Welcome to your Monday music cocktail – the Melodic Tonic!
Summer is quickly approaching, which means one thing to many of us hardcore music lovers: festival season! Monsoon season is also here in many parts of the U.S., and quite frankly, some of us have forgotten what sunshine looks like. Today’s mix includes a few upbeat selections to infuse a little sonic sunshine.
Speaking of sun, we begin with the ridiculously danceable new single from Destroyer‘s upcoming Poison Season album, scheduled for release 28 Aug on Merge Records in the US and Dead Oceans in the UK. Wry as ever, Dan Bejar delivers an ebullient single brimming with saxophones aplenty and scoffs, “Oh shit, here comes the sun.” There’s an undercurrent of ’70s-era rock and glam pop in this song that feels like Bejar is channeling Bowie and Springsteen, but with orchestration. If that’s not sunny, I don’t know what is.
Australian trio DMA’s released their debut mini-album last month on Mom+Pop Music, just in time for the U.S. summer festival circuit. The lads from Sydney recorded these 6 songs in a studio (unlike their first unofficial home-recorded EP from 2014) and quickly won praise from fans as well as scorn from Noel Gallagher. Although they cite The Beatles, Stone Roses, Bob Dylan and Neil Young as influences, The DMA’s have a Britpop sound that wouldn’t be out of place two decades ago. Their music is catchy and fun, so it’s clear why they’ve been booked to play some of the largest American music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Governor’s Ball and Outside Lands.
https://soundcloud.com/vice/dmas-your-low
Official links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Also scheduled for Outside Lands is Langhorne Slim & The Law, the lively folk/rock quartet from Pennsylvania who are hard to categorize but easy to enjoy. Their fifth album, The Spirit Moves, is due 7 August on Dualtone Records. Check out the first single, “Strangers,” and see why it should be a crime to categorize any band that uses a banjo as simply bluegrass or folk. Their current tour schedule also includes stops at Ottawa Bluesfest and the sold-out Newport Folk Fest in July.
Official links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Another album slated for 7 August is Lovers Know, the third release from L.A.-based band The Mynabirds on Saddle Creek Records. Lead singer Laura Burden may not be a household name yet, but she is no stranger to the music biz. The classically-trained pianist formed her own label and was a touring member of Bright Eyes and The Postal Service. “Semantics” is the first single from the album and is an excellent introduction if you’re not familiar with the band. This is intelligent, soaring pop music that is thought-provoking and immensely gratifying.
Official links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
One of the biggest buzz bands in some time is Wolf Alice. With a sound that will have you swaying or completely will sweep you away, their anthemic sound is perfect for the summer. They’re about to release their debut album, Love is Cool, via RCA Records. The latest singe from the record is “Bros”.
Official links: website, Facebook, and Twitter.
Next week, we’ll feature more artists whose catchy singles keep our toes tapping. In the meantime, enjoy this dose of the Melodic Tonic to get the week off on the right foot!
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