Silversun Pickups – “Panic Switch”
Nothing new in the way of overall vibe, the Silversun Pickups are still producing darker grunge rock that redeems itself with a well-structured composition, catchy guitar riffs, and the act’s signature gruff vocals. This track is much more intense than the recognizable “Lazy Eye.”
Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band – “Nikorette”
With no buildup, Oberst bangs right into this bouncy southern bit. “Nikorette’s” straightforward style is deepened with organ synth arpeggios, classical Southern guitar picking, clashing drums, and a replacement of generic country vocals.
John Vanderslice – “Fetal Horses”
Soaring vocals keep John Vanderslice’s sincerity fresh, whatever the topic. His allusions have more than one message. Listen for yourself.
The Vaselines – “Son of the Gun”
Starting off with fuzzy noise, “Son of the Gun” pulls into lyrics alternating between sweet-yet-distracted femininity, and Michael-Cera-esque muted rhymes. It’s a louder love song, built with strummed guitar and a repeated eighth-note piano chord.
Bishop Allen – “Oklahoma”
I am so relieved to hear the latest track off of Bishop Allen’s new album, Grrr…. The first two pre-released songs, while still good, are repetitive material which quickly grows old. This little ditty, however, is uniquely Bishop Allen, elevating heartfelt vocals with a nice simple theme, the Wild West. Remember how “Click Click Click Click” was just about cameras?
Don’t forget to check back each Tuesday to see what the buzz Music Staff is currently listening to, or leave suggestions in the comments of other artists to check out.
