Mystic Braves - To Myself: Join the garage rock madness!

Mystic Braves' Days of Yesteryears - Taken from the band's Bandcamp

We've talked about the importance of timeless sounds before, so I'm not gonna bore you with that anymore. Here are the Mystic Braves with a fantastic testimony on that importance (if you don't know what I'm talking about, please read most of our previous entries). 

To Myself is a great song, don't judge it solely on the times running, just focus on what it is musically and what it delivers. Catchy and haunting melodies abound here, with perfectly placed keyboards, interesting chord progressions and a blasting rhythm section. That's what Rock and Roll is all about. Sometimes you just need that, a friendly reminder on how music should bear no prejudice. 

As usual, check the tune out right here, right now, in the embedded track below. Shoot us a comment and subscribe to our mailing list. Stay tuned for more Dude, the 60's are gone action!

Mac DeMarco - No Other Heart: Heartbreak's never been so cool

Mac DeMarco's Another One - Taken from Mac's Bandcamp

One of today's most prolific and beloved artists finally makes his way into our little blog. Took him long enough, though. DeMarco's minimalist style gets the spotlight here as the entire album is recorded by himself amidst relentlesss touring, showing his growth as a musician and songwriter. 

I chose this particular song because I think it gives you a clearer glimpse of what Mac is all about, specially for people that haven't heard about him ever. Combining the depth and relatability of love's issues with his cool approach to delivery, which is something he's been known for, we get No Other Heart, an endearing effort on asking for another chance, something I'm sure most of us have all gone through at some point. It features his trademark quirky, almost out of tune instrumentation and his laid back singing that's either love it or hate it, also keeping the tune short for our almost non-existent attention spans. What's not to like?

As usual, check out the song right here, right now, in the embedded track below. Also, don't forget to leave a comment, and stay tuned for more music from the cold north action!

Culver City Dub Collective - The Cave: Soothing dub for the Monday blues

Culver City Dub Collective's debut release Dos - Taken from Bandcamp

Get ready, 'cause we've got some more beachy sounds coming your way! This time, courtesy of Culver City Dub Collective's release "Dos", and the opening track for the record "The Cave". The song relies heavily on groove and melody, combining the Melodica, an unusual instrument for this kind of music, with the more traditional winds, keys, guitars, bass and drums. Some nice additional background vocals fit perfectly with the musical environment, transporting you to the rocky reefs, feeling the wind softly wheezing through your messy hair, and the sun burning your skin.

This tune is such a perfect sample of beach sounds that it was featured in the surf film Brokedown Melody. How's that for a beachy feeling?. 

There's really not a lot to say about this song except this: if you miss the beach as much as I do, then this is the sonic equivalent to actually being there. As usual, check out the song right here, right now, in the embedded track below. Leave us a comment and stay tuned for more Ew, what's that touching my feet action!

Genesis - The Lamia: Progressive genius wih a pop flair

Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

The 1970s were one of the most music-aboundant decades of all time, even rivaling current times, where the amount of readily available music is almost overwhelming. Quality is another thing, I guess when it comes to explorations in music, past times will always seem more impressive and prolific -I suppose a prophet is without honor in hiw own... time?

Peter Gabriel's Genesis was one of the most flamboyant, pompous bands in the whole Prog Rock movement, but they were also capable of adding pop sensibilites to their otherwise intrincate songs. The Lamia is a great example of that, as it combines beautifully crafted piano parts, performed by the great Tony Banks, with Gabriel's lyrics that are part of a greater concept, expanded throughout the album; superb drumming by the then-not-so-famous Phil Collins. more than appropriate bass lines, and a great solo to boot right at the end, make The Lamia a standout track in a terrific album. 

So, what are you waiting for? Get yer yayas out and check today's first pill right here, right now, in he embedded track below (If you want the original version, follow this link). Leave us a comment and stay tuned for more supernatural creatures action!

Todd Rundgren - You Left Me Sore: The pinnacle of sophisticated pop songwriting

Todd Rundgren's 1970s mammoth of an album Something/Anything (coveralia)

I know I would probably get smacked by Fab-four fans if I said "this is the pinnacle of sophisticated pop songwriting" out loud, but I gotta say, Rundgren has nothing to be envious of. To showcase his exhilarating ability to write and perform infectious pop songs, I deliberately chose one of the live cuts from his seminal album Something/Anything. 

