Hope everyone has been enjoying their weekend, I know I have. I've also been enjoying some good songs & videos and am sharing them with you all now in this Weekly Roundup.
-Chicago band Videotape put out an album called This Is Disconnect on September 4th. I am digging the single "Between Me & You." It strikes a balance between clattering noise and shimmering sweetness in a way that makes me want to listen over and over again.
-Here's something you don't hear every day. "Swallow Them Whole," a track by Sandpaper Dolls, is entirely a cappella in a very innovative way. While it is common for such groups to have vocal performances of "instrumental parts," the voices here create fascinating textures well before the conventional word-driven melody comes in. It's hypnotic, entrancing, otherworldly even. Really cool. Their album will come out November 6th, and this single will be for sale September 25th.
-I've said this many times before, but the Swedes just know how to make damn good pop music. Here's a catchy, enjoyable tune from Turn Off Your Television called "Blanket of Shame," the first single from an album due October 8th. The idea of someone comforting another person with a blanket of shame is fun to consider, but I wouldn't blame you for being too caught up in the song to really analyze the notion.
-Here's another song that grabbed me because of its strong voice and atmospherics. It's called "Cordelia," by Scottish musician Jo Mango. It's more contemplative and quiet, but it's no less powerful or majestic than anything louder or busier. Look for her new album Murmuration November 5th.
-Let's make a big stylistic jump, shall we? Ridgewood, NJ band Spook Houses released Trying on cassette last month, and I really love the ragged, energetic song "American." It starts off in a way that reminded me a lot of Pavement – which is always a good thing in my book – but the track quickly shakes off its languor to become an absolutely invigorating romp. So awesome.
-Here's a (possibly NSFW) video for an incredible track called "I Don't Fit In," by Suburban Living, the recording name of Virginian Wesley Bunch. Some might find it unsettling, others might find it humorous, still others may find it artistic, but I think we can all agree this is a gem of a song. I love the guitar and the drifting vocals sync up perfectly making this a lovely paean to loneliness.
-Let's catch up with some previously featured Dig artists. I was excited to learn that Holobody has teamed up with the great digital label Bad Panda Records to put out an awesome cover of Mariah Carey's "Fantasy." Check it out.
-You may not recognize the name Farah Loux, but it is the New Zealand that used to go by the name Alaska. New album FLAWS just came out and here's a neat video for their track "K.I.D.S." This creative grand adventure, sort of a cardboard & sticks version of a medieval battle, makes sense for the anthemic vibes of the song.
-Tashaki Miyaki has released another incredibly shot black-and-white music video, this time for the track "Tonight." Besides being inclined to create visually stunning videos (and credit to director Juan Iglesias), the duo's sound continues to delight: great fuzzy guitars, grooving drums, and blissful melody in perfect combination.
Tashaki Miyaki – Tonight (Official Video) from Juan Iglesias on Vimeo.