13AGH3AD, “Spinner”

13AGH3AD’s “Spinner” is a song that would shine under a blacklight. This might be easy to assume given the single’s kaleidoscopic cover art, but from its opening reverb the song is inviting you to invert your expectations and succumb to its hypnotic groove. Swirling guitar licks leave psychedelic fingerprints on the group’s grunge-y sound, and the rattle of surf rock drums practically begs for a dark and smoky room to get lost in. It’s a heady combination, fueled by chant-like vocals and a prog-rock bridge that dilates the beat to its breaking point before snapping back for a sharp exit.

Want to hear us talk about this song? Check out episode #106 of our podcast at hlycrp.com.

Nocona – “Stabby Mike” 

Is Nocona huge yet? From the beginning of the song, I felt like I was stumbling upon greatness hidden in plain sight. By the end of Stabby Mike I was invested mentally and emotionally in Nocona. The beginning of love, the excitement of digging through their catalog, the growth of something special and something cool that maybe nobody knows about. Amazing. 

This one catches you in the cheek with a fish hook and just when you realize it, the entire band blasts in with a jerk that pulls you to your feet. It’s just a thing that happens sometimes, yeah, but that thing that happens is magic. Magic accompanied by vintage guitars, upright bass, slide guitar, western shirts… Why isn’t every band this cool?

The instrumentation is so textured and woven together, yet upon analytical examination each instrument has breathing room around it. You can feel the wooden boards of the room from your ears, smell the fireplace, and the leather on your arm. Or, is that just me? Damn. Get on my level and check these guys out. 

Want to hear us talk about this song? Check out episode #106 of our podcast at hlycrp.com.

The Prostitutes – “Shake, Rattle, & Die”

The Prostitutes have been around a while, and Shake, Rattle, & Die is one of their releases from this year. Aptly named for a year filled with certain death and doom, The Prostitutes deliver a raging take on bumming a ride from a stranger while they are out of their mind, all in under two minutes. It’s punk rock, raging and boiling over, recorded with all the attitude you would expect.

 I feel like the song could be the venting that took place after the awkward situation unfolded, we’ve all been there for sure. 

Shake, Rattle & Die is gritty, raw, and energetic. It’s perfect.

Want to hear us talk about this song? Check out episode #106 of our podcast at hlycrp.com.

The Deathbots – Just Go

The Deathbots was conceived as a brawling mix between Bad Religion and Johnny Cash, that combo of super speedy melodic punk and killer bad-ass country. Just Go is the epitome of this sound. Tight So-Cal inspired sound wreckage, with wrenched, riffing guitars and bass, driving drums – and then the melody and lyrics have such a soft heart – “The only days I don’t regret are the days I spent with you.” I try to write lyrics and this line makes me jealous – something so simple and beautiful and true. Something Johnny Cash would sing if he was fronting a So-Cal punk band.

Want to hear us talk about this song? Check out episode #106 of our podcast at hlycrp.com.

Anti-Social Club – “Empty”

Anti-Social Club leans back into familiar glam and electronica for their latest single “Empty” – this is an Erasure, Yaz, David Bowie inspired track. There is darkness and death and cancer and a bleakness that fills the song with a chill – “there’s a pain in his chest and a weakness in her knees – there’s a cancer inside and it’s making it hard to breathe” – but Anti-Social Club also understands song dynamic and a chorus that rises and offers hope. Bonus points for the wonderful female vocalist that adds real beauty to the chorus. 

Want to hear us talk about this song? Check out episode #106 of our podcast at hlycrp.com.

Ep 118 – ‘Dance Memories’ With music by: Thee Crucials, Pancakes, Day & Dream, Puerto, The Humms, Violent Mae, The Paranoyds

 

Best of the underground, week of August 11, 2020: Swirling in technical difficulties, John broadcasts from a CB radio and reveals the origins of many of his Moves. Also, great music. (All podcasts and reviews are on www.hlycrp.com, and you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

This week we played:

    • Doe Eyes by Thee Crucials

    • I Say Shit by Pancakes

    • A Study in the Pixels of Your Face by Day & Dream

    • Call the Doctor by Puerto

    • Lady Low by The Humms

    • Worn Out My Welcome by Violent Mae

    • Memory Foam by The Paranoyds

Ep 117 – ‘Hot Craig!’ With music by: Illuminati Hotties, The You Go Girls, Top Nachos, Oozelles, Sam Price, Angry Lovers, Garrett Hatch

 

Best of the underground, week of August 4, 2020: John spots a very good looking man, some bickering about rolling stone magazine, and much great music. (All podcasts and reviews are on www.hlycrp.com, and you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)