Alt rock – Page 20 – 7th Level Music

The Beths’ new single literally and figuratively is “Out of Sight.”

The Beths share “Out of Sight,” a new single from their highly-anticipated sophomore album, Jump Rope Gazers, out July 10th on Carpark Records. The band performed the single on their “Live From House 3” live stream last night. It follows previously released singles “I’m Not Getting Excited” and “Dying to Believe.”

“Out of Sight” is tender and shoegazing. It reckons with the distance that drives people apart and how those who love each other inevitably fail each other. The best way to repair that failure, in The Beths’ view, is with abundant and unconditional love, no matter how far it has to travel.

Elizabeth Stokes says, “The band playing on ‘Out Of Sight’ is more fragile than we usually allow ourselves to be. We are trying to listen more deeply and be more open ended, it was confronting to do and sometimes even frustrating. But it came out great, Ben’s bass playing especially is beautifully melodic and gives the song a unique texture.”

The accompanying video directed by Ezra Simons was filmed on Super 8 film and shows the band birdwatching amongst the brush. Archival footage of birds native to New Zealand are woven throughout. Simons says, “The goal was to create a nostalgic and timeless roadtrip video where the band goes off in search of native birds, but instead finds each other.”

Watch “Out of Sight” Video

The Beths are Elizabeth Stokes (vocals/guitar), Jonathan Pearce (guitar), Benjamin Sinclair (bass), and Tristan Deck (drums). Jump Rope Gazers is the follow-up to Future Me Hates Me, “one of the most impressive indie-rock debuts of the year” (Pitchfork). The album received glowing praise and appeared on many year-end lists including Rolling Stone, NPR, Stereogum, and more.

Jump Rope Gazers tackles themes of anxiety and self-doubt with effervescent power pop choruses and rousing backup vocals, zeroing in on the communality and catharsis that can come from sharing stressful situations with some of your best friends. Touring far from home, The Beths committed to taking care of each other while simultaneously trying to take care of friends living thousands of miles away. That care and attention shines through on Jump Rope Gazers, where the quartet sounds more locked in than ever. Jump Rope Gazers stares down all the hard parts of living in communion with other people, even at a distance, while celebrating the ferocious joy that makes it all worth it.
Watch “Out of Sight” Video

Watch “I’m Not Getting Excited” VideoWatch “Dying to Believe” Video

“Live From House” live streams

Pre-Order Jump Rope Gazers

The Beths Tour Dates (tickets):
Sat. July 11 – Auckland, NZ @ Power Station
Sun. Nov 8 – Perth, WA @ HBF Park*
Wed. Nov. 11 – Melbourne, VIC @ Marvel Stadium*
Sat. Nov. 14 – Sydney, NSW @ Bankwest Stadium*
Tue. Nov. 17 – Brisbane, QLD @ QSAC Stadium*
Fri. Nov. 20 – Dunedin, NZ @ Forsyth Barr Stadium*
Sun. Nov. 22 – Auckland, NZ @ Mt Smart Stadium*
Tue. March 30 – Southampton, UK @ The Loft
Wed. March 31 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Thu. April 1 – Manchester, UK @ Club AcademyFri. April 2 – Glasgow, UK @ Saint Luke’s
Sat. April 3 – Dublin, IE @ The Workman’s Club
Mon. April 5 – Bristol, UK @ SWX
Tue. April 6 – Birmingham, UK @ Castle and Falcon
Wed. April 7 – London, UK @ O2 Kentish Town
Thu. April 8 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
Fri. April 9 – Paris, FR @ Point Éphémère
Sat. April 10 – Lyon, FR @ Marché Gare – Hors les murs
Sun. April 11 – Milan, IT @ BIKO
Tue. April. 13 – Düdingen, CH @ Bad Bonn
Wed. April 14 – Lausanne, CH @ Le Romandie
Thu. April 15 – Munich, DE @ Kranhalle
Fri. April 16 – Vienna, AT @ B72
Sat. April 17 – Prague, CZ @ Underdogs’ BallroomSun. April 18 – Belin, DE @ Lido
Tue. April 20 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega Ideal Bar
Wed. April 21 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow
Thu. April 22 – Cologne, DE @ Artheater
Fri. April 23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord
Sun. April 25 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique

*w/ Green Day, Weezer and Fall Out Boy

Keep your mind open.

