Weekend [Hazel, Slumberland Records]

After relentless teasing on each band member's respective twitter accounts, the first single from Weekend's upcoming EP Red was finally released yesterday afternoon. The track is called "Hazel" and will be accompanied by four other new cuts. The EP is due out September 20th on Slumberland Records.

Spectrals [Big Baby, Slumberland Records]

New LP from Spectrals is set to drop this October thanks to Slumberland Records titled Bad Penny. "Big Baby" is the first single to be released and can be heard below. The record is the follow up to the songwriters' excellent Extended Play EP which came out last year on Underwater Peoples.

Big Baby

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Record Review: Girls Names [Dead To Me, Slumberland/Tough Love Records]

By Jennifer Graciano

The debut full length “Dead to Me” from Belfast natives, Girls Names, present the trio moving away from the rundown dissonance and heavy reverb heard on their 12” release on Captured Tracks, “Don’t Let Me In.” They’ve polished their approach to surf rock, and tamed their 60s garage rock ambiance this time around, and despite the drab album title, “Dead To Me” is anything but bleak. Lacking the expected miserable impression, “Dead To Me” surprises us with twenty eight minutes of sweet clatter, entrancing melodies, and exceptional guitar licks that will get your head bobbing and your toe tapping.

Album opener ‘Lawrence’ delivers a dazed take on ’60s garage rock. The first forty seconds are appropriate for the album title; warped noise that gives a false front to the otherwise lively album. Cully’s vocals are anything but feminine, but “Kiss Goodbye” might as well have come from a mid-‘60s girl group. It’s a bouncy track filled to the brim with lovelorn allure. The fuzzy sounds on “When You Cry” will have you itching to get to the beach with its potential to soundtrack your next hazy daydream as you lounge about the sand.

The Art Museums [Dancing With A Hole In Your Heart, Slumberland Records]

According to the Burundi Cloud bandcamp, San Francisco's post-punk pop band The Art Museums will be releasing a new three song EP on Slumberland Records sometime this month. Stream one of those tracks below.

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Girls Names [Bury Me Music Video, Slumberland Records]

"Bury Me" is the new music video for Girls Names, whose album Dead To Me will be released in April on Slumberland Records. After you're done enjoying the video check out their previously posted tune, "Seance On A Wet Afternoon" below.

Seance On A Wet Afternoon

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Girls Names [Seance On A Wet Afternoon, Slumberland Records]

I've been a big fan of Girls Names since their 2010 EP on Captured Tracks and was glad to see Oakland based label Slumberland Records take on releasing the band's debut album. The record is titled Dead To Me and will be released in April; enjoy the track below.

Seance On A Wet Afternoon

Frankie Rose and the Outs [Lullabye For Roads And Miles, Slumberland Records]

Weekend [Monday Morning / Monongah Music Video, Slumberland Records]

Record Review - Weekend [Sports, Slumberland Records]

by Tim Draut

San Francisco post-rock outfit Weekend establish an impressive new sound on their debut full-length “Sports.” The ambiance of the album is well crafted, but difficult to define with brilliantly its layered compositions of authoritative drums and bass, distorted guitar, toned-down vocals, and the swirling echoes of warm noise which lift the album to unlikely heights. The overall feel of the album is established right off the bat with the outstanding opener “Coma Summer,” as the hook’s “oohs” and “ahhs” are soon undercut with a wave of harsh, yet inviting distortion.

The intensity of "Sports" ranges from song to song, and even within its individual tracks. Take for instance the thrashing crescendo of “Youth Haunts” paired up against the dreary ambiance of “Monday Morning.” Although this formula of fluctuation has been somewhat of a trend this year (see acts such as Liars, No Age, even Arcade Fire to some extent), Weekend’s style is surprisingly methodical and direct. For the most part, Weekend’s brand of noise-rock manages to avoid being too jarring or abrasive, without ever really crossing over into the pop realm.

The tone of the album is understated, as it demonstrates a level of craftsmanship that never seems pretentious or forced. The lyrics are often a chore to decipher, which is ok, because that isn’t the point. This band has created an engaging, yet introspective experience, allowing listeners to absorb the album’s complex feel without having to be completely tuned in.

That being said, those who listen closely are often rewarded. The lyrics on “Monday Morning” are almost subliminal, as the mantra “I don’t wanna go to work/I don’t wanna go home” (?) barely emerges from the groggy ambiance just as the distorted guitar kicks in, continuing through the following track.

“Sports” will definitely be one of the highlights of this year’s lineup Fall album releases, with an official release dated of November 9. Until then, be sure to stream the album over at NPR’s First Listen if you haven’t already.

Coma Summer

Youth Haunts

End Times

Pick up the record here November 9th and see them live at The Independent that same night in San Francisco.

Weekend [End Times, Slumberland Records]

"End Times" has been seeing some heavy play over on Pitchfork and for good reason. The song is simply incredible and probably why the split 7'' with Young Prisms on Transparent Records sold so quickly. The track will be released from the upcoming album Sports November 9th on Slumberland Records. Don't miss the band's record release show on the same date at The Independent with The Pains of Being Pure At Heart.

End Times

note: The above version is an earlier mix of the track, the more polished version can be found here

mp3[via]

Weekend [Sports, Slumberland Records]

Finally Pitchfork gave San Francisco the forkcast treatment and why it took so long I have no clue, but nevertheless the track off the new album Sports is out and I can't get enough of it; the album will be released on Slumberland Records November 9th. This is the second single to be released off the new album, the first can be found off the split 7'' with Young Prisms on Transparent Records. Catch the band live next week at the Elbo Room for Tamaryn's record release show, surely one not to be missed.

Coma Summer