A Band You'll Feel Weird About Googling

You know that feeling when you hear a really good song from an unknown band for the first time? You know, it's great that you found a good song, but at the same time, you're a little worried that whatever album it comes from can't possibly live up to that one song? Most of the time, the album doesn't meet your expectations, and you go on searching for new music, just a little more cynically than you did before. But every now and then, the album turns out to be great, or *gasp*, even better than you had hoped. That happens to be the case with A Place To Bury Strangers self-titled debut. Seriously, these guys are great: think pristine guitars over insane levels of feedback, in some sort of shoegaze-meets-noise-rock fantasy. I'm gonna to go ahead and label APTBS my new favorite band. Check this band out, now.

A Place To Bury Strangers - My Weakness.mp3
[From A Place To Bury Strangers, out now on Killer Pimp]
APTBS Official Site

Tell Me

Lush, gorgeous slowcore. More proof that Jagujaguwar is one of the best labels around.

Spokane - Tell Me.mp3
[From Little Hours, out now on Jagujaguwar]

You Speak Only To The Ringmaster

When I first heard 1990's debut, Cookies, I immediately thought of the Arctic Monkeys. I mean, they're both bands composed of young(-sounding) Brits who make hook-laden pop rock. After a few listens, however, it was clear that a few things separated the two bands; early punk influences, intelligence, talent, and restraint. 1990's have all of these things, whereas the Arctic Monkeys have none. Basically, 1990's are the anti-Arctic Monkeys. Considering my disdain for the latter, you can imagine how happy I was to discover Cookies. Today I'll leave you with the tenth track from Cookies, Weed, which just happens share its name with my favorite TV show, Weeds, which happens to feature one of my favorite Ween songs in an upcoming episode. Whew, that's a lot of tangential association.

1990's - Weed.mp3
[From Cookies, out now on Rough Trade]

Ween - You Fucked Up.mp3
[From GodWeenSatan: The Oneness, released 1990 on Twin/Tone (now defunct)]