Category: New Tracks

Breakout Bands You Shouldn’t Have Slept on Pt. 1: Courtney Barnett + Speedy Ortiz + Tweens

Tweens

Tweens

Everyone in the music realm, particularly amongst new music fanatics and the blogosphere, loves to use the phrase, “Don’t sleep on this band.” What the hell does that mean? In layman’s terms it means, “Listen to this band right fucking now ‘cus they’re gonna be huge, and if you don’t, you’ll be sorry, you’re a sucker, and you don’t have any music credibility,” or at least, that’s how I take it.

But you know what? Sometimes you’re just too obsessed with several other breakout bands that you don’t have time to give every amazing new band equal attention. So what do you end up doing? ZZZzz… Sleeping on that band! But it’s OK, your music cred is still intact… for now. Should you have slept on that band? Nah, but we all do, ‘cus guess what? Life and other bands happen, and it’s never too late to join the music partay.

So with that, here is part one of a series (yes a series) of mostly breakout bands from the last year (and are ready to rumble in the next) that you may have possibly slept on. You’re forgiven… once you start listening. Now enjoy:

Courtney Barnett is a Melbourne, OZ based singer/songwriter with an amazing, refreshing and interesting matter-of-fact, conversational approach to her music. Barnett’s 2012 EP, I’ve Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris, put her on the map, then her presence at the CMJ Music Marathon this last year wowed and wooed music lovers alike. Since then, her name has been sprinkled on “Musicians to watch” lists to an endless degree, and for a good reason. Barnett released a double EP this year, A Sea of Split Peas. Listen for a good time:

Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener

Speedy Ortiz is the Massachusetts hailing pop punk band everyone loves to rave about post-sleep. It’s as if Speedy Ortiz slapped us silly with their rippin’ punk rock and we were astonished with the revelation that we’ve been sans-Speedy all this time. Originally starting out as front woman Sadie Dupuis’s solo project while working at a song writing summer camp, the band has flourished into a successfully loud four-piece. And, this year has been a rockin’ one for the group indeed. They signed to Carpark Records and released a roaring full-length, Major Arcana which landed them a “Best New Music” label via Pitchfork… if you want that to mean anything. They’ve also just announced a new EP, Real Hair, on the bill for February, 2014. Can’t stop ’em now!

Speedy Ortiz – Everything’s Bigger

Speedy Ortiz – No Below

Can’t get enough punk? Meet: Tweens, the scrappy, ragin’ “trash pop” trio from Cincinnati, Ohio who want you to be mean. They have just a handful of jams, but they’re gnarly enough to land the band on several “breakout band” lists across the punk rock land. Word on the street is that they’ll have a full length LP due out early 2014. Well, that’s certainly sweet for some mean tweens:

Tweens – Be Mean

Coco Stereo’s Top 50 Tracks of 2013

Coco stereo's top 50 tracks of 2013This year has been one full of new friendships, experiences, and unexpectedly, love. It’s also been a year full of disappointment, self-doubt, and a healthy dose of heartbreak –  Sounds like a year well spent. However, if there’s one thing that remains consistent, it’s that coasting along with us through the ebbs and flows that is life, there is music. So to celebrate the ups, downs and in betweens of 2013, I present to you 50 of the best tracks that have been with us through it all.

To accompany the top 50 tracks, here are a few musical highlights to round out our nostalgic look back of the year:

Note: All tracks are in alphabetical order (‘cus ranking them is just something I’m not into). Also subscribe or have a listen to the entire playlist on Spotify. Enjoy:

Active Child – Evening Ceremony
Angel Olsen – Sweet Dreams
Austra – Home
Autre Ne Veut – Play by Play
Banks – Waiting Game
Baths – Miasma Sky
Bibio – À tout à l’heure
Blood Orange – You’re Not Good Enough
Blue Hawaii – Try To Be
Braids – In Kind
Chromatics – Looking for Love
Chvrches – The Mother We Share
Diana – Born Again
Disclosure – White Noise feat. Aluna George
Empress Of – Hat Trick
FKA Twigs – Water Me
Fyfe – Lies
Gems – Sinking Stone
Haerts – Wings
Haim – The Wire
Helado Negro – Dance Ghost
Jackson Scott – Evie
James Blake – Life Round Here
Jenny Hval – Mephisto in the Water
Jessie Ware – Still Love Me
Josef Salvat – Every Night
K-X-P – Magnetic North
Keep Shelly In Athens – Recollection
Lorde – The Love Club
Majical Cloudz – Childhood’s End
Mortar & Pestle – U.V.
Mozart’s Sister – Mozart’s Sister
Museum of Bellas Artes – Abyss
No Joy – Hare Tarot Lies
Phosphorescent – Song for Zulu
Psychic Twin – Dream State
Pure Bathing Culture – Dream the Dare
Rhye – Open
Sean Nicholas Savage – You Changed Me
S O H N – Bloodflows
Still Corners – Berlin Lovers
Summer Camp – Fresh
Teen – Carolina
The Holidays – Voices Drifting
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – So Good at Being in Trouble
Vampire Weekend – Step
Wet – Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – Lamia
Young Galaxy – New Summer
Yuck – Rebirth

New Tracks + Debut Soon! Painted Palms – Forever, Spinning Signs

Painted PalmsIt’s funny to think you’ve been listening to and watching a beloved band for a couple of years, only to realize they’ve never actually released a full-length album. Brilliant EPs and superb singles surprisingly and happily hold fans over for some time. This is the case for psych-electro-pop San Francisco music darlings and cousins that make up Painted Palms.

