Out With The Old, In With The New! My Year In Review...Or Something

In a few hours, 2013 will come to an end.  For the last couple of weeks I’ve been intending to post this and that but, I just never got around to it. Procrastination? Laziness? Who knows?  Most of my blogging year has been one long ‘I’ll get around to it,’  shoulder shrug kind of thing. Heck, several times, I even considered just quitting.  But hey, I celebrated QNYC’s fifth anniversary this year so, quitting seemed silly. Five years is a long time in the field of random blogs.

I meant to write a lot more this year.  I meant to do more photography.  I meant to go to more shows.  Yeah, that last one I really meant to do considering I blog about music! Off the top of my head I think I went to four or five, no six shows. I feel great shame, no, not really.  But, I feel like there should be some sort of shame or guilt or something!  

The shows:

John Michael Rouchell - One word, “Holler”.  John Michael, who released The Separation EP not long before this show, always puts on a good show.

Newport Folk Festival - It was sold out.  It was a day longer.  I got rained on.  I fell in love with the adorable Milk Carton Kids. I stood in the ladies room line with Nicki Bluhm (who did a great set by the way). I sat on the wall and said hey to several people...mostly really friendly, bearded dudes in bands. I got a grand kick out of Frank Turner, Michael Kiwanuka and several others.  I finally broke my Avett Brothers photography curse. And, I still don’t understand that which was Jim James’ set.

Newport Jazz Festival - I wanted to enjoy Natalie Cole (childhood sentimental stuff and whatnot) but,...we’ll leave it at that.  I meant to be more active photography wise but it didn’t work out that way.  I enjoyed Jon Batiste...everyone did.  I barely got to see any of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s set.  I enjoyed the sets of Gregory Porter and Dee Alexander. Robert Glasper brought his Experiment to the festival and it was weird, trippy, weird (yeah, I said that twice) and fun.  Wayne Shorter celebrated being 80 years young. 

Jazz In The Valley - More music by water but this time in Poughkeepsie, NY.  It was drizzly and muggy but had a nice river view.  Denise Thimes put on a great set though I couldn’t get a good photo of her to save myself.

U.S. Royalty - I hadn’t seen them since what, 2011?  They played stuff from their upcoming album Blue Sunshine...looking forward to that release.  They left it all up on the floor and exhausted me in the process just like rock ‘n’ roll should.

Jake Lewis and the Clergy - It was the first time I’d seen them.  Crammed into a tight space by the front door, they played a good set.  I got to catch up with my pal Katie who was drumming.  I had some wonderfully non-stingy drinks and a nice plate of fries. 

The records:

Wow, I liked a lot of stuff.  Some of it new, some of it just new to me.  Off the top of my head, I can only think of one release that I got kind of giddy over, pre-ordered even… That was the deluxe reissue of Wings Over America...yeah, y’all know my weak spot!

I spent a lot of time listening to He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister.  Yeah, I know their album, Nobody Dances In This Town, came out in late 2012 but I listened to it a lot and I mean A LOT this year.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time listening to Swear and Shake’s song, “The Light”.  

I fell in lust with Great Peacock’s self-title EP...still loving “Take Me To The Mountain”.

Mission South released Migration, Vol. 2...still grooving hard on that one.  And, I loved their video for the track “Peaches.”  I really need to make it out to see one of their shows!

Those Darlins - “Oh God” from their latest album Blur The Line.  This song was on repeat from the moment I got a hold of it.  Actually, a few songs from this album have spent time on repeat.

Nico Vega covered “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”.  Not my favorite song but, I do dig their version.  It's a perfect fit for Aja's voice.  I’m looking forward to their upcoming record.  I haven’t seen them play in a while; I must rectify that.

Def Leppard released Viva! Hysteria.  I meant to write about this record but I couldn’t get excited about it.  I wanted to, but, I just couldn’t.  I realized that I would have rather have had a ‘Viva! High ‘n’ Dry’ or ‘Viva! Pyromania’ or even ‘Viva! On Through The Night’...then again, maybe not.  It’s not that I dislike Hysteria, it’s just not my favorite ‘back in the day’ Def Lep album.  So, as a result, a live track by track of it really didn’t work for me.  I’ll probably be hunted down and beheaded by angry Def Leppard fans but vocally, I had to check and see if I was still listening to Def Lep on a couple of tracks.  I thought I’d accidentally switched to AC/DC only to realize it wasn’t Brian Johnson I was hearing but Joe Elliott!  

