Last week was one of the thinnest weeks for new releases of the summer. Yet again, there have been many thin weeks for releases this summer when compared to previous years. However, we have almost as many new, notable singles this week from albums by DIY artists who sent them to us, and many of which can be heard only on IRC.
First up is a double-shot of new singles from the band Black Pistol Fire‘s new LP, Big Beat ’59. The rock duo started off in their hometown of Toronto, Canada, but moved to a totally different world, Austin, Texas, a few years ago to further their musical ambitions. As one of the most influential cities in the world where talented bands can get noticed and build a following quickly, BPF, armed with their modernized southern rock meets garage rock sound, have done just that. As these two new tracks show, the duo make a lot of sound for two guys. Recently, they opened for singer/songwriter Bob Schneider. Black Pistol Fire is signed with Rifle Fire Records. Following BPF is the lead single from Wild Cub‘s new album, Youth.
“Crows Feet” – Black Pistol Fire from Big Beat ’59
Double-shot: “Bombs and Bruises” – Black Pistol Fire from Big Beat ’59
“Wild Light” – Wild Cub from Youth
After a 16-Year Hiatus, Dead Can Dance Release New Album
The Australian-English musical partnership of Brendan Perry and collaborator, Lisa Gerrard, have released their first album as Dead Can Dance in 16 years. The widely acclaimed album, Anatasia, is the Greek word for “resurrection” and contains many globally-conscious tracks. Although we haven’t heard the EP yet, the lead single, “Opium,” is a mysterious, dark, semi-industrial track with gloomy keyboard notes and sinister violins playing in the background – a song that would fit perfectly on the soundtrack of a film de noir or thriller movie. Read a review of Anatasia on AudioCred.
“Opium” – Dead Can Dance from Anatasia
MNDR Drops Debut Album, Feed Me Diamonds
The female pop musician, MNDR, released her debut album, Feed Me Diamonds, this past week with the first track, “#1 in Heaven” as the lead single. The track is a dark, pulsating synth track with a chorus based on a quote from Patty Hearst: “Tell them I’m smiling and send my greetings,” which is what the daughter of the wealthy newspaper tycoon said to the FBI after she was arrested for her part in a 1974 armed bank robbery in San Francisco.
“#1 in Heaven” – MNDR from Feed Me Diamonds on Ultra Music
“Alone” – Asteroid Shop from Distance Luxury
“I Can’t Stand to Be Refused” – Height with Friends from Rock and Roll on Friends/Cold Rhymes Records
“If I left Tomorrow” – Simon Joyner from Ghosts on Ba Da Bing
Lackluster Summer of New Releases?
Compared to previous summers over the past five years, the summer of 2012 so far has been somewhat lackluster for break-through albums from established and new bands. However, that’s not to say there haven’t been plenty of notable releases, as you can see from reviewing the archived playlists for the weekly Best New Music Releases posts and the Top Ten Songs playlists. and marks yet another week in the past six weeks where there are not as many notable releases as there were at this time last year, and definitely not compared to the blockbuster year of 2010. That said, there are still plenty of new singles from official album drops this week to listen to, as well as the DIY singles that may be exclusively available on IRC.
