gave a little speed to a great white shark on shark week

If you’ve caught any of our posts on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis then you know the kind of freshness these two are bringing to the rap game. Macklemore ‘s intensely personal, honest, and and often funny storytelling. Ryan Lewis’ impeccable and unique production. It’s really quite remarkable. Independent since day one, they’ve obviously been courted by major labels but as “Jimmy Iovine” lays out, the current state of affairs in that world is dismal for the artist. The duo blazed on alone and The Heist is their opus. But don’t let the commercial success on the backs of a legion of loyal fans fool you. This is a fantastic album. If you never thought you liked hip-hop you will still find something here to love. Macklemore brilliantly balances his signature heavy topic songwriting with goofball party songs that keep the album from getting bogged down in it’s own seriousness. Both “Same Love” and “Thrift Shop” are shaping up to be top songs of the year but for such different reasons. But one common thread. Two really. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.


[EP] Parade of Lights – BORN TO LIVE, BORN TO LOVE (w/ “Just Give It Up” )

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lets do this together, i want you more than ever

♫ Parade of Lights – Just Give It Up

  • Who: Ryan & Anthony
  • What: Alt-electro rock, like The Big Pink, Morning Parade, Joywave
  • Where: Los Angeles + Facebook
  • When: Buy the Born To Live, Born To Love EP now.
  • Why: Parade of Lights is an apt name for the band making this stadium sized jam that was built for lights shows and all-out sing-a-longs. Los Angeles, can we please get into this guys big time so when they play November 12th at The Bootleg we can all get rowdy? “Flash of Light” & “Talk To You” are other big poppy highlights on the EP. Get into it.

[EP] Don Diablo – LIGHTS OUT EP

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you’ve not run out of love yet, there is plenty left
in this city i know in this city i call my home

  • Who: Don & friends
  • What: Big dirty dance, like Joe and Will Ask?, DJ Kue, Portasound
  • Where: Amsterdam + Facebook
  • When: Buy the Lights Out EP now.
  • Why: The first Don Diablo track I ever heard hit my iTunes the day after I started this website. Ever since then its been a solid love-fest for the Dutch beat master. He’s always got more love for his remixes on TBE but his solo stuff hasn’t gone un-followed. After a few years of building his fanbase organically it seems like DonnyD is finally poised to blow up the way he should. Lights Out EP is a tight little collection of dance jams that kicks down the door with the rowdy “Lights Out Hit” and continues with the grand ode to hometowns “The Golden Years.” “Memories”  takes the EP in another great direction and is slowly becoming my new favorite. Diablo has always shown range and while its exactly what keeps him interesting I hope that people can wrap their mind around it and get into these tracks.