Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Awfully Good Times, PYNKIE, Greg Bullock, Countermoon, Wax Seal, Banquets, the dt's, and Yawn Mower. Plus a look back at "Vacancy" by Skytop Motel.
Awfully Good Times - "Sound". A melding of alternative/math/emo rock, with a more acoustic feel on the first track, and some alternative rap on the final track, is the way I'd sum up Awfully Good Times' EP, "Sound". I'd also say their band name is apt, as I had an awfully good time listening to it.
PYNKIE - "Big Feeling". 14 minutes of blissful dream pop, that's what I think of PYNKIE's new EP, "Big Feeling". It is fitting that among the tags for the EP on her Bandcamp page are, "cozy", "dreamy", "nostalgic", and "warm".
Greg Bullock - "Everything's Fine!". Greg Bullock from Cyborg Amok, could have used the dog sitting int he burning cafe meme as the cover for his new single, "Everything's Fine!", but he didn't. However, this dark-gothic-folk-rock song perfectly captures the way many of us feel about the state of the country, and the world right now.
Countermoon - "Memories". Countermoon's bio is, "Too rock for the jazz people, too jazz for the rock people.", which left me wondering what I was about to hear on their single, "Memories". What I hear is the first Earworm Of The Week. This is some harmony laden pop-rock!
Wax Seal - "Confidential". Wax Seal is Marcello Ramirez, and their new indie-folk-rock album, "Confidential", is explained best by their liner notes:
"Written over the course of seven years,
this body of work traces a path
between adolescence and adulthood.
Like a long, fragmented journal entry,
Confidential is an intimate reflection
of the illusions we wake up from as we grow."
Banquets - "Episodes". When Banquets announced their first live concert in 9 years, happening Saturday at Crossroads, I figured this was a nice one-off reunion. Little did I know that the indie-rock/punk band would follow that with the announcement of a new album, "Petty Relics" (out 10/17), and the first single from it, "Episodes". it is everything a Banquets fan could want from a new single!
the dt's - "Sun Shine Down". the dt's new single "Sun Shine Down" is not just a great power-pop song, it is the second 'Earworm of the Week'! Nothing really goes my way either, but when this song is shining down it shines on me (this will make sense if you listen to the song), and shines so brightly it puts a smile on my face.
Yawn Mower - "I Just Can't Wait To Die". I can't say I like the title of Yawn Mower's new album, "I Just Can't Wait To Die", though I do understand the feeling with the world we are currently living in. However, the music is superb! Yawn Mower has always been an incredible alt-indie-rock band, and this album brings their talent to the next level.
Not New, But Memorable Corner
Skytop Motel - "Vacancy". Skytop Motel's parting album in 2020, "No Vacancy", contained "Vacancy", a masterpiece of a grungy-alt-power-pop tune.
Both Dan Taggart and Ted Orbach from the band continue to put out incredible music, the former as Danello, The Sad Surfer, and the latter as Possum In My Room.
That's all for this week.
Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic - If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to be part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon (and bridged on BlueSky)
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