[It would be out of sight if you subscribed.]

[Thanks to Patrick at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Review: Ohmme – Fantasize Your Ghost

Chicago’s Ohmme have released one of the more intriguing albums of 2020 so far – Fantasize Your Ghost. The title brings to mind the idea of planning for the afterlife and settling affairs now while you can. It’s also a bit of a fun idea – thinking about who and / or where you would haunt if you were a ghost (if you had the choice, of course).

The weird, melting guitars of opening track “Flood Your Gut” let you know that the album will be an interesting journey, and the double vocals of Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart cement that fact as they sing about someone whose ego won’t let them see the forest for the trees when it comes to a relationship (“The tallest person that I ever met couldn’t even reach your head…Your whole vision’s not enough.”). “Selling Candy” is a sweet tribute to growing up in their Chicago neighborhood, sneaking out of the house, and daring to cross the big street to buy a hot dog from the grumpy hot dog vendor – and the Nirvana-like guitar chords on it are no slouches.

The fat, fuzzy bass of “Ghost” is great, as is the thumping chorus of Cunningham and Stewart singing about being “sick of looking at the stupid look on your face” while the object of their annoyance is preoccupied with bogus metaphysical journeys. The guitar solo on this track is nothing short of wild, and the opening lyric is nothing short of Zen (“You are the product of a happenstance.”). “The Limit” has Ohmme singing about a relationship coming to an end (“If human nature makes you a stranger, I can’t give you time if I can’t afford it.”).

“Spell It Out” has a similar theme as the use the image of dirty dishes in the sink and dust on the shelves as a metaphor for a relationship that has grown dull from lack of attention. “Twitch” tackles the light-hearted topic of existence (“Everything bores me and everything hurts. Is this what it means to be a human machine?”). The song builds to a lovely psychedelic haze before a quick fade-out. The following track, “3 2 4 3,” takes on another light-hearted subject – aging (“Looked in the mirror the other day, caught my reflection. My mouth had moved a different way. The muscles were straining…Different today but I’m the same.”). The sharp bass line under the bubbling vocals brings the song up to another level.

“Some Kind of Calm” is a lovely song about trying to quiet one’s mind amid a world of constant entertainment and noise. The instrumental “Sturgeon Moon” wouldn’t be out of place on some early 1980’s industrial album with its odd timing, boiler room guitars, and “falling down the stairs” percussion. The closer, “After All,” is a pretty track about being okay with getting away from the hustle and bustle of the world, and other people. It’s especially fitting in these times of self-isolation as they sing, “Seek your cocoon” over and over. We’ve all been forced to live in and re-examine our cocoons and lives. Is that necessarily a bad thing?

This album certainly isn’t a bad thing. Give it a spin and get lost in it.

Keep your mind open.

[I fantasize about you subscribing.]

Alex Lahey releases new album and single.

Melbourne’s Alex Lahey is pleased to share the surprise release of her new EP, Between The Kitchen And The Living Room, out today on Dead Oceans. Contrasting with early 2020’s standalone single, “Sucker For Punishment”, which Billboard describes as Lahey leaning “into her punk tendencies as she laments bad habits of the digital age,” Between The Kitchen And The Living Room is Lahey at her most sonically intimate and vulnerable; a small collection of her most well-known tracks, reimagined. In conjunction with today’s announcement, Lahey also presents an animated lyric video for the EP’s lead single, “Let’s Go Out” (Bedroom Version).

Stream/Purchase Between The Kitchen And The Living Room –
https://alexlahey.ffm.to/between

Watch Animated Lyric Video For “Let’s Go Out” (Bedroom Version) –
https://youtu.be/yLu7VyMmfQY

A few weeks ago, I found myself with all my plans taken away from me in exchange for more time than I knew what to do with. Looking forward felt too daunting, which made me flustered and upset. So, I decided to look back.

‘Between the Kitchen and the Living Room’ is a small collection of songs I have already released and played hundreds of times around the world, but through a new lens. In light of having to cancel my US tour, which is supposed to be under way this very moment, I decided to bring these songs home and let them find new parts of themselves. I engineered and produced all of these recordings within a week in a small room in my mother’s house – which is where I have been living since I didn’t continue renting in anticipation of touring for most of the year. Funnily enough, said room also happens to be the exact place many of these songs were written some years ago.

