The Tins - Sun Dried Mind

 

1. Who? 

The Tins are an indie rock (60's psychedelic pop/new wave art rock) band from Buffalo, New York. Sun Dried Mind (May'18) is the second single from their second album The Shine (June'18). 

2. What kind of song is it? 

Sun Dried Mind opens with euphoric, effervescent pop and a singalong chorus. Fuzzy guitar adds contrast and gravitas. An instantly likeable song that oozes joy on a religious scale.

3. Who do The Tins sound like? 

The Shins, Bear Hands, and Spoon. 


4. What is the word in the press for Sun Dried Mind?

“Very poppy, filtered through 60’s psychedelia” – American Pancake.

“Soaring pop tendencies and guitar fuzz” – Obscure Sound.

“Sun-soaked vocal harmonies and a clean-cut polished sound” – We All Want Someone. 

5. Which bands influenced The Tins?

The Kinks, Badfinger, Animal Collective, ELO, and Spoon. 


6. Why should I give Sun Dried Mind a crack? 

Sun Dried Mind has captured a hallelujah moment in song. It feels so good it's a religious experience.


7. Do The Tins have any more great songs?

Let It Go and Love On Strike. 


8. Anything else?

The Shins was produced by Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls. 

Matthew Logan Vasquez is the singer/guitarist from indie rock band Delta Spirit. He is also in Middle Brother. As a solo artist he has released two albums. Matthew Logan Vasquez is influenced by artists like Gram Parsons, Iggy Pop and Nirvana. Night Forever is from the E.P. Texas Murder Ballads (May'18) and is a snappy rocker propelled along with an intense sense of urgency. 

Low Cut Connie - Rock'n'Roll Revolution

1.    Who are Low Cut Connie? 

Low Cut Connie are an indie rock’n’roll band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They have been playing together since 2010 and are famous for their high energy live shows and general debauchery. Rock’N’Roll Revolution (Feb’17) is the lead single from their fourth album Dirty Pictures (Part 1) (May'17). 

2. What kind of song is Rock'n'Roll Revolution? 

Rock'n'roll Revolution is good times rock'n'roll, piano-led, with bluesy vocals and saturated in a miasma of sex, drugs, booze and rock'n'roll. Done and dusted in the magic three minutes this tune is concise, orgiastic, grand and vital. 

3. Who do Low Cut Connie sound like? 

Jerry Lee Lewis, J Roddy Ralston & The Business and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.

4. What have the press said about Rock'n'Roll Revolution? 

“Kicking up some dust right out of the gates” – Daily Play MPE.

“Blasts it’s way through singalong chorus’ and big riffs” – Back Seat Mafia. 

“Low Cut Connies rips shit up” – Daily Play MPE.

5. Which bands influenced Low Cut Connie? 

They like Little Richard, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. 

6. Why should I give Rock'n'Roll Revolution?

Because you love 50's rock'n'roll. Because you are a hedonist. 

7. What are Low Cut Connie's best songs? 

Rock'n'roll Revolution takes the gold but Shake It Little Tina is more of the same good times and well good for the silver. 

8. Any more words? 

The band are named after a waitress the singer/piano player Adam Weiner often saw at a diner when he was young and his appreciation for her dresses. 

“Touch my body, touch my soul,

Revolution rock’n’roll”

Alex The Astronaut is Alex Lynn from Sydney, Australia, but fighting out of New York City. She is a folk-tronic musician and has only released a handful of singles since her debut in 2016. Alex is similar to The Waifs and Little Birdy. She is influenced by Paul Kelly, Lorde and Bob Dylan. Already Home (Dec'17) is an instantly lovable story-telling song in the indie folk/pop tradition but with gravitas from the swelling strings and stinging lyrics.

“And there’s billionaires for president,

And parking fines at hospitals”

The So So Glos - Dancing Industry

1.    Who are these hard chargers?

The So So Glos are a punk band from Brooklyn, New York, started in 2007. Dancing Industry (Feb’16) is the second single from their third album Kamikaze (Sept’16).

2. What's the low down on Dancing Industry? 

The tune comes bouncing out of the traps at heartbeat pace, with a fire truck siren sense of urgency and an anthemic gang chorus. Light, upbeat, passionate and joyous.

3. Who do The So So Glos sound like? 

A mix of The Clash, The Ramones and The Strokes. 

4. What's the good word from the press?

“Brilliantly uplifting tune” – Kerrang.

“Giddy and scuzzy” – Stereogum.

 

“Charged up” – Consequence Of Sound. 

5. Which bands ignited The So So Glos' fire?

Some of the bands that have influenced The So So Glos are The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Nirvana, Green Day and The Kinks.

