Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Man, I love a good, sexy video where everyone looks, well, normal. “I Found God” is good old-fashioned, sexy, and groovy, along the lines of Erotica-era Madonna. The hooks are hooking, and the lyrics are just naughty enough. It’s a great way to kick off the first weekend of Spring.
“I Found Love” is the latest single from Cera Gibson’s pinksoak, which is available now all across the internet.
Just three Spinning Platters’ all-time faves (Hall Of Fame acts, maybe?) are all dropping new singles today, and I was too excited not to share them with you.
Continue reading “New Singles Round-Up: The Linda Lindas! Riki Lindhome! Sleigh Bells!!!!”
Some weeks, I go through literally hundreds of tracks for this column, and nothing grabs me right away. And as it goes on, it gets HARDER to bring me in, not easier. This week was one of those weeks. And then this blistering, 70’s hard rock stomp, guitar virtuosity, and full-on braggadocio reinvigorated me within moments. “Money & Power” brings to mind late-era Donnas- combining elements of blues rock, British metal, and feminism in one intense punch.
“Money & Power” is the first single from Ally Venable’s upcoming album of the same name. It’s coming our way on April 18th. Click here to presave the digital or preorder the physical.
The guttural growl that opens this track rattled me to my core. Ecca Vandal has the perfect rock ‘n’roll voice—a melodic rasp that perfectly pairs with meaty, drop-D guitar riffage and weirdly catchy drums. This is the sound of Summer—sweaty and mosh-ready joy in the face of impending doom. It is a reminder that Australia keeps importing some of the best rock ‘n’roll around.
“CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE” can be enjoyed in all the usual places. 2025 is just starting to heat up for Ecca Vandal, and it’s worth following her on the socials to watch when she decides to destroy America.
Guitar heroine Jessica Dobson keeps killing it. “What Do I Know” is a pop confection layered with her epic guitar stylings, the same epic guitar stylings that prompted Beck to bring her on board one of his best live bands. The same heroics that prompted Pearl Jam to bring them out on an arena tour last year. This song rips, and I can’t wait to hear the whole album. WHICH ALSO COMES OUT TODAY!
You can enjoy “What Do I Know” and 10 other killer gems when you stream Billboard Heart, which I suspect you will do shortly. Deep Sea Diver is a fantastic live act, and you shouldn’t miss their upcoming tour!
Some songs are indeed an adventure. I was never really sure where “Goon Show” by Australia’s Tropical Fuck Storm was going to take us, but it’s a psychedelic nightmare and daydream all at once.
“Goon Show” can be enjoyed in all the usual places. They are also headed to the US for a Summer tour that’s onsale now!
Regular readers will have picked up on two things about your favorite editor-in-chief of a shockingly long-running music blog (16 years?!?!)- he’s a sucker for songs about experiences with music and loves a good multi-hyphenate. Lane Moore is a fantastic stand-up comic and writer with a keen sense of the human psyche. She ALSO fronts the band It Was Romance and is blessing us this Valentine’s Day with their first EP in far too long, Final Girl. This brings us to our single of the week, “Playing Records,” a brilliant, life-affirming song about, well, listening to music while moving through a breakup. It’s a warm and fuzzy New Order meets Alanis Morissette meets Bleached pop confection for the ages.
Final Girl is out today and can be enjoyed on whatever streaming service you subscribe to. The band is also embarking on a brief Spring tour of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (the area I affectionately refer to as the “Pizza Belt”). Tickets can be purchased at https://www.lanemoore.org/tour/.
I guess I’ve been sleeping on Clairo. I had no idea that she sounded like this… It’s just so damn smooth and groovy. This song feels like a dirty martini on a winter’s evening with all of your hottest friends having a heavy argument about David Lynch vs John Waters. The video starring Weird Al and directed by Ayo Edebiri is fantastic, and they are also two of the first people I’d invite to this party.
“Terrapin” is the latest single off Charm, available now in all the usual places!
The funny thing about Sleigh Bells is that they do, indeed, have a formula. But it’s such a damn good formula that always feels so unbelievably good. “Wanna Start A Band?” is a brilliant little autobiographical anthem, and this song is a cacophony of sonic joy that is somehow equal parts Nine Inch Nails and Lisa Lisa. I’m so glad that they are opening with joy in this hellish year of 2025. (I will note that Sleigh Bells’ show at Mezzanine was my first show after Trump’s win in 2016, and it was the exact right thing to do. Also my first indoor show after COVID hit)
Sleigh Bells are embarking on their first tour since 2022, and tickets are on sale TODAY at 10 am local time. Dates and tickets are here!
Shannon & The Clams KEEP GETTING BETTER! “Wax & String” is a one-off 7″ following up their best record yet, The Moon is in The Wrong Place. And while The Moon… was a contemplative and almost melancholy affair, “Wax & String” is a psych party jam, exhilerating in a way that seems almost innappropriate for 2025.
“Wax & String” is available to stream now, with a 7″ coming March 7th. Preperations for it’s arrival can be made now. Shannon & The Clams have recently been added as the Day 2 Headliner off Mosswood Meltdown. Other additions include the great Bleached, La Luz, Giuda, and, performing in Oakland for the first time EVER- L’Trimm. (Yes, “The Cars That Go Boom” band!) Tickets are available NOW!
