It’s the fourth week of July, and sadly/luckily we embark upon the second half of summer. This is normally a rather quiet season as far as record releases go - but not in NYC, as another wave of new music rolled in with the fated, torrid heat. Make sure to catch EPs, LPs, and singles dropping from artists Allison’s Invention, Carloman, The Static Jacks, and The Postelles.
New Jersey natives and garage/punk heroes, The Static Jacks (top picture) are anticipating the release of a single from their upcoming album. Although this rocking foursome’s full-length “If Your Young” isn’t due out until August, the band’s upbeat, and old school punk inspired single Girl Parts, available for streaming here. The Static Jacks also announced their tour with The Wombats, which kicks into gear in October in Washington DC. However, NYC fans can catch this quartet August 5th, in Long Island at the "Escape to New York” festival.
Regal in sound, but inspired in the name choice by the non-king sibling of Charlemagne, Carloman’s debut release brings us a refreshing sound for those looking for an alternative folk soundtrack to this summer. Dominic Matar (ex Die Romantik) in collaboration with fellow musician Elliot Thompson have the ability to write haunting, dreamy ballads with a medieval aftertaste like The Folker and Oh My, which possess qualities reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel, Death Cab for Cutie, and early Momus. Listen and download Carloman’s full album here, and blast this beautiful alt-folk album out of your headphones and into your ears today.
On a more acoustic note, alternatively intense and playful songwriter/pianist Allison Tartalia (above picture), of Allison’s Invention is about to release her EP Sweet and Vicious. Tartalia’s sultry voice and honest, raw lyrics heat up this already baking weather. Allison’s Invention’s CD release party will be this Wednesday July 27, at Sullivan Hall, in the West Village.
Lastly,The Postelles (pictured above) released its set of covers appropriately titled Summer Undercovers. From The Smiths to The Ramones to Joe Jones to Wreckless Eric, The Postelles have done a flawless job at reviving these groups past hits. All of the songs off of Summer Undercovers share the band’s quintessential summer sound with a punk rock influence. The Postelles will also tour with The Wombats and previously mentioned The Static Jacks, and are also scheduled to play August 5th at the "Escape to New York” Festival. -Madi Silvers
We've always been big fans of Luke Temple, and it's good to see that, together with the Here We Go Magic crew, the man is keeping at it with increasingly beautiful records and videos. The band's new album "A Different Ship" (stream it here) will be out on May 8, and betrays at least a partial return to Luke Temple's more intimate and melodic sound from his solo repertoire - in this regard, lend a ear to "Hard to Be Close," "Alone but Moving" and "Over the Ocean". This is welcome news for fans like us who always thought that in most HWGM material Luke's noteworthy songwriting skills seemed a little sacrificed on the altar of textural experimentation. This doesn't mean that the band's signature hypnotic, impressionistic sound is lost - it's just that these two elements work together better than they did in past records, and this is what makes this album one of the NYC highlights of the year so far. Indeed, this collection also features songs more in line with the band's past releases ("Make Up your Mind", "I Believe in Action"), which follow on the steps of brainy-pop icons like Brian Eno and The Feelies, but there's definitely a balance here, also betrayed by the almost perfect alternation of melodic songs and less traditional ones.The just released video of "How Do I Know," telling the story of a rejected dancing robot that ends up revitalizing an older man's appreciation for life, seems to reflect on this brain/heart, mechanic/organic dichotomies and somehow bring them to unity. - PDG