6. Why should I give Dancing Industry a crack?

There is a fresh energy to Dancing Industry, with it's combination of frenetic punk rhythms and garage band, that equals the best new thing at the minute.

7. Do The So So Glos have any more bangers?

Missionary bangs a bit harder.

8. Any more words?

Kamikaze was recorded with John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt) and Mike Mogis (Rilo Kiley).

 “If you’re gonna keep up you’re gonna have to dance,

And drive an ambulance at the same time”

Larrikin Love were a London indie rock band that played music with elements of punk, reggae, folk and calypso. They lasted from 2005 - 2007 and were most often compared to The Clash, The Libertines and The Pogues. The bands biggest inspiration was The Waterboys. The band only released one album The Freedom Spark (2006) and it had the band's most popular song Happy Annie which broadens out from the reckless speed of the start into a swinging Dexy's Midnight Runners' Come On Eileen-esque barn burner.

“Children please beware,

I’m choked with fear”

Kissing Is A Crime - Crown Royal

     

     1.    Who are they?

Kissing Is A Crime are a post-punk band from Brooklyn, New York. Started in 2012, Crown Royal is the lead single from their debut E.P. Your Secrets Are Safe With Me (Sept'16 Re-issue). 

2. Is the tune up to snuff?

    

           Yeah it is. A low-fi song that twinkles along charmingly, telling a story of young lust, and letting the melodies do the heavy lifting. 

     

     

     3. Who do Kissing Is A Crime sound like?

         The Chills, The Smiths, Interpol.

      4. What is the good word in the press about Crown Royal?

“Shimmers as it grooves along” – Stereogum. 

“Their emotive sound is irresistibly catchy” – Nylon. 

“A concise, head swaying piece of post-whatever” – Speakimge. 

       5. Which bands influenced Kissing Is A Crime? 

The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The Vaselines and The Violent Femmes are some of the bands that have had an influence on the band and Crown Royal in particular. 


6. Why should I give Crown Royal a whip past the ears? 

Crown Royal is fine songwriting writ large. It perfectly evokes the moment of all enveloping desire. 


7. Do Kissing Is A Crime have any more of these jewels? 

Your Secrets Are Safe With Me is fantastic. 


8. Any more words muppet? 

Not a dilly.

“I’d sell my soul for a taste of you”

The La’s were an indie rock band from Liverpool, England, that seemed destined for greatness. They played from 1987 to 1992 releasing only one studio album which garnered widespread critical acclaim. They reformed and re-released music a few times thereafter. There She Goes (1990) was the bands moment in the sun; charting in the English top 20 and included by NME as one of the top 50 indie anthems of all time. There She Goes is about love unattained and is a cherished song by many.

“And I just can’t contain,

This feelin’ that remains”

The Tins - Love On Strike

1.    Who are the chaps?

The Tins are an indie rock band from Buffalo, New York. Playing together since 2010 they have one long player to their name. Love On Strike is from The Tin’s third short player Love On Strike (Nov’15).


 2. What’s the vibe?

Love On Strike strides out tall, handsome and proud with classic rock riffs and rides that horse for what it's worth. It's worth a lot. The chorus is a lot more English indie rock. Sound as a pound.


3. Who do The Tins sound like?

Love On Strike minds of The Family Rain.


4. What have the good people in the press said?

“Straight forward indie pop and indie rock” – Pure Volume.

“Great harmonies, squiggly synth and razor sharp hooks” – Buffa Blog.

“Destined for greatness” – Tell All Your Friends.

 

 

5. Which bands have put the magic in The Tin’s music?

The Tins are influenced by The Kinks, Spoon, ELO, Badfinger, Black Sabbath and Animal Collective.

6. Why should I give Love On Strike a lash?

Love On Strike has all kinds of classic rock riffs and a stomping rhythm. What's not to love?


7. Do The Tins have any more bangers?

Let It Go is so fine. Innovative, sublime, indie rock brilliance.


8. Any more words?

The E.P. Love On Strike was mixed by Ted Young who has worked in the mines for Cymbals Eat Guitars and Kurt Vile and produced by The Goo Goo Dolls’ bass player Robby Takac.

“You haven’t acted your age in ages”

 

 

 

 

The Little Ones are an indie pop band from Los Angeles, California. Getting the love flowing since 2006 they have two long players to fly on their flag. The Little Ones have been compared to The Shins and The Magic Numbers. Argonauts (2012) was the lead single to bubble off their second album The Dawn Sang Along (2013) and is a tune Indie Shuffle said, “the bouncy rhythm and chopped up vocals had me hooked.”