I just realized that I can’t think of one major ‘mainstream’ album that caught my ear.  I'm sure there must be one but, I can't think of it.

There are a lot more records that caught my ear this year, however, I think my first paragraph pretty much sums things up.  I meant to put this post together earlier this month but, I just now sat down to do it...

I hope 2014 brings great things for everyone.  May you have much happiness, good health and lots of love.  Be safe my friends.

Happy New Year!

LaNita

Quirky NY Chick

Merry Christmas! Season’s Greetings!

Happy Christmas!  May you have a wonderful holiday filled with family, friends and lots of joy.

Peace & Happiness,

LaNita
Quirky NY Chick

Blouse - “A Feeling Like This”

Blouse released their sophomore album Imperium this Fall.  Recently, they released a video for the second single off the record, “A Feeling Like This".  Check out the Angus Borsos directed clip below.

If I Dropped By.. with Spencer Miles of Space Fight

This week, I posed my “If I Dropped By...” question to Spencer Miles of Space Flight. With them having a show coming up at Mercury Lounge this Saturday, December 21 at 10:30PM; $10 adv / $12 dos (full details below) and a catchy song that landed in my inbox in the form of the video “Who Do You Think You’re Foolin’?” from their album All Systems Wait, of course, curiosity got the best of me. Well, my people talked to his people which led to our hypothetical visit.

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

Spencer Miles (SM): "Who Do You Think You're Foolin." It gets to the chorus in under 30 seconds, and people tell me it's very catchy. I think it's important to not bore the listener the first time they're hearing you. I would also show you the video, directed by Joey Palestina, the frontman of the band Thing One, who we're playing with at the Mercury Lounge this Saturday.

We Are The In Crowd - “The Best Thing (That Never Happened)

We Are The In Crowd are scheduled to release their album Weird Kids on February 18.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Release Video + NYC Show

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings released a video for their track “Ain’t No Chimneys In The Projects” this week.  After performing the song during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, they decided to make an official video.  The clip was directed by Ryan Louie.

Also, their latest album, Give The People What They Want is scheduled for release on January 14.  The album release and supporting tour had been put on hold when Ms. Jones was diagnosed with cancer.  After taking time off for treatment, she is back. Yay!

For those in need of a live Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings fix, they will be at the Beacon Theatre on Thursday, February 6.  If you for some odd reason you haven’t seen them live, then get thy booty to a show and shake it.  See below for show details.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Thursday, February 6

Beacon Theatre

2124 Broadway

New York, NY

Doors: 8PM

Tickets: $35 - $60

Dr. Dog Release Christmas EP + NYC Show

Earlier this month, Dr. Dog released their Christmas EP, Oh My Christmas Tree.  All of the artist proceeds from the EP will be donated to Feeding America check it out and in the spirit of giving, show your support.  

Dr. Dog will be taking the stage at Terminal 5 on Saturday, January 25.  See below for show details.

Dr. Dog

Saint Rich

Saturday, January 25

Terminal 5

610 W 56th Street

New York, NY

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM

Tickets: $30

All Ages

In keeping with the holiday spirit, 100% of artist proceeds from this digital only benefit EP will be donated to Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks that feeds more than 37 million people, including nearly 14 million children, and leads the nation in the fight against hunger www.feedingamerica.org 

 

As Dr. Dog's Scott McMicken explains “Last year, in 2012, I wrote these songs and recorded them in two different kitchens over the course of the two weeks leading up to christmas. I made them with the intent to mail them to some of my friends and family as a christmas present. It wound up being a great gift to myself! The experience definitely showed me once again that stopping to pay closer attention to what things mean, even seemingly familiar things, always brings an added depth and beauty to life. And always in a surprising way. Christmas music can be so playful and fantastical but it can also be very melancholy and foreboding. To me thats the best. The spirit can guide you to balance and the spirit can be found anywhere you choose to look. In the cartoons and in the cold blood. In the wild imagination and in the strictest tradition. These four songs will ultimately live as that reminder for me and hopefully they serve you in some way too. You, the child of wonder. You, of age and grace. Peace be with ye.”

