Tigers & Flies - Expanded Play.

 

At the beginning of September, we reviewed the Smashing Scene EP here. Until recently, it has been at the top of our 10 most read posts, unheard of here for such a new band. Those 4 tracks have had another 4 songs added now on the Expanded Play.

I love 'em. It is the type of Angular Intelligent Indie that I adore. Left field unexpected arrangements with the addition of Brass. It is an intoxicating mix. I mentioned at the time that they reminded me of early versions of four bands.

Early XTC, particularly the Angular Guitar and Rhythm, there is a real Colin Moulding feel from the Bass Playing. Early Blur, vocally and lyrically. The Sugarplastic, production and arrangement wise and The Futureheads for the vibe.

The four additions are just as top notch as those on the EP. Talent oozes from this Manchester Five Piece and they seem to be having such fun. At times, a Talking Heads without the stern faces. I can't wait for the next chapter.

You can buy the album here and listen to the four songs from the EP. You can listen to the whole album on You Tube here. The album is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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Them Elephants - Quattro

 

I'm a big fan of Alex Charlow's Them Elephants project. We've covered the previous two albums, Come Calling actually featured in the Best 100 Albums Of 2024 and now we have a new one and it is a splendid listen.

Come Calling offered great genre variety and was our introduction to Charlie's talent. Sugar concentrated more on Indie Rock and Guitar Pop, now Quatrto goes full on West Coast Power Pop. It wasn't debatable that the man could play and write great Pop songs, but this highlights the strength of vocals,

This is full on Power Pop, built on killer riffs, big choruses and big harmony vocals. These vocals underline what a great Pop Rock affair this is. The riffs hook you and then you get an unexpected killer heavier solo. It works perfectly.

Calculated may be the song of the year, Power Pop goodness with a Beach Boys style harmony take. Give Or Take is very early Weezer with a side order of 80s New Wave synth. Satellite is part Club Anthem, part Electro Pop, very different to what else is on display.

The majority here though is Power Pop joy. Right Way is the 80s US Version, Have Some Fun is slightly Slacker, slightly Surf and Where We Go is all vocal harmony. Get Out My Way is anthemic Pop. Four albums in now and not a duff song on any.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Joint Pains - Ouch

 

Typing in Joint Pains on your search site will probably bring up tons of advice on how to manage your pain. No Pain listening to this. This trio are from Newcastle in Australia and they specialise in high energy Indie Rock, evolving a sort of Power Trio.

I hear a lot of this type of stuff that follows a formula, but these three are different. That energy and the out of ordinary riffs that they come up make Ouch! a really interesting listen. Those riffs allow entry to different genres. There is a great guitar sound.

The intro and guitar sound on Submarine sound very Alex Lifeson and they even add a Geddy Lee type keyboard run. Yet, Sandra Dee gets more 90s Rock, but is still jaunty rather than how Po Faced that genre can be.

Sweet Tooth is more Pop Punk, all pace and none of that robotic vocal nonsense.  You've heard Everything Considered on the current Listening To This Week Playlist. That sounds a s great here and is one of two slightly longer songs. The other being Something To Say which steps wonderfully well into Modern Prog.

This is a beautifully put together album. At times, the trio sound like a Rockier Feeder with certainly more variety. The three are interlocked musically and happily Rock you without getting in your face. A cracking listen, I can't wait to hear more from them.

You can listen to and buy the album at a bargain price here.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 24 November

 

26 songs this week  Diverse as always, whilst not forgetting what our strengths are. The rest of the month will be about Album Reviews. I can't believe December is around the corner. This week also confirms the end of our 8 month trial with Spotify.

We have never been admirers of the platform, but tried it to aid artists. However, we see constant subscription rises for users with none of this money going to the type of artists we cover. We are also very Anti how AI dedicated Spotify has become. Many of the songs on the playlist will be on Spotify, so if you are a fan and want to listen there you can head over there.

The weekly playlist is largely for submissions, not just the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here. 

Swive - Headlights

Them Elephants - Calculated

The Salt Collective - Waiting For The End Of Time (Feat. Jason Falkner)

Reno Bo - Undefeated

Joint Pains - Everything Considered

The James Rocket - Even Our Closest Friends Are Distant

Factheory - Bird Of Time (Feat. Michael Sordinia)

Certain Things - Holiday

Certain Things · Holiday

Horse Chops - Salt In The Baltic

Little King - Catch And Release

Haysop - Give All That You Can

Linear Television - Stay Strong

Nadi - PSYKANIKO

Gee Whiz - Mr Dinosaur

Mister Zach - Me And My Shadow

Donovan's Brain - Not A Home

Melvic Centre - First To Know

Tired Of Fighting - Death Wish

Archi Deep - Violent Storms

Pierce Alexander - Esmerelda

The Chemistry Set - STP

The Spitters - Don't Be Stupid

The New Tigers - Off The Wall

Smear - L.A. Chess

White Noise Lovers - Feedback Romance

Caitlin & Brent - Pleasure In The Pain 

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Sharp Pins - Balloon Balloon Balloon

 

Sharp Pins is the solo project of Lifeguard's Kai Slater. This third album is the Chicago Starlet's follow up to the wonderful Radio DDR (review here). The new album is very different to the last. Radio DDR was a kind of statement from someone who wanted to be Doug Gillard's grandson.

