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 Indeyevid, Dub Proof + Earthdub, Matthew Mirliani, J Thoubbs, Slow Buildings, Dr. Void, Northvale, 9fm. Plus a look back at " Your Family Sucks" by The Heshers.
Indeyevid - "Indeyevid Live Studio Session". "Indeyevid Live Studio Session", captures the raw, angry, grunge energy of Indeyevid in all their punk glory!
Dub Proof + Earthdub - "Neptune Remixes". Dub Proof's 2023 album, "Neptune" gets a remix treatment courtesy of Dub Proof + Earthdub. If you are looking for some tunes to mellow out with during these chaotic times, the chill-dub-reggae on "Neptune Remixes" gets the job done.
Matthew Mirliani - "Plan for the Disco". "The EP is a tribute to Jersey City Heights, the North Shore in Massachusetts, Amherst, and Charlotte — pieces of America that are significant to my family and me", is how Matthew Mirliani describes "Plan for the Disco". I will add that the synthwave vibe of the album (sans the last song, "South Park", which has a dance beat to it), is kind of mellower, like a melancholic nostalgia trip back to those places.
J Thoubbs - "Shreddy Jones" / "Vibe Highway". It has been a minute since the last release from J Thoubbs (4 years to be exact). But he has returned with 2 new albums!
"Shreddy Jones" is so aptly titled, as if you are jonesin' for some guitar shredding ROCK instrumentals, this is the album for you.
"Vibe Highway" is described by J Thoubbs as, "Acoustic driven alt/rock for anyone looking to chill!" Many of the songs on the album also features some catchy vocals and harmonies.
Slow Buildings - "Crash Landings, Coincidences, Chaos". As a title such as, "Crash Landings, Coincidences, Chaos", might suggest, lyrically this is not happy, all is well, type of album. Slow Buildings goes so far to describe the album as, "It’s about making bad decisions, and unwisely trusting the wrong people. It’s about being sideswiped when the path ahead looked clear. It’s about being surrounded by craziness, and the crazy people who thrive off of the self-delusions they insist upon." This album feels very personal, and if you listen to the album from beginning to end, a story seems to emerge.
While lyrically the album is not happy, they have wrapped them within some catchy indie-pop-rock... or as the band describes it, "catchy song-writing and emotional distress". Well said.
Dr. Void - "In Search of the Long-Lost Death Machines". Dr. Void's first solo album is 8 songs in 23 minutes of punkabilly fun! Pretty much what you would hope for from the front man of Dr. Void & The Death Machines (and former front man of Nerve Tonic, and Funch).
Northvale - "Where We Go When There's Nothing Left". "Where We Go When There's Nothing Left", Northvale's debut album, is some of the catchiest emo-pop-punk I've heard in some time. I previously spotlighted the pre-release single, "Bright Lights", as an "earworm of the week" in this column, and can now say all 10 tracks on this album are potential earworm you'll be singing along to.
9fm - "9fm". 9fm is the alter-ego of Jarrod Pedone, and the album, "9fm", is self described as being, "New stuff, old stuff, all of my best, all in one place". It is an apt description. Some of the songs on this album we've been playing on BlowUpRadio.com for 5 years. Some of them are brand new to our ears. All of them are wonderful indie-rock with an experimental-dance-pop twist.
Bamberdöst - "Songs About Your "Girlfriend". If I didn't know Bamberdöst was from New Jersey band, I'd assume they were from Southern California. Their album, "Songs About Your "Girlfriend"" is 28 minutes of insanely catchy punk rock!
Not New, But Memorable Corner
The Heshers - " Your Family Sucks". The Heshers were a NJ-based punk/indie band, fronted by former member of The LawnDarts, Jeff Brogowski. Their album, "Distance Equals Depth" is chock full of pop punk melodies. "Your Family Sucks" is a song that gets stuck in my head frequently, and I've not not sung the song more recently thinking about a certain family occupying the White House.
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 at https://gardenstate.social/@BlowUpRadio (and bridged on BlueSky at https://bsky.app/profile/BlowUpRadio.gardenstate.social.ap.brid.gy)
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