Swell by Mosey Jones

“What came first, the music or the misery,” asked John Cusack's character, Rob, in the 2000 film High Fidelity. The same question applies to Swell, the debut from Mosey Jones. Recorded in a basement, Swell is filled with songs of suffering and heartbreak.

Formed in 2011, Mosey Jones seems to be a band that’s been together much longer than a year. The Brooklyn-based trio consists of siblings Eamon, on lead vocals and guitars and Caitlin McMullen on vocals and drums, and bassist Peter Quirk.

In their short existence, the band has released the 5-track EP Espionage Act, a pair of folk songs, even recorded a rap mixtape entitled Skankster Demo.

While artists are constantly trying to reinvent themselves and the, the indie emo trio tries to build on the past, emulating their heroes from the 90's era such as Blink 182, and even showing flashes of early lo-fi Pavement. The songs are catchy and upbeat yet sincere.

The lo-fi genre in recent years has grown a bit repetitive and has become a war of who can sound the nosiest rather than focusing on the song writing. Mosey Jones pays no mind to the noise war and crafts a well thought out album.  

On the track Leaving, McMullen (Eamon) wails: “because everyone drifts away from each other/ But I don't want to be like the others.” Mcmullen's singing is relentless and heavy, making much of the topics of the songs seem autobiographical and believable, like in songs such as in Sank Finatra and Nosferatu. 

Take Me Home is one of the handfuls of tracks where both McMullens are on the mic. The interweaving vocals of the siblings are paired up with the uptempo percussion, proving to be a great combination and one of the Swell's best tracks.

Loyal fans of the band already know the playfulness of the band (see Skanster Demo), and it shows on the album closer Laid It On Your Girl. Perhaps being the least somber song of the album. Caitlin recalls an encounter at a bar with a girl, who turned out to be someone's girlfriend. The track is humorous, catchy and a nice closer to the album.

Swell is filled with nostalgic, and catchy songs fueled by heartbreak, sorrow and angst. It's like they're happy to be sad. 

The album can be purchased on the band's bandcamp through the 'pay what you want' method.

Mosey Jones on Bandcamp

Mosey Jones on Facebook

Balkan: Dressed In Black

Barely a year after they released their debut album, The Balkans have decided to split. Natives of Atlanta, GA, - home to other garage rock bands like The Black Lips, and King Khan -, I thought they were going places as soon as I listened to their eponymous debut. Their recordings draws comparison from The Strokes, and their 2011 debut album – which I highly recommend buying – sounds like an in-between of “Is This It?” and “Room on Fire”. There was a lot of things to like about this band, their songs never felt repetitive, mixing in tempos like on their track “Dressed In Black,” one moment its a song in standard 4/4ths time, and all of a sudden there is this crazy instrumentation breakdown in a time I can't even count in. Lead singer Frankie Broyles really shines on the track wailing “so hard to tell you I'm having fun/but can't describe it”, where Broyles has trouble letting a girl know his feelings towards her. The up-tempo garage/punk guitars are simple, the recordings and production sound raw, but not too raw or lo fi, where you can still separate the instrumentation on each of the tracks. Rest in peace Balkans, we hardly knew you. If you guys decide make music together again, I'll be there when you come to NYC.

Best Coast - Sunny Adventure

Bethany Cosentino is a busy woman.  She is constantly recording demos, collaborating and touring with Weezer, doing LOLcat competitions, and now she's giving away free tracks to her fans.  Her latest track, Sunny Adventure is from a split 7" with indie rockers, JEFF the Brotherhood.  Hot off the release of her excellent debut album, Cosentino never ceases to amaze us at how to write pop songs effortlessly.
Sunny Adventure is the first track to be recorded with former ex-Vivian Girls drummer, Ali Koehler.  Speaking of fellow surfer rocker Vivian Girls, Sunny Adventure does sound a lot like a Vivian Girls track.  On the track, Bethany keeps that distinct pop sound thats given her music so likeable and making us wish that we were in 85 degree weather.

Verdict: 7/10 

Mogwai - Rano Pano

Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will via Subpop 

There are some people who refuse to listen to songs that lacks any lyrics or spoken word, only because they seem to think that the song won't resonate with them emotionally.  Then we have post-rockers Mowai, who show us that lyrics aren't the only element of music that evokes emotion.

Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will is not only the most bitchin album title ever, but also the title of Mogwai's latest LP, and after 15 years of making music, they're still not turning down the volume.  Their first single, Rano Pano is enjoyable from the first guitar chord and to the last and reminds me of why the members of Mogwai are the best at what they do.  The song is packed with beautiful crescendos and emotion.  The phased-out synth add a really nice touch the the track.

