The Grand Undoing’s sophomore LP, Sparks Rain Down From The Lights of Love, releases today on Secret Candy Rock Records. Their sound is highly unique yet reminiscent of 70’s era David Bowie, Elvis Costello, the pop of The Raspberries and angst of Morrissey.
Seth Goodman, who records as The Grand Undoing, has two extreme passions in life: drinking sparkling wine and creating psychedelic post-rock Americana confronting alienation and mortality. This strange mix, the bubbly and brooding, creates an incredible musical cocktail.
An only child, Goodman leaned hard on his record player while coming of age just outside of Boston. The area’s free-form college radio and vibrant club scene also had a profound effect. The final piece fell into place later in life when Goodman developed a deep affinity for classic country and roots music. All these influences would swirl and collide with his deeply entrenched outsider’s sensibility to form The Grand Undoing’s distinctive sound.
When reflecting on the heady topics presented in the new material, Goodman explains that the end result is meant to uplift and inspire. He hopes The Grand Undoing’s music will provide a cinematic escape, make great driving music, or be the perfect accompaniment to a bottle of sparkling wine.
Stream the track below and buy the LP today on iTunes.
Loser’s Way Home is an Arizona-based indie rock band with a new EP out July 22 called Songs for the Rest of Us. Place of No Return is the first single off the EP. The lyrics are moving and thoughtful, yet hopeful despite telling the story and aftermath of a breakup delicately.
Their sound is warmly familiar yet and musically challenging. Their innovative approach to their content, which often includes effect laden acoustic instruments and multiform harmonies, carves out a distinct sonic niche in the world of confessional folk rock. Most striking is their use of violin and mandolin throughout the exquisitely produced and uplifting EP.
Formed in Memphis, they are Randall Downs (principle songwriter, guitar, lead vocals) Steven Bowman (violin, piano, mandolin, vocals) Rex Gorman (bass, keys, vocals) and Ryan Veach (drums).
Love Songs for the Rest of Us was produced by Jars of Clay guitarist Matthew Odmark and finds the band grounded in more emotional territory with the majority of the material focusing on the cause and effects of true love. Their unique vision had resulted in their most personal work to date.
I’m so excited to share the exclusive premiere of indie rock band Weslynn’s single “Strange Feelings.” It is the first single from Weslynn’s upcoming EP, soon to be released by For Emily Records.
“Strange Feelings” has a retro pop feel, while sounding like the perfect song for these hot summer days. It reminds me of the innocence of young love and what that evokes, expressed smoothly and sweetly by lead vocalist Jared Geyer.
Weslynn is based in Phoenix, AZ and are Jared Geyer (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard) Greg Olin (Guitar) Kevin Holmes (Drums) and Adam Simons (Guitar.) Weslynn was formed by longtime friends and Arizona State schoolmates in 2013. They draw their inspiration from bands such as Augustana, The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, and Queen.
“Strange Feelings” will be available Friday, July 8th, and you can preview it today on SoundCloud below, then pick it up on iTunes.
I got strange feelings
When I saw your picture
Like a folded corner
In a book I’ve read before
Strange feelings
These bones seem to know you
Another life, another station, lost in translation,
Maybe I erased you
For good reason
Strange feelings
Love brings frustration
Take a bow to the mountain
Remember me?
Living in a memory
I got strange feelings
When I asked you to dance
Barefoot on the floorboards,
Played your old records,
Like it was our last
Strange feelings
Out of a daydream, it’s coming over me
Tossing and turning in my sleep
Lost in this feeling, coming over me, over me
(I feel it) Strange feelings
(I feel it) so strange
(I feel it) strange feelings, yeah
With little more than a beat up car and a suitcase of unfinished songs, singer-
songwriter Keith Longo packed up his life in Boston and headed to Los Angeles in
search of change and inspiration. With art and creativity around every corner, the leap of faith proved to be just the inspiration he needed.
He found a like-minded guitarist in So-Cal native Chris Santillo, and subsequently in Mark McKee, a keyboardist and fellow newcomer to LA by way of Raleigh, NC. Through this collaboration, what began as seeds of ideas, grew into a collection of finished work. The result is the infectious sound of Flights Over Phoenix.
Rich in melody, layered in rhythm, and deep in emotion, Flights Over Phoenix’s
debut EP, Runaway California consists of four songs that will take you on a full
tour of your musical senses.
As an east coast girl who has always wanted to live in Southern California and spend her afternoons rollerskating along Venice Beach, I especially appreciate the unreleased video for their debut single “Runaway California.” The band takes in the beautiful beaches and cruises around in a convertible and it’s filmed casually as if it were using a lo-fi filter. I love the video and wish I could share it with you but it’s currently private.
I can share with you the official video of “Runaway California.” Flights of Phoenix are unique in that they shape their sound in the studio where they mostly self-produced their EP. The video also highlights Longo’s sensitive singer-songwriter lyrics and a voice rich with anthemic sound.
