Our Newest Obsession: Recycle Culture

Despite a strong 2013, I have completely missed out on the glory that is Recycle Culture. The producer debuted his four-track album No Note earlier today - an all-around stunning cascade of piano-heavy patterns and solemnly romantic expositions. It's heart-wrenching, engrossing, and "Holy Crap" pretty. Enough so to earn the first Our Newest Obsession tag of the year.

But it's only one of Recycle Culture's six(!) short albums released since late January. Each piece (check them out courtesy of his Bandcamp) drives from piano-heavy ambient sounds, but contains variations of tempo and mood within each. No Note, perhaps, stands out as the most starkly pretty, but it's only a small piece to the 2013 collage he's put together.

Check out No Note, in full, below, and order it by the "Name Your Price" discount.

Our Newest Obsession: Clipping

Forgive me. My words to describe whatever the hell Clipping is comes directly from fellow 405 writer Wil Cook in his article about the other-wordly Los Angeles rap group.

"Clipping seem to be the logical progression from the Dalek, Death Grips and Shabazz Palaces' stream of consciousness. Two guys making rhythmical Tim Hecker style noise made into perfect swelling waves of cerebral hip hop."

In another word, the streamlined chaos of Clipping's midcity LP, available on the group's Bandcamp, is unheard of. The beats are disorienting, the pulse is fast, and the rhythyms are absolutely jarring. midcity is an experience that cannot be comprehended.

Aesthetically pleasing is out the window - midcity is furious art, made for the most visceral curiosities. For a taste, listen to "guns.up" below and just be ready.

Our Newest Obsession: The Orwells

It's been a while hasn't it? If we're keeping tabs on the Our Newest Obsession series, than The Orwells are the first band included since Guadalupe Plata in December of last year. Surely I had to come across someone or something that could gain my attention within that nine month gap, but it seems as though I haven't.

So what is it about The Orwells then that has made their interest peak so much in the past few days? Pieces in Prefix Mag and Aquarium Drunkard certainly help, covering the bases of the emerging Chicago five-piece.  Well, not Chicago exactly - Elmhurst, a Chicago suburb. Guitarist Baby Chuck described it as, "a great place for parents, a shitty place for teenagers." That usually seems to be a healthy combination for down-and-out but disturbingly invigorating garage rock that sounds bigger than it seems.

Their new album Remember When, which is out now, is full of the tough gnarl that seems a little too perfect to be made by a bunch of 18 and 19-year-olds. Regardless, it's records like this that earn a permanent spot of whatever shelf you have - be in physical or digital - cursing and cruising through 60s-inspired mashes.

You can, and more than likely should listen to Remember When now over at Spotify. And keep tabs on the band whenever they reach their 20s.

Our newest obsession: Guadalupe Plata

Generally, I'm fairly ignorant of international music. It's not an anomaly or something I actively try to avoid, it just generally falls off the wayside if it isn't anything I can familiarize myself with. And outside of Sigur Ros, I can't name five non-English speaking artists that have been followed with due diligence in the past few years. And I don't know how, but I feel like an asshole.

Glazing over the litany of year-end lists that are pretty much everywhere at this point, I came across Spanish band Guadalupe Plata and there ridiculously engrossing single "Casino El Camino (Parte 2)," thanks to Rollo & Grady. And although the feeling may be temporary, for some reason I feel like I've done something better by genuinely liking what I was hearing.

Straight-forward, Guadalupe Plata are a blues band, and not much else. But whenever that distinction is noted, it usually comes across as some half-blend of the 1950s definition - you know, boring. And while the Spanish band's sounds are fairly familiar, that isn't to say they aren't genuinely enjoyable.

You can download the band's self-titled album over at their Bandcamp page for free, which includes a very NSFW video in the download. See for yourself, or listen below.

Our Newest Obsession concerts

Misleading title? Hell yes. But, I'd like to think Our Newest Obsession is making some kind of obscure difference.