You Left Me Sore features that kind of sweet, smooth melodies that lift you up and hold you up there for as long as it lasts. Rundgren's sophisticated chord progression in the first half of the song is a testimony of his growth as a composer and arranger, but the real highlight -for me at least- is how simple yet effective is his arrangement for the song's chorus and outro. It really takes a lot to transform simple structuress into effective hooks, and keeping them from sounding like your run-of-the-mill campfire song, and that's only a small part of Todd's genius. 

As usual, check the song out right here, right now, in the embedded track below. Let us know what you think! Stay tuned for more quirky pop madness action!

Levitation Room - Reasons Why: More timeless sounds out of sunny California

Levitation Room - Ethos (from the band's Bandcamp)

Today's first pill comes from -to my judgment- one of the best records of 2016. Now, my list isn't really that hard to make, I've got a lot of favorite records, and those seamlessly change from month to month or even week to week, but this one has kept its status for a fair amount of time. 

As you've probably noticed, we're very fond of that kind of Rock and Roll you first heard in the 60's, mixing psychedelia with bluesy leads and jangly chord progressions. We've also discussed how for some people, this music might come across as derivative, but this isn't the case. Reasons Why sounds fresh and articulate: the overall sound of the song seems convincingly effortless in its execution, with all the right elements to transmit the vibe these guys certainly set out for. That's how you tell apart mindless copycats from passionate, talented songwriters. 

Now, to describe the song a little further, it's catchy, which is mandatory for this sort of music. It has a pretty standard form, but as it progresses, its intensity rises, peaking with a nice keyboard part that enhances the climax, leaving you breathless and eager for another spin.

As usual, check the song out right here, right now, in the embedded track below. Don't leave us a coment, we hate that, and don't stay tuned for more garage your way outta high school action!

The Reverberations - Outtasite: Hop in for the trip (back in time) of your lives!

A great album cover to boot. This is how you do things. 

The Reverberations play a style of music that some might call "retro" or "revival", but to quote Mr Nicke Andersson of The Hellacopters and Imperial State Electric fame, "I just call it timeless". That's the reason for the title of today's second pill, some people might think this is a trip back to simpler times, but I know with all my heart, because I've seen it and I've experienced it: this music has never been gone. 

The thing with this timeless style is that it is as good as the songs are catchy. If you're spitting out unmemorable tunes with a lousy vocal melody and no feel-good rock and roll attitude, then you can record as analogically possible and still not retain what makes this music so fresh and cool no matter how many times it's been done over. That of course, is not the case with this song. Clocking at a little over two and a half minutes, you could have the attention span of a mosquito and still be left with the savory lyrics in your tongue. That's what you must do right to continue to play in this style. The riff feels like home, the reverb drenched production is like a warm blanket on a cold winter night and last but not least, it reeks attitude. 

So what are you waiting for? Get down or get out. Go ahead and play the track in the embedded track below. Also, don't forget to leave a comment!

Tame Impala - Music To Walk Home By

Tame Impala - Lonerism (last.fm)

Kevin Parker's brainchild brings you today's first pill of the day. The title suits it completely, as it is a fairly upbeat song, which is great for walking, but at the same time it has a certain relaxed vibe to it that lets you know you shouldn't be in a hurry. 

As soon as it starts with its trippy intro with loads of synths and effects, featured in many of Tame Impala's songs, you know you're in for a treat; as soon as you recover, the song then launches into a fab-four kind of vocal melody. This is definitely a highlight in almost all of Parker's songs. They're catchy, easy to sing along to and they usually have this somehow relatable lyrics about infatuation and uneasiness caused by a lover or a crush. 

The rhythm section is superb, these are elements that are always impeccably executed by Parker. In my opinion, he's a pretty underrated bass player: most of his bass lines are memorable, way more than his guitar riffs, and that's what you end up humming to, ain't that great? Same for his kinda 60s-ish, wild approach to drumming, it adds a certain intensity that some modern psychedelic bands lack. 

That's enough descrption for it, experience it yourself right here, right now in the embedded track below. Can you hear already the fun you should be having?

Washed Out - All Over Now: Dreamy landscapes in imaginary worlds

Paracosm by Washed Out (Bandcamp)

Georgia synth pop act Washed Out delivers our striking second pill of the day. All Over Now is the last song on their (it's only one dude, but you get what I say) 2013 release, the suitably named Paracosm. Now, a Paracosm is the name used to refer to imaginary worlds created by one person, or more, and it describes exactly what the album is about, but for some reason, this particular song seemed to resonate more with me. I guess it's because it conveys a certain longing, melancholy or even a farewell kind of feeling, which is only logical, this song being the album closer.

