Matt Derda & The High Watts are making some of the most compelling music in a year full of great music! The video is their official music video for ‘Life You Didn’t Know.’ This is the latest single from the Chicago band’s upcoming EP ‘You Didn’t Know?‘ which came out on 11/12/2022.
‘You Didn’t Know?’ from Matt Derda & The High Watts is a picture postcard from a pure sonic territory that reflects the intersection of indie rock, power pop, and alt-country. The semi-title track ‘Life You Didn’t Know’ feels like a driving Replacements song from ‘Pleased to Meet Me’ written by Uncle Tupelo era Jeff Tweedy. Derda’s lead vocal is always spot-on. This is a mighty trio that tackles the feel of each song as if their lives depended upon it.
The album was recorded with Jarrett Nicolay at Mix Tape Studios in Alexandria, VA. To say that Jarrett contributed to the sound of this project would be a vast understatement. Jarrett not only lent his production skills to the effort, he played all of the instruments as well. Mann and Nicolay together crafted a unique sonic vision.
The band’s album captures the diverse musical influences of Mann’s kaleidoscopic and encyclopedic sonic grasp. The arrival of No One Sphere fills a need for an indie rocker that is not a statement about something, a song that is not pretentious or precious. The single Ceiling Fan manages to create a chantlike chaos of melodic deconstruction that is similar to the musical heart of Wilco’s experimental period. The slinky stagger of the bass line moves along a jazzy rhythm that would not be out of place on a funk record. The lyrics sway from meaningful self disclosure to deliberate non-sensical rhyming. In that way, the song feels akin to Wilco’s deconstruction era of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born. Yet the jangly indie rock center of the song has a Pixies-like gravity.
Ceiling Fan pulls from many classic independent influences in its barely over three minute length. Listeners hear elements of Wire, Gang of Four, mid-’90s era R.E.M., the before mentioned Pixies, Half Japanese and The Replacements.
If the music industry were a fair minded affair, No One Sphere would be at the top of everyone’s new album recommendations. You can follow No One Sphere on Twitter and Instagram. We also recommend that you keep an eye out on their YouTube channel!
RIYL: Wire, Gang of Four, The Pixies, Half Japanese, R.E.M., The dbs, and The Replacements
This concept video for ‘Sweet Smell of Success’ from German musician Molly Nilsson‘s latest album ‘Extreme‘ just out on January 15, 2022 is our latest video of the day. The melancholy of this song is built around powerful guitars and a swirling mix that continues the evolution of sound away from the neo-synth of her previous music. The song holds a heavy ‘almost’ shoegaze feel. Combining elements of pop, indie, shoegaze and synth, Nilsson sings about a begrudging optimism delivered in her impassive vocals that deliver emotion without having direct statements about love, shame or anger. The chorus will become stuck in your head for days. Check out her other music on bandcamp.
The first single from The Typical Johnsons‘ December release is here now. And what a welcome return this is for us music fans. Choosing an advance single is always tricky work. As they always do, The Typical Johnsons have chosen well. ‘Optimistic Nihilism’ works that magic space that all Typically Johnson songs inhabit. It’s real. It brings you along to face the fact that you may be your own worst enemy and that is ok because understanding that is part of how you change it. We cannot wait for the full album!
This is also the first song we will play on the program today! Remember to tune in from 3-6pm eastern time so set the ‘ol clocks. Listen online at http://listen.streamon.fm/wudr
The modern folk-rock duo from Dayton known as The Nautical Theme have released their latest video from their recently released EP ‘Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed‘ entitled ‘Somewhere Just Ok (But Not Alright)’. The EP includes this new song, plus an older song and a Jimmy Eat World cover. The lifting arrangement carries lyrics that are profoundly felt and universally shared by all of us. Keyboardist, vocalist Tesia Mallory and guitarist, vocalist Matt Shetler formed the group in 2017. When you listen to them sing you will feel as if they were born to sing together. The harmonies between them can send shivers down your spine.
