Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Is this site becoming a Lexa Gates fan site? MAYBE?!?! But, holy shit, this one is good. It’s like a classic Chi-Lites jump groove (is that a real term?) with Gates’ signature fierce and snarky delivery. And that video is BONKERS. Such a solid track. One of my favorite new rappers to come out in a long time.
“Past It” can be enjoyed here. This is the first track from her upcoming sophomore full-length, but if this is the first taste, I can only imagine how gratifying the whole meal will be.
Today is a pretty bonkers new release day, with new records from Sabrina Carpenter, The Beaches, and The Hives that were all queued up for my eardrums. And then I landed on something completely different- this deliciously dark, prog-psych-free jazz brain swim of a track from Brazil’s Oruã. The song is “México Suite.” I love it.
“México Suite” is off Oruã’s upcoming release, Slacker, coming out October 24th on the legendary K Records.
SIGRID IS BACK! Norway’s finest import has returned with a funky, infectious single, and it’s the thing that’s keeping me moving today. And that vocal fry?!?! “Fort Knox” is the second single from Sigrid’s third full-length record, There’s Always More That I Can Say, coming your way on October 3rd. Preorders and such here!
I *love* Ivy. The faux French Pop project from married couple Dominique Durand and the late, great Adam Schleisinger was almost certainly a thing of the past when COVID stole the life of one of America’s greatest songwriters in 2020. However, while working on remaster / reissues of Ivy’s fantastic catalog, Durand started listening to various demos from over the years, called up bandmate Andy Chase and, bam! We have a new Ivy album! And much like a ghost giving you a warm hug, these are all songs worked on by Schleisinger. Even though COVID is still frustrating our lives, its impact has reduced in the last year, and hopefully will continue to wane. That being said, “Heartbreak” sounds as fresh and inviting as anything off their classic record Apartment Life, and I’m eager for more music and to hopefully see them live again.
“Heartbreak” comes from Ivy’s upcoming record, Traces Of You, in stores and at your friendly neighborhood DSP on September 5th!
Jorja Smith keeps knocking out banger after banger. “With You” is a bright and happy tune perfect for detaching from the stress of life, holding your loved ones, and enjoying the sun. It’s delicate and just housey enough that it’s got a sexy groove without being, well, annoying.
Jorja Smith is playing Outside Lands on Sunday evening (6:50 / Twin Peaks Stage), and I can’t wait to hear this one in Golden Gate Park.
I get scared when a member of a band I like mysteriously goes “solo.” I noticed that Julia Kugel Montoya of The Coathangers, a brilliant punk band, was releasing a solo album, I initially wouldn’t listen to the single. It took me two weeks, and I’m gutted I missed two weeks with “Bound.” First of all, it sounds NOTHING like The Coathangers. But this song is GORGEOUS!!! It’s a stunning, intense ballad. You can’t mosh to it, but you easily cry to it.
“Bound” is the first single off Julia, Julia’s Sugaring The Strawberry, which is out September 9th. Preorders are available here. Although full tour dates have yet to be announced, she will be playing a free festival, Happy Sundays, curated by Julia herself, in Long Beach on August 23rd & 24th.
90 seconds of build-up. That’s it. 90 seconds is NOT the perfect song length. “SOME WOLVES,” however, is a perfect metaphor for the reality of life. It’s simply unresolved tension that hangs there with no resolution. Which is right where we are living- everything is tension upon tension, and the closest we can get to relief is a new tension.
So fucking good.
“SOME WOLVES” is the lead track off torpedo’s latest record, What the fucked do we all do now |- Lights, the perfect album title the fuckery of now, and happens to be out NOW on Broken Clover Records.
West Coast Tour Dates began, um, yesterday?
TORPEDO – LIVE 2025:
07/10 San Diego, CA – The Tower Bar
07/11 San Pedro, CA – The Sardine
07/12 Los Angeles, CA – The Redwood Bar
07/13 Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewing
07/15 Visalia/Fresno – TBA
07/16 Santa Cruz, CA – The Crepe Place
07/17 Sacramento, CA – The Press Club
07/18 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
07/19 Chico, CA – Naked Lounge
07/20 Eugene, OR – John Henry’s
07/23 Portland, OR – High Water Mark
07/24 Yakima, WA – Bearded Monkey
07/25 Bremerton, WA – The Charleston
07/26 Bellingham, WA – The Shakedown
07/27 Seattle, WA – Substation
I almost ignored this one. The headline of the press release said “Former Fulbright Scholar,” which is a cool and interesting achievement. I honestly thought it was some SPAM. Then I re-read it and saw that it truly the best way to describe this project. Texas Native Amanda Pasacli has taken the classic Sicilian folk song “E Vui Durmiti Ancora,” flipped the gender, translated it into English, and gave it a stunning, Roy Orbison-inspired arrangement. I keep wanting to replay it. And then use it to scare the last bit of hair off Stephen Miller’s head when he hears an American singing a bilingual song. And then they learn that they are actively curious about other cultures and enjoy surrounding themselves with diverse people.
“Wake Up, Baby! (E Vui Durmiti Ancora)” comes from Pacali’s upcoming full-length record,Roses & Basil. I’m pretty excited to hear more off this record.
Holy lofi!!!! The new Automatic single rips! Just bass guitar, drums, and vocals with the occasional synth flourish, and they lock into a perfect groove. I was wondering how they would fit in on the usually funk-oriented Stones Throw Records, but they are clearly here to outfunk everyone.
“Is It Now?” is the first single off their upcoming album of the same name. Tour Dates are up here, and hopefully, a Bay Area date is in the cards.
This song… It’s honey-soaked, mildly rockabilly, and so hot that I want to jump in the pool that’s in the background of this video. “After The Fact” is one of those perfect Summer jams. Syd’s voice is timeless, and that guitar is perfection. Aside from the F-bombs in the chorus, this could’ve come out any time in the last 80 years and fit in perfectly.
“After The Fact” comes from Syd’s upcoming record, ALSO called After The Fact, available June 25th!
