The Swimmers, from Philadelphia, PA, play driving indie-rock with catchy synth hooks, reckless choruses and carefully layered atmospherics. Their second album, People Are Soft, comes out November 3.
Atlas Sound / Time Warp
I love the stuff Bradford Cox is doing these days. This one’s a bit of a throwaway, but I love the combination of sci-fi weirdness and elegiac nostalgia in this stark and creepy track. The rhythm’s in the guitar – the drums are just atmospheric distraction – and the insular vocals convey a real sense of loss. And as a corrective for all the existential gloom, you can flip over this virtual 7” and give the buoyantly carefree Springtime Instrumental a spin. [Rick]
The House of Love / Love in a Car
Great post-Smiths guitar rock from a sadly neglected band. The dynamics of this song are just perfect, slowly building from a single pulsating guitar into a subtly throbbing dose of unabashed romanticism. The emotional swells throughout the song are expertly realized, giving brief moments of release without ever going over the top. Lovely. [Rick]
The Verlaines / CD, Jimmy Jazz, & Me
This one was a gift from the vinyl gods. I found a copy of Bird Dog next to a Manhattan trashcan and scooped it right up (a copy of Arc of a Diver may still be there for any interested Steve Winwood fans). Great, scrappy New Zealand pop with deceptively complex orchestral touches, and more lyrical heft than many of the band’s (nevertheless amazing) Flying Nun peers. [Rick]
Bat For Lashes / Daniel
I saw the video for this song after falling in love with the video for What’s A Girl To Do. And then I fell in love with her. I am in love with her. [Scott]
Sissy Wish / No Company
Great pop melodies, interesting sounds and clever production. I first saw them play this live in front of so few people, but they still gave a captivating performance. She has a great voice. [Scott]
Miike Snow / Animal
Though I didn’t initially love his voice, nor the smooth reggae-like groove, this song somehow captivated me on first listen, with its simple and catchy – yet elusive – vocal hook in the chorus mixed and interesting synth sounds that aren’t overdone. The other Miike Snow songs I’ve heard don’t really work for me, but this one feels genuine. I actually prefer the Live, In The Woods video version to the album track. It’s more Clash and less slick. [Steve]
Kurt Vile / Freeway
It’s great to see Philly’s ‘Constant Hitmaker’ getting wider exposure these days. Ragged tape delays and distorted drones fill out a sloppy feel-good jam that sinks in slowly but sticks in my head. [Steve]
Gary Numan / Complex
His music creates a world of futuristic paranoia that at the same time makes a strange personal connection with me when I listen. The synths and the effects are huge and unique. This song felt like a good closer for the Playlist. [Steve]
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Miike Snow is a band! not a guy!