As much as I can’t wait to go back to all the things I love doing under regular circumstances, it has been nice to embrace the boundaries. Really nice. And I hope you like what I made within them.

— Alex Lahey

To help celebrate and usher in the release of Between The Kitchen And The Living Room, Lahey performed last night as part of Vice’s Noisey Night In, a benefit livestream for Sweet Relief, featuring additional performances from Finneas, Phoebe Bridgers, Claud, Beach Bunny, and Faye Webster.

Between The Kitchen And The Living Room Tracklist:
01. Every Day’s The Weekend (Laundry Version)
02. Let’s Go Out (Bedroom Version)
03. I Haven’t Been Taking Care Of Myself (Hallway Version)
04. Unspoken History (Attic Version)
05. Wes Anderson (Bathroom Version)

Keep your mind open.

[Thanks to Sam at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Review: Mirabelle – Late Bloomer

As the story goes, Laurence Hélie was riding high many years ago after releasing two critically acclaimed folk-country albums. She was a bright star in the Quebec music scene and then she just…stopped.

She went into what she described as a “musical depression” and was done with music. It was so deep that , according a recent press release, “guitar strumming made her skin crawl.”

Then, for reasons even she can’t explained, she began singing and playing, now songs filled with anger and fury. She channeled her love of 1990’s female-led bands like The Cranberries and Mazzy Star into something outside of her folk-country comfort zone. Going there inspired her to change her musical identity to Mirabelle and create Late Bloomer.

The album lets you know right away that this won’t be a folk-country experience (but hints of her former genre are there). The opening synth bass of “One in a Million” flows into Hélie’s breathy vocals about not blaming someone for turning off the light of a relationship. The beat is slow country blues, but the synths are an ambient creek running past her back yard. “Betty” starts with early 90’s bass sludge and mixes in what sounds like harpsichord as Hélie’s vocals bounce along the beat with ease with fuzzy guitars to help her glide along.

The bossa nova groove of “Phénomène” is delightful, as are Hélie’s French vocals. “My head is full of black clouds. I’m done with all the noise in the background,” she sings at the opening of “Wall.” Aren’t we all done with that noise? It’s a lovely jam track with electronic beats and guitar strumming that definitely won’t make your skin crawl. The feel of “Rose White” reminds me of some of Zola Jesus‘ works, and Hélie’s love of Cranberries lead singer Niall Quinn is evident in her vocals on the track.

“Teenage Dreams” would’ve been an alt-rock hit in the mid-90’s. Just listen to that chugging riff and those bright synths and tell me I’m wrong. The opening acoustic guitar and bass of “Daddy Long Legs” sounds inspired by some of Alice in Chains‘ songs. “Cheated” is a soft ode to “going through the motions” in a relationship and how temptation is everywhere, and sometimes great to taste, but the feelings afterward can be “like a car crash.”

By contrast, Hélie sings, “You don’t know how good it is to feel.” at the beginning of “Magic Spell,” letting us know she made it through the heartbreak from the previous track. The closer, “Don’t Forget to Breathe,” is advice we could all use. Being present is always the best choice, but admittedly is often easier said than done. The song is brooding and even a bit spooky (“No amount of scented candles can make it undone.”) with piano chords that almost sound like a funeral dirge.

Late Bloomer is a fine record, and the title is a fine reflection of this moment in Hélie’s career. She’s found her voice again and a new way to express it. We could all be so lucky if we ever enter into a depth that seems insurmountable.

Keep your mind open.

[Don’t forget to subscribe before you split.]

[Thanks to Conor at Hive Mind PR.]

Ohmme takes us to “The Limit” with their newest single.

Ohmme – the Chicago-based duo of Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart – will release their new album, Fantasize Your Ghost, next Friday, June 5th on Joyful Noise Recordings, with the physical retail release date pushed to July 31, 2020. Today, they present a new single/video, “The Limit,” which follows previously released singles “Selling Candy,” “Ghost,” and “3 2 4 3.” “The Limit” is a dystopian dance rocker. With angular, winding guitar and Ohmme’s distinctive intertwining vocals, the track further stretches their already dynamic palette. Its eccentric video was directed by Hannah Welever, edited/VFX by Priscilla Perez, and animated by Connor Reed (Jazz Records Animations). It features Ohmme green screened over trippy clips and stock footage.

