Out This Week - 20th February 2012

Towns - Gone Are The Days

'Gone Are The Days'? Gone are the days when what? When a band could make psychedelia infused guitar music that fits snugly into the gap between baggy and Britpop? Not if Weston-super-Mare's Towns have anything to do with it they're not. It early days so their full mettle is yet to be tested but this fine new single is probably how Viva Brother think they sound - i.e pretty good, not bloody awful.



Towns' website

Buy the single





Tindersticks - Frozen

A band who've existed through all the aforementioned genres (but embraced none) are Nottingham miserablists Tindersticks who give us their ninth album 'The Something Rain' this week. As you can guess it's not exactly a lol-a-minute but their expert songcraft is still enough to put many imitators to shame. Have a listen to an early favourite from the album, 'Frozen'.



Tindersticks' website

Stream the album in full

Buy the album





Thee Cormans - Biker Bitch

Californian's Thee Cormans are a whirlwind of scuzzy guitars, growled vocals and surf riffing that's as good as anything that could be described as 'psychobilly' since The Cramps were at their most haunting peak. New single 'Biker Bitch' is a mess of under-produced clattering and shredding and screaming. It's the kind of music that puts hairs on your chest. Essential listening.



Thee Cormans' website

Buy the single





Wild Nothing - Nowhere

It's a bit of a mystery as to exactly how the debut album from one man indie/dreampop band Wild Nothing didn't gain more coverage. It was full of jangly, melodic loveliness of the kind that's capable of causing a reasonably mass appeal a la The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. Let's hope people take more notice this time around, a new album will follow ace new single 'Nowhere'.



Wild Nothing's website

Buy the single





OBLIGATORY RECORD OF THE WEEK

The Cribs - Chi-Town

Having parted ways with Mr Marr, The Cribs have suggested a return to their punkier roots for fifth album 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull' which should be with us in the summer. First single and free download 'Chi-Town' is certainly resplendent in ragged glory and urgent energy but it's also crammed with melody and earworm hooks that get stuck in your brain. Their best single yet? We wouldn't quite go that far, but it's got to be up there.



The Cribs' website





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