White Laces – Hands in Mexico (whitelaces.bandcamp.com)
“Hands in Mexico,” the A-side of White Laces’ upcoming 7 inch, is by far the group’s most accessible and pop friendly release to date. The song starts with a jangly bounce and sing-along melody that recalls the surf influence of early Weezer along with their penchant for big instrumental hooks. The intense guitar work and drums that are a White Laces signature keep the song pumping along in a light yet distorted haze, and Landis Wine’s vocals sound more full and robust than on previous efforts, making the song a real standout from the rest of already exceptional WL catalog. The songs loud-quiet-loud format works exceptionally well to showcase White Laces’ strong use of restraint and release in their music. And just to make sure you know that they are still the noisy band you know and love, they end it all with a warping messy wall of bent whammy bars and mangled guitars. Fuck yeah.
Lil Ugly Mane – U Aint From My Hood/Bust a Sag (liluglymane.bandcamp.com)
Lil Ugly Mane‘s style of grimy hip hop has produced two enigmatic singles, U Aint From My Hood and Bust A Sag. The Richmond rapper’s slurred delivery and ultraviolent dope boy lyrics are anchored in the dirty south roots of early 2000’s hip hop with the beats highly reminiscent of early Hot Boys tracks and the hood-rich style of legends like Project Pat. Both singles are succinct invocations of classic rap ethos that are delivered with deadpan irreverence and filled with beats that would make Mannie Fresh jealous. Lyrics like “I’m a bust a sag till they murder me,” along with skits and experimental remixes by local talent like Ahnuu, keep the singles diverse and entertaining.
The Itchy Hearts – Do Ya Best (itchyhearts.bandcamp.com)
The itchy Hearts make wandering traveler music that feels as rustic as the old train tracks that surround this city. A mix of old-timey nostalgia and a world-weary, Dylanesque drawl fills most of the songs on this well made album, taking the listener down a dark road of heartbreak and desperate Americana, where all the shops are boarded up and all the things that ground us are disappearing in the night. The group’s soft and understated sound is surprisingly robust, especially on tracks like “Keep My Head Up” and “Use Me,” where banjo, accordion, and wavering fiddles add counter melodies that keep the straight forward steam engine strumming and songwriting moving along in dynamic and decidedly antebellum fashion. This group definitely wears their influences on their sleeve, and at times it feels like they could perhaps stand to take their copy of The Times They Are a-Changin’ off the turntable and give something else a try, but it is not a major detriment to their sound. The best moments are when the group shakes up their style, utilizes more energetic vocals and gets a little more bang for their buck, like on the lone electric track “Mary and Buddy.” This track stands out as a welcome break from the delicate nature of most of the album. Do Ya Best takes you down tracks you’ve seen before, but they make the journey worth your while with a few surprises along the way.
White Laces – Hands in Mexico (whitelaces.bandcamp.com)
“Hands in Mexico,” the A-side of White Laces’ upcoming 7 inch, is by far the group’s most accessible and pop friendly release to date. The song starts with a jangly bounce and sing-along melody that recalls the surf influence of early Weezer along with their penchant for big instrumental hooks. The intense guitar work and drums that are a White Laces signature keep the song pumping along in a light yet distorted haze, and Landis Wine’s vocals sound more full and robust than on previous efforts, making the song a real standout from the rest of already exceptional WL catalog. The songs loud-quiet-loud format works exceptionally well to showcase White Laces’ strong use of restraint and release in their music. And just to make sure you know that they are still the noisy band you know and love, they end it all with a warping messy wall of bent whammy bars and mangled guitars. Fuck yeah.
Lil Ugly Mane – U Aint From My Hood/Bust a Sag (liluglymane.bandcamp.com)
Lil Ugly Mane‘s style of grimy hip hop has produced two enigmatic singles, U Aint From My Hood and Bust A Sag. The Richmond rapper’s slurred delivery and ultraviolent dope boy lyrics are anchored in the dirty south roots of early 2000’s hip hop with the beats highly reminiscent of early Hot Boys tracks and the hood-rich style of legends like Project Pat. Both singles are succinct invocations of classic rap ethos that are delivered with deadpan irreverence and filled with beats that would make Mannie Fresh jealous. Lyrics like “I’m a bust a sag till they murder me,” along with skits and experimental remixes by local talent like Ahnuu, keep the singles diverse and entertaining.
The Itchy Hearts – Do Ya Best (itchyhearts.bandcamp.com)
The itchy Hearts make wandering traveler music that feels as rustic as the old train tracks that surround this city. A mix of old-timey nostalgia and a world-weary, Dylanesque drawl fills most of the songs on this well made album, taking the listener down a dark road of heartbreak and desperate Americana, where all the shops are boarded up and all the things that ground us are disappearing in the night. The group’s soft and understated sound is surprisingly robust, especially on tracks like “Keep My Head Up” and “Use Me,” where banjo, accordion, and wavering fiddles add counter melodies that keep the straight forward steam engine strumming and songwriting moving along in dynamic and decidedly antebellum fashion. This group definitely wears their influences on their sleeve, and at times it feels like they could perhaps stand to take their copy of The Times They Are a-Changin’ off the turntable and give something else a try, but it is not a major detriment to their sound. The best moments are when the group shakes up their style, utilizes more energetic vocals and gets a little more bang for their buck, like on the lone electric track “Mary and Buddy.” This track stands out as a welcome break from the delicate nature of most of the album. Do Ya Best takes you down tracks you’ve seen before, but they make the journey worth your while with a few surprises along the way.
