Web Toolbar by Wibiya Bears and Bullets: 2012-07-01

Friday, July 6, 2012

Albums of the Month: June 2012

Albums of the Month - June 2012

With summer officially beginning, we're more than halfway through 2012. While the year started out casually slow, the succession of months has really displayed some intensely original and invigorating material. This past month featured one of the year's most hyped releases (and it delivered!), emerging artists, and one man who shows up on Bears and Bullets fairly often. Here are my favorite three.


3.) Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse
Continually rising in from the San Francisco garage scene, Ty Segall's stamp on 2012 is more profound than ever. With his band's album Slaughterhouse (Insound), a blistering charm of cruising garage punk, an album collaboration with White Fence, and an upcoming tour with fellow San Fran-soon-to-be-legends Thee Oh Sees, Segall affirmed his name as the apparent torch-bearer to the late Jay Reatard. While there still seems to be a way to go before his name is put on the same pedestal as the Nashville punk pioneer, Slaughterhouse is the next step in that progression. Still unquestionably raw, especially on tracks like "The Bag I'm In," Segall put together his finest album yet.


2.) Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel ...
This year's front-runner for longest album title, the ageless (seriously, I don't think she ages) icon Fiona Apple's first album in seven years, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (Insound) continues the confusing mad-woman allure that is Fiona. She's cleverly affectionate, playing with the ideas of need, desire, and love to the point where the definition is null. There are few who can do this, mending through unconventional rhythms and vocal renditions to the poignant stories in songs like "Werewolf" and "Anything We Want." It's those sweetly chaotic moments, with Apple dolling out melancholy verse between odd-ball sounds, that give you a moment to step into the 34-year-old genius' mind. And maybe it doesn't make sense to you, but there's a serene satisfaction knowing it does to her.


1.) The Tallest Man On Earth - There's No Leaving Now
If you're familiar with Bears and Bullets, then you're aware of my outward affection of Kristian Mattson, The Tallest Man On Earth. On his third album, and first since 2010's The Wild Hunt, Mattson has found his unavoidable niche. The jarring, unequivocally saddening and uplifting style of modern folk music is usually nothing more than acoustics and an occasional piano, but his romantic verses are what keep pushing the limits of his artistic flexibility. Songs like the title track and "Little Brother" are impossibly emotional, evoking scenes that very, very few others are even capable of. But maybe I'm biased. 

Thursday, July 5, 2012

New Turbo Fruits - Love Tennessee


With American independence in the past, now we can focus on what's really important - this new single from Turbo Fruits. The Tennessee garage band released their B-Side love letter to their native state with "Love Tennessee" earlier today. As well, the group is set to release their third album Butter, this September. Grab the album this September, via Serpents & Snakes, and check out "Love Tennessee" below.

New Active Child video - Johnny Belinda


This latest video from Active Child comes from director Dylan Wiehahn, who wonderfully showcases the majesty of the Eastern Australian countryside. Seriously, fantastically done video (and song). Check it out below.

New Patterns - Blood

This new cut, courtesy of Abeano, comes from little-known indie group Patterns. Their trippy, low-budget video for the utterly infectious "Blood," which will be released at a single July 9, via Melodic (preorder here). Check it out below.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

New Jeff The Brotherhood video - Sixpack

From Jeff The Brotherhood's July 17 release, Hypnotic Knights (which you can preorder here), comes the new, kinda NSFW (more male nudity!) for "Sixpack." The Elise Tyler and Michael Carter directed video showcases the band and friends camping, drinking, and have that general nonsense fun that you figure most people in their mid-20s do. Check it out below.

New Kanye West - New God Flow (ft. Pusha T)


If you own a computer/have power, then the new Kanye West song, featuring frequent collaborator Pusha T, "New God Flow," has been news for almost a day now. But just in case you're a little late to it, check out the new song below. The single, as expected, is slated to appear on the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music.

Monday, July 2, 2012

New Sigur Rós video - Rembihnútur

The next in the recent string of videos from Sigur Rós isn't nearly as questionably absurd as what I now call the "Shia LeBouf Nude Experience" from last week. Video number four, "Rembihnútur," from last month's Valtari, is a compilation of black & white shots of motionless subjects, transposed in (mostly) moving environments. Check it out below, and expect some more videos from the band in the coming weeks.

New Dinosaur Jr. - Watch the Corners


Despite their veteran status, Dinosaur Jr. remain remarkably consistent. Their most recent effort, I Bet On Sky, which is due out next September, is the band's third since their 2005 reunion, but still echoes shades of their glorious late-80s productions. Check out the newest, "Watch the Corners," below.