NO SOUL by Fantasmas

Fantasmas are a four-piece that call Brooklyn home and they released a noisy, gnarly 7" at the end of January for 'Static' b/w 'No Soul' on Low Life Inc. They released some demos and the track 'Blind Children' last year that provide a taste of the punk rock they have to offer.  On the recent 7" 'No Soul' is the more straightforward rocker driven by some serious guitar shredding. 'Static' is an uproar of some more shrilling guitar and post-punk style bass in between the repetitive shouting of the song title as the chorus. Both songs on the 7" can be streamed above, and grab your own copy here.

by Ariel

RIYL: Ex-Cult, Heavy Times, Thee Oh Sees
Band - [Facebook | Low Life Inc]
CHROMEWAVES RADIO - [Home | Facebook | Twitter | 8tracks | exfm | Last.fm | Spotify]

JUST TO BE LIKE YOU by Ski Lodge

The exquisite jangle pop purveyors known as Ski Lodge are out of Brooklyn and are following up their self-titled debut EP from from 2011 with a new single for 'Just To Be Like You.' The single was produced by Kevin McMahon who has worked with The Walkmen, Real Estate, and Swans and comes out from Dovecote Records on 4/16. The single featured here last

[on repeat] SHE WON'T EVER CALM DOWN by Pale Lights

Every end of year I manage to find something special on someone's year-end list that is completely new to me.  The Seattle based music blog, The Finest Kiss, is a consistent source for my year-end finds and this year I was enlightened to Brooklyn's Pale Lights. The band formed in Fall 2011, and it came about after some core members of The Soft City moved

[rough mix] SIRENS by Weekend

(previously on CWR)

Oakland's Weekend has relocated to Brooklyn and from the first sounds emerging from their sophomore LP release it looks like they've further crafted their wall of guitars sound into ominous and grittier territories than what was seen on their 2010 debut LP, Sports, and 2011 EP, Red.  Check out a rough mix of the new track 'Sirens,' which should appear on the band's next LP expected sometime in 2013.

DUMB FUN by The Keepsies

The Keepsies are a new band that are tightly entwined with a couple other bands recently featured on the blog.  The Keepsies are a trio that feature Jason Kelly who is one half of Fergus & Geronimo, and as you may recall just recently released their stellar LP from Hardly Art Records.  Another member of The Keepsies  Austin Brown, records and tours

ROMAN TICK by Fergus & Geronimo

Fergus & Geronimo are out of the garage rock mecca (seemingly) Denton, TX.  They released their debut LP, Unlearn, in 2011 and for some reason it got lumped into a folk-rock type category, but it's really a pretty diverse collection of songs.  For the latest release, Funky Was The State of Affairs, the now Brooklyn band takes that recipe of diversity,

MOONLIGHT MILE by The Babies

Brooklyn's The Babies is made up of Cassie Ramone (of Vivian Girls) and Kevin Morby (of Woods), but they'll be the first to tell you that this is 'NOT A SIDE PROJECT,' and there's no real reason to think that given the quality of all of their releases...including the band's new 7” for ‘Moonlight Mile’ b/w ‘Places,’ which was released by Woodsist Records on

BETTER by TEEN

Brooklyn's TEEN is set to release their debut full-length, In Limbo, on August 28th from Carpark Records.  The band came about when Teeny Lieberson, formerly of Here We Go Magic, left her post in the latter band in order to make music with her sisters Katherine and Lizzie, longtime friends Jane Herships, and former member Maia Ibar.  You can throw ou

MESSIN' UP MY MIND by Fletcher C. Johnson

Fletcher C. Johnson are a Brooklyn based trio led by a guy aptly named...Fletcher C. Johnson.  They released an extremely catchy 7" for the track 'Messin' Up My Mind' (buy) a couple months ago from White Iris Records.   It's a sweetly addictive tune that carries all the driving rhythm and sing-along qualities of the finest 60's pop.  Now the band has

BEDROOM HONESTY by Lace Curtains

Michael Coomer, of Harlem, has provided another track to us from his new project as Lace Curtains.  'Bedroom Honesty' has all the signature guitar pleasantries that we'd expect from

HIGH FANTASY by Lace Curtains

High Fantasy
Mood Ring (by Harlem)