 

For more information on Feeding America and how to help, go to: www.feedingamerica.org.

Love Crushed Velvet - “It’s A Holiday, Come Over!”

So, I’m not big on holiday songs but a few have landed in my inbox lately.  So, tis the season to share!  

Love Crushed Velvet released an animated video that chronicles a reindeer alone during the holidays and missing his woman.  How could I not like this video?!  Check it out below.

Love Crushed Velvet released their EP Delusions in September.

The highly anticipated release of Delusions cemented the band's place in the world of dark, melodic rock. Driven by lead singer/songwriter A.L.X., Love Crushed Velvet shows off exceptional emotional and stylistic range in lyric and musicality. Reminiscent of the glory days of rock and roll, Love Crushed Velvet has carved out a unique place in today's music world, paying homage to the past while remaining firmly grounded in the present.

Delusions is a powerful force that touches upon the complications of love, fame and our global society. The EP begins right at the apex, with its premiere single "Revolution Time", capturing an unyielding spirit of upheaval inspired by the personal experiences and perspective of A.L.X.. Love Crushed Velvet maintains the unwavering strength of a revolution high throughout the entirety of Delusions.

Nicole Atkins - “Girl You Look Amazing”

 

Nicole Atkins debuted her new single, “Girl You Look Amazing” this week.  The track is from her upcoming album, Slow Phaser.  The album is scheduled for release on February 4 via her own Oh’ Mercy! imprint.  Slow Phaser is on a short list of upcoming albums I’m looking forward to.  

Nicole had this to say of the song; "This song actually came to me in a dream. It was being played in a big dance club and David Byrne was singing it. I woke up and recorded it into my phone. It took a while to figure out what "girl you look amazing," could mean as I've never been one to be that positive. So I wrote it about a girl who is the last one to shut the party down. Who's life is just an absolute mess. She might look amazing but she misses all the real things that used to make her happy." 

About Slow Phaser: A neon noir tour de force of hi-def late-night pop, Slow Phaser marks Nicole Atkins’ most ingenious and indelibly modern collection to date. Produced by Tore Johannson – with whom she partnered on her now-classic 2007 debut, Neptune City – the album is a milestone for the acclaimed singer/songwriter, her restless creativity fully realized via the addition of some surprising colors to her already diverse paintbox. Songs like the poptastic “Girl You Look Amazing” and the sultry “Red Ropes” positively swirl with day-glo danceability, the bright hues setting Atkins’ distinctive creative voice in a brilliant and undeniable new light. Bittersweet yet life affirming, Slow Phaser is Nicole Atkins at her confident and unpredictable best – spirited, sexy, and determinedly forward thinking.

Upcoming: Indyns at Pianos on 12/16

Indyns

Dear Criminals / The Headlocks

Monday, December 16

Pianos 

(in the Upstairs Lounge)

158 Ludlow Street

New York, NY

Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM

Free

21+

Check out “How Did We Get From Sex To Gambling” below.  The track is from their upcoming record Teen Night which is scheduled for an early 2014 release.  

Singer Billy Muncy's (vocals/guitar/synths) vocals on the track are raw and charismatic as his voice haunts and resonates throughout. With the combination of Ron Boling (Bass/synths/beats), their impeccable songwriting is laced with gorgeous synths and scratchy harmonies that fit perfectly within each other.

Night Panther - “Queen Bitch”

Check out “Queen Bitch” from Night Panther.  The track (no, not the Bowie song of the same name) comes from their album Night Panther which was released at the end of July.  

"Sex Pop" trio Night Panther is offering an exclusive download of their track "Queen Bitch" on ARTISTdirect! The song was released on their self-titled album, which has taken the tastemaker scene by storm. Recorded by lead singer Farzad Houshiarnejad, Night Panther's debut album dropped on July 30th of this year. The Philadelphia trio shares a love for Freddie Mercury's harmonies, early 80's pop melodies and synthesizers, and the heavy drum and bass grooves of the late 70's NYC disco era. 