Previous ONO featured artist Vintage Kicks will be celebrating their record release party for King Geek, the group's first album, December 9 at the Legendary Dobbs bar on 304 South St. in Philadelphia. Cover is a mere $10 with doors opening at 8 p.m. Check here for more details and download King Geek at Vintage Kicks' Bandcamp page.

In addition, Vulture Shit, alongside Robot Death Kites and Ulitek, will be performing will be performing at the Lit Lounge in New York City Saturday, December 3 for $6. Brought to you buy the unbelievably awesome named Absolute Bull Fucking Shit Productions.

We're relevant!

Thursday Bears: Our Newest Obsession: WU LYF

It's not too often that the Our Newest Obsession series highlights a band or artist that already seem to have a grasp of success, in some forms. But Manchester, England band WU LYF (all caps) still have an air of mystery about them.

Having already gotten press in NME, Rolling Stone, and other publications, there isn't terribly much to say about the band. How that's possible for a seemingly popular band is pretty miraculous, so take their anonymity right now as some odd blessing.

The group's first album Go Tell Fire to the Mountain was released last June to wide critical appeal, yet the band's quiet distinction still let them go unnoticed. It's about time you did, though.

WU LYF - We Bros

Tuesday Bears: Royal Headache, and trying new things

I'm feeling a sense of guilt. Outside of Bears and Bullets Our Newest Obsession series, I'm not allocating much material from artists that don't already have the internet buzz at their back. Sure, every once in a while I give credence to something that surely could use some more, but for the most part I play it safe, posting music videos and performances far more than anything else. And sure, it's easy, but it doesn't move this anywhere.

That's not to say that I won't still be posting the regular things, but Bears and Bullets should be more about the new, unheard. Call it a change of heart, or whatever, but I can't keep doing things the same way. It has to grow.

So, listen to these new songs from Royal Headache, I band I know almost nothing about. You can listen below and download the MP3 versions of "Eloise" and "Down the Lane" over at Rollo & Grady.

Royal Headache - Eloise by Bears and Bullets

Royal Headache - Down the Lane by Bears and Bullets

Friday Bears: Our newest obsession - Vintage Kicks

A few weeks ago I came across this "Philly via New Jersey outfit," as it reads on the band's Bandcamp from some website or another (forgive me, for I have forgotten the exact one). At first, because we refuse not to be visceral and analytic of the most basic premises, the "Kicks" part in Vintage Kicks immediately shot headway to "Pumped Up Kicks," a song so dogged in modern rock popularity that anything within it's idea peripheral forms to auto-assimilate.

Lucky us, Vintage Kicks aren't Foster the People.The band's debut album King Geek, which you download in entirety for free off the aforementioned Bandcamp page, teeters on the thin blue line of casually friendly surf-rock (the band describes the sound on the page as "The Darker Side of Surf," after all). But the soft-play gimmick isn't terrifically overwhelming despite the succinct keyboard allusiveness on tracks like "Iron Fist." Call it a demographic of accessible punk for those who still yearn for discernible melody.

Also, because we're friends, check out the group's Facebook page too.

Our newest obsession: Vulture Shit

I caught this really late last night thanks to Frank at Listen Before You Buy, which, by the way, I also write reviews for, so you should check it out some time.

Usually with my additions to the Our Newest Obsession series, it's rarely anything that has a wealth of production and preciseness behind it. Rather, some times I just can't help but love messy, jarbled lo-fi noise punk, and Vulture Shit fit that bill pretty perfectly.

There's nothing pretty here from this Brooklyn group. The sounds are immersed in muddy (understatement) bass and guitar cues with pissed off, albeit clever younger guys behind the equipment. It may not be for everyone, but it definitely jumps out for me, especially on "Area Dads," which has to be an Onion pun.

Grab their five-track Music For People Who Live in Basements, By People Who Live in Basements EP over at the group's Bandcamp page, or, listen below.

Our newest obsession: Giant Peach

Rarely (sorry) do I get an email from a band that actually evokes some kinda, or really any kind, of actual joy and excitement. However, Giant Peach caught my attention yesterday - a New York fuzz-pop trio from Life on an Island Records.

