Lower Dens Announce New LP 'The Competition', Air "Young Republicans" Video

Baltimore experimental pop band Lower Dens have announced the release of their fourth studio album 'The Competition'

The follow-up to 2015’s Escape From Evil will be released on September 6 via Ribbon Music. Pre-order your copy here.

According to the press release, The Competition is a pop album with a concept both emotionally and politically urgent, dealing with modern capitalism and its psychotic effects. Its 11 songs range in scope from the personal to the political, but overall express an epiphany: you need radical and unquestioning compassion for yourself if you’re to reimagine what society could be.

Speaking about the album, lead singer Jana Hunter says: “The issues that have shaped my life, for better or for worse, have to do with coming from a family and a culture that totally bought into this competitive mindset. I was wild and in a lot of pain as a kid; home life was very bleak, and pop songs were a guaranteed escape to a mental space where beauty, wonder, and love were possible. I wanted to write songs that might have the potential to do that."

Check out the album's tracklist and watch the video for their new single "Young Republicans", below.

The Competition Tracklist:
01. Galapagos
02. Hand of God
03. Two Faced Love
04. Young Republicans
05. Real Thing
06. Buster Keaton
07. I Drive
08. Simple Life
09. Empire Sundown
10. Lucky People
11. In Your House

(facebook.com/lowerdens)

Tags: Lower Dens

Lower Dens Announce New Album Escape From Evil, Air "To Die in L.A"

Baltimore experimental pop band Lower Dens have announced plans to release their third studio album titled 'Escape From Evil', on March 31 via Ribbon Music.

The album was produced by lead singer Jana Hunter and Chris Coady (Beach House, Smith Westerns, Wavves, Rey Pila) and additional production on select tracks was provided by Ariel Rechtshaid and John Congleton as well.

The follow up to 2012's 'Nootropics', sees Hunter take center stage with her vivid, full voice, creating an almost magnetic pull on the ears. On this album Hunter propels the Baltimore band to emerge: creating a cinematic and tonally rich work. The album is bold, defined and more assertive than anything they've done before.

Lower Dens has also aired the album's first single "To Die in L.A". Pre-order here and receive an instant download of the single.

Check out the album's tracklist and listen to "To Die in L.A" below.

01. Sucker’s Shangri-La
02. Ondine
03. To Die in L.A.
04. Quo Vadis
05. Your Heart Still Beating
06. Electric Current
07. I Am The Earth
08. Company
09. Société Anonyme

(facebook.com/lowerdens)

Tags: Lower Dens

Watch: Rey Pila Premiere Music Video For "Alexander"

Mexican indie pop/wave outfit Rey Pila have premiered the video for their latest single "Alexander". 

The song is part of our current playlist and is their first single released on Julian Casablancas' Cult Records last year. Grab your copy here. 

The band are currently working on their sophomore album with producer Chris Coady (Beach House, Smith Westerns, Wavves), and Alexander is the first taste.

The video was directed by Sammy Rawal. Check out below.

Website: reypila.com

Watch: Yuck Unveil Music Video For "Lose My Breath"

British shoegaze rockers Yuck have unveiled a new video (not the official) for "Lose My Breath".

The song is part of our current playlist and is taken from Yuck's sophomore album 'Glow & Behold', which was released in September 30 via Fat Possum. You can grab your copy here.

Courtesy of Videothing static-master Michael Reich, the video contains strobe effects and pays tribute to another fetishized piece of pop-culture, the VHS tape.

Watch it below.

Website: www.yuckband.com

Yuck Announce New Album, Release New Track "Rebirth"

British shoegaze rockers Yuck are back and have just released a brand new track called "Rebirth".

It is the first single since lead singer Daniel Blumberg left the group earlier this year to focus on his solo project Hebronix. 

Now as a three-piece and with band member Max Bloom as a lead singer, Yuck have a new album is on it's way, which they're currently recording with Chris Coady and will be out later this year via Pharmacy Recording Co/ Fat Possum. 

The band will reveal more album details, new music and new tour dates soon, we'll keep you updated.

Have a listen to "Rebirth" below. 

Website: www.yuckband.com

Album of the Week July 01/13: Smith Westerns 'Soft Will'

Our new Album of the Week is "Soft Will", the new album of Chicago-based indie band Smith Westerns', out now via Mom+Pop.

Comprised of brothers Cullen (the lead singer/guitarist) and Cameron Omori, second guitarist Max Kakacek and drummer Julien Ehlrich, they released their self-titled debut album in 2010, recorded while they were still in high school. 2011 saw the band release their well received sophomore album Dye It Blonde.

The band recorded their third effort 'Soft Will' over the course of several sessions, taking the time between each one to come back fresh and with a new perspective to listen to their work. By not rushing, the tight and focused album seems to be made with the kind of smarts of a band it will be hard to underestimate again. They worked with producer Chris Coady, the sessions took place at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas. Subsequent recording saw the band de-camp to Chicago, before the final mix down took place in New York in December. 

About the band's evolution, since their last record, frontman Cullen Omori says: "Every record that we've put out since the debut is always changing. The albums are always a by-product of us getting better as musicians and getting tighter as a band, of us listening to new music, and discovering new music, and incorporating that into how we write songs. For Soft Will, it was just about making an album in the studio with an ample amount of time, getting the songs really honed, which was something we weren't able to do on the first records."

The 10-track album clearly  presents a band that's growing up in real life and musically. It is definitively another strong step for the band.

Soft Will Tracklist:

01. 3am Spiritual
02. Idol
03. Glossed
04. XXIII
05. Fool Proof
06. White Oath
07. Only Natural
08. Best Friend
09. Cheer Up
10. Varsity