Stream: Boxed Wine EP
New Jersey quartet Boxed Wine sounds like a band that knows how to have a good time. The group released their debut, self-titled EP back in January. The five-track release places a spotlight on Boxed Wine’s energetic, danceable brand of indie pop. Memorable hooks, snare-heavy rhythms, bright vocals and unadulterated joy are the themes at hand. The EP is a suitable soundtrack for a Friday night of debauchery or a summer day party.
As made clear in previous posts, I’m a fan of groups that don’t take themselves too seriously. Sure, we all love musicians that treat their craft as art. But too much angst-ridden, shoegaze music can be a drain. When you’re in the mood for the lighter, more frivolous side of indie rock, reach for some Boxed Wine. Slap the bag. Don’t look back. Stream and download Boxed Wine EP below.
Connect with Boxed Wine via Facebook | Twitter
P.S. The last band that I lauded for their frivolity wound up shilling their songs for Taco Bell and Free Credit Report (See: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.) Here’s hoping that Boxed Wine doesn’t take their fun to that extreme.
Written by Rob Peoni
Fresh Track: Crocodiles “Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)”
San Diego’s Crocodiles are set to release their third studio album, Endless Flowers, on June 4th and I can’t tell you how excited I am for it to hit. These guys cover themselves with a layer of indie rock nostalgia where snippets of Spaceman 3 or My Bloody Valentine can be heard in their tracks. For the unfamiliar modern day listener, I would pair these guys with Pains of Being Pure at Heart in terms of their reverence to their forefathers. Early adopters who jumped on the Summer of Hate bandwagon in 2009 seemed to buy in because their sound triggered memories of old. Bands like Crocodiles provide long time indie rock listeners comfort and provide purpose behind the work of those who paved the road.
Crocodiles continue to captivate me due to their ability to pull from the lowest fidelity possible and make my ear drums bleed. While these guys know how to pay homage to their elders, they also possess the uncanny knack of making it their own. Embrace the noise pop. Listen and download the single “Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)” below. Pre-order your copy of Endless Flowers.
Connect with Crocodiles via Facebook | Twitter
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Written by Brett McGrath
Album Review: Is/Is ‘III’
III opens with a few slaps of the bass and a wash of distortion. The rollicking chords are hardly discernible beneath a blanket of fuzz. Distorted guitars crash like waves upon the beach, receding and resurging their white-capped foam all around your ears. The sonic backdrop provided by Minneapolis trio Is/Is proves all encompassing and inescapable.
Like a painter or cinematographer creating visual themes with a specific color palette, Is/Is creates consistent and coherent auditory artwork with a wall of fuzz. The music coupled with lead-singer Sarah Rose’s preference for short, repetitive phrasing can be hypnotic, like some kind of indie rock Hare Krishna chant. It’s not until a brief tangent in the form of the album’s fourth track “Untitled One” that listeners are permitted to snap back into reality. A mere 55 seconds pass before we plunge headlong back into the murky waters.
After many spins of III, there are times when I find myself yearning for a break, for the sound to diversify. More often, though, I’m struck with the beauty in Is/Is’s decision to dive so boldly in one direction. That isn’t to say that there is no range of emotion on III, quite the opposite. “Moon Dropping” offers lighter tones, while “Bomb Me” and “Save your Savior” offer resounding, bass heavy, darker moments. The breadth of feeling is there, but the listener must first peel back the layers. Distinguish the smoke from the mirrors.
Listening to III can be cathartic at times. I found myself finishing the album with a clean mind, refreshed and rejuvenated. The earlier Hare Krishna reference had less to do with a musical comparison than the album’s meditative nature. Rather than focus on any specific aspect of III, Is/Is often melds into a solitary force allowing the listener’s mind to wander inward.
Whether Is/Is’s tunnel-vision approach to songwriting can be sustained over the long haul remains to be seen. For now, I’m content with the 11 tracks at hand. A casual listener may toss this release aside as little more than distortion-heavy garage rock. However, taken in its entirety III proves a powerful, rewarding collection of songs. III is available on CD and vinyl from Guilt Ridden Pop. Listen to the album’s first single, “Lie Awake” below.
Connect with Is/Is via Facebook | Bandcamp
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Written by Rob Peoni
Thought on Tracks 