The duo released their addicting EP, Canopy back in 2011 (which caught the eye of Kevin Barnes from of Montreal), a 2-track 7″ titled Carousel back in March of this year, and their Nothing Lasts EP in June of this year. Painted Palms has also done the tour circuit, opening for bands such as of Montreal, Braids and STRFKR – All of this without a full length? Well, time to give praise the music Gods, as Painted Palms will be releasing their debut album, Forever, on January 14th, 2014 via Polyvinyl.

Luckily for us, they’ve also leaked two singles from their forthcoming album, “Forever,” and “Spinning Signs,” both of which seriously channel The Shins meets The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. And, if you’re in the San Francisco bay area, Painted Palms will be playing/having an album release party on January 17th, 2014 at the Rickshaw Stop accompanied by Soft Metals and Melted Toys. Enjoy:

Painted Palms – Forever

Painted Palms – Spinning  Signs

New Track + Music Video: Angel Olsen – Forgiven/Forgotten

Angel OlsenOh, Angel Olsen, how everyone adores thee. How could one not? The Chicago-hailing singer/songwriter’s unique voice and raw lyrics are the epitome of compelling.

Speaking of compelling, Olsen recently released a new single, “Forgiven/Forgotten.” The track can be found on her forthcoming album, Burn Your Fire For No Witness, out 2/18/14 via Jagjaguwar, and is a major switch up for Olsen; it’s rockin’, fuzzy and meaty compared her usual freshly wounded heart fragility. To accompany the track, Olsen’s released a music video directed by Zia Anger (Julianna Barwick and Jenny Hval).

The video’s simple, but it doesn’t take away from the impact of the jam – Keep on rockin’ on Angel! Enjoy:

Angel Olsen – Forgiven/Forgotten

FUNKY! Listen to New: Blood Orange – You’re Not Good Enough + Chamakay

Blood Orange

Blood Orange. Photo by Stacey Mark

Y’all, let’s get funkaay. And, that’s exactly what I’m doing with Blood Orange‘s latest release, “You’re Not Good Enough.” It’s deliciously smooth, upbeat, addictive, funktastic and heart jabbing. Some are even comparing the jam to Prince, thee man, himself. With lyrics like “I never was in love. You know you were never good enough,” it’s hard to imagine a track could be so easy to get down to. However, Devonté Hynes, the man behind the BO band never fails to produce a pop hit. He’s written for Florence and the Machine, Solange, Sky Ferreira, Kylie Minogue and is currently working with Brittany Spears on her upcoming album, after all.

“You’re Not Good Enough” featuring Samantha Urbani on vocals, swiftly follows Blood Orange‘s recent release of “Chamakay,” both of which will be featured on his highly anticipated forthcoming album, Cupid Deluxe due out November 18th. We’ve all been dying to hear the new album, so join me in this mini celebration of pre-LP-release by listening to the pure funk that Blood Orange exudes:

Blood Orange – You’re Not Good Enough

Blood Orange – Chamakay

Hype-Worthy! Listen to New Brooklyn Band’s Self-Titled EP: Wet

WetWet is a new up-and-coming Brooklyn-based trio creating some steady hubbub in the music blogosphere. They’re producing ridiculously catchy, beautiful and refreshing pop songs (with heavy themes) at a consistent rate. Today, their self-titled EP is officially out (stream below), which has been a bright and sparkling joy in my listening life as of late.

The band just joined Neon Gold Records (Ellie Goulding, Haim, HAERTS, MØ, etc.) and any fans of say, MS MR, Ellie Goulding, Haim, and maybe even Purity Ring will get a definite kick outta Wet.

If you’re gallivanting through the madness at CMJ Music Marathon in NYC this week, Wet is playing tonight (10/15) at the Bowery Ballroom, The Fader Fort at Converse Rubber Tracks, as well as the Santos Party House for Neon Gold’s Showcase (with HEARTS) on Thursday, 10/17, and Baby’s All Right on Friday, 10/18.

Stream Wet‘s self-titled EP below, on SoundCloud, BandCamp, or better yet, purchase it on vinyl.

New Tracks! Riveting Argentine Folktronica: Juana Molina

Juana MolinaJuana Molina is no stranger to the public eye. In the late 80s, she started her career as a famous comedic actress in Argentina. A decade later, Molina pursued music full-time. As Ian Cohen stated on Pitchfork, “…over the span of three albums she became the first comedian ever to successfully lose the jokes and become a “serious” musician while keeping her sense of humor.”

