Jams

a smattering of music

[bandcampsnoop]

7/5/26.

I can't believe a release as good as Deadbeat Beat "How Far" has led to only 4 total mentions since 2019. Seems odd for how much I've listened to that release. But, it's true.

"From Here to Ohio" is the follow up, seven years in the making. The sound is similar, although the Bandcamp write up mentions that vocally, Deadbeat Beat (Detroit, Michigan), owes a debt to Turtles, the Beach Boys, and the Cowsills. Musically, there is still a Flying Nun feel, but on the notes for this release the band doesn't name drop The Clean like they did on the last release.

This was mastered by Warren Defever (His Name Is Alive) and was released by Canadian label We Are Time, but if you're in the US, you can get it through Revolver/Midheaven.

[bandcampsnoop]

6/19/26.

The Love Variants are a Austin, Texas band. This meant that I went directly to the Austin Town Hall blog to see what it had to say about the band. I was surprised that there was nothing posted.

The Love Variants cassette release reminds me of a more upbeat version of The Reds, Pinks and Purples and Chime School. But, I really enjoy their sound when they jangle like Felt.

This appears to be self-released.

[bandcampsnoop]

6/11/25.

Hopscotch. There's really not much about this California based band. Danielle is on vocals and Jordan does everything else. They have a lathe cut 7" or cassette for "Ride Home b/w Where Are You". These new songs have yet to have a physical release.

That's it for what I know of the band. The sound reminds me of something that might come out of Oakland. Mostly it reminds me of the amazing Texas Two cassette we posted about in mid February. That means that Hopscotch give off a Shop Assistants vibe too.

The cassette is released by Emotionless The City Lies (I think).

[bayboyzone]

Basilisk/Hide and seek is out now

Watch on youtube here

Listen on bandcamp here

[bandcampsnoop]

6/4/26.

Darla Records is reissuing Mahogany (Detroit, Michigan) "The Dream of a Modern Day". The album is categorized as shoegaze, but, give it a listen and I think you'll agree, that label doesn't really begin to fully describe the music here.

Darla's write up does accurately describe some of it's sound when it states that "The Dream of a Modern Day" is "[i]nfluenced by the austerity of early Factory Records as well as the grandeur of Cocteau Twins." I'm not a huge fan of Cocteau Twins so there's more. This band opened for the likes of A Place To Bury Strangers, Bloc Party, Broadcast, Luna, Spoon, and Vampire Weekend. There's a care to the production and sound that does recall Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips). And I can't help but think of Candy Claws.

This album originally came out in 2000 and has been remastered for this reissue by Warren Defever (His Name Is Alive). The full album can be streamed in many places. Here is a link to YouTube.

[teddypng]

Joan Baez performing It Ain't Me Babe in Stockholm, Sweden in 1966

[bandcampsnoop]

5/29/26.

Look back in the archives of this blog and you'll find quite a few mentions of the Fire Talk label. In more recent years, I haven't been posting as much even though the label continues to release quality music and remain a fiercely independent label.

I've heard of Cola, and have bought an Ought album and posted band leader Tim Darcy's solo album back in 2016. And I'm sure if I go back and listen to the band's previous releases on Fire Talk, I'll kick myself and wonder why I wasn't listening earlier, but why do that? Here I am right now, listening to the wonderful, somewhat self-titled "Cost of Living Adjustment" and literally loving each and every song.

When I listen to a band I'm thinking about posting, I usually jot down comps. I remember writing Protomartyr first, then Nap Eyes, but I really want to highlight the INXS comparison. There some Michael Hutchence in the vocals, and I likes it. And the recently posted Aathens fits nicely alongside Cola.

Cola are a three piece (!) and are based in Montreal, Quebec.

[bandcampsnoop]

5/23/26.

I try my best not to exaggerate. After over 11 1/2 years of doing this blog, I rarely hear directly from any band or anyone running a label. And that's ok. It was never a goal or a reason to start the blog. When it does happen, it's kind of cool.