“The video for ‘The Limit’ was birthed out of the urge to create and collaborate with friends even while far apart,” says Ohmme. “Hannah Welever made it really exciting to explore the possibilities of creating a video together in isolation – putting new meaning to the song and applying it to the things we are experiencing now. Performing alone in front of a green screen was challenging, but left room for endless possibilities!”

“It was a blast working to adapt to the current climate of ‘making things’ with this new video,” says director Hannah Welever. “We had Sima and Macie film themselves at home on a green screen while I directed via Facetime, and my editor (Priscilla Perez) and I pulled Found Footage that felt like something you would see on an 80’s tube TV. I wanted to transport Ohmme to a nostalgic and colorful dream-scape to distract us from the cloud hanging above our world right now, and bring some lightness to the day-to-day monotony.”
Watch the Video for Ohmme’s “The Limit”
Fantasize Your Ghost is the direct result of the band spending more time on the road than in Chicago. It’s deeply concerned with questions of the self, the future, and what home means when you’re travelling all the time. Early sketches of Fantasize Your Ghost‘s tracklist were demoed at Sam Evian‘s Flying Cloud Studios in upstate New York through intensely collaborative and open sessions. The album was recorded over a six day session in August 2019 at the Post Farm in southern Wisconsin with journeyman producer Chris Cohen.

Though 2018’s Parts showcased their wildly burgeoning influences and talents, Fantasize Your Ghost captures the astounding magnetism and ferocity of their live show. It encapsulates the thrilling and sometimes terrifying joy of moving forward even if you don’t know where you’re going. It’s an album that asks necessary questions: When life demands a crossroads, what version of yourself are you going to pursue? What part of yourself will you feed and let flourish and what do you have to let go of? This is a record of strength, of best friends believing in each other. Unapologetic and brave, Ohmme are ready to figure it all out together.

Following their supporting dates with Waxahatchee in this Fall, Ohmme will play a headlining tour in the new year. A full list of dates can be found below and tickets are on sale now.
Listen to Ohmme’s “Selling Candy”

Watch the Video for “Ghost”

Watch the Video for “3 2 4 3”

Pre-order Fantasize Your Ghost

Ohmme Tour Dates
Sat. Aug. 8 – Ripon, WI @ Avrom Farm Party
Sun. Sept. 27 – Austin, TX @ Scholz Garten %
Mon. Sept. 28 – Houston, TX @ Satellite %
Tue. Sept. 29 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West %
Thu. Oct. 1 – Nashville, TN @ Exit In %
Fri. Oct. 2 – Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom %
Sun. Oct. 4 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre %
Mon. Oct. 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer %
Tue. Oct. 6 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere %
Thu. Oct. 8 – Winooski, VT @ Monkey House
Fri. Oct. 9 – Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre %
Sat. Oct. 10 – Holyoke, MA @ Gateway City Arts %
Mon. Oct. 12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater %
Tue. Oct. 13 – Detroit, MI @ MOCAD %
Thu. Oct. 15 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center %
Fri. Oct. 16 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room %
Sat. Oct. 17 – Maquoketa, IA @ Codfish Hollow Barn %
Sun. Oct. 18 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre %
Sat. Jan. 9 – Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar *
Mon. Jan. 11 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake *
Tue. Jan. 12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
Wed. Jan. 13 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux *
Thu. Jan. 14 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge *
Fri. Jan. 15 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza *
Sat. Jan. 16 – Vancouver, BC @ The Fox Cabaret *
Mon. Jan. 18 – Reno, NV @ Holland Project *
Tue. Jan. 19 – Bolinas, CA @ Gospel Flat Farmstand *
Wed. Jan. 20 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill *
Thu. Jan. 21 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium *
Fri. Jan. 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon *

* = w/ V. V. Lightbody
% = w/ Waxahatchee

Keep your mind open.

[Why not subscribe while you’re here?]

[Thanks to Brid at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Protomartyr come out swinging with “Michigan Hammers.”

