HOME FRONT - Nation

 

1. Who are HOME FRONT?

HOME FRONT are a punk/new wave (they call themselves bootwave) band from Edmonton, Canada. Formed in 2021 with members from other bands Nation (March, 2023) is a single, and most popular song, from their debut alnum Games of Power (March, 2023).

2. What kind of song is Nation?

Nation contains enough hints of HOME FRONT's new wave foundations to make it fresh exciting and interesting, combined with lashings of boot-boy-running-down-the-streets-shouting-Oi-Oi-Oi rebellious energy. Nation gives an intriguing and alluring boot in the balls to two old genres and of course it features vocals from Cal Graham of The Chisel. It's pure fucking genius and like a breath of air to a drowning man.

3. Which bands do HOME FRONT sound like?

Comparisons have been made to High Vis, Suicide  and Syndrome 81. Hell throw in that TURNSTILE song while we are at it. They have also kept company with Béton Armé, The Chisel and Conservative Military Image.

4. Which bands have influenced HOME FRONT?

Information is thin on the ground so let's rolls with Joy Division, Devo, and Blitz.

5. What have people said about Nation?

"Stuffed to the brim with icy synths and righteous indignation" - Maximum Rock'n'Roll.

"A shouty Oi anthem" - Just Some Punk Songs.

"Nation lets a massive gang-chant hook guide it's chorus with fist-pumping vigor" - Exclaim!

"We're poor as fuck,

So they lock us up,

Throw away the key"

Deep State - Heavy Lunch

1.    Who are Deep State?

Deep State are a lo-fi, noise-pop, punk, indie-rock band from Athens, Georgia. Heavy Lunch (May’17) is the second single from their second album THOUGHT GARDEN (April’17). 

2. What kind of tune is Heavy Lunch? 

Heavy Lunch veers between basement punk and noise pop while racing along melodically at full-tit. No frills and energetic. 

3. Who do Deep State sound like? 

BRONCHO, The Libertines, and Cloud Nothings.

4. What have the press got to say?

“A high energy rocker that feels akin to the maxed out, lo-fi sprints of WAVVES” – Punk News.

“A deceptively simple, likely centerpiece single” – Best Of New Orleans.  

“Raw, live sound” – Punk Online. 

5. Which bands have inspired Deep State?

Deep State are influenced by Bruce Springsteen, Devo, Fleetwood Mac, State Champion, and Silver Jews.


6. Why should I give Heavy Lunch a listen?

Because you like lo-fi songs that straddle the noise-pop/punk divide. 


7. What are Deep State's best songs?

No Idea Pt. II  is bracing.


8. Any more words? 

Deep State were signed by Chris Watson to Friendship Fever. Chris Watson discovered Dr Dog.

“Sing me a dirge”

The National are an indie rock/post-punk band from Brooklyn, New York (originally Cincinnati, Ohio). They are very popular, their sixth album was Grammy nominated and their last two albums were top five in the U.S. and worldwide. The National sound similar to Interpol, Joy Division, and Wilco. Their influences are Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and The Smiths. The System Only Dreams In Darkness (May'17) is the lead single from their seventh album Sleep Well Beast (Sept'17) and the tune has a bit more bollocks than their usual shtick.

“The system only dreams in darkness,

What are you hiding from me?”

We Are Z - Goldigaz

1.    Who are these rock’n’roll storm troopers?

We Are Z are an indie pop rock band with theatrical overtones. Flouncing out of London, England, but with four French members, they have been bringing joy to our lives since 2014 and have a handful of singles to their name. Goldigaz (Sept'16) is a stand-alone single at the minute but their is a debut album in the works.

2. What's this Goldigaz about then?

A bit of social commentary y'know? About the endless search for scratch. The tune has a carnival, vaudeville, sound, and bounces harder that a Thai teens tits at a Bangkok Coyote bar. 

3. Who do We Are Z sound like?

Felix Hagan and The Family. Brings. Devo.

4. What have the capitalist lapdogs in the press said about Goldigaz?

“Undeniably unique” – Gig Wise. 

“Ecstatic dizzy joy with darkened eerie and mysterious undertones” – Indie Buddie. 

“Oozing with instrumental flair” – Press Party.

5. Which bands have put the flash into We Are Z?

Some of the bands that have inspired We Are Z are Devo, The Talking Heads, Vampire Weekend, Metronomy and James Brown.

6. Why should I give Goldigaz a geez?

One of these tunes is not like the others. It's Goldigaz.

7. Do We Are Z have any more of these lush treasures?

Sure as shit they do. Airbrush has a word about vanity and beauty obsession while bringing a thin rock wedge to play. Knucklehead has a 80's Duran Duran-esque bombast to it. Fucking gems. No word of a lie.

8. Any more words kind sir?

The bass and keyboard player, Archie, is a seasoned session musician who has put in the hard yards for Beyonce and Pharell Williams among others.

