Hardly Art is carving a unique niche in the bands they choose to release. While each band has its own distinctive style, three primary types exist. A garage-y pop and punk sound, a folk one, and one most commonly likened to the bedroom. Gem Club fits the last, with beautiful, mystical piano pop. They are the latest to sign to Hardly Art. Read More »Gem Club: Breakers (MP3)
Listening to Pallers‘ new track “Come Rain, Come Sunshine”, I heard something familiar: the voice of Johan AngergÃ¥rd. To be perfectly honest, I had forgotten about his involvement in the band’s early single, Humdrum. What I do recall from that early single is light electronic dance music with trance-like beats and pop-like hooks. “Come Rain, Come Sunshine” fits that memory perfectly. Read More »Pallers: Come Rain, Come Sunshine (MP3)
“Under Water” is one of my favorite tracks off Acid House Kings‘ new LP, Music Sounds Better With You, out now on Labrador Records. So it’s exciting to hear the band and label are giving it single status (just released via Labrador on June 28) and a new video!
Read More »Acid House Kings: Under Water (Video) 
The beginning of “Summer Solstice”, off Crystal Antlers‘ forthcoming LP Two Way Mirror, has a few traits common with their previous Tentacles LP and self-titled EP. It has that same style of vocals that are at one moment stretched and pained, and the next calmed and elated. But it’s missing the prodigal chaos in the instrumentation that was so profound in that early work. No worries; this band still knows how to melt your face. Read More »Crystal Antlers: Summer Solstice (Video)
There is no greater feeling that starting completely fresh with a new band, with zero expectations and limited preconceptions on what you are about to hear. That being said, Baby Teardrops are phenomenal!! They bring along that sense of, “Why the hell haven’t I heard of these guys before?” all the while questioning your self worth surrounding what you thought was an identifiable trait to find the finest music around. Chase all of this with the thought that at least you have found them, and now they can be in your heart forever, and you have a wonderful listening experience you won’t soon forget! Read More »Baby Teardrops: ME Where (Video)
Somewhere between the ancient world and the modern, the glory of folk music has never ceased to roar its intangible through several different forms of plucking and praying. Whether it be old country blues, delta blues rediscovered, west coast interpretation, or just the idea that a singer/songwriter is the one true connection to the times of long ago, to the pains we feel today. And somewhere in Oakland, we find the perfect embodiment of all those things that make folk music so truly wonderful within the words and strumming of Nick Haslett. Read More »Nick Haslett (Feature)
After a little hiatus, a little band from Seattle called Wonderful has returned. On their new song, “Rainbow Colors”, we are treated to a colorful style of pop somewhere along the lines of experimental pop outfit Le Loup. But Wonderful came a few years before that band, having released their debut in 2003. “Rainbow Colors” features plenty of chant-like vocalists, heavily thumping drums, and overall colorful vocal and instrumental harmonies.
Read More »Wonderful: Rainbow Colors (MP3) 
Strangely enough, Fonda bypassed my attention back in 2003 when they released their last album, Catching Up To The Future. Primary songwriters David Klotz and Emily Cook have been busy with other projects, from screenwriting (Cook) to being music editor of the show Glee (Klotz). They’re back with a new EP. And thanks to the song “Better Days”, they have my attention now. Read More »Fonda: Better Days (MP3)
Alasdair MacLean of The Clientele has a new project, Amor de DÃÂas and boy is it good! Like his other band, this one borders on bossa nova. But rather than pop, MacLean instead flirts with folk. “Wild Winter Trees” is soft and beautiful with a lightly strummed guitar and calming vocals. Similarly, the video is simple, showing grainy footage a family playing in the fields. Read More »Amor de DÃÂas: Wild Winter Trees (Video)
I really dug Letting Up Despite Great Faults‘ debut self-titled LP. In fact, “Our Younger Noise” was one of my favorite videos of 2009. So getting wind of a new EP in the mix was pretty exciting. “Teenage Tide” is off that EP and it finds the band picking up where their debut left off. The song maintains that perfect dream-pop sound, with consistent guitar riffs draped softly in a fuzzy reverb and fronted by airy vocals.
Read More »Letting Up Despite Great Faults: Teenage Tide (MP3)