“For every fallen dream there is a hard knock on the door”

  

 

 

 

 

Great Caesar - Hey Mama

1.    Who are these lovelies?

Great Caesar are a socially conscious indie rock band with a brass section that sashay out of Brooklyn, New York.  Hey Mama (March’16) flows off the Great Caesar E.P. Jackson’s Big Sky (March’16).


2. What’s the tune like?

Hey Mama starts out a soulful acoustic song, vocal led and dripping in emotional resonance. The brass lightly brings up the rear and the instruments blend slowly in. No fear. The vocal only breakdown sends a frisson down your spine and then the band and brass dime out and Hey Mama becomes transcendental. Ticks all the boxes.


3. Who do Great Caesar sound similar to?
 
Operation Every Band have their finger on the pulse with The Decemberists, Bronze Radio Return and Hey Marsailles. Throw in The Lumineers if you must.


4. What is the good word from the press?

“An uplifiting ode” – Nerdist.

“A compelling emotional performance” – My Space.

“Simple and stark” – Ear Milk.

5. Who put the lolly in Great Caesar’s music?

Great Caesar are influenced by The Beatles, Paul Simon, Elton John, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and The Dave Matthews Band and have sent some love to Sufjan Stevens. The band also have a background in ska.
 

6. Why should I give Hey Mama a crack?

Great Caesar have played prisons and talked to the folk in there and Hey Mama is the good oil from those visits. Compelling musically, spiritually and emotionally. Frontman John Parker has said the EP is “our first real statement.” Real is exactly what Hey Mama is.
 

7. Do Great Caesar have any more of these treasures?

Hey Mama stands head and shouilders above the rest. Don't Ask Me Why is popular.

 

8. More words fool?

John Michael Parker, band frontman, said the coolest thing about the difference between being a musician and a doctor in this interview.

 

“I wanna be where a boy can be free,

But I’ve got time that I owe the state”

It would be rude to go past The Lumineers for the second innings. The Lumineers are an indie folk rock band from Denver, Colorado by way of Ramsey, New Jeresy. They are crazy popular and their debut album The Lumineers (2012) went to number two in the Billboard Charts, sold a million half and the single Ho Hey (2012) topped the charts and sold two million plus. Cleopatra (March'16) is the second single from The Lumineers second album Cleopatra (April'16) and is a cracking tune about a woman The Lumineers came to know through “...a friend. “She drives taxis and is this badass lady – she’ll pick you up at the airport with a cigarette hanging out her mouth and a beer can between your legs.”

 

“Damn your wife, I’d be your mistress just to have you around”

 

 

Cold Collective - Away From You

1.    Who are these men of music?

Cold Collective are a rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Away From You (March’16) is the second single from Cold Collective’s debut long player Bacherlorette Party (May’16).


2. What have the lads dished up?

Away From You has a powerful, low throbbing, engine thanks to the swampy rock riffs. Throw in a fat bass assist and a passionate, punk vocal with exquisite phrasing, riding on top with arms wide open. Away From You is a carefully crafted, well worn, mid-tempo punk rock shit kicker.


3. Who have Cold Collective been compared to?

The reviews are out. Lower Than Atlantis play in the same sandpit.


4. What have the cut and paste bandits said about Cold Collective?

“Swampy rock riffs” – The Best Indie Songs.

“Upbeat catchy songs” – Punk Rock Theory.

“Throbs with pent-up aggression” – The Best Indie Songs.

 

5. Which bands have cast a shadow on Cold Collective’s hard rocking vibe?

Back in the day singer and guitarist Tim Landers said Mock Orange, Third Eye Blind, Osker and Suicide File were essential listening.


6. Why should I give Away From You a whip past the ears?

Away From You throbs with pent-up aggression but it never lets slip of the clutch; it just rides that feeling for all it's worth. Away From You is a case study in crafted punk rock restraint, never sacrificing speed for shot-between-the-eyes accuracy.


7. Do Cold Collective have any more majestic bolters?

The debut single Wanna Change will not disappoint.


8. Any more information?

Cold Collective was formed by Tim Landers who has played in Transit, Misser and Off And On and is made up of members of Defeater and November 5 1955.

Bachelorette Party was produced by Jay Mass who has weaved musical magic for bands like The Dropkick Murphys, Title Fight and State Champs.

 

“I hit the ground running man, anchors aweigh,

Get me to Logan, get me on a plane”

 

It would be rude not to bring a Lower Than Atlantis tune out for a spin. The alternative rock band from Watford, England, have four long players on their roll of honor. Get Over It (2015) is a stand alone single and was described by The Indie Pendent as “one of the years most catchy alternative anthems.”

 

“Just because I’m a rock don’t mean I’m made of stone”