Flights Over Phoenix were originally named Lights Over Phoenix as a reference to UFOs, but they made the change to be unique. And maybe get played in airports. When I first tried to analyze the band’s name I imagined Phoenix as the rising figure who soars from ashes and the band rising higher. Since this is such a great band with a unique sound that you’re not hearing in most pop music, perhaps my analysis rings true for the fast rise of the band’s popularity.
One of the places I have always dreamed of going to is LA’s Hotel Cafe. It’s a fantastic venue and Flights Over Phoenix will play at show at the Hotel Cafe on December 8th at 8 pm. In my opinion, that’s a sign of a band on the rise in the LA music scene. Hopefully they will pop over east for a tour because I think they’d be amazing to see play live.
Baby I don’t know if I’m in love with you
Or if it’s the thought of you that’s got be falling like a fool
but the weather’s getting grey
we swear that wed be better if we runaway
if we just runaway
We can’t afford a ticket so we gassing up my chevy
pack a bag good and heavy
baby just get ready for a better change
yea i hope this california sun is gonna bring a change
gonna bring a change
We been going out our mind
driving all around the world
down all these empty streets
trying to find a place that we know
a place that we know
we been going out our mind
running from the world
up every empty street
trying to find a place to call home
a place to call home
cause we don’t wanna
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
and yea it’s kinda hard when you gotta leave behind
that bed you rest your head
keep the pictures in your mind
time it doesn’t wait, and we swear that we could change
if we runaway, if we just runaway
and someday we’ll know if it’s love, if it’s love
or something else entirely, maybe friendship, maybe lust
right now its what we need
maybe this west coast scene can be a california dream
we been going out our mind
running from the world
up every empty street
trying to find a place to call home
a place to call home
cause we don’t wanna
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
and when you sleep are you lonely?
and when you speak are you lonely?
When you’re with me are you lonely?
are you lonely?
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
Ships Have Sailed are an indie alt/rock duo from Los Angeles. If Only is the single off of their brand new album Moodswings. The LP veered away from today’s single-driven musical climate with a well-rounded, full-length story intended to be heard from the beginning to the end; with a theme that echoes the band’s name, a positive spin on the phrase “That ship has sailed,” as it meditates on change’s ability to impact one’s life at any moment. It is in fact a great band name!
I recommend listening to the whole album. It has an excellent sound that flows well and will improve your mood in case you are having a moodswing. Just kidding. Not really!
Ships Have Sailed are:
Will Carpenter – Guitar and Vocals
Dan Hange – Bass
If you were reading my blog last year, in May 2014 I wrote about a great band called The Fireflys
A year later and I still consider them one of my favorites! Besides being really talented they have a wonderful relationship with their fans (and bloggers!) and seem to love what they do. And they have Andie, a female drummer, which is very cool!
You know how on certain streaming sites you can pick your mood and genre? Sometimes I pick alt-rock 90s and I think The Fireflys could be best described as a 2015 throwback to that great time in music. But why not check out a collection of their best songs on Soundcloud in the player below and see if you agree that there’s some fine music coming out of Runcorn, UK.
Follow @thefireflys on Twitter to stay up to date! Also, Happy Birthday, Lee!
Hello dear readers! Last night I posted my 100th blog post and I’m quite excited. I love milestones!
Despite starting jillypopmusic in 2014, I didn’t really resume blogging until I took the Blogging 101 course. The best thing about it was connecting with other wonderful bloggers.
The readers of this blog mean literally the world to me! I have listed the countries/views since my blog began.
Thank you to all my readers and here’s to the next 100 posts!
Top Views by Country for all days ending 2015-06-01 (Summarized)
Country Views
United States 1,676
United Kingdom 549
Australia 139
Canada 77
United Arab Emirates 52
South Africa 29
India 28
Italy 24
Russia 24
Philippines 23
Sweden 21
Germany 17
Netherlands 12
Singapore 10
Spain 10
Pakistan 9
Japan 8
France 8
Puerto Rico 7
Indonesia 6
Switzerland 5
Czech Republic 5
Mexico 4
Ireland 4
Hungary 4
Croatia 4
Albania 4
Norway 3
Denmark 3
Panama 3
Lithuania 3
New Zealand 3
South Korea 2
Poland 2
Belgium 2
European Union 2
Thailand 2
Georgia 2
Malaysia 2
Qatar 2
Hong Kong SAR China 2
Dominican Republic 2
Taiwan 2
Greece 2
Argentina 2
Colombia 1
Austria 1
Costa Rica 1
Saudi Arabia 1
Chile 1
Vietnam 1
Bahrain 1
Sri Lanka 1
Cyprus 1
Turkey 1
Nigeria 1
Finland 1
Today, D.C. indie rock band Clones of Clones released their new single “Monster Heart” from their upcoming LP “I Don’t Need Your Love.” It’s very shoegaze and it’s different and I like it.
Clones of Clones are playing in Brooklyn at Trash Bar Saturday, April 18.
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