Protomartyr release a new single/video, “Michigan Hammers,” off of their new album, Ultimate Success Today, out July 17th on Domino. Following “Worm in Heaven” and “Processed By The Boys,” “Michigan Hammers” is fierce with staccato guitar and thrashing percussion. Singer Joe Casey’s voice is forceful and insistent: “The Michigan Hammers are on their way // A chant from the end of the bar, not all of them on pills // Break apart the surface lot // What’s been torn down can be rebuilt // What has been rebuilt can be destroyed.”

The accompanying video was directed by Yoonha Park, who was responsible for the band’s “Wheel of Fortune” and “Don’t Go To Anacita” videos, and was built entirely of found stock footage. “This video is a retelling of a well-known Michigan folk tale that describes timeless themes of greed, power, death and rebirth and nothing short of the conflict of good and evil,” says Park.

Joe Casey further explains: “Couldn’t make a ‘proper’ video due to the miasma. So why not make one using what tools remain? That’s sort of what MICHIGAN HAMMERS is about I think – building with rubble. It’s probably about that and mules, syndicates, too many parking lots, camaraderie, the ideal happy hour, failure, and takin’ what they’re givin’ ’cause we’re workin’ for a livin’ until we start takin’ it to the streets. Or something like that.”
WATCH PROTOMARTYR’S VIDEO FOR “MICHIGAN HAMMERS”

STREAM “MICHIGAN HAMMERS”

Protomartyr is Joe Casey (vocals), Greg Ahee (guitars), Alex Leonard (drums), and Scott Davidson (bass guitar). Ultimate Success Today features guest musicians Nandi Rose (vocals) a.k.a. Half Waif, jazz legend Jemeel Moondoc (alto sax), Izaak Mills (bass clarinet, sax, flute), and Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello).

Ultimate Success Today is available to pre-order now on LP, CD and digital formats. A limited blue-in-red colored edition of the LP is available exclusively on the Domino Mart.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “WORM IN HEAVEN”

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “PROCESSED BY THE BOYS”

PRE-ORDER ULTIMATE SUCCESS TODAY
Domino Mart | Digital

PRAISE FOR “WORM IN HEAVEN”

“pretty uncharacteristic one for the group, restrained up until its final shuddering moments. Moody and meditative, it’s almost what would pass as a ballad in Protomartyr’s world.” – Stereogum

“relatively low-key and mellow, following a slinky guitar line while singer Joe Casey reflects about how close he is to heaven’s gates.” – Consequence of Sound

PRAISE FOR “PROCESSED BY THE BOYS”

“The seismic first cut off the Detroit band’s fifth LP Ultimate Success Today rattles with “cosmic grief beyond all comprehension.” Its video, a bizarre tribute to the Brazillian meme “Gil da Esfiha vs Galerito,” is equally discombobulating.” – The FADER

“On lead single ‘Processed By The Boys,’ out now, Casey once again casts his drunken-philosopher gaze on the world’s ills, backed by a reverb-laden stomp that builds into the kind of cacophony this band does best.” – Stereogum

“the classic wall-of-noise feel of a Protomartyr track” – Paste
Protomartyr Online:
https://www.facebook.com/protomartyr
https://soundcloud.com/protomartyr
http://pitchperfectpr.com/protomartyr
https://protomartyr.bandcamp.com
http://www.dominorecordco.us/artists/protomartyr

Keep your mind open.

[Why not subscribe while you’re here?]

[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Squid release intriguing new single – “Broadcaster.”

Brighton-based five-piece Squid – comprised of Louis Borlase (guitars/vocals), Ollie Judge(drums/vocals), Arthur Leadbetter (keyboards/strings/percussion), Laurie Nankivell(bass/brass) and Anton Pearson (guitars/vocals) – release a new single, “Broadcaster,” the AA-side companion to their recent offering “Sludge.” A limited edition vinyl pressing of “Sludge” and an extended version of “Broadcaster” will be released on June 26th via their new label, Warp Records.

“Broadcaster” is built around an arpeggiated synth sequence conceived during a writing session in a woodland cabin by Arthur whilst the rest of the band were out hiking. As the song develops, guitars, drum machines and delays join the fray, pushing the track into its chaotic and visceral crescendo. All this works as the perfect foil to Ollie’s oblique lyrics.

