by Meredith Schneider | Sep 28, 2017 | wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based psych pop/acid folk band thanks. – comprised of Steve Pagano and Mario Borgatta – have been working together in the sound space since meeting at Berklee College of Music in 2009, so they definitely have the musical chops to back up their sound. Recently, they released their latest single “Annabelle”, a love letter of sorts. With lyrics that depict unconditional love – selfless in their empathy (“Cause Annabelle I want you to know/If things are blurry you can walk out the door/Cause I would die and go to hell to save this love, Annabelle”) – and a slow crawl tempo, thanks. has created an updated 60’s inspired love song that really makes you want to develop your own crooning abilities.
Keep up with thanks. here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 28, 2017 | wolf tracks
Alternative music project Holy Wars – helmed by the incredible Kat Leon – recently released the official music video for the whirring, fierce single “Back to Life”. Even with its dark instrumentals and slow, hard tempo, there is still a slight silver lining. At least, that is, every time she belts out “I’m coming back to life/I nearly lost my mind,” right?
Artwork in itself, the video begins with Leon washed up on shore, lost in murky confusion. Then the story begins to unfold. Faceless people. Being thrown in the water. Being buried alive. A whole other existence. Adrenaline-inducing and mysterious, “Back to Life” will keep your mind turning long after you stop watching it.
Keep up with Holy Wars here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 27, 2017 | snapshot
On September 20th, Andrew W.K. blew the roof off recordBar in Kansas City, MO. If there were actual words to describe what happened at that show, we’d try. Within two songs, I was hip checked pretty hard and then had two drinks spilled on me. And I couldn’t even be angry, because the amount of positive energy that was rattling the room was too overbearing.
Check out a (small) selection of the photos we captured that day.
Check out the selections we nabbed for do816 below.
Keep up with Andrew W.K. here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 27, 2017 | wolf tracks
You know when you hear a song and it just kind of stays with you? Whether it’s the lyrical content, the instrumentals, the brooding lead singer’s voice… any aspect of it just seems to belong to you and feel right with you? Well, THAT’S how we feel about Teen Vice‘s track “How Does It Feel?”, just in case you’re asking that question. THAT’S why we want you to hear it.
Based in Brooklyn, Teen Vice – comprised of Josh Ackley, May Dantas, Derek Pippin, and Tammy Hart – is spreading their post-punk/grunge sound steadily across the musical landscape. “How Does It Feel?” is no different, though it is one that sits at a way milder tempo than the majority. Jumping out at us from Teen Vice’s latest 11-track release Saddest Summer, there is actually quite a bit of true longing woven into the lyrics. Admits Tammy:
“How Does it Feel?” was inspired from a real life longing. I wrote the song while laid up in my bedroom with a broken leg, drunk and pining for someone who wasn’t mine. It was painful. It was hopeless. That person is now my wife.
Musically I wanted to challenge myself to write that ultimate mixtape love song. The one you put on the tape that is your passive aggressive way of telling that person that you are in love with them. That song for me was always The Breeders “Do You Love Me Now?” I wanted to write a song that good.
Saddest Summer is available now. Keep up with Teen Vice here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 27, 2017 | wolf tracks
Twelve years after their conception, Bologna, Italy based punk group Altre di B – comprised of four men named Alberto, Andrea, Giacomo, and Giovanni – are revving up to jump across the Atlantic and perform at the Mondo.NYC festival. But they’re also prepping to release their latest album Miranda! the same week, a work that was originally concepted around the homonym book written by Quirico Filopanti in 1858. Its focus on maps, airports, geography, and cultural anthropology feel subtle, but make it one of the most intricately woven and highly educated concept albums we have heard in a while.
But, even with all of this big news and opportunities to see them live, we’re most excited about one thing. Altre di B’s brand new track “LAX” premieres right here, right now.
The vocals have a vintage punk feel to them, replete with the highly necessary emphasis on the European accent, an aspect they tend swap in and out of their music. With its upbeat tempo and fun, singable chorus, we can’t imagine this song not being a highlight of the live show. And we really just have one thing to note, a challenge, actually, for you guys. Try to NOT dance to this song. (It’s impossible.)
“Miranda!” is a concept album and a tribute to the homonym book written by Quirico Filopanti in 1858 containing the first theory of time zones. As a consequence the album is all about geography, cultural anthropology, maps and airports.
Altre di B is set to play Mondo.NYC festival, October 4th at DROM. Miranda! is out October 6th, via Black Candy Records. Keep up with the band here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 26, 2017 | wolf tracks
On Friday, self-proclaimed “unruly vaudeville” band EGRESS – expertly comprised of “Tyrant” Taylor (Vocals, Accordion, Cello), “Saddle” Sarah (Vocals, Piano, Violin), John” Toobie Doo” Wentz (Tuba, Vocals), Jaclyn “the” Kidd (Guitar, 6 String Banjo), Joe “BONE” Lynch (Trombone, Backup Vocals), “Easy” Chet Sullivan (Trumpet, Backup Vocals), and Nick Pecca (Drums) – released their 13 track, frills-packed full-length Onward! Up A Frightening Creek. From the very beginning of “VooDoo”, there is a sense of that this band should have come from the south, as their sound is much more theatrical New Orleans than anything we’d expect from their hometown of Bethlehem, PA. But that is the quirky beauty in what they’re doing, and we’re so on board.