Come to think of it, that's genius. It actually makes you want to spin it around again and again, that's where the beauty lies. That special feeling of being distanced, of something done and finished, becomes unbearable once the song is over, so you're left with no choice but to go back. There's a certain uneasiness underlying the apparent soothing melodies and atmospheric synths being effectively delivered right into your soul, and that effectiveness is what makes great music. 

Now, don't wait around, check the song out right here, right now, in the embedded track below. Leave us a comment and stay tuned for more "where the hell am I?" action!

Bareto - Vacilando con Ayahuasca: Evil cumbia for your virgin ears

Bareto's Cumbia - Cool little piece of Artwork, taken from Polen Record's Bandcamp

Witness! Another tropical band providing engaging tropical sounds. Today's second pill comes courtesy of Bareto -which is Colombian slang for "Joint"- and that alone should give you an idea of the overall feel of these enthralling sounds.

Cumbia has a fairly complex background, with years and years of mixing african percussion, indigenous instruments and spanish couplets. What we have before us is an aptly named (the song title roughly translates to Having fun with ayahuasca) modern mix of the aforementioned elements (minus the vocals) with jazzy, bluesy guitar licks, abient keys and soothing winds. Perfect for dancing, dancing while stoned, dancing in the shower, dancing out drinking, chilling in the terrace of your country house (someone else's would do too), feeling the warm breeze of a nice summer evening... 

It's just a great song, use it as you please. Check it out, as usual, right here, right now, in the embedden track below. Also, leave us a comment. How would you use it? I'm curious! 

Stay tuned for more Roll up the big ol' bareto action!

Zachary James and the All Seeing Eyes - Don't Let Them Get Me: Halloween goes power pop!

Is it DIY enough for ya? - Chains B/W Don't Let Them Get Me by Zachary James and The All Seeing Eyes

Here's one of America's most promising young artists, although I'm not sure this particular project is still going on: Zachary James looks like he could've been one of the Ramones in their prime, and he sure does sound like one, but on top of that, throw in some of that jangly pop Costello-ish melodies and you get FUN. That's right, it's freaking FUN to listen to, damn it. 

Now, I have a soft spot for Halloween themed stuff, so this to me feels like home. This song features your aforementioned jangle, great vocal melodies, superb backing vocals by Alexandra Starlight, competent guitar playing and an exciting rhythm section. Did I mention FUN? I guess I did, but don't take my word for it, check out this power pop masterpiece right here, right now on the embedded track below.

Shoot us a comment! Or maybe recommend some music? I don't know, do as you please. Stay tuned for more "What's that shadow?" action!

Buddy Holly - Blue Days, Black Nights: Look no further, here's your original hipster

Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away - The Complete Studio Recordigs and More

And I mean hipster in the less pejorative way possible. This is one of modern music's most influential figures and one of my all time favorite musicians. If you enjoy your jangly, poppy, vibey modern indie rockers, then now you know who's to blame. Even his big old glasses have been replicated these last few years by angst-ridden teenagers and quarter-life-crisis-afflicted millennials. 

Although this song was written by Ben Hall, another famed musician, it was Holly who brought it to life, being the first to record it, and making it his first single released through Decca records. The single, however, failed to sell as expected, an
d it was shelved until Buddy found his well known success in later years. The song features tremendous guitar playing, courtesy of Grady Martin, aching to that Merle Travis/Chet Atkins thumb play style that would become a crucial part of The Nasvhille Sound in the years to come; Buddy's mellow, upbeat singing accompanied by a tight rhythm section consisting of upright bass and drums -the typical Rock 'n' Roll setup- make this song a stunner for your summer days.

As usual, check today's second pill right here, right now. Don't forget to drop a comment as well!

Spacin' - Over Uneasy: Get ready 'cause it's gonna get weird!

This pretty neat artwork might give you an idea of what's to come. Read on! - Spacin' - Total Freedom's artwork on Bandcamp

Seriously, the song title's no joke. Sometimes we gotta give a run for his money to the weirdo we all carry inside. I can't think of a better way to do so than blasting this pretty little gem.

An oddity for our fancy little blog, as we usually favour shorter songs,this beast stands at 08:47 minutes long. Just picture nearly 9 minutes of continuous pounding, panning, reverb-drenched everything, with lyrics you can't quite make out and riffs Mr. Keef would be proud of. Actually, this is a key feat to this: I think this is exactly how the Rolling Stones would sound if they were sleepless, DMT loaded and paranoid for a week or more. Whether that's a compliment or not, I'll leave it to yourself. 

This spatial shebang can get a little too heavy to bear sometimes, but occasionally you're in the right mood for getting challenged with something that might otherwise bore you on a sunny day. Use it at your own risk, let these people make you overly uneasy, and if you dig'em, go like'em on the big ol' F.