Returning after twenty years since their last record (‘Old School Dropouts’), The Connells have just released a lyric video for the title track from their new record ‘Steadman’s Wake.’ The song captures social commentary on the opioid epidemic and more. With a build that leads to a rousing chorus and stunning guitar solo, this song captures many challenges in the current zeitgeist without leading listeners to predetermined conclusions. If the rest of the album is as captivating as the early singles ‘Really Great‘ and ‘Steadman’s Wake‘ suggest then the band in on most solid terra firma.
The album releases on September 24th and we could not be more excited.
‘Pool Hopping’ the second recent sing from illuminati hotties (the first was “MMMOOOAAAAAYAYA” which came out in April) is from the forthcoming album ‘Let Me Do One More,’ expected on October 1 on Snack Shack Tracks/Hopeless Records. The video by Katie Neuhof shows Sarah Tudzin in pools with and without water. The lyrics and the video capture a free sense of summer fun. The band is a side project of producer, engineer, mixer Tudzin.
Our video of the day comes courtesy of Izzy True (they/them) The band formed in upstate New York in 2015, currently based in Chicago, IL. The project has gone through many lineups over the years, always led by Izzy Reidy (guitar, vocals). These days, Reidy is joined by their friends Sam Goldstein (drums) and Curtis Oren (bass, sax, flute). The slow buildup of this song captures a feeling and sensibility around trying to understand the reasons that someone is upset. The music sways and swirls around that idea of wanting to know the reason that someone is angry.
Our fine city of Dayton, Ohio, US not only has a storied history of music with Brainiac, The Breeders, Guided By Voices, Shrug not to mention all of the funk music legends, but it is also home to some of the most exciting music being made today! Adding to that musical legacy is Oh Condor. The post-punk quartet has an exciting new record for you! Equal parts indie, noise rock, math rock, alternative — this is a band that quite rightly defies labels.
The video for ‘Seven’ has been around since the release of The Connells‘ first album Darker Days. The album has recently been released digitally for the first time by the group on their bandcamp page! Tim Harper, the band’s long time soundman re-mastered the album this year. The name of the song ‘seven’ harkens back to a time when Mike Connell, the main songwriter at the time, numbered songs as he wrote them.
The Don Dixon, Dave Adams, Steve Gronback and Rod Dash-produced album was first released in 1985 on the band’s independent label Black Park Records in the United States, and on Elvis Costello’s Demon Records in the UK and Europe. The Black Park and Demon versions of the record are quite unique with different cover art and running order. Most significant is the substitution of “In My Head” for the instrumental “Dial It”, and several tracks were remixed. The Black Park version of the album was re-released in 1987 on TVT Records after the band signed with that label which they would be with until the end of the 1990s. The last record for TVT was 1998’s Still Life. The Connells released Old School Dropouts on their Black Park Records in 2001.
The Connells are preparing to release their latest record ‘Steadman’s Wake’ later this year.
“Hot & Heavy” is from Lucy Dacus’ upcoming album ‘Home Video’ out on Matador Records on June 25. Pre-order at: https://lucydacus.ffm.to/homevideo. Dacus is making some of the catchiest and melodic songs around. This follow-up to ‘Thumbs‘ uses swirling guitars and nostalgia to great effect. The build on this song alone is worth the price of admission. Do yourself a favor and give a listen to her covers of ‘In The Air Tonight‘ and ‘Dancing in the Dark‘. It is so refreshing to hear covers that while inspired from the original versions bring a unique voice and interpretation to well known songs.
On December 24, 2020 Jeremy Street released his latest record ‘The Jeremy Street’ EP. One of the standout tracks on the record is his song about his hometown, Dayton. The song is appropriately called ‘Dayton’ and features production by “Txger Vppercvt” and mixing by “KO” of “The Lost Order.” The chorus on this is an ear worm of the highest order. You will be singing that chorus.
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