“Lyrically the track was inspired by the visual artist Naim June Paik and his TV Garden installation,” says Ollie. “I thought it blurred the lines between a dystopian and utopian vision. I imagined what it must be like living synonymously amongst nature and technology in the most literal way I could imagine, with TVs towering over me amongst forests.”

Paired with their richly percussive and sonically evolving “Sludge,” “Broadcaster” opens up Squid’s sound without abandoning the experimentation and playfulness that made them such an exciting prospect when they burst on the scene just over a year ago. The band recently released a fan-sourced lyric video for “Sludge” inspired by a followers’ interpretation of the single. Squid fans around the world – and the band themselves – have contributed views from their isolation to create the visual.

The restless creativity of these new singles point the way forward for Squid, a band constantly expanding on their propulsive spectrum of sound.

Check Squid’s website for updates on live performances.

Listen to Squid’s “Broadcaster”
https://youtu.be/A7iqWuMdiqM

Listen to “Sludge”
https://squid.ffm.to/sludge

Pre-order “Sludge” b/w “Broadcaster” Limited Edition Vinyl
https://squid.ffm.to/sludge

Keep your mind open.

[I can broadcast music news and reviews to you if you subscribe.]

[Thanks to Jessica at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Clutch to perform virtual concert for charity with three opening acts on May 27th.

Clutch will perform a streamed concert titled “Live From The Doom Saloon Volume 1” on May 27th. They will be supported remotely by Crowbar, Blacktop Mojo, and Saul. This unique online concert format has been produced in conjunction with Sound Talent Group (STG), and LiveFrom Events and will use cutting-edge streaming technology to close the distance between the bands and the fans for an amazing virtual concert experience.

Tickets are on sale now at this location: www.livefrom.events/DoomSaloon

The show will be available for On Demand Viewing starting at 4PM EST on Thursday May 28th and will be available for 48 hours into Saturday, May 30th. The ticket price will remain the same for those viewers that were not able to join the live broadcast. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Angel Flight and Musicares.

Through a network of more than 1,800 volunteer pilots, Angel FlightWest provides free air transportation for people who need to travel long distances to access medical care and other essential services across the 12 Western states. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AFW pilots have flown 150 missions to deliver more than six tons of PPE and other crucial supplies to the Navajo and Hopi Nations and other rural clinics, while also arranging commercial flights for medical personnel who are traveling to serve on the front lines, with tickets donated by Alaska Airlines.

For more information, visit https://www.angelflightwest.org/

Doors – @ 3:50PM EST Saul – 4PM EST (9PM UK time) Blacktop Mojo – 4:30PM EST (9:30PM UK time)Crowbar – 5:05PM EST (10:05PM UK time)Clutch – 5:50PM (10:50PM UK time)

For more information, check out the band’s website: www.pro-rock.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/clutchband

Instagram: www.instagram.com/clutchofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/clutchofficial

Official: www.pro-rock.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Keep your mind open.

[Keep rocking by subscribing.]

You actually should be excited about The Beths’ new single – “I’m Not Getting Excited.”

The Beths share a fervent new single/video, “I’m Not Getting Excited,” from their second album, Jump Rope Gazers, out July 10th on Carpark Records. Following the rambunctious lead single, “Dying to Believe,” “I’m Not Getting Excited” is an urgent track about imposter syndrome. The track opens with driving guitar and a jockeying melody before bursting with a crashing rhythm section. The band performed the single on their “Live From House 2” live stream earlier this morning.

“People always ask ‘are you excited!?’ and it’s a fair question, because exciting things do happen to us sometimes,” says Elizabeth Stokes. “Support slots, overseas tours, music releases. Stuff we’ve dreamed about for years. So the correct answer is always ‘yes.’ But the truth is that deep down there’s a tiny Liz saying, ‘don’t get excited.’ She is certain that anything good that could happen will most likely not happen, because of a freak accident. Or because somebody finally realises that we aren’t worthy, shouts ‘phony!’ and takes everything away. I wrote ‘I’m Not Getting Excited’ last year, well before everything really did get taken away. From everyone. It feels like the song has a new context, but we don’t know what it is yet. And now we all share a blurry, uncertain future.”

