everythingwehear

Austin, Texas is home to some of the best bbq restaurants on the planet, the largest urban bat colony in the world (I bet you didn’t know that), SXSW (I bet you did know that), and now Max Frost, the formerly under the radar musician who has burst onto the scene over the past few months with an onslaught of tracks that blend hip hop, funk, soul, rock and folk.  Other than having an amazing comic book villain name, internet searches reveal very little on the man.  His recent single, “White Lies,” is a soulful track that combines Cee Lo style vocals with the frantic danceable energy of Electric Guest.  With songs like “White Lies,” it was only a matter of time before Frost became the new obsession of indie music blogs…and just about everyone else.  Enjoy.

Check him out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop White Lies here

Still Corners released their sophomore album, Strange Pleasures, on May 7th, and to celebrate this joyous occasion, today we turn our attention to “Berlin Lovers,” the first single off the London group’s indie pop album.  Still Corners impresses me with their ability to change their sound just enough to keep it fresh, while maintaining a familiarity by keeping the band’s essence intact.  Their first album, Creatures of an Hour, had a thematic haziness that was utterly calming and intoxicating.  ”Berlin Lovers,” which first hit airwaves in February, signified a bit of a sharper exploration into electronics.  Don’t get me wrong.  That dream pop aura still hovers over Strange Pleasures like a mist but every now and then a jagged little synth dagger slices through the fog.  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop Berlin Lovers here

Spring should be arriving any minute now and I’m ready for some music that makes me want cannonball into a pool or dive into the ocean.  For the ushering in of warm weather, is there any better band name than Swim Deep?  The indie rock outfit, hailing from the UK, have more appeal just their name.  One of England’s most hyped rock groups, Swim Deep have yet to release Where the Heaven Are We, their debut album (due out on July 29, 2013) but have dropped a handful of singles that are fun, dynamic, and wear their 50s, 60s and 70s influences on their sleeve.  One of the singles that will hopefully make Where the Heaven… is “The Sea,” which hit the internet on March 1, 2013.  ”The Sea” is a whimsical, infectious little rock track that will pick up the weather’s slack in keeping you warm for the next few months.  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop “The Sea” here

Side Note: That intro is hauntingly reminiscent of Presidents of the United States’ “Peaches.”

Seven albums in and Tegan and Sara always find a way to make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  On Heartthrobs, their latest album, the twin sisters have elevated their techniques and delved into more sentient subjects,  revving up the synths and crafting anthems for the jilted lover.  This new direction, which is bit more mainstream that T&S lifers are used to, suits them well, especially with their newest single, “I Was a Fool.” The pop single sports sweet harmonies, lush electronics and lyrics that deftly tap into romance’s fatal flaws.  If you can’t relate to “I Was a Fool,” there is a pretty decent chance you are a robot.  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop “I Was a Fool” here

Side Note: I feel like “I Was a Fool” could be played at the heartbreak scene in every 80s teen movie.

If you feel the need to dance like a damned fool, then immediately skip this review (which you probably would anyway) and just play “Sweater Weather” by Parks.  The debut single from the Boston group is bursting with schizophrenic energy from the kinetic guitar chords to the crisp harmonies to the wild rhythmic thumping, all of which make you want to do anything but sit still.  While there is a semblance of garage rock sound to Parks, the band’s wholesomeness feels like the garage was cleaned by your sweet, Aunt Maggie.  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop Sweater Weather for free here

Side note: How in the world do these guys only have 546 fans on Facebook?

When I first heard “All the Bros Say” by Abadabad, I did a double take.  Not because of the name, but I had to confirm that I was listening to a band that didn’t exist when I was born.  ”All the Bros Say” sounds like it was written while the group was literally surfing in Malibu in 1960, not while the Massachusetts fivesome was putting together their debut EP, The Wild, in Boston last year.  Anyway, they have me fooled (which is easy to do).  ”All the Bros Say” is a fuzzy, ‘beach pop’ track with a haziness that mimics recordings on vintage analog equipment. Even with its old school vibe, Abadabad emits a modern energy matched with less throwback-ish lyrics (and i aint spending my summer wondering where you are/so get the hell out of my car).  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop “All the Bros Say” here

Side note:  Frontman Jeremy Lee Given may be the first guy to make telling a girl to get the hell out of his car sound endearing.  Kudos.

It’s been at least four or five minutes since I’ve posted something imported from Australia.  The latest is synth’s newest heavy hitter, Chela.  Chela‘s star is on the rise as she appears to be churning out catchy, lovelorn electro-pop hits pretty regularly these days.   Chela built her buzz by appearing with LA’s buzzworthy Goldroom but is showing now that she can easily take the reins.   Each song she releases comes with a visually simplistic video focused solely on the songstress. The most recent to receive the video treatment is “Guts,” a slick track with an anthematic chorus and beats that make staying away from the dancefloor close to impossible.  Enjoy.

Check her out here

Or on Facebook

Get “Guts” here

Side note: Looks like Chela saves a fortune on paint.