Check the song out, as usual, right here, right now. Don't forget to leave a comment as well!

Gerry & The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone: In Loving Memory

Today we mourn the parting of the tripulation of the plane that was headed to Medellín, Colombia, carrying Chapecoense's football team, staff, journalists and the plane's personnel 

On this day, we join the grieving world of football, showing our sympathy for the families and friends of those who perished in the tragic plane accident that took place in the mountains of Antioquia, Colombia. May their souls rest in peace.

Our thoughts are with you. Remember, in these challenging times, you'll never walk alone.

The Doors - Unhappy Girl: Fillers, you say?

The Doors' Strage Days - It always gave me the heebie-jeebies

What can I say about The Doors' acclaimed second album that has not already been said before? Probably not a lot, but let our second pill of the day show you the importance of looking beyond the highlights of any album. I know plenty of people that dismiss a whole bunch of songs from a certain record just because they're not that particular song. I know, I know, let people do whatever the heck they wanna do, but we're talking about music here, man, and paying a little extra attention always pays off. 

Unhappy Girl might be a filler to some, but if you've heard this record before, which is probably the case, go back and revisit it. You'll find an exquisite piece that has just the right length, with mesmerizing keyboards and your usual dark, inviting lyrics by the Lizard King. As it is usual with The Doors lyrics, the whole thing is open for interpretation, which makes all the more fun to listen to. Although, trying to get into Morrison's head through his songs proves to be a bit of a demanding pickle. 

As usual, check this cool little piece right here, right now in the embedded track below. Don't forget to leave a comment!

Roky Erickson - Cold Night For Alligators: The king of mishaps spits out greatness

The Evil One - Roky Erickson - Taken from Bandcamp - One of my all-time favorite artworks!

I wasn't sure if I had to introduce our first pill of the day's mastermind, but a couple days ago while talking to a friend of mine, I casually mentioned Roky Erickson to exemplify how psychiatrists can actually turn an already troubled person into a totally insane individual. Her reply baffled me -Roky who?. Shit, it's Roky fucking Erickson. The main composer, eccentric extraordinaire, 13th Floor Elevators frontman. America's psychedelic music forefather, what some people might call a doggone legend. Well, shocked as I was, it made me realize that I had to do something to raise awareness of Mr. Erickson's Genius. 

Today's first pill is no less than Cold Night For Alligators, off of his absolutely amazing The Evil One, a compendium of top notch sci-fi themed, kick-ass Rock and Roll tunes. It's just that, good old R'n'R executed brilliantly. Guitar harmonies and solos, power chord riffs, Roky's signature squeaky singing and his somewhat cathartic, mysterious lyrics make this song a must for any music fan, horror fan or both! It's a darned shame he didn't achieve the reach he was aiming for with this innovative and inventive effort, but those fortunate enough to have been reached are left with what would be the greatest lost masterpiece of weirdo rock. 

Check out this fine ass piece of a tune right here, right now, in the embedded track below. Leave us a comment and share the word around, or don't, whatever!

Reverberation Radio: I know that I know nothing

Hey dear readers! For this beautiful Sunday I wanted to do something a bit different from what we usually do here, so I'm going to share what has been probably the best discovery I've made over the last few years.

Music is a huge part of my life, so discovering new music everyday has been pretty much paramount in my mind. I found The Allah-las a few years back and fell in love with a sounds that had eluded me for years. It's not about the whole surf/beach/beat/merseyside/country-ish kinda thing they (and other California bands like Los Growlers) have going on; Rather, it's about this pretty vague sense of longing and belonging, a sense of times long gone and mysterious values that you can't quite put your finger in. I know it sounds confusing but bear with me, it's pretty god damn hard to explain. I grew up on all the music you can fit into the Classic Rock category, and a couples years into my first experience, I heard Progressive Rock music. I was struck immediately by this pleasant uneasiness that to this day I have a really hard time describing. From then on, I spent years and years trying to find that sound, that inexplicable stimuli that precipitated such rush of emotions.

One day, I was reading through some interview featuring Matt Correia from the Allah-las, in which the interviewer called him a prolific curator of playlists. I thought it was awesome, being known for doing just that, so I kept on reading, specifically aiming at finding the reason why he was called that. And then I found it, this aesthetically brilliant Tumblr kinda blog with, by then, 200 playlists containing roughly 10 to 12 songs each. I thought, well, that's awesome, lots of cool music to listen to. I kept browsing the playlists and realized I knew maybe one song out of each. Just one. One fucking song. I felt as if the weight of the world was pushed into my shoulders. What the fuck is all this, and more importantly, why have I never heard about any of that?.

