KWCW New Music

Normal Music Blast 2/13

February 15, 2018

Since last week got a little CRAZY with the linx and whatnot, this week we’ll have a normal music blast with only slight craziness. Oooooh so unpredictable I know you never know what we’ll do next up here in the Kdub office lololol

Let’s hear some new picks of the week shall we…

Hayden: Anna Burch – Quit the Curse

Anna Burch really brings it in this warm and fuzzy introspective and relationship based album. She cuts the bullshit of hopeless romanticism and speaks the mind of a rational romantic on a path to somewhere that means something. Where many artists flounder throughout their music Burch emotes a clarity and self-assurance that asserts herself over the drowzy guitars. Great warm riffs and a nice folky touch to this amazing solo-debut. Tons of potential in this focused musician, if Burch were to be a stock I would most certainly invest. I’m super into “2 Cool 2 Care” rn, plus the song has a cool video with a semi-story in it, very fitting to the excellent lyrix

Calvin: Palm – Rock Island

Palm’s new album would maybe be unlistenably weird if it weren’t so catchy. I’m not really sure how to describe what they’re doing but the band uses very unconventional rhythms and riffs to create an unpredictable, jangly sound. Palm also throws steel drums and smooth synths into the mix for a tropical feel, along with some really nice Beach Boys-esque melodies. It really shouldn’t work as well as it does, but the result is vibrant and colorful. Check out “Pearly” for a taste! (Also this album has the best cover art of the year) Totally dudeeee

Gardner: Superchunk – What a Time to Be Alive

This is superchunk’s best album of the decade. Noticeably more politically than other albums from their 30 year catalog, this album was written in the three months following the 2016 election. That context brings this record both urgency and uneasiness set to crashing drums and crunchy riffs. Superchunk enlisted indie-rock darling Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee and Stephen Merritt of the Magnetic Fields [oh hot damn] for tasteful backing. A good raucous rock listen for uneasy times. A spicy title track if I do say so myself

Cory: Shopping – The Official Body

A wonderfully constructed album that truly defines post-punk as it stands today. For a genre fraught with particularly unimpressive (aka boring) bands, Shopping stand out by experimenting with new influences in their sound, giving each its own character, all while playing to their strengths of brash, confrontational music in order to form a cohesive and lean ten-song set. The blatant anti-conformist attitude makes the music and lyrics shine with righteous energy, resonating with the long-lasting forms of alienation that have driven the queer artist community for years. With all the danceable qualities of British electronica and the jagged riffs of British punk, The Official Body marks a landmark release in DIY music as an immersive “outsiders” album. Plus there’s this completely nonsensical video for “Wild Child” a must see fo sho

Lucy: Loma – Loma

Haunting debut album, Loma by Loma! Awesome noises–they include bizarre recordings of dog barking, hitting of a pot, wind through leaves and many others.They are beautifully integrated and add something that you makes you listen extra close. There is like alien soundsing flute// electric flute? I don’t know but I love it. There are many more misteries in this girl. Listen to the whole thing it’s magical. This song “Black Widow” is super atmospheric, kinda freaky put I’m into it

Tess: CHAPPO – Cry On Me

Well this is a fun single indeed. Unsure of the whole capital letter band title thing that is sweeping the nation (to me it’s a bit abrasive) but regardless, CHAPPO is a fun, non-abrasive band–“choo-choo train where shall we go?” can be heard throughout this tune. This single is reminiscent of the goofiness of The Flaming Lips and the funkiness of Beck with some added pop! Definitely a single worth dancing to!

RAWR!!