I listen to a lot of music. No, really. If I’m not catching up on what my dudes recommend with The Indie Inspection, Ska Punk & Other Junk, and Coolest Stuff, or doing homework for the Crushed Monocle Podcast, I’ve got my ear to the ground for what’s next. There’s just so much music out there it’s hard to keep a cohesive list. While the podcast is a great way to discuss a few records each month, I feel as if I’m undercutting some of the other records that gotta repeated spins. The remedy? This column! The Showcase.
Welcome to The Showcase for August 2024!
Russian Baths – Mirror
Many of the songs on Russian Baths’ sophomore record have a Sonic Youth-esque quality. It could be the call-and-response, male/female vocals, or the discord guitars. Everything works, but it’s the horror movie ambiance that hooks me in. Mirror plays like a dark and mysterious soundtrack to a foreign noir film about a murder mystery.
Fascinations Grand Chorus – “Summer Love”
Stephanie Cupo and Andrew Pierce make up this jangle-pop duo that encapsulates the breezy side of late ’60s R&B. The lead single from an upcoming full-length, “Summer Love” promises to take that aesthetic mission statement even further. It has the sweetness of Karen Carpenter but the swing of The Supremes, and it just hits. Hey, it’s still summer so there’s plenty of time for a good fling or two, right?
Scuba Cop – Scuba Pop
Combining elements of industrial with noise rock, Scuba Cop is the delightful project of musician/producer Ely Morgan. It’s difficult to pinpoint just what genre this it, but it’s as ugly as it is fun. The music has all the grinding guitars and cyborg beats of your favorite Ministry record, but the songs deliver a strong emphasis on hooks and melody in the least expected places.
ILS – The Is To Begin
It feels like each installment of this column shares its obligatory release from our friends, The Ghost Is Clear Records. As hyperbolic as that sounds, it’s cold hard fact: no one puts out a noise rock record like TGIC! This month, it’s the sophomore record from the Portland supergroup Ils. The Is To Begin continues along the path set forth by the band’s 2020 debut but with a new emphasis on experimentation and a fresh layer of catchiness. Yes, gnarly screams of torturous pain and grizzly noise can still be catchy.
Fat Hearse – Circus Of Screams
Somewhere between White Zombie and late-era Slayer comes Fat Hearse out of Nashville. Admittedly, the horror-rock of Circus Of Screams flirts with production and composition popular in the post-nu metal scene of the early 2000s. But where most of those acts lacked self-awareness, Fat Hearse sounds like their black tongue is firmly placed in their rotting cheek. Lots of chunky riffs, double-bass drums, and slick production might make some purists wince, but for me, the absurdity makes it so fun.
Cornucopia – The Midnight Hour
A lot of attention has been thrown over to the French metal scene, thanks to Gojira’s performance at the 2024 Olympics. And I absolutely love that! Gojira rules, and so does French Metal. So, if you’re ready for some selections from the underground metal scene happening over there, Cornucopia is a wonderful place to start! The Midnight Hour sounds like early Black Sabbath with an even stronger emphasis on atmosphere. There’s even a smokin’ hot, probably Satanic lady on the cover! What more could you ask for?
Krypt – Great Spawn of the Worms of the Earth
While on the topic of Metal, did you really think your boy Coop was gonna forget about the best subgenre, thrash? Of course not! Back with the feral follow-up to their 2022 debut comes Krypt with Great Spawn of the Worms of the Earth. Try saying that 3 times fast! Ugly, under-produced, and delectably evil, this album will stomp your skull into pieces and urinate on your remains. As the new unofficial keepers of thrash, these dudes from the South are slowly becoming my favorite metal band. If you like classic thrash, you will love this record as much as I do.
Woodfield Rd Allstars – Big Shot
Is Woodfield Rd Allstars even a real band? I know every single release on Original Gravity seems to be written and produced by multi-instrumentalist Neil Anderson, but I can’t find any info about any artist at the label. Is it all Anderson? Who knows, who cares? The music is good, so that’s all that really matters. Big Shot is a snappy 7-inch with 2 instrumental tracks that sound like Willi Williams booked a session with the Funk Brothers. Reggae with a Motown groove? Sign me up!
Bear Phillips – Perfume Factory
On first listen, it’s easy to write off Bear Phillips as some sort of Joy Division tribute. Unfortunately, that knee-jerk reaction undermines the subtle beauty of these alt-rock-meets-synthwave jams. The vintage production reminds me of Music For The Masses-era Depeche Mode. Beneath the layers of reverb and droning, Perfume Factory is a deeply personal album that pays tribute to the elder-new wave more than it borrows. There is absolutely no nostalgia here.
Vein Blue – Before It’s Over
I don’t know much about Vein Blue or the people (or person?) behind it, but when Before It’s Over came up in my suggestions, something compelled me to listen. Yes, it was the cover art of love weary eyes peering through a glimmer of light that caught my eye. I’m a sucker for that sort of thing. And to no surprise, it sounds exactly like I thought it would. Mopey, reverb-laden, dream pop, both melancholy and beautiful. I can’t tell if these songs are about winning love or losing love. Can we ever really tell the difference anyway?
Horseburner – Voice of Storms
When I initially heard that Horseburner had a new record coming out, I was too busy to give a listen it deserved. That’s the thing with progressive rock: you have to listen to the album in full without the slightest interruption. And Voice of Storms deserves every single second of your uninterrupted attention! While not as feral as The Thief, the band’s newfound focus on melody makes this a strong contender for rock album of the year. From the larger-than-life vocals and searing guitar shredding, to the ’70s-style cover art, Voice of Storms feels like a classic album.
Love Visa – What Do I Do When You’re Gone?
Every installment of The Showcase must have a healthy dose of traditional indie guitar rock! Love Lisa describes themselves as “music created and performed solely by five music lovers.” Well, you know what? That’s a solid description! This album features a variety of styles from Dinosaur Jr.-esque noise, singer-songwriter acoustic vibes, and even hints of country. Despite all the influences and flavors, I believe what they are singing. Passion can go a long way toward cohesion, and it’s the star of this particular record.
Cola – The Gloss
One of my favorite elements about Cola is how they make guitar music without all the guitar tropes. There are no contorted faces while bending distorted licks in a pentatonic scale. Instead, The Gloss features wiry, weird, and noodly, almost like a percussive instrument. It’s the perfect backdrop for the sarcastic commentary in the vocals and the punk/jazz styling of the rhythm section.