In the summer of 2012, best friends Farzad Houshiarnejad (keyboards, vocals), Michael Cammarata (bass), and Christopher Radwanski (guitar, keyboard) formed Night Panther. While lust and heartache are the inspiring byproducts of their creativity, there stands no room for despair sonically. It takes a few listens through their debut LP to realize they wear their hearts discernibly on their sleeves. Disguised as a glamorous synth-pop group, Night Panther strays the listener from dramatic and heavy themes, to late night carousing and sexual innuendoes. 

Pravada - “Someone Else”

Pravada released a video for their song, “Someone Else”.  The track is from their album, Dirty Looks, which was released this past November.  Check out the clip below.

“Someone Else,” evokes elements of The Cars and The Faint. The piece masterfully interweaves staccato guitar licks with a danceable beat, brought to life by Lee's deliciously sweet, yet distorted vocals. A spiral of guitars, drum and bass provide the song with an over-the-edge punch as Lee’s voice accumulates a raw indie rock power and emotion. The video proves to be a real page turner with mystery and suspicion around every corner. A case of a cop gone bad, using criminals for his own gain, “Someone Else,” will instantly draw your attention.

 

Pravada is the musical creation of Jesse Lee (vocals, guitar), Casey Tennis (drums, keyboards), and Hubert Glover (horns, bass). The trio had spent the earlier half of the 2000s playing in Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s before branching out on their own with Pravada. Unleashing their newest effort, Dirty Looks, just last week, the gorgeous record is filled with 10 electrifying and glorious songs that will stop you dead in your tracks.  The record is a vibrant burst of electric melodies alongside an enthusiastic rhythm section. Jesse Lee's voice switches between smokey and gorgeous and raw and boisterous, creating an intriguing combination. 

Beck Teams Up With Warby Parker

Beck has collaborated with Warby Parker for a pair of limited edition frames.  The Beck frames have been dubbed the “Carmichael” and like all Warby Parker frames, start at $95.  So, basically, you can achieve the look above with the help of these reasonably priced frames.  

The collaboration is a celebration, so to speak, of Beck’s Song Reader project.  Check out the frames below and for more information, visit the Warby Parker site.

Upcoming: Snowmine To Play Brooklyn + New Album

Brooklyn based Snowmine will be taking the stage at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday, December 12.  See below for full details.  

In other news, the band is scheduled to release their album Dialects on February 4 via their own Mystery Buildings imprint.

Snowmine

Thursday, December 12

Music Hall of Williamsburg

66 North 6th Street

Brooklyn, NY

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM

Tickets: $15

18+

...the new album captures a panoramic ambience highlighted by warm synths and 60's sounding orchestral motifs.  Many of the album's elements were recorded in a church (a choir, strings, woodwinds, and synths), capturing some real stereo reverbs and giving the album a tangible, tactile quality. 

Bennett Jackson & the Ranch Hands To Play Hill Country on 12/13

This is happening!

Bennett Jackson & the Ranch Hands

Friday, December 13

Hill Country

30 W 26th Street

New York, NY

10PM

No Cover

Those Darlins - "In The Wilderness"

Nashville based Those Darlins recently released a video for their song “In The Wilderness”.  The track is from their latest album Blur The Line.  The clip was directed by Veta&Theo and can be seen below. For those keen to see the band live, they are on tour...see dates at the end of the post.

In addition to the new video, they’ve also released “In The Wilderness b/w Blur The Line” on 7” vinyl.  The latter of which appears as a hidden track on the CD and MP3 versions of Blur The Line, but can only be heard on vinyl on the 7".


Tour Dates

December

• 12/06 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Café 
• 12/07 – Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone Café 
• 12/12 – Asheville, NC @ Emerald Lounge 
• 12/13 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor 
• 12/14 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern 
• 12/20 – Nashville, TN @ Stone Fox 
• 12/21 – Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light 

January 

• 1/17 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl 
• 1/18 – Chattanooga, TN @ JJ's Bohemia 
• 1/28 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon 
• 1/29 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa 
• 1/30 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's 
• 1/31 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 

February

• 2/01 – Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz Rock N' Roll Chicken Shack 

If I Dropped By... with Nytyly

Today, we hypothetically drop by the home of audio visual performing artist Nytyly (pronounced nightly).  I was recently turned onto her music and liked what I heard.  So, with an upcoming FREE show at The Delancey on Wednesday, December 11 (doors at 11:45PM / show at Midnight), it seemed like a perfect time to 'drop by' for a visit with Nytyly. 

