Melodic Tonic vol 15

Now that summer is winding down, it’s only fitting that we squeeze in as much sunny music as possible. This week on the Melodic Tonic vol 15, we’re featuring a collection of warmer tunes to celebrate summer’s last hurrah. (And since it’s a holiday in the U.S. and Canada, some of us are hoisting drinks festooned with little umbrellas to mark the occasion.) Cheers!

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Jacuzzi Boys (USA) – “Sun”

Miami-based Jacuzzi Boys aren’t letting go of summer without a fight. “Sun” is a psychedelic-tinged surf rock number guaranteed to take you to a perpetually sunny mental space. Florida may be best known for oranges, but the Jacuzzi Boys’ impressive following prove they may soon be the region’s best-known export. Since forming in 2007, the trio has earned some notable fans in Iggy Pop and Jack White. They even recorded a live album at White’s Third Man Records in 2010. Their next EP, Happy Damage, comes out September 18 on Mag Mag Records, just in time to still be considered a summer release.

!!! (USA) – “Freedom! ‘15”

!!! (pronounced “chk chk chk” for those not in the know) want to take you on a disco odyssey with their upcoming sixth album, As If. The indie dance band is known for laying down a funky groove, and their two newest songs show the band in top form. With an infectious bass line and soul-infused guest vocals, “Freedom! ‘15” is a six-minute rollercoaster ride of a tune. Momentum builds gradually for the first minute before exploding on the chorus. The refrain of “Now that you’ve got your freedom, how’s that workin’ for you?” is delivered with ferocious sass that sets the tone for the next track, “Sick Ass Moon.” As If releases October 16 on Warp Records.

Diane Coffee (USA) – “Everyday”

When he’s not playing drums in California indie rock band Foxygen, Shaun Fleming keeps himself creatively engaged. He appeared on last year’s Run the Jewels album, and he just released his second work as Diane Coffee. Don’t be confused by the name: it’s his own one-man band, though the name is a hat-tip to Diana Ross. This first single from Everybody’s a Good Dog (released September 4 on Western Vinyl), “Everyday,” is an upbeat pop gem with echoes of ‘70s glam rock and old-school Motown soul. The album is available on Amazon, iTunes, and the Western Vinyl store. North American fans can catch him on an extensive tour until mid-November.

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Kill West (Argentina) – “Neon Cross”

A five-piece group from Argentina, Kill West is new to the music scene. Theirs is an intense sound akin to Jesus and Mary Chain mixed with My Bloody Valentine and maybe a little bit of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and John Lee Hooker thrown in for good measure. Their debut, Smoke Beach, released in June to critical praise (from sources like the New York Times, no less) for one simple reason: it’s an impeccable first album from an unlikely source. Buenos Aires isn’t known as a hot bed of alternative rock, but these guys might just change that. Kill West incorporate multiple influences – from blues to reverb-drenched psychedelic drone rock – and the result is as lush as it is loud. This is a band to watch with an album that does not disappoint.

You can stream Smoke Beach at their Bandcamp page and on the label’s site. Vinyl lovers can get their copy October 16 on Echo Drug Recordings.

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