Second track “Whiskey on My Grave” has almost a dreamlike quality to it, which makes sense as this is the most anyone could hope for in the afterlife, if we do say so ourselves. The tempo drops slightly for “Cinematic Savior”, though the vocals feel more soulful in comparison to the punk-tinged vocals of its predecessor. “Mark Of The Beast” is resplendent in its texture, really bringing an otherworldly gypsy feel to the album. “Chopped Down” brings us back to a slightly more folk sound, though we know we’re in for more intense genre swaps before the end of Onward! Up A Frightening Creek.
“See No Evil” meanders along, the raspy vocals simply instructing us to “kill our enemies” as casually as possible, amongst other fun lines. (But no ill will, right guys?) “Rollin'” has a smoother, big band backdrop, and we can imagine a can can line and the beautiful frenzy of skirts as the track speeds up and brings us to a more anxious sound space. (And commentary on the repetitiveness of history.) Eighth track “Ode To Bukowski’s Women” is up there with “Whiskey On My Grave” as one of our favorite titles, and EGRESS swaps between the vintage tinge of their phenomenal female vocalist and a deep, almost sinister male vocalist. It makes for one of the more unique tracks we have heard as of late, and we’re intrigued to see the response to this one in particular.
“Nelly Mae” picks up the tempo, a track we can envision an entire park full of people frantically dancing to. “All We Have, We Give To You” has the most self-sacrificing title of the bunch, and we don’t disagree as the intensity of the instrumentals is proof itself. The lyrics are honest, as they sing about sleep habits, drinking, and having three heads. (Normal things, ya know?) “Southbound” and its accompanying intro clearly belong in a touring musical, and we’re slightly disappointed they aren’t yet.
Although, if we’re being honest, the majority of this work belongs in its own stage production. (So do you want to get on that, EGRESS?)
The band rounds out Onward! Up A Frightening Creek with “Going Home (Again)”, an anthem-type of track that is upbeat and details an intense journey home. But the nifty part of it is that they’ve decisively woven some very interesting social commentary into the words – though that’s hardly a surprise at this point – and have captivated their listeners with standout lines like “Bowie took our friends in his spaceship to sit this one out/They’re looking down on earth and convinced that it’s always been round.” It’s sincerely the best way we could think to round out the new release. (And if you don’t think you’ve had enough of that track, check out the music video here.)
Onward! Up A Frightening Creek is out now. Keep up with EGRESS every day right here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 26, 2017 | wolf tracks
Brooklyn’s electronic duo NØMADS have been releasing one single per month since February 2017 as part of their Phøbiac EP project. This month, we got the endearing “Autophøbia” and its accompanying video, which showcases the duo’s performance abilities as they play through the track in a warehouse in real time. The song itself has a darker, trance feel to it, and the name itself lends to the tone, as “autophobia” is “the fear of being alone.”
With autumn upon us, our first instinct was to imagine ourselves in a haunted house with this playing in the background. The instrumentals would heighten an experience like that, which makes “Autophøbia” perfect for this time for year. (But you should really catch up on the entire project, because it’s been a doozy to watch it unfold!)
PHØBIAC PART 2:
Keep up with NØMADS here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 22, 2017 | wolf tracks
Today, Destin, Florida dream pop musician Gileah Taylor released her latest track, a single titled “Till We’re Through”. A bit of a pop ballad, Taylor’s vocals are on full display on this track, as they edge on darkness at times, replete with an airy rasp, and then bounce back up to this weightless place we can’t quite put our finger on. The lyrics sit with their audience far after the last notes of the song have faded. Taylor has identified us all as fallible human beings, brought more relatable qualities to the forefront.
How strange to acknowledge our similarities.
“Till We’re Through” is available now via Velvet Blue Music. Keep up with Gileah Taylor here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 21, 2017 | wolf tracks
Tomorrow, Kalamazoo, Michigan’s indie/folk americana duo Gifts or Creatures – comprised ofBrandon John Foote + Bethany Foote – releases their third full-length, a ten track piece of work titled Fair Mitten. But while we wait (not so patiently) to own a copy of it for ourselves, we’ve actually got the whole thing streaming for you.
From the lengthy, beautiful instrumental intro on first track “Pontiac’s Rebellion”, to the soft, simple but detailed storytelling in “Trout of The Pines”, to the soulful and rock-tinged “Green Gold”, all the way until the last chords of final track “Conquest Of The Old Northwest”, the entirety of the album offers an almost earthy vulnerability to its sound, making each one of its listeners feel as though they are connecting with the land around them. It’s an absolute breath of fresh air, and the band seems to have had that in mind from the beginning. Explains Brandon Foote:
Ever since I was a child, I have been enamored by the boundless blue water and thick north woods of Michigan. The striking and stunning combination of wooded land and freshwater seascapes has a rich history that is often overshadowed by the coastal cities and towns of North America. I have traveled around the country and always miss the north woods when away. The Great Lakes region has always felt like a secret undiscovered jewel to me.
Do yourself a favor and take a journey over the lush and textured soundscape Gifts or Creatures has provided your ears in our exclusive album stream premiere!
Fair Mitten is out September 22nd via Earthwork Music. Keep up with Gifts or Creatures here.
