Huddle

Kisses - “Huddle” from stereogum on Vimeo.

There’s something endearing about this Kisses video. It has some of the feel of one of the classic eighties teenage movies, but the bits with the kid almost remind me of Wes Anderson. Then there’s the lost love, the demise of a band and the potential of the summer after high school and before college.

Oh, and the song is catchy, too.

Black is Back

There are times where I just do internet searches to see if I can turn up any news about a new Small Black release. It's been some time since their last proper release, 2010's New Chain (right around when I saw them live). Unfortunately, my searches as of late have been fruitless.

This week, news of a new Small Black release coming in May dropped in by lap, courtesy of the the 'Gum. Yes, Black is back, and they've emerged with a more expansive sound on the "Free At Dawn" single. Absent from this song are some of the blissed-out theatrics that served the band so well on songs like "Search Party" and "Photojournalist" from their last record and the low-fi stuttering cheap keyboard beats of their debut EP. The new track has what feels like a steady slow build, climaxing in hazy, lazy guitar solo over repeats of the of the chorus of "free at dawn". One can imagine a man, emerging fatigued from a third shift at work, in the early morning hours. He squints in the sun as he scans the parking lot for the car that will liberate him from his nightly grind. "Free At Dawn" is the soundtrack to his drive home. A cassette, well worn from use, playing from the stereo in the dash as he makes his way to a good day's sleep.

Defending the Paint

It is my pleasure to share this TW Walsh track that I have been in love with for years and that has just now made it's way to Bandcamp and vinyl. Right in time for March Madness.

Marilyn

Just Natasha Khan, her telecaster, and some subtle percussion. Raw and wonderful. I think my favorite thing about this video is that the vocals are so clear and I no longer think she's singing "Ponyboy, you're touching the stars." Hey, if she sung a song about a Ralph Machio movie character (Daniel), who is to say she wouldn't do the same for a C. Thomas Howell character?

Give Us Peace

If you've ever thought, "I've never heard a version of Silent Night with enough reverb in the vocals," this track just might be what you are looking for. Seriously, as with all the covers I've heard Jamison do under the Teen Daze moniker, this is very enjoyable. It's got a reverent sentimentality to it while being completely different from any other version of the song you've ever heard. Listen, download and look forward to Christmas day.

Letter of Intent

This is officially my favorite song of 2013 (well, at least so far).

You should now have a album to look forward to in January. If the new Ducktails record, The Flower Lane, has any more tracks even half as good as the first single, "Letter of Intent", it will be well worth the purchase price.

Christmas Tree Island

The Rosebuds have a new album of all original Christmas songs, entitled Christmas Tree Island. As much as I love covers, it’s great to hear a Christmas album that doesn’t have a single one on it. These songs don’t always have the traditional sentiments expressed in most ‘standards’ of the season, but they do have a resolute warmth and longing for the best that this holiday can bring. ‘I Hear (Click, Click, Click)’ kicks the record off with some of that early rock n’ roll exuberance that made their first lp, ‘Make Out’, so compelling when it debuted. The second song, ‘Thru That Door’ starts a string of tracks featuring saxophone that gradually get more soulful with each passing tune, climaxing with the 6+ minute slow jam, ‘Lonely Light’. You hear the influence of the sounds of Sade that they most recently openly an earnestly revealed with their cover of the whole Love Deluxe album1. Immediately following ‘Lonely Light’, the album goes back to the rock, with what I believe to be the finest track of the bunch, ‘Melt Our Way Out’. The last few songs stick to the signature Rosebuds sound, but infuse it with some Christmas sonic staples, such as the surfy sounding guitar on ‘Journey To Christmas Island’ (for which they bring back the sax, as well).

It’s rare that a band puts out a Christmas album, and instead of some token covers for the season, release one of their finest collections of original songs.

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1. You can get the Sade cover album done to honor the 20 year anniversary of Love Deluxe for free here. ↩