There's a certain attributable quirkiness denoted to a bunch of kids who are so easily able to manipulate that archetypal lo-fi brand that too easily sways from endearing to distracting. Sure, they're still fairly young, and that shows in the ideological path of the songs' structures, but that shouldn't be mistaken for a group of people who actually have a grasp on what they're trying to do.

You can grab the group's four-song EP People Don't Believe Me over at their Bandcamp page, or listen for yourself below.

Thursday Bears: Our Newest Obsession: Brazilian Money

I've been on Brazilian Money for the past few months, grabbing a few singles here and there from the Edmonton garage punk band. For nearly two years, the band has been putting out self-promoted material (their debut album and a four-track 7"), all a collective spin of noisy garage and Black Lips-stylized flower punk.

The group's newest 10-track LP, produced over at Totally Disconnected, is lo-fi slopfest, with little less of a coherent core and little more of a blasting effigy. There's something to be said about the state of lo-fi music, and whether or not it should be regarded as anything more than, "noise of noise's sake," but there's a definite endearing quality to the tracks.

That isn't to say that This is Not a Dream, their April release, isn't in need of a few tweaks here and there, but the best music is rarely ever flawless. Don't get this distinction backwards; the songs are good. And there's a genuine nature to it that makes it better, even through all the melodic mess.

You can grab all of the band's material over at their Bandcamp for your own price. If not, just listen to This is Not a Dream below.


Brazilian Money - I'm Doing What I Want

Our newest obsession: Heads on Sticks

The newest entrant in Bears and Bullet's Our Newest Obsession series comes from the Paper Crane Collective, who enlightened me to Heads on Sticks, a Raleigh, North Carolina group that could be called anything from crystal electro-pop to modern psychedelic symposium. And maybe that's the perfect reason to catch on to the group - there's nothing that quite categorizes what they do.

Their latest album Mocking Bird is available for free download at the group's Bandcamp. Grab a copy or listen below.

Our newest obsession: Unouomedude

Been a while, huh?

In Bears and Bullets first Our New Obsession of 2011, I've come across unouomedude (non-capitalized band name) via We All Want Someone to Shout For. The Jacksonville native comes off the free-flowing summer vibes listeners of Surfer Blood and The Drums should be keenly familiar with.

Listen below to his highly infectious single "Frequency," which will be released as a single April 19. Unouomedude's Marsh EP is available now for any requested price, including, you know, nothing. Check it out here.

Tuesday Bears: New Pass video - Criminal

The Pass, one of the earlier subjects in Bears and Bullets Our Newest Obsession series, have released another video from their debut album Burst. The new video for "Criminal" may not be as enchanting and blog-friendly as "Vultures," but it gives a pretty good explanation of why the group should be blowing up very soon.

The Pass - Criminal

Friday Bears: Our newest obsession: The Vaccines

Two in the same week? Bullshit.

No, but really, The Vaccines are blowing up in the best way possible. After the release of their first single "If You Wanna," back in August, The UK band seemed to catch some relatively positive buzz, but nothing terribly remarkable.

With the new release of their upcoming 7" Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)/Blow It Up, due out Nov. 29 via Marshall Teller Records, the band seems to have a little more life under them. There's no guarantee that the group can sustain the minimal amount of success they've achieved in such a little frame of time, but for now, "Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)" and "Blow It Up" are pretty good bench marks.

The Vaccines - Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra) - MP3
The Vaccines - Blow It Up - MP3

Monday Bears: Our newest obsession: Tyvek

Because I'm not sure exactly how long it's been since I've heard some new jangly, fuzzy Detroit-infused garage rock, Tyvek's new single "4312" has become the most recent installment of Bears and Bullets Our Newest Obsession series.

The song starts off akin to Wire's "12XU," and, Hell, I'd be lying if I said it didn't really sound very similar to it. Point still being, the sound is the utterly visceral bombast that I haven't heard so un-eloquently produced in a long, long time.

The group's album, Nothing Fits, is due out November 9 via In the Red Records.

Tyvek - 4312 - MP3