So when R.E. Seraphin actually sent me a message wondering if I'd check out/post about "In On It", the new cassette by Rob & Ellen (Oakland, California), I think I wrote back some along the lines of "anything for R.E. Seraphin".

Rob is Rob Miller from Blues Lawyer and solo Rob Miller "fame". Ellen is Ellen Matthews who is responsible for guitars here. If you know of Rob Miller's work in Blues Lawyer, etc., you'll recognize the sound here. If not, let me say it has a definite Flying Nun/The Clean/David Kilgour sound. And, of course, I mean that as the highest of compliments.

This is out on R.E. Seraphin's Take A Turn label. We last posted about it almost exactly a year ago with Hectorine "Arrow Of Love".

[bandcampsnoop]

5/22/26.

I think we've mentioned The Bananas (Sacramento, California) once in a post before, and that's a shame. For those of us who enjoy a little loud punk now and then, The Bananas can really whet our whistle. I'm particularly fond of "Don't Go Toward The Light" - a reunion record of sorts, as it came 12 years after "New Animals" (2008). "Don't Go Toward The Light" is their only release on drummer Scott Miller's Secret Center Records.

I'm fond of it because I'm such a sucker for melody and the backing vocals are where it's at. The lead vocals have the guttural vocals one often associates with classic punk, but the sweet backup vocals keep these songs interesting and afloat.

Members of The Bananas have been in Bright Ideas, Swiftumz, Bagpipe Operation and The English Singles. All of those bands are great, but none sound like The Bananas. This is the kind of punk that should show up on Maximum Rock N' Roll review. I checked...it did.

[bandcampsnoop]

5/17/26.

One of the most enigmatic current labels of alternative/indie music is Night School. Michael Kasparis runs the label, and also works at Monorail Music in Glasgow. If you want to get his autograph, just buy something from Monorail - chances are he'll be signing the customs form on the front of your package.

His tastes are eclectic. Recently he's reissued Rose McGowan, released a new album from Hannah Lew, and now has Gichard "Chins For Lefty" up for preorder. Listening to "Posthumous Hologram" made me think of a soupier/thicker Dry Cleaning. Other bands mentioned in the Bandcamp write up: Rowland S. Howard (The Birthday Party), and Chromatics. Lisa Jones' vocals/melodies also recall early (and I mean early) Michael Stipe in R.E.M.

While Jones is newer to the music scene, guitarist Chris Valli has been plying his trade for the past 20 years in Glasgow. Again, according to the Bandcamp notes, his most notable band was VOW.

[likopinina]

Recently found out there is a Dorohedoro OST album from 2016. It was meant as soundtrack for the manga, apparently. And it was removed from bandcamp. Anyway, it's really good stuff, if you're into breakcore or breakcore adjacent music, give it a listen. On yt the full album is here and the separate tracks are on this playlist

[vamp-orwave]

Instagram article from Fifty Shades of Gay

[grrl-bubble-acid]

John Tejada - Little Green Lights And Four Inch Faders

[famouspainterwombat]

[fishyfishyfishtimes]

I made a video about the northern pike :]c

[389]

[389]

@389 presents...

Air Logic [ deep electronic, leftfield, ambient, chill ] Tracklist

1. Aquarian – Sketch 2 (Song for D.O.U.G.) 2. Evan Caminiti – Carnation 3. Neinzr – Trauma 4. Pictureshift – Glaciers 5. J. Dennis – After Light 6. Route 8 – Deepmind 7. Pearson Sound – Everything Is Inside Out 8. Dewemer – Erk 9. INVT – ARPA303 10. Clubroot – Conqueror 11. Cabaas – Excess (Otik Remix) 12. Di Barsotti - Can You Believe What Happen 13. Forest Drive West – Parallel Space 14. A-Sim – Never Ending Story 15. Imre Kiss – Axyn 16. Plebeian – Pearl 17. Konduku – Obru 18. Soyuz – Dark Side Of The Moon 19. Brother Nebula – A Question 20. Will Silver – What’s For U 21. Batu – Traverse 22. Chestnut People, Priori, Ludwig A.F. – I 23. Night Manoeuvres, Dot Major, Absolute. – This Life