Oh, Maxed Out On Distractions, where have you been the past three years? I tend to be one of those hyper focused people that always has something going on, from a 50 hour work week to slinging the occasional record to make room for more, to a billion house projects. Not to mention this blog….
I love that astral, swirling hypnotic sound of bands that create deafening psychedelic rock. You hear it in Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo, and now in LA band JJUUJJUU. This duo consists of Andrew Clinco (Incan Abraham) and Phil Pirrone (Moon Block Party), creating a monumental, energetic sound in “G 4 A G” off their…
You may not know the name Tyler T. Williams, but I do. This is the same TTW that directed the stunning, emotional video for “Montana” by Youth Lagoon, as well as that band’s breathtaking night of horror for “July”. It’s the same Tyler Williams that has done similarly impressive videos for Pandit, Coma Cinema, Entrepreneurs…
Aubrey Plaza is one of those actresses that has a pretty intense following. And I fit that mold; she is among my favorites thanks to her roles in Parks & Rec and Safety Not Guaranteed (available to rent or buy on Amazon). Plaza stars in the video for “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” by Father John…
I was pretty excited to receive The Late Great Whatever by The Lovely Bad Things in the mail right around the turn of the year. After all, the band’s 2012 EP, Old Ghost New Waves, just cracked the top five in my top 15 EPs of 2012. The new album is set for a February…
I always get excited to hear something new by Letting Up Despite Great Faults. Their style of slightly fuzzed-out pop paired with a light reverb-laden jangle in the guitars and an electro-pop-ish synth beat is thoroughly enjoyable. Their new song “Visions” fits right in.
Something dark and immense haunts the pop that Ben Heywood (Summer Darling) masters on his new release Skills for the Long Emergency under the name Heywood. From the depths of a post rock, shoegaze haze, Heywood will just as readily produce mind-melting noise as it will dive into an obscure, dream-like melody.
Paladino is a Los Angeles-based band that creates a blend of Americana, old-time country and psychedelic folk. Their blend is an interesting one that incorporates playful, intricate guitar riffs with mopey, downtrodden vocals. It’s precisely what you want from such a band; “Ode to Misery” is plenty upbeat. Enough to make you dance. Their video…
Andrew McAllister has a few albums under his belt, but listening to his recordings under Conrad Ford might set you on a path for differing expectations. You see, Conrad Ford was a country music outfit, and his new project under the moniker Vanish Valley
PAPA is the side project of Girls’ drummer Darren Weiss and their music fits well with the chill California sound of Weiss’ other band. “I Am The Lion King” is a track off the band’s new EP, A Good Woman Is Hard To Find. You can hear the track below; it has an edge to…
