Album Stream: Triptides ‘Live at Cubbfest’
Bloomington band Triptides was a topic of early discussion on Thought on Tracks. Their release Psychic Summer impressed the crew for it’s authentic garage rock feel. A lo-fi, surf pop group whose zip code could be mistaken for the Bay, Triptides is a misplaced sand castle creating its own beach.
The Triptides left to promote Psychic Summer in July and one of their stops sounds like they were playing in a home away from homes at Cubbfest in San Diego. Their opening track “Summerday” provides a harder, unfamiliar vibe, but proves to set the stage for their entire performance. Heavily distorted guitars rip through the crowd as Glenn Brigman and Josh Menashe scream “Don’t ever fall apart.” John Warlick tears his cymbals apart and a live recording is masterfully born. They released this performance in November and now we are sharing it with you. Stream the release below and download it for free via Triptides’ bandcamp page. Also, be sure to snag their 7″ Going Under/Outlaw released in December.
Connect with Triptides via Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp
Written by Brett McGrath
Fresh Track: Conveyor “Mukraker”
I’m a big fan of layered sounds. The best music is often like the best meals: simple, quality ingredients are paired with a few essential flavors to allow the food’s most redeeming qualities to shine. This is the type of recipe that Brooklyn band Conveyor serves up on a regular basis. They dropped their latest single “Mukraker” this week. The band reminds me of Portland’s Typhoon, with a little more minimalism. It takes skill to break a song down to its core and then rebuild with only the most important pieces. Too often bands wind up masking that essential melody beneath sounds that distract rather than support. Stream “Mukraker” below, and keep your eyes peeled for their full length debut later this year.
Connect with Conveyor via Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp
Written by Rob Peoni
Video: Gardens & Villa visit OnTheRecord.tv
One of my favorite new bands of 2011 proved to be Gardens & Villa and their self-titled debut via Bloomington’s Secretly Canadian. Last week, while we were busy listing, OnTheRecord.tv featured the Santa Barbara band performing a stripped-down version of their single “Orange Blossom.” The video is quite the departure from the song featured on the album. Here, a drum machine and catchy keys are exchanged for an acoustic and lonely snare. The wooden flute remains but it takes on a different vibe without the depth of the backbeat. I have yet to see these fellas live, but I’m left wondering which version I would prefer. Rarely do I say this, but this time I’ll stick with the synth. Watch the video and stream the album version of “Orange Blossom” below:
Connect with Gardens & Villa via Facebook | Website
Written by Rob Peoni
Thought on Tracks 