Cloud Nothings - Modern Act

1.    Who are they? 

Cloud Nothings are a lo-fi indie rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They have been making music since 2009. Modern Act (Oct'16) is the lead single from their fifth album Life Without Sound (Jan'16).

2. What kind of tune is Modern Act? 

Modern Act is a nondescript, lo-fi, basement, indie rock song. Good playlist filler that grows on you if you ignore it. 

3. Who do Cloud Nothings sound like? 

Japandroids, Wavves and Cymbals Eat Guitars.

4. What have the press said about Modern Act?

“Fierce and melodic” – Rolling Stone.

“A soaring, unifying cut” – DIY.

“Punk rock tradition” – CPR. 

5. Which bands have influenced Cloud Nothings? 

Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, The Wipers and Nina Hagen. 


6. Why should I listen to Cloud Nothings? 

Because you like low-key, noisy, lo-fi songs. 


7. What are Cloud Nothings best songs?

I'm Not Part Of Me is a grimey little punk anthem that found popular success. A nut cracker.


8. Any more words?

Life Without Sound is produced by John Goodmanson (Los Campesinos, Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab For Cutie).

                                                                                                                                    “Whose war is this?

Who’s god is that?”

Daniel Elsworth and The Great Lakes are an indie rock band from Nasheville, Tennessee. They started playing in 2010 and have recorded three albums. Daniel Elsworth and The Great Lakes main influences are Paul Simon, Wilco and Tom Petty. They sound like J Roddy Walston & The Business, The Black Keys and You Won't. Always/Never (Nov'15) was the lead single for their third album Bemidji (2016). Always/Never throbs with pent up energy and is a good times, piano-led, slice of quirky Americana.

“I’m gonna make you mine”

Beach Slang - Punks At A Disco Bar

    

     1.    Who are these valiant rock heroes?

     Beach Slang are a punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The champs having been giving it the tits since 2014 and have two albums on their roll of honor. Punks At A Disco Bar (July'16) comes kicking and screaming off their second long player A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings (Sept'16). 

    2. What flavor of brilliance is Punks At A Disco Bar?

     Heart on your sleeve vocals and wailing guitars that are screaming to take your life and live free from the confines of mainstream society. A relaxed pace and crisp production enhance this punk anthem. No fat or flourishes. 

    3. Who do Beach Slang sound like?

     White Wives and The Thermals. Stereogum compared Beach Slang to Gaslight Anthem and Japandroids.

    4. What have the press said about Punks At A Disco Bar? 

“Packed with charred guitar riffs, seething feedback and heart-rate-raising drum fills” – NPR. 

“Thick Minneapolis style riffing” – Spin. 

“Endorphin-heavy, heart-on-sleeve, major-chord, grin-inducing punk rock” – Noisey Vice. 

5. Which bands inspired Beach Slang? 

Beach Slangs major influences are early Goo Goo Dolls, The Replacements, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Swervedriver and Jawbreaker.


6. Why should I give Punks At A Disco Bar a moment of my precious time?

For the part where the band stops and the guitar plays the riff. That's gold. To remind yourself each and every day to do what you can to stick it to the man.


7. Do Beach Slang have any more rousing anthems?

Bad Art And Weido Ideas is a popular Beach Slang song. Punks At A Disco Bar is the banger but.


8. Any more mumbles? 

Singer James Alex makes damn decent mixtapes and posts them on Facebook.

“I never care”

4   The Goo Goo Dolls started out as a punk band in 1986 before moving into the pop rock territory they came to cover. The band have eleven albums under them and are still going strong. Only One (1995) was the lead single from The Goo Goo Dolls fifth album A Boy Named Goo and saw the band at the height of their powers. Only One is a hard rocking roller-coaster ride that walked the line between radio-friendly and sharp, modern, punk rock perfectly. 

“This fucking up takes practice,

I feel I’m well rehearsed”

The Tet Holiday - Statues

1.    Who are these likely lads?

The Tet Holiday are an indie rock band from Oakland, California. Statues (Feb’16) is the title track from their debut long player Statues (Feb’16).


2. What kind of swag have The Tet Holiday got on offer?

Statues is a noisy little indie rocker with the vocals buried a mite in the mire but delivered with desperate passion. Statues virtues grow slowly on you but Tet Holiday know how to make noisy rock with heart, that matters.


3. Who do The Tet Holiday sound similar to?

The Tet Holiday feel The Jesus and Mary Chain, Japandroids and The Replacements are the answer to that question.

 
4. What have the fourth estate said about Statues?

“A fuzzy call and response that’s angular, edgy and unforgettable” – Stereo Embers.

“An undeniably catchy pop-punk anthem” – Front Row Boston.

“Bombastically catchy song” – The Bay Bridged.

5. Who have put the hard in The Tet Holiday’s scrabble?

The Tet Holiday are inspired by The Stone Roses, Oasis, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Dinosaur Jr, Teenage Fanclub, My Bloody Valentine, New Order and R.E.M.


6. Why should I give my ears a sandpapering with Statues?

Don't settle for the songs that give it up too easy. Statues is a diamond in the rough, an essential, rollicking indie rocker just begging to be uncovered through the beautiful, layered, musical textures. Statues is a morish delight.


7. Do The Tet Holiday have any more of these intricate marvels?

A Million is a belter.


8. Any more words?

Singer Andrew Ledford is an Oakland A's fan and his father worked for them so when he was born his picture appeared on the scoreboard.

“We made decisions without thought, kissed in public, lost the plot”

The double dip is from punk musician Mal Blum from New York. Mal Blum is five albums too the good and Better Go comes ripping off the fifth You Look A Lot Like Me (2015). Better Go captures the essence of 90’s indie rock and creates something better, slightly acerbic, with it.

“Oh my god look at all the stuff you’ve got,

Does it make you your loneliness more bearable?”