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

Nytyly: Thank you for hypothetically coming over (: I appreciate it. Love me some music loving house guests! 

Currently "Legs ' r '$hakin"  - a good place to start. It's got electronics which is very 2013, this way I appear hip to the groove. You know, despite the washy reverb doubled up vocal thing.

My friend Nate Terepka from the band Zula says "reverb is auto-tune for hipsters".  

Absolutely true, lol. 

Only my self accepting hipster aspect really shines forth in this track. The tuning of the guitar is bit-off, but that makes it sort of special. Like a misshapen shadow that looks beautiful for some reason. And I also appreciate the occurrence of a 1980's electronic breakdown section which reminds me of a Barbie Workout video I used to exercise to as an awkward duckling (Jennifer Love Hewitt was the dance instructor). 

The track means a lot to me. I wrote and produced it.  It has an unconventional structure and a very strangely enticing logic to it.  Maybe because of the odd tuning and the strict adherence to sparse instrument ion. It is just guitar, drum and vocal + one sample.

Limitation necessitates ingenuity and creativity. 

This song marks this big break through where I realized that songs are meant to be simple. The complexity comes from simplifying and simplifying.  That mindset carried over into my LIFE. It changed my being entirely. That and regular prayer, lol. (: 

At any rate, it is a spiritually energizing and unique pop tune. 

Thank you for metaphorically visiting me lol, come again soon! 

MammaBear - “Red’s Dead”

Atlanta’s MammaBear released their first album, Vol. 1 “Birds of Paradise”  earlier this year.  Check out their video for the single “Red’s Dead”, below.  The album has that lo-fi, retro, fuzz and jangle tinged garage rock sound that makes you feel like you should be crammed into some small, dark, dank, smelly, sticky floored club while listening to it. 

The video was directed by Patrick Davis, George Dunlap and frontman Kyle Gordon. Gordon, an Atlanta songwriter for ten years now, feels age both gently leading him by the hand and also dragging him along, kicking and screaming. When he isn’t busy learning from his past, he’s lamenting falling back into self-destructive patterns. Themes of attempted growth, the desire to settle down, and asking whether this is, indeed, as good as it gets, permeate the self-titled debut of Gordon’s new act MammaBear. 

After years of navigating the politics of working with other musicians, Gordon finally set out on his own, playing each instrument to achieve a more accurate representation of his vision. “I wanted to make a record by myself,” he admits, “the way I wanted to make it, the way I wanted to hear it. I didn’t have to ask anyone’s permission or try to coax or explain my ideas in the hopes that they would be understood or used.”  

MammaBear is a back-to-basics, reverb-heavy pop constellation that harkens to the “wall of sound” era of recording. The songs range from aggressive and messy (“Rodents,” “Something to Say to You”) to melodic and airy (“Birds of Paradise,” “Raven Falls”), but the common thread is a simple pop sensibility, interpreted through classic instruments and recorded through vintage means. 

Although conceived as a one-man band with studio-only aspirations, MammaBear is now a band being primed by Gordon for upcoming shows to promote the release. “I was originally just going to put out a new volume every year or so,” explains Gordon, “but what has started out as a studio project has evolved into a real, tangible band.” Along with a new album and a new band, Gordon is also launching a new independent record label called No Ego Records.

Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes To Play 2 NY Shows

Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes

Aaron & The Spell

Friday, December 6

Knitting Factory

361 Metropolitan Avenue

Brooklyn, NY

Doors: 8:30PM / Show: 9PM

Tickets: $15 adv / $17 dos

and

Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes

The Jay Vons

Saturday, December 7

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston Street

New York, NY

Doors: 10:30PM

Tickets: $15 adv / $17 dos

21+

The Postelles Release New Single

The Postelles released a new single last week.  Check out and download “On My Shoulder” below.

If I Dropped By... with Julie Edwards of Deap Vally

A while back, I was introduced to the music of Deap Vally.  My first thought was simply “woah”.  They are full of attitude, they are raw, they are bluesy, they are balls out, sexy, sweaty rock ‘n’ roll.  The duo, Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards, released their debut full-length album Sistrionix this past October.