So I began, slowly but steadily listening to everything that I was unfamiliar with. To my surprise, I experienced even stronger uneasiness and emotions than I ever experienced before with any piece of music. What's all the more interesting is, it doesn't matter what style of music the song featured. Everything sent chills down my spine... So then, I realized, it's not about this certain, very specific type of music, but rather, it's a combination of thoroughly looking into the vast extension of the undiscovered and whatever feelings it might bring, and the certainty of that immensity. 

So today, I present to you: the undiscovered. Have fun.

Thee Commons - Wampiro: An exciting take on an exotic style

Thee Commons' Loteria Tribal - Taken from their Bandcamp

Aaaaaaaaaah! Cumbia! For today's second pill, we'll be checking out the intriguing sounds of this LA Band, and their take on one of Latin America's most wide spread rhythms. 

Thee Commons label the music they play as Psychedelic Cumbia Punk, and I couldn't agree more. It's as mystic as cumbia, as fun as punk and as experiential as psychedelic music. This particular song features prominent bass and drums, excitingly put together in a tropical, ear-catching, colourful way. Reverberated guitars are something that feels like home to me, and when delivered in this dub-ish kinda way, it sure as hell makes me go "Uh!". This lovely pill doesn't have a lot of singing, but little as it has, it's delivered in a great, very entertaining way and just at the right moment. 

I gotta say, this sort of fondness for latin mojo driven music has been growing on me a lot recently, so I just had to go back and rediscover a whole bunch of bands that I dismissed in the past. Luckily, that wasn't the case with this one, specially with this song; actually, it came at the right moment, right when my mind was open enough to get really excited about it. Talk about a serious deal, right?

But enough of this pseudo astral talk, let this be a lesson to yourself. Times change, and so do people.
Thread lightly, and while you can by all means stand by what you believe in, try not to be so categorical with your taste, it's always changing and -here comes an ugly word- evolving. 

Check out this little piece of my own personal experience with evolution in the embedded track below. Shoot us a comment if you've got som'ing to say!

The Murlocs - Space Cadet: Australia's space project comes to light

Holy duck, that's an awesome cover - Loopholes by The Murlocs. Taken from Bandcamp

All aboard! I guess... Welcome to today's first installment of your annoying daily series. Today we have a very special guest all the way from culturally rich Melbourne in your favorite continent, Australia.

The Murlocs were formed in 2011, proudly wielding their distinctive brand of psyched out Rhythm & Blues, featuring quirky-yet-inspiring harp playing, single coil bite in their guitar sound, powerful and memorable bass lines and fitting drums. 

Do you feel like taking a little trip out of orbit? Say no more: merging the best of black American music with the more polished California sound, Space Cadet feels psychedelic without resorting to a huge amount of effects, just using the power of get-you-butt-on-the-danceflo' songwriting. Soon you'll find yourself swirling around millions of shades of colour, sweating due to the intense singing (seriously, it just imparts power!) and mouthing harp sounds like an idiot. A happy idiot that is. 

Lasting just over 3 minutes, you'll probably want to replay it, so get ready for more. Don't wait around any longer and play the embedded track below. Start dreaming, star gazer! But before you go, leave us a comment below!

Mild High Club - Tesselation: Noir music for noir souls

Artwork for Skiptracing by Mild High Club - Taken from Bandcamp

Noir, noir, noir, noir. I don't know about you people, but I've always found the aesthetics surrounding Film-noir to be extremely appealing. If you're in this way like me, then you're in for a marvelous treat. This is Film-noir made music, and what's best, it's not like anything you've actually heard in that kind of movies. 

The groove, the smoothness, the velvety feel and the interesting harmonic background make this song a real standout in today's over-saturated music offer, because it still retains that pop sensitivity that is both alluring and enchanting. If you're into the kind of open, artsy songwriting that pullulated in the 60's and 70's, this is the right direction for you. As I've stated before, I hate to encompass music relating it to stuff that has been done before and the ones who've done it, and the beauty of this particular song is that I can't even do that, not even if I wanted to. It sounds fresh and original, even if it aches to decades left behind. 

I normally go for short songs, I like concise music I guess, but with this pill, I just have to go back to it and listen a million more times, because I can't seem to grasp everything the way I would like to. Yeah, it's that special. 

Follow Mild High Club on Facebook. Check this remarkable pill out, as usual, using the embedded track below. Thank me later!