“Listen up monsters to the tale I tell,

Every lost souls on the road to hell”

Dreamers are an alternative rock band from Brooklyn, New York, by way of Seattle. Belting out the tunes since 2014 they have one long player under their belts. Dreamers are similar to Young The Giant, New Politics or Imagine Dragons. They are influenced by The Smiths, Arctic Monkeys, Weezer and Iggy Pop. Wolves (You Got Me) (2014) was their debut single and, as is so often the case, the cream of the crop. Wolves (You Got Me) is a catchy tune without too much polish that Pop Matters said“is able to rise above the masses.”

“You got me brainwashed, you got me so lost,

You got me fucked up like you”

Rafter - We're Golden

1.    Who is this man of music?

Rafter Roberts plays art pop music (experimental and rebellious and from an established form, not necessarily popular) and is from San Diego, California. We're Golden (March'16) bubbles off the album Terrestrial Extras (March'16). Rafter Roberts has eight albums to date and a plan to release one a month this year.


2. What’s spinning?

We're Golden is a preppy, swinging, jazzy bouncer with quirk. Fun from start to finish.


3. Who does Rafter Roberts sound similar to?

If Rafter Roberts sounded similar to anyone he would be disappointed. All Music suggest YACHT, Crytacize and Dan Deacon but Rafter Roberts feels genre-hopper R. Stevie Moore is the answer or at least is a formative inspiration.

 
4. What have the press said about Rafter Roberts?

“Cheerfully quirky, super catchy, oddball pop” – All Music.

“One of the most intense and powerful musical nerds you may ever meet” – Bandcamp.

“Fun indeed!!! Lovin’ it!” – Cloudy Sc, IRP.

5. Which bands have had an influence on Rafter Roberts?

Rafter Roberts classic influences are Devo, Talking Heads, The Beatles, XTC, Gary Numan, Skinny Puppy, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk, Gang Of Four, The Residents and The Cars. Mr Roberts has some love for industrial music, punk, reggae, metal, afrobeat and electronica of all types.



6. Why should I give We’re Golden a spin?

It swings!

 

7. Does Rafter Roberts have any more ripsnorters?

Like Wow is the one you want.

8. Any more words?

Rafter Roberts has a pure reggae album.

Rafter Robert's April album is out, a synth heavy one but under wraps awaiting label release.

Rafter Roberts is married to Lizeth Santos of Smile Now Cry Later.
 

 

“Gold is an element, and gold is a standard, but this is not standard”

 

 

 

Bloc Party are one of the most iconic indie rock bands of the twenty-first century in the UK. From London, England, and playing together since 1999, Bloc Party have five long players on their roll of immortal rock'n'roll honor and sold over three million albums worldwide. The Love Within (Oct'15) is the lead single from Hymns (Jan'16) an album The Guardian called “a brave and successful reinvention” and a song that NME said is “narcotic dancefloor euphoria.”

“Let the love consume us”

 

 

 

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - Mini Mansions

Mini Mansions Freakout! (Feb’15) has a rock dance vibe. Yeah in that order. If you don’t like Mini Mansions let me assure you there’s a damn sight more crackle and pop in this track than their usual limp wristed wank. A bit like Death Is A Girl and a bit David Bowie-ish in parts. Ziggy Stardust to be precise.

There’s a bass and drum stomp that marches the song jauntily forward, in juxtaposition to some maudlin lyrics, toward a crescendo of a chorus. A track about social unease it’s got a strong dose of something outside the box and is, fuckin easily, one of the best indie songs of 2015.

Mini Mansions are an indie pop three piece from Los Angeles making music since 2009. Freakout  is the second single off their second album The Great Pretenders (Mar’15). The bass player is from Queens of the Stone Age.

Shit you need to know:

Mini Mansions have been described as akin to the Beatles and Beach Boys. The tune Freakout! has been likened to the Cars or Soft Cell.

Mini Mansions have said their main influences are 60's and 70's psych pop and especially The Beatles, Elliot Smith and Devo.

Mini Mansions collaborated with Alex Turner, who basically is the Arctic Monkeys, on the track Vertigo (Mar’15) and with Brain Wilson, who basically is the Beach Boys, on the track Any Emotions (Jan’15).

Mini Mansions ent touring with the New Pornographers last year and Royal Blood in February and March. They are supportingAustralian psych rockers Tame Impala touring the US in May.

The band murder a cover of Blondie’s Heart of Glass.

Two of the band members met in a basketball game they played when 11 years old and formed a band they played in through to ninth grade.

Ordinary Man and Death Is A Girl are the Mini Mansions songs that don’t blow chunks.

 

The tag team today is Canadian indie rock band the New Pornographer’s cover of Your Daddy Don’t Know (2002).

Fuck yeah it rocks as hard as having a brick laborer finger fuck your cock hole.

“Making your move

You come down as fast as lightening”