Looking at the track listing of the upcoming album, the length of the songs seem much shorter than previous releases, which hints that the band is aiming for more shorter and puncher songs like Rano Pano, and less of the 12 minute songs that would lose my attention by the 4 minute mark.

Verdict: 8/10

MP3: Mogwai - Rano Pano


Download Rano Pano

Lil B - I'm Miley Cyrus/ Mel Gibson/ Ellen DeGeneres/ Paris Hilton

Lil B

"Name Lil B but the girls call me Swayze/See me out my shows my hair cut like a baby's" is just one of the ridiculous lines sung by the extremely prolific rapper, Lil B, who has said to have released a flurry of tracks in previous year, possibly thousands, and is not slowing down.  Lil B is the creator of the genre known as based music, which is just stream of consciousness hip-hop and no one else but Lil B will understand the lyrics, because he is currently the only rapper who is making based music.

While listening to a handful of his tracks, to be honest, I really didn't know what the hell to think or say about the music.  Much of the beats were mediocre and sounded so bad that I heard better beats composed using Fruity Loops.  The constant repetition of lines like "I'm Miley Cyrus" will set you off and annoy you quick, but for some reason its so catchy that I even found myself singing "I'm Miley Cyrus" and "SWAG" to myself.  I really can't make heads or tails out of this nonsense.     
After listening about five songs, I wondered if Lil B even tries or gives a fuck when it comes to song writing, but I guess I not, considering he has about a thousand more of these tracks.  Say what you want about Lil B and his music, but I doubt he would care less.

Verdict: SWAG/10

Times New Viking - No Room To Live

Times New Viking

The indie lo-fi/shitgazers Times New Viking are prepping their new record Dancer Equired and will be released by Merge Records, after being previously signed to Matador Records for two (awesome) albums.  The lead single off of the new album is No Room To Live, which was only on a tour only 7".

Times New Viking - Teen Drama
Times New Viking is part of a lo-fi genre known as shitgaze, but they seem to be shedding that label with their latest single.  The recording quality of No Room To Live is their best to date, where the instrumentation is much more distinguishable, and the vocals are not as murky. Not that the recording quality of their other releases really affected the songs, but I really do miss that murky, poorly recorded lo-fi sound that they're known for.  Although the band has seem to invested in better recording gear, they don't lose that pop sound that has been buried underneath the murk and distortion of their previous releases.  The synths really shine on the track, where it sounds like a drone, and a perfect song to listen on a really slow slow day.  Instead it sounds much more presentable, but they still have some of that sound that most lo-fi bands go for.  Still it leaves me scratching my head and wondering why they're going in a less noisy direction.
Dancer Equired is slated for release on April 25th on Merge Records.


Verdict: 6/10

MP3: Times New Viking - No Room To Live

Crystal Stilts - Shake The Shackles

Crystal Stilts Shake The Shackles (Slumberland Records)

The gloomy, Joy Division channeling five-piece are readying their follow-up to their debut, Alight of Night, which is due sometime in the spring of this year. The first single of their sophomore release is Shake The Shackles, the first release after the departure of drummer Frankie Rose, currently of Frankie Rose and the Outs, who also used to drum for The Vivian Girls, and The Dum Dum Girls. Rose's tenure only lasted for one 7 inch release, Love is a Wave, and a Daytrotter Session.  Nonetheless, the band found a replacement and continued recording. When Love is a Wave was released, it seemed like the band was going in a different direction, going for a less gloomy feel that they've come to be known for.  This was also evident in the Daytrotter Session, and all signs pointed to the addition of Frankie Rose as a factor for this.  Rose's drumming worked really well with the band's haunting sound and added some groove  with her catchy beats without diminishing the band's sound.  The band had stated that they've wrote a couple of songs with Frankie Rose, but its unclear if any of them will still be used in the upcoming album.

On their single, Shake The Shackles, the band still has that eerie sound that they're known for. The instrumentation of the song is excellent, where it has this sort of 60's vintage feel to it, mostly due to the synthesizers and the reverb soaked vocals of Brad Hargett. The song has something that much of the songs on Alright of Night lacked, which is a catchy beat, main due to the groovy bass riff and the drums. 
The track is hauntingly beautiful, especially the 7" cover, and a great preview of what is to come on the band's new upcoming record.


Verdict: 9/10


MP3: Crystal Stilts - Shake The Shackles
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