Another summer is ending. Soon the leaves will change color and our outside plants will die. We’ll be reminded of our mortality, and mourn the end of a season that was so hot we only left our apartments, like, three or four times, maybe. And even when we did that, with all the chaos and terrible things happening constantly, we kind of felt bad for having fun. But hey, at least we’ll always have new music. Here are five songs we’re listening to this week while tricking ourselves into thinking maybe next summer will be more fruitful.
Bones Shredder ‘Pulling Teeth’
Even if you don’t know the name, there’s a good chance that if you listen to music at all, you’ve heard Randy Moore shred a guitar. He’s lent his work to the likes of Ghost, Daniel Andriano & the Bygones, Lektron, Get Married, and probably hundreds of others we don’t know about. Next month, Moore will release the debut album from his solo project, Bones Shredder. The latest single, ‘Pulling Teeth,’ suggests it will be inarguably better than your guitarist’s abandoned solo EP.
Shadowing ‘Alive?’
If you’ve ever wondered what Joy Division would sound like if they had access to modern-day pedal boards and screamed more, look no further than Portland darkwave quartet Shadowing. Their debut release ‘Body Neutral EP’ is a five-track blast of ominous post-punk that is sure to have you removing all non-grayscale clothing from your closet before staring pensively into a broken mirror for hours on end.
White Reaper ‘Blue 42’
It’s been just over a year since White Reaper’s rhythm section announced their amicable departure from the band. Those worried about the future of the band should probably get a hobby but will be relieved to know that their latest album ‘Only Slightly Empty’ is coming out in just a few short weeks. The latest single ‘Blue 42’ is heavy, pensive, slow, and plays out like a hangover after a decade long party.
Upchuck ‘Tired’
Atlanta punk quintet Upchuck’s new Ty Segall-produced album ‘I’m Nice Now’ will be out in just over a month, and based on the singles, we’re thinking it might be time to take cover and prepare for the end. The latest, ‘Tired,’ is a blistering ride that will flatten you in less than three minutes but stay in your head for the rest of your life. The opening bass line is so disgusting there should be a Surgeon General’s Warning before the track starts. Proceed with caution, is what we’re saying here.
Chat Pile/Hayden Pedigo ‘Radioactive Dreams’
Noise rock outfit Chat Pile just announced an unlikely collaboration with singer-songwriter Hayden Pedigo. Given Pedigo’s penchant for gentle Americana-infused finger-picking and Chat Pile’s penchant for crafting songs so heavy they make you think you’re going to vomit, there’s no way this project should work. Yet, the lead single ‘Radioactive Dreams’ from the forthcoming album, ‘In The Earth Again,’ proves that despite all odds it doesn’t just work, it actually sounds listenable… dare we say, even pleasant?