Category: New Music Picks

     Hotel Mira – Hotel Mira EP – (Modern Rock)

Having been a fan of these guys ever since they started (originally under the name JPNSGRLS), I was very excited when I saw their newest EP pop into my E-mail. Hailing from Vancouver, BC, my very own hometown, Hotel Mira are nothing less than a power house band. They kick down the door and have everyone on their feet after the first song. The main thing I love about everything they put out is their wanting to convey a message and not revert to typical bubblegum lyricism. The first single, “3AM Lullaby,” seems to have an overarching theme of the pain in trying to find a comfortable life. Most kids live a pretty sedated life growing up with not a whole lot of responsibility other than school. Getting thrown into the open world with little training is scary for most and the urgency to get back to a stress free life can be overwhelming. Now go relax check this EP out!

Continue reading “Curtis’ Prime Slices (10/2 – 10/6): Hotel Mira, Husky Loops”

illuminati hotties – Kiss Yr Frenemies (indie rock / tenderpunk)

illuminati hotties is an indie pop group fronted by lead singer Sarah Tedzin. Releasing their debut album, Kiss Yr Frenemies, earlier in 2018, the band has been off to a really amazing start. The lyrics are personal and playful and the instrumentation is delicate when it demands to be. Other times, there is a clear, punchy energy that more closely mirrors the way in which Sarah describes her genre as “tenderpunk.” If you are in your 20s, or ever have been, you will relate hard to this album (warning: ugly crying entirely possible). Check out Illuminati Hotties next Wednesday, October 3, at O’Brien’s to live out your inevitable connection with Sarah Tedzin in person! Also check out the emotional rollercoaster of a music video/ animation by artist Sam Lane for the track “Cuff.”

link to tickets: https://www.obrienspubboston.com/

link to illuminati hotties FB:https://www.facebook.com/illuminatihotties/

Continue reading “Erin’s Prime Slices (9/27): illuminati hotties, Prince”

    The Dirty Nil – Master Volume (hard rock)

Canadian hard rock trio The Dirty Nil came at me today with a brutal amount of force, to say the least. This being the band’s third studio album, they’ve seemed to have found a sound they’re comfortable with that consistently wants to punch you in the face (in a good way!). The problem I have with a lot of bands in this genre is they rely too much on what they listen to and end up trying to recreate something that ultimately sounds like a knock off; this however is not the case. Their riffs and melodies are fun to listen to and feel new and exciting. Fans of bands like Pup and White Reaper will definitely dig this.

Continue reading “Curtis’ Prime Slices (9/22 – 9/25): The Dirty Nil, Raquel Rodriguez”

      Skegss – My Own Mess (Indie Garage Rock)

This being Skegss first full length album, it’s impressive to hear such catchy and energetic songs throughout the release. Hailing from Byron Bay, Australia, the trio have been playing together since 2013 and putting out music since 2014. their sound is not unfamiliar to most but the excitement and personality that shines through is, well, exciting. It’s the kind of record that makes you want to stay up till 3:00 a.m. on the beach with friends surrounding a campfire. Which I can’t imagine being too different from what the boys in Skegss do on a regular basis.

Continue reading “Curtis’s Prime Slices (9/11 – 9/18): Skegss, Charles Bradley”

Iron & Wine – Weed Garden (indie folk rock)

Contrary to the implications presented by the title, Iron & Wine’s latest album, “Weed Garden”,  is full of beauty and demands to be appreciated. With echoing vocals, layers of percussive guitar lines, and unsettling strings, the album ebbs and flows between suspense and delicate satisfaction. Iron & Wine stays true to the warm sound that they have been known for since day one in this latest release.

Continue reading “Erin’s Prime Slices (9/13): Iron & Wine, Donnie Law”

Fit of Body – Black Box No Cops (Lo-Fi House, Bedroom Electronic)

Fit of Body brings a punk ethos to the the usually aloof field of lofi electronic. Black Box No Cops sounds like smooth easy listening hotel music, but with a certain grit. The aesthetic is something of a 2018 bandcamp/soundcloud version of LCD Soundsystem. The subtlety of attitude is what sets this album apart from scores of DIY producers. It gets deeper with each listen.

Continue reading “Ruby’s Prime Slices (7/9): Fit of Body, Snail Mail”

Now, Now – Saved (Pop)

As somebody who has dearly missed the sickeningly sweet rock tinged pop of the mid 2000s (think Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson), Now, Now‘s new album makes me feel Saved. This album is seriously infectious and fun- a pure and emotional pop record both for 2005 and 2018.

Continue reading “Ruby’s Prime Slices (6/28): Now, Now; Self Defense Family; and Jupiter & Okwess”