Going Costal

Hot on the heels of Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls and Best Coast are Costa Rica's all-girl retro band, Las Robertas. These chicks mix punk and surf into a perfect poppy blend. Apparently they put their album out for free on bandcamp.com in May, but it has since been reduced to just a couple of tracks ahead of their North American release on October 12th. The album is called Cry Out Loud and it features 10 original compositions, my favorites so far being, "Back To The End" and "History Is Done".

Baltimore Dreamers

My favorite dream pop duo, Beach House, has just released a new iTunes Session EP that is being met with unanimous praise. The EP is a collection of five reworked tracks with the addition of a new one, White Moon. This gem is actually recorded, like the five revamped tracks, with their new three-piece live lineup. Enjoy the delicate, stripped down tones and Victoria's alluringly hypnotic vocals.

Tennis Anyone?

Ok, more from Denver's favorite married couple, Tennis. While on an eight month sailing expedition in the North Atlantic, Alaina and Patrick began writing music together. They had planned for everything to remain low key and private but a few tracks circumnavigated the web and landed them a lot of recognition. So much in fact that they released two 7" records this summer, the most recent of which I mentioned below in my Surf's Up post.

This cut, "Marathon", is a soothing low-key beach tune, filled with the soft cooing voice of Alaina singing about Coconut Grove. It's off their first 7" and is accompanied by two other tracks, "Baltimore" and "Cape Dory".

Surf's Up

Looks like I'm going to be on this subject for a while so grab your surfboard and turn the noise up. Here is some more chillwave/lo-fi splendor.

Up-and-coming Cloud Nothings' description reads "18 years young. Pop music. Cleveland, OH." To the point, I like that. Dylan Baldi, the man behind the project, dropped an EP earlier this year and is releasing an LP compilation of previous tracks in October prior to a formal debut album in early 2011. He is also currently touring and coming to Lawrence in October. More on that later. Even If It Worked Out is a jangly, sofisticated lo-fi/pop tune off of the new 7" "Didn’t You" b/w "Even If It Worked Out".

Straight out of Brooknam, Coasting consists of Madison (of Dream Diary) and Fiona (drummer for Vivian Girls). Kids is off their triple A-Side juggernaut released on M'Lady. According to their catalog it sounds like "...summer. And autumn. And the city. And the forest. Incredibly rockin', truly." My sentiments exactly.

This last track/video is absolutely brilliant. A haunting symphony of candy pop from married couple/band, Tennis. Denver's Patrick Riley and wife Alaina Moore released a 7" in June ahead of a July EP and a pending full length. It is composed of two great tracks, including South Carolina. So far, this gets my vote for track of the year.

Boys Will Be Boys

I'm not sure how I omitted this from my Beach Towel post but better late than never. Here is a video for the single Year Not Long by Male Bonding. This track is off their debut LP "Nothing Hurts" which dropped in May on Sub Pop. These British punks rock out with their cocks out in the most homoerotic vid since Lust For Life by Girls. Now I'm off to tap my foot under some stalls at a rest-stop on I-35. Cheers!

Beach Towel

Maybe I should have titled it "Beachy Keen", whatever. Ok, I'm going to try to quickly cover what I've liked from the whole wave (no pun intended) of Surf Rock that has become ubiquitous over the last six months.

First up is Surfer Blood who I saw at the Replay Lounge in Lawrence. Great act, lots of energy and a stellar first LP. Floating Vibes is a great track off their debut album, Astro Coast.

A talented new surf pop band, The Drums, released their eponymous debut in June. My favorite cut is Let's Go Surfing. An absolutely infectious summer celebration.

Wavves followed up his self titled debut in August with King Of The Beach. It leaves a little to be desired but the title track, King of the Beach is pretty solid.

The newest entry to the Beach/Surf/Lo-Fi (ugggg) genre is L.A.'s Best Coast. After releasing a bunch of singles, split 7 inches, and EP's, Bethany Cosentino and company finally put out their much anticipated debut LP, Crazy For You. Two of my favorites are Boyfriend and Goodbye.

Of Witches and Triangles

With names like ///▲▲▲\\\ (pronounced"void"), White Ring and GuMMy†Be▲R! the newest hipster garabe (sic) genre to pop unsolicited into existence is Witch House. From what I can tell it's mostly terrible bedroom programming but there are actually a few gems out there. I can't get enough of Goth Star by Pictureplane. If the video isn't creepy enough, the haunting Fleetwood Mac samples mashed with disjointed electo beats will be. Shit is fairly terrifying.