If I had to name my favourite new garage rock act of 2011, it would definitely be these three guys from Cleburne, Texas, who named their band Fungi Girls.
Listening to their songs may have the effect of putting you back to the 60ies, giving one a feeling of listening to a more intense version of The Beach Boys. I don’t know what exactly it is what makes me sure that these three boys will soon have a lot more listeners.
So forget the new Black Lips, Fergus & Geronimo or Crystal Stilts records for a moment and make sure to grab a copy of Fungi Girls’ new album Some Easy Magic when it comes out on July 26 by way of Hozac.
I don’t think When Saints Go Machine would blame you for saying, “Oh, what a nice new Antony Hegarty song! Lovely!” I assume almost everyone think about this after having heard a song by this emerging Danish quartet.
Sophisticated arrangements, subtle basslines, spheric synthies and Nikolaj Manuel Vonsild’s beautiful voice – these are the trademarks of When Saints Go Machine. This year’s Fail Forever – EP was already breathtaking, now their album Konkylie is ready to be released and is eagerly waiting to be devoured by the listener’s ears.
The band offers the song “Kelly” in advance for free. No kidding, I’m simply in love with this song. Definitely one of this year’s best songs so far. Fact.
Konkylie will be out June 3rd via Berlin-based K7 Records.
It was early last year when drone-folk duo Gowns announced their break-up. Only some months later one part of the band, singer/guitarist Erika M. Anderson, started making music under the moniker EMA.
Last summer she released a first tape called Little Sketches On Tape which contained nothing but some experimental snapshots, without any noticable structures. Listening to the first cut from her upcoming debut record Past Life Martyred Saints “The Grey Ship” the structure seems to be back again. 7 epic minutes of acoustic grunge guitars, noisy synths and Erika’s compelling voice.
“California”, the second piece we get to hear, has recently premiered on Pitchfork TV. The song is shorter than the opener, but not a bit less experimental and intimate. Erika’s not singing though, it sounds more like she was telling you a personal story.
Guerolitomusic’s how-to guide for future rockstars:
1. Get together with your favourite friend(s).
2. Create a band.
3. Make good music.
4. Name the band after a famous person. (This is getting you thousands of unvoluntary hits on google, which soon turn into voluntary hits because of your good music)
Get it? No? Well, take this as an example:
Detroit based Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. (named after one of the most well known NASCAR drivers in history, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) seem to have followed our guide. Combining dreamy pop with folk guitars and superior songwriting, Joshua Epstein and Daniel Zott already presented a wonderful EP called Horse Power last year and are about to release their full-length debut soon.
Sometimes they sound like Sun Airway and The Shins making love, sometimes you can hear influences like Paul Simon or the Beach Boys. Check out my two favourite songs off their EP and listen to a first cut from their album, a song called “Morning Thought”.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s debut It’s A Corporate World will be out June 7.
Originally they come from South Dakota, but call Chicago their home now. The Kickback, who played about 300 concerts in the last two years, is a group consisting of four young lads that first attracted attention due to their explosive live performances.
But not only their shows seem to be great, also their music gives proof of a talent to write dynamic and catchy rock songs, which might remind you of The Walkmen among others. On their second EP Mea Culpa Mea Culpa you can find four of the implied songs, making The Kickback’s first release one big highlight. Download two of them below and stream the entire EP on their soundcloud!
To get your attention for this new band, I’ll do something that isn’t the right thing to do, but anyway: Actor Michael Cera (Juno, Scott Pilgrim) is the temporary bassist of Mister Heavenly and accompanied them on their December tour in the States. Now you know it.
But this is not the reason why I’ll picked them as a band to watch. Usually consisting of Nick Diamonds (Islands) and Honus Honus (Man Man), who were recently joined by Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse), Mister Heavenly write so-called “doom-wop” songs. Yes, it really sounds like a doo-wop combo chaperoned by fuzzy guitars and with the vocals ringing out of an old and broken speaker.
Download their first two great songs “Mister Heavenly” and “Pineapple Girl” below and keep an eye on them. They’ve signed to Sub Pop recently and are going to release their debut album this year.
Straight out of Michigan comes indie rock quartet Ghost Heart, a band who likes to combine folk-rock elements with synthiesizers, Local Natives/White Rabbits – like percussion and shoegaze guitar sounds. Sounds like a pretty courageous combination, but seems to work out great.
On their debut record The Tunnel the four guys play songs which start quiet and slow, before they build up a wall of sound that simply overwhelms you. Perfect example: The epic “No Canticle”, a song of over seven minutes and best reason why to listen to Ghost Heart.
The Tunnel was released Jan. 29 on Friction Records. Keep an ear on these guys! (And check out their great performance of “Wilderness” @ the Halfway House Sessions below!)
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If I had to name my favourite new garage rock act of 2011, it would definitely be these three guys from Cleburne, Texas, who named their band Fungi Girls.
