Top 5 Indie/Rock/Pop Releases: July Edition

by Nicole Villeneuve

July 29, 2011

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Each month, tons of new music from many taste-spanning genres is released into a fast-consuming, unforgiving audience; it can be tough to get a handle on what’s new before it’s on to the next. In an attempt to highlight the standout releases, at the end of each month, AUX staff re-cap the month in Punk, Metal, Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Pop, and Dance with the top five releases in each. Consider it your cheat sheet for year-end lists.

Top 5 Indie/Rock/Pop Releases: July Edition

 

Hooded Fang – Tosta Mista

Though they were already being hounded with some anticipation based on an EP and some killer live shows, Hooded Fang quickly became a band to watch after the release of their debut, Album, just over a year ago. Dodging both an orchestral-pop-collective pigeon-holing and another laborious recording process, they quickly wrote and released Tosta Mista, and it’s secretly brooding sunny surf/garage-pop jams will only serve to keep the accolades coming. Check out “Clap” for some almost spooky guitars under the verses and “Vacationation” for the simplest complex pop song of the summer. (Daps Records)

Army Girls – The Power

You won’t hear anything better out of Toronto this summer than Army Girls’ new single. Singer/guitarist Carmen Elle has long been a budding figure to be reckoned with, spending time in prominent outfits such as Austra and the Cliks, among others, and her new duo with drummer Andy Smith makes good on the investment. “The Power” whispers and wails and Elle’s voice is especially forceful, filling a 60s garage-pop sound with rage and soul and beauty. It was produced by Ben Cook of Fucked Up/Young Guv, and if it’s any indication, the upcoming EP is going to be massive. Go get this single now; here. (Independent)

Cousins – Secret Weapon/Speech

Halifax’s Cousins have released one of their (his) best songs so far on the b-side of new single Secret Weapon/Speech, part of the new, ongoing 7” series from the veryfine Noyes Records. Getting low in the verses and letting go on the choruses (if they can be called that), band mastermind Aaron Mangle weaves a tense web of blues-inflected indie rock with some nervous percussion and inventive vocal melodies. The flip side is much the same, though a bit steadier, and together the two sides so far best represent the beast that this band is in a live setting. (Noyes Records)

Wugazi – 13 Chambers

Ah, to compile favourites for the most vague, most malleable of genres. It means I get to keep sort-of cheating by picking Fucked Up last month, and Wugazi this. The full-length Wu-Tang clan/Fugazi mash-up album from Cecil Otter of the Doomtree collective and Swiss Andy is easily one of the most digestible things I’ve heard all summer, and though it has its detractors, the truth is that these snippets and samples are intuitive and meticulous, and if you could do it too, then, please, be my guest. “Sleep Rules Everything Around Me,” a combo of Wu-Tang’s “C.R.E.A.M.” and Fugazi’s “I’m So Tired,” is really rather beautiful, and “Suicide Surprise” packs so much in, you won’t realize you’re still only on the second track. Grab it for free here. (Independent)

Wilco – I Might/I Love My Label

As the first single from Wilco’s own label, and the first single from their upcoming album The Whole Love, the I Might/I Love My Label single finds the band sounding at ease and uplifting (they even cover a Nick Lowe song called “I Love My Label” on the bside here). They may not be at their most vital, but the beloved Chicago band is comprised of some stunning talent, and after showing that fact off in a big way in some big songs on 2009’s Wilco (The Album), they scale back a but but amp up the energy and playfulness a bit here. They’re getting comfortable in their skin, and it’ll be interesting to see where they go from here. (dBpm)

Surprises, disappointments and albums to watch for next month

Surprise of the month: Army Girls. One song is such a tease, but it bowled (it’s bowling) me over.

Disappointment of the month: Lack of exciting releases all around. The July drought? The next few months are going to be wonderfully overwhelming, though. Also, Washed Out. Really?

Out in August: THIS IS MORE LIKE IT: Male Bonding, Stephen Malkmus, The Weather Station, Dog Day, Beirut, to name a few. And September gets even better.

 

Tags: Music, Lists, News, Army Girls, Cousins, hooded fang, Wugazi

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