The official video was filmed during the first month of lockdown in New Zealand. It’s a spooky more-is-more collage of animated night terrors. The directors Sports Team “turned our laundry into a film studio and spent our inside time mastering the art of stop-motion animation. We animated old towels, all the cardboard in the house and The Beths themselves… frame by bloody frame. There’s a lot of scary imagery in the song that we wanted to play on. There’s a madness too, in the contradiction between what the song is about and its frenetic energy. It has defined the lockdown for us—being locked indoors but furiously busy.”

Watch “I’m Not Getting Excited” Video:
https://youtu.be/lvYrJxNwW5I

Pre-Order Jump Rope Gazers:
https://smarturl.it/thebeths_jrg

The Beths Tour Dates:
Sun. Nov 8 – Perth, WA @ HBF Park*
Wed. Nov. 11 – Melbourne, VIC @ Marvel Stadium*
Sat. Nov. 14 – Sydney, NSW @ Bankwest Stadium*
Tue. Nov. 17 – Brisbane, QLD @ QSAC Stadium*
Fri. Nov. 20 – Dunedin, NZ @ Forsyth Barr Stadium*
Sun. Nov. 22 – Auckland, NZ @ Mt Smart Stadium*

*w/ Green Day, Weezer and Fall Out Boy

Keep your mind open.

[I’ll be excited if you subscribe.]

[Thanks to Patrick at Pitch Perfect PR!]

CHAI help us stay positive with two new singles.

The Japanese quartet and advocates of NEO-Kawaii CHAI release a new single, the self-championing “Ready Cheeky Pretty,” and an accompanying video. Following the recently-released “NO MORE CAKE,” “a weird, bafflingly catchy interrogation of beauty standards” (Stereogum), “Ready Cheeky Pretty” promotes self-love and finding motivation and confidence from within. Over jubilant synth and a steady snare, CHAI sing: “we are the upbeat cheeky monkeys ! // look up the mirror // oh! It’s pretty monkey! // we are good already // keep it real.” The band elaborates on the track: “KEEP IT REAL Go back to the real you! It’s all about moving forward and living by instinct! To go forward with the voice of your heart! Nothing symbolizes this more for us than the carefree nature, strength, and purity of a monkey. We pay homage to this in Ready Cheeky Pretty because we feel that animals have the ability to be REAL more than humans. It’s this type of song! Take a listen!

Its accompanying video, co-directed by Hideto Hotta and by bassist YUUKI, is largely made of colorful, animated drawings (all illustrated by YUUKI). It also features famous paintings and video clips and images of the band intertwined throughout. It was shot entirely at YUUKI’s home and is centered in a world where CHAI is getting back to their real selves. As YUUKI describes, “it isn’t so much about shooting CHAI with a specific vision like any other MV, but more so about ‘putting CHAI into’ a vision that WE have.”

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “READY CHEEKY PRETTY”
https://youtu.be/zuiIplaXsUc

Throughout quarantine, the band has started live streaming three times a week – YUNA on Monday’s, YUUKI on Wednesday’s, and MANA and KANA on Friday’s. These livestreams can be viewed on the band’s Instagram at 11pm ET / 8pm PT. Yuna has also created her own Youtube / IGTV series called “HELLO, I’M YUNA!,” which covers all of YUNA’s interests from interviewing her fellow band members, to cooking, to giving an inside look at song and music video releases. Her “journalist alter-ego,” YUNA-jana, is featured as the main interviewer. It’s adorable and we suggest you tune in.

Additionally, CHAI has covered Kyu Sakamoto’s “Ue o Muite Arukō” or “Sukiyaki Song,” the unofficial anthem of Japan that is often sung to uplift during hard times. The lyrics “Ue o Muite Arukō” translate to “I Look Up As I Walk” and tells the story of a man who looks up and whistles while he is walking to avoid his tears from falling down. Everyone has been affected in different ways by COVID-19, some more than others. CHAI made this video using only what they could find within their homes to bring positivity, fun, and keep the music going.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “SUKIYAKI SONG”
https://youtu.be/_tQLnrE552Y

Keep your mind open.

[Hop like a monkey over to the subscription box while you’re here.]

[Thanks to Jaycee at Pitch Perfect PR.]