Just last week I posted about Harlem side project Grape St. and was wondering what the ultimate fate of Harlem truly was given the lack of information that had been released up to that point.  Well, as luck would have it, another side project from the other talented songwriter in the group, Michael Coomer, has surfaced and he has confirmed that he's moved from Austin to Brooklyn, but that 'Harlem isn't broken up in any real

GEIST by Dive

Geist by Dive

Shallow by Beach Fossils

Brooklyn dream pop band, and Beach Fossils side project, Dive are currently putting together their debut LP.  'Geist' is expected to be on the LP and will be released as a 7" on April 24 from Captured Tracks (buy).  It's similar to Beach Fossils so you should know what to expect from Dive, but the song delves into a cleaner, psychedelic pop sound.  Frontman Dustin Payseur claims he's working towards 'making something really noisy' for the new Beach Fossils LP he is

DER MICROARC by Violens

Der Microarc
Unfolding Black Wings

Two promising tunes from Brooklyn three-piece Violens upcoming second LP True.  The psych-pop outfit will be releasing the record on May 15 from Slumberland Records and these two tracks from the LP show a much cleaner, tighter sound than evidenced on their debut LP, Amoral.  There are plenty of other post-Amoral tunes at their Bandcamp including some that were part of their Nine Songs 2011 release (buy) where you can definitely hear the transition in sound taking place. 

X by Xray Eyeballs

X
Scorpio

Brooklyn's Xray Eyeballs is another band quickly following up a great 2011 LP release, Not Nothing, with a full-length in 2012.  Last week they released a stream of the track 'Scorpio' from the upcoming Splendor Squalor LP due on 2/24 from Kanine Records (pre-order).  Yesterday we were treated with a downloadable track from the album.  'X' is the record's first single and shows some refinement to their scuzzy, garage

KNOW ME by Frankie Rose

Know Me
Candy (previously on CWR)

Lovely, swirling new tune, 'Know Me,' from the ever so talented and continually evolving Frankie Rose from her upcoming LP, Interstellar, out on Slumberland Records on February 21.  Interstellar follows her self-titled solo debut LP released under the moniker of Frankie Rose and the Outs in 2010.  'Know Me' has clear hints of sounds that she carries from her time with the Dum Dum Girls and Vivian Girls, but shows that her past is in the past and that there's much more

RADIANT DOOR by Crystal Stilts

Radiant Door

Dark Eyes (previously on CWR)

Brooklyn's dark rockers, Crystal Stilts, have followed up their much enjoyed 2nd LP, In Love With Oblivion, from earlier this year with a new EP, Radiant Door.  The EP was released yesterday on Sacred Bones Records.  Two tracks from the EP are featured above.  'Dark Eyes' carries a vibe that you're familiar with from the band, with some bonus hand-clapping.

PORTLAND by Coasting

Portland

Snoozefest

'Portland' is the first track from Brooklyn/New Zealand duo Coasting's upcoming album, You're Never Going Back Again, set to be released on November 15th (pre-order) from M'Lady Records.  The band is a side project by the drummer from the Vivian Girls and a former member of New Zealand's Coolies, and you can definitely hear the same pop sensibilities in the

I'M HIS GIRL by Friends

I'm His Girl

Friend Crush

Friends have been getting quite the exposure on the internet recently because of their sensual and seductive dance pop that inevitably gets bootys shaking.  The Brooklyn 5-piece made their mark earlier this year with their groovin, thumpin, and spacey single (buy), 'Friend Crush,' yearning for our friendship and giving me an idea of how Santigold would

THE PULL by High Places

The Pull

Year Off

L.A. (transplanted from Brooklyn) electronic experimentalist duo High Places are releasing their third proper LP, Original Colors, on October 11 from Thrill Jockey Records (pre-order).  This record sees their level of experimentation growing even more and if I were more of an electronic enthusiast I'd see this having a much greater impact on me, but nevertheless, they entranced me in 2008 with their self-titled LP and now

[on repeat] WHEN YOU GO DOWN by Gross Relations

When You Go Down
You Don't Know Me (previously on CWR)

One of my favorite music blogs, Raven Sings The Blues, has started its own label aptly called Raven Sings The Blues Records.  The new label's first release is from another of my favorites, Brooklyn foursome Gross Relations, who up to this point have not disappointed once on a self-released 7" and a few digital singles available for free download on their Facebook page.  The band's 12" vinyl debut EP, Come Clean, comes out September 13 and