This Weeks Short Bursts :: Superchunk, Chandeliers, & Spook Houses

Any day is good day that brings us a never before heard track from N.C.'s legendary, Slack Mother Fuckers, Superchunk. This is the original version of Blinders, a track that showed up last year in a slighly rougher form, on the Crossed Wires single. As explained on Soundcloud earlier today the band thought the "slow version" sounded a bit like GBV, they ended up re-recording the track and issuing a sped up version for the single. But to our ears this is a creamy pop song and deciding which version we like better would be like picking our favorite ingredient of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. So we're content to enjoy both, repeatedly.

Superchunk - Blinders (Slow Vers) by MergeRecords

Allston's utmost purveyors of intricate post punk, Chandeliers have just unleashed a new track, Age Sex Location to the interweb, which you can download for free from their recently launched Bandcamp page. The track is taken from the trio's recent recording sessions for their forthcoming LP and has been part of the bands arresting live sets in recent months. Based on several listens in the last 24 hours to this "rough mix", this track has put the Chandeliers upcoming full length on a short list of records we can"t wait to hear in 2012.

Chandeliers will play this Saturday at The Box Fort in Allston, with Young Adults, BDRM Eyes, and The Living City.

It seems that every January, we inevitably discover a release that we completely slept on during the previous 12 months. This year our belated attention sits firmly with Ridgewood, NJ lo-fi quartet, Spook Houses. The band issued their debut, The Home EP 7" last spring and the EP features 4 earnest and intelligent pop songs. We've learned that Spook Houses are working on their full length debut, to be released on Evil Weevil Records later this year. We've embedded the entire EP below, it starts off with the title track, that features a striking deadpan vocal performance, the likes of which we haven't heard since Mr. Berman put Silver Jews on the shelf.

The Hush Now's Homecoming Show with Soccer Mom, Chandeliers, and The U.S. Premiere of Johnny Foreigner vs. Everything |@ Precinct Bar

You guys didn't actually think we'd let another chance to promote this show slip through our fingers did you? Tomorrow night along with our friends at Clicky Clicky Music we present The Hush Now's Homecoming show at Precinct Bar in Somerville. This line up is not to be missed. Along with The Hush Now, the bill also includes Chandeliers, Soccer Mom, and the freshly added Cooling Towers. The evening will begin with the North American premiere of Johnny Foreigner vs. Everything, from Birmingham, England's preeminent noise pop trio, Johnny Foreigner and thanks to Alcopop! Records and Jay Clicky Clicky we'll be giving away exclusive album samplers of the album. In addition if you arrive by 9:00 you will be gifted with a Hush Now shot glass. What you fill it with is between you and your bartender. We recommend arriving for the 8:20 start of the album, we've heard it and it's already messing up our year end list. If you find yourself in the building, be sure to say hello to teams Clicky Clicky and AGP, which will include a rare sighting of our very own Echoes Myron. We're expecting an epic night, plan accordingly.

8:00 Doors
8:20 North American premiere of Johnny Foreigner vs. Everything
9:30 Chandeliers
10:30 The Hush Now
11:30 Soccer Mom
12:30 Cooling Towers

Reviewed :: The Hush Now - Memos

Last month Boston's guitar pop stalwarts, The Hush Now released their 3rd and to our ears best LP, Memos. We had the chance to discuss the recording of the new album, among other topics during an interview we conducted with THN fronter, Noel Kelly which you can read here. The band is about to finish up a 17 date U.S. tour that will bring them home this Saturday for a show at Precinct Bar in Somerville.

Memos was recorded in Allston at Mad Oak Studios with Benny Grotto over an eight day period and contains the bands sharpest and most varied collection of songs to date, equally due to the intricate instrumentation featured throughout the LP, as well as impressive vocal contributions from Barry Marino on the albums closing track, Things Fall Down , Adam Quane on Cameraphone, and fronter Noel Kelly handling the remaining 8 tracks. The album opens with Arkansas, a sparkling piano driven pop song, with plenty of guitar grit and soaring vocals provided by Kelly, that propel the track to the moon and back. We didn't see the curve ball of the set coming, until The Glow, a synth laden romp had us rolling our windows down and rattling our cheap car speakers on a recent fall afternoon. That track would not have been out of place on The Cure's, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me and finds the band exhibiting a bit more confidence than before and dare I say a little swagger. Elsewhere the band turns in impeccable performances on some of the albums more subtler but rewarding moments, particularly on the albums, heartbreaking title track.

Memos is a brilliantly crafted pop record, that reveals it's many charms on repeated listens. Throughout the album The Hush Now add some new dynamics to their sound, explore new sonic textures, and retain their strength for creating memorable and engaging guitar driven pop anthems.

We are proud to be presenting along with our friends at Clicky Clicky Music, The Hush Now's Homecoming show with Soccer Mom, Chandeliers, The North American Premiere of Johnny Foreigner vs. Everything and Cooling Towers @ Precinct this Saturday October 22nd. Check out the Facebook event page .

The Hush Now|Bandcamp|Facebook|Twitter

The Hush Now's Homecoming Show [Video]

It was only a matter a time before we got around to presenting our first show, they say you always remember you first and this will be no exception. We've teamed up with our friends at Clicky Clicky Music to present The Hush Now's homecoming show at Precinct this Saturday October 22nd. Frankly we couldn't be any more excited about the prospect of this line up that also features Chandeliers, Soccer Mom and an exclusive listening party featuring Birmingham, England's formidable noise pop trio, Johnny Foreigner and their forthcoming LP, Johnny Foreigner vs. Everything. Doors are at 8 with listening party starting promptly at 8:20. Be there.