With Deap Vally poised to take the Mercury Lounge stage this Sunday, December 8 (doors are at 7PM, $12), I posed my “If I Dropped By...” question to drummer Julie Edwards.  This is what I found out during my hypothetical visit to her home.

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

Julie Edwards (JE): Six Feet Under, because it's one of our favorites, heavy and sexy and slow.

New Release From She & Him

She & Him released The Capitol Studios Session on December 2.  It’s a digital only release of new versions of four songs from their latest album, Volume 3.

The She & Him band convened in Los Angeles in June of 2013 to capture a more intimate version of their vibrant new songs. The novelty of having the whole band together in a legendary recording studio inspired the looser arrangements characteristic of the band’s live performances. 

Recorded at Capitol Studios, mixed by Larry Crane, and mastered at Gateway Mastering, The Capitol Studios Session features Zooey Deschanel, M. Ward, Abigail Chapin, Lily Chapin, Mike Coykendall, Tom Hagerman, Scott McPherson, and Chris Scruggs.

Track List

• I Could’ve Been Your Girl
• Shadow of Love
• Snow Queen
• Turn to White

Yuna - “Rescue” + NYC Show

Malaysian songstress Yuna recently released a video for her song “Rescue”.  The track is from her latest album, Nocturnal.  Take a gander below.  If you haven’t had the chance to see her live, she’s one to check out.  I saw her a couple of years ago in a stripped down set and, um, wow.  She’ll be at Highline Ballroom on Thursday, January 9.  Also on the bill that night is Hurray for the Riff Raff; we enjoyed seeing them this summer.  They have a new album, Small Town Heroes, scheduled to be released on February 11.

Yuna

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Rebel Tumbao / DJ Joaquin Joe Claussell

Thursday, January 9

Highline Ballroom

431 W 16th Street

New York, NY

Doors: 6PM / Show: 7PM

Tickets: $20 advance / $25 dos

Control Group Release Debut EP + NYC Show

Control Group, the new band comprised of Evan Reynolds (vocals, bass, guitar); Darren Korb (vocals, guitar, drums) and Jeremy Parker (vocals, guitar, drums), recently released their debut EP, Shoes Of The People.  Check out the track, “Leave It Alone” below. And, if you want to go and show them some love live, they’ll be at Arlene’s Grocery on Wednesday, December 4...see below for full details.

Control Group

Wednesday, December 4

Arlene’s Grocery 

95 Stanton Street

New York, NY

7PM

Tickets: $8

21+

Control Group is a new band comprised of three singer-musicians with some impressive Indie cred: between them they have recorded three BBC Peel Sessions, won Best Original Score at the Spike Video Game Awards, sold 200,000 albums, got NME's Single Of The Week, won a Rock Band® National Championship, had a Swirlies’ song named after them, and toured with bands like Girls Against Boys, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and The Damned. Having left their previous projects behind with the other detritus in rock music’s roiling wake, Control Group found each other in the creative petri dish of Brooklyn. There they set about discovering their new style, expressing the spirit of their surroundings. 

The band say their inspiration derives from their method as much as from their musical influences. They spontaneously record their instrument parts without a master plan, like splattering paint on a canvas. Then each of the three takes ownership of a skeletal musical form and breathes emotion into it by adding vocals. Many tracks don’t make the cut, but some of these experiments result in wonderful, gut wrenching treasures. As singer Evan Reynolds observes, “The name Control Group is kind of ironic, because everything is so incredibly out of control.” 

The band’s debut 7” single contains two such treasures. It’s a limited edition, hand-labeled, hand-packaged labor of love. Recorded mostly live in a Bed-Stuy basement, this record is gritty and raw. Its heavy dynamic shifts and dark sound capture the the band’s nervous energy. Control Group has already drawn comparisons to the Scottish trio Paws, London Pitchfork darlings Yuck, and the still-vital Western Mass veterans, Dinosaur Jr. The digital version of the single was actually mastered from the vinyl, so it retains all the graininess of its physical origins. “We liked the feel of the vinyl versions so much, we wanted to keep that sound in the digital versions”, says singer Darren Korb.