Balloon Balloon Balloon is like a collection of earlier demos, it isn't, but sounds like it should be. That shouldn't put you off because there are a thousand ideas here, but they are incredibly lo-fi, it appears deliberately so.

The main question should be, how can someone so young have all this musical history in his head. He is an incredible talent. I mentioned in the previous review of a likeness at times to Rick Corcoran's Orgone Box and some of these songs do sound like Orgone Box demos.

But there is also an adept take on 60s Beat Pop and Jangle Pop. Some of the songs could easily be from the 60s, but then Fall In Love Again could be The La's. In A While (You'll Be Mine) is ace Psych Pop of the highest order.

Takes So Long mixes UK Beat with UK New Wave, Maria Don't even sounds like a Lennon Demo and Crown Of Thorns gets very Cleaners From Venus. Queen Of Globes and Mirrors is more Jangly and even starts with a Hard Days Night opening chord.

(I Wanna) Be Your Girl still sounds wonderful and remains an Orgone Box doppelgänger, but although these may come across as ideas, just listen to the quality of the songs. Kai Slater belies his years and I can't wait for what comes next from his multiple projects.

You can listen to and buy the album here. UK buyers should also support  the likes of Norman Records (here) who do such a fantastic job supporting the physical releases that we love. The album is available on Vinyl, CD, Cassette and as a download.

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The Webstirs - High Up In The Trees

 

There is a point when Pop Rock and Indie Rock meet when the results are just spot on. Chicago's The Webstirs reach that place with their second. You might term the album Pop Rock, but it is much more than that and the five piece have the energy and gusto of a much younger Indie Rock band.

In a way, they are veterans. Preston Pisellni and Mark Winkler are joined  by The Redwalls' Jordan Kozer, The Slugs' Gregg Juhlin and Doug Bobenhouse from our beloved The Sun Sawed In 1/2. At times, the feel is Rocked up Power Pop, at others, a little more AOR, but they also show they can be whatever they want to be.

You'll have heard When It's Gone on a recent Listening To This Week Playlist and it still sounds as great here. There is an ability to change direction in the one song, Roulette being the best example, a song that sounds like Andrew Gold fronting a crack band.

Throw Away is Rockabilly at a furious pace. Reached An Understanding matches 80s IRS with 90s College Rock with added vocal harmony and a mouth organ solo. King Of Distortion is top notch UK New Wave built around a killer riff.

The Guy For You heads towards Rock and Roll territory. Dancing In The Sky is ace Power Pop with a vocal akin to Dave Edmunds. Here We Stood is a little Cheap Trick with another killer riff of which there are many.

High Up In The Trees is a beautifully produced album. Wonderfully loud and without the distortion that digital mixes can provide. The Webstirs have it made, the Guitar kids may get it, the Power Pop crowd certainly and the Dad Rockers can show they are hip. A splendid listen!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Jumbo Chords - Throw Away (Buy Another One)

 

We covered Jumbo Chords debut album, 2023's Saturday Night, Sunday Morning. It made our 100 Best Albums Of The Year. You can read the review here. Since then they have been regularly releasing singles and at last we have the follow up album.

I love them. I think many know that our forte is Intelligent Indie, but throw in Psych Pop, Indie Rock, a touch of 90s Indie, Brit Pop and variety and I melt. Four of the singles have appeared on Listening To This Week Playlists, not out of favouritism, but because of the ultra consistency that the band come up with.

This Leeds quartet are largely a collaboration of friends from 90s band and if I look at all the Indie that I fall for, these seem to throw in bits of all. At times they can be like West Coast Music Club and the vocal is similarly laconic, but they add a simplicity mixed with some wonderful harmonies.

The mellotron on All I Want is hypnotic, a very 60s sounding affair. Sleep is 6 minutes of magnificence, it just overwhelms you, drags you in. The vocal is part Guy Garvey, part Danny McNamara. Rollercoaster is jaunty 80s Jangle Pop.

Dennis Wilson, as you might imagine, is great West Coast Pop Rock, beautifully arranged both instrumentally and vocally. Twilight offers up my beloved Psych Pop with a riff that just sticks in your head and adds a solo that mesmerises. Very 60s in feel.

Throw Away (Buy Another One) adds a social message in the style of UK Beat. The whole album is a great listen. Deliciously Lo-Fi as is the current trend. Inventive and laidback, the songs are allowed the space to breathe whilst gently gnawing at your musical brain.

You can buy the CD here and here. You can listen to the album here and on other Streaming Sites that I avoid.

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