It’s been five years since Juana Molina‘s last album but her electronic folk, captivating vocals, and insane guitar and percussion combinations are still as riveting and magnetic as ever. Yes, her songs are sung in Spanish, but even if you don’t speak the language, it doesn’t matter, as the experimental music is magical all on its own.

Have a listen to “Sin Guia No” and “Eras,” two new singles found on Juana Molina‘s forthcoming album “Wed 21,” due out October 29th via Crammed Discs.

Juana Molina – Sin Guia No

Juana Molina – Eras

Ride this Soul Train! NEW: Lady + Nightmares on Wax + Lulu James

Lulu JamesSometimes you need some seriously sweet, soulful, groovy, get-down, funky jams to reassure you that everything in life will (probably) be all right. Luckily, I’ve come across a slew of new groovy jams that’ll get you vibin’ in no time. So let’s cut to the chase:

George Evelyn is the house, trip-hop, electro producing Brit behind Nightmares on Wax. He’s back with a new EP, Feelin’ Good, and it’s FUNKAAAY!  “Be, I Do” a single from the LP will have you hooked for dayz, and there’s a psychedelic video to match featuring behind-the-scenes tour and studio footage. Don’t say I didn’t warn you about the listening addiction you’re about to ensue:

Nightmares on Wax – Be, I Do

Lady is the smooth, 60s soul-inspired, modern R&B group and moniker of Nicole Wray (who, at 17 was the first person signed to Missy Elliot’s Goldmind Records) and Terri Walker. However, as BrooklynVegan recently reported, Lady lost a lady and Walker is no longer part of the group, as she’s working on a solo album. But, the show must go on, and though Lady is minus one, Wray is currently on tour belting out soulful gems from their recently release self-titled debut album. Now ride this soul train… c’mon ride it:

Lady – Tell the Truth

Lulu James is the 21-year-old, Tanzanian-born, UK-based vixen who packs a punch with her powerful voice. Her latest sultry, pop single “Sweetest Thing” embodies her self-proclaimed “21st century soul” sound. The funky break-out artist is also supporting Ellie Goulding in October during her UK tour – Now that is sweet. Have a listen:

Lulu James – Sweetest Thing

Scream! New Black Ice Cream: Helado Negro – Island Universe Story 2 EP

Helado Negro

Photo by Daniel Dorsa as featured on PORTALS music blog.

Roberto Carlos Lange aka Helado Negro is one of the most magnetic and magical performers to see live. There’s nothing crazy or outlandish about his sets, but his voice is whimsical and romantic and his eclectic, ambient, electric beach jams from space have a way of moving your hips and locking you into a cloud of dreamy musical bliss.

Helado Negro‘s 2013 LP, Invisible Life has been a serious staple of constant listening pleasure since its release in March. As luck would have it, Lange has been hard at work and recently released his latest EP, Island Universe Story Two (which you can buy here, and on cassette!) via Asthmatic Kitty Records. At the beginning of August, Lange tweeted out a list of 50+ artists and songs, all of which were apparent influences when creating the EP, some of which include Stevie Wonder, Ice-T and… Eddie Murphy? Interesting choices, especially after you have a listen. The new EP is full of crazy beats, exotic synth and fuzzy, dreamy vocals that’ll make you scream for more Helado Negro aka black ice cream.

Stream Helado Negro‘s new EP on Bandcamp or Spotify and be sure to catch the man in action. He’s currently on tour along with Javelin, Spiritualized, the Breeders, John Cale, Big Boi, Suuns and The High Highs.

Helado Negro – We Will You

Helado Negro –  Enters

For all you recording and sound engineering aficionados, here’s a mini documentary by Weathervane Music showing behind-the-scenes footage of producing/recording a Helado Negro song. (Watch even more videos from this recording here).

NEW 80s Synth-Pop Gem: Emilíana Torrini – Speed of Dark

Emiliana TorriniEmilíana Torrini is an Icelandic electro-pop songstress, but don’t call her “new” or “emerging,” as this isn’t her first rodeo. Torrini has as many as 8 albums under her belt (mostly released in Iceland only), and another on the way. Plus, get this, Torrini also sang “Gollum’s Song” in Peter Jackson’s, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – say what!?

The lady’s got an impressive rap sheet, including her latest release, “Speed of Dark.” It’s an addictive and infectious 80s synth-pop gem worthy of serious repeat action. The track can be found on Torrini’s forthcoming LP, Tookah due out September 9th via Rough Trade Records (The Strokes, Arcade Fire Jarvis Cocker, etc.)

Word on the street, however, is that the album will only be released in the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland – Well, thank God for streaming on SoundCloud! The songstress is also currently on tour throughout Europe for the month of November. Have a listen to Torrini’s enchanting new track, “Speed of Dark” now:

Emilíana Torrini – Speed of Dark