Round-up March 2015’s best Bandcamp releases
Tom Walters rounds up the month’s finest Bandcamp releases, featuring Supercrush, Quarterbacks and Yowler.
Having set the standard for music discovery last year, Bandcamp looks poised to retain its position at the top, as it hits the ground running at a colossal speed in 2015. It’s far too early to say which of its hundreds-of-thousands of plucky up loaders will make it this year, but as the industry turns it head further and further towards the direction of internet distribution and discovery, it’s only a matter of time before more and more breakout acts begin dropping “yeah, mate, I started on Bandcamp, of course,” into their high profile broadsheet interviews. In one way or another, Best of Bandcamp aims to highlight the finest.
Catch up with last month’s selections, picking out Sitcom, Attendent, Band Practice and MACROSS. Follow all the discoveries here.
Here’s a selection of March picks, from Tom Walters.
QUARTERBACKS
For what feels like an eternity now, New York’s Quarterbacks have been making music that no good-for-nothing jerk jock is going to be enjoying, and now they’ve finally released an album proper. The self-titled full length is chocker-block with charmingly awkward pop songs that sit fidgeting between the leg-twitching thrill of early blink-182 and the full-throttle rush of Superchunk or, particularly on ‘Simple Songs’, Descendents. Those in the market for an emotionally-charged rush of blood to the head, or simply a brilliant collection of songs to bike around to this spring, should look no further: Quarterbacks’ care package of ripping hooks, yell-along choruses and shredding riffs is the sun-kissed jumpstart we sorely need.
YOWLER
The Offer is the murky new record from YOWLER, otherwise known as Maryn Jones of All Dogs and Saintseneca. Fans of Grouper and Waxahatchee will find a lot to love here - ‘The Offer’ is a brooding, incredibly haunting record full of hushed, whispery vocals, gently plucked guitars and subtle atmospherics. Best listened to at night with a pair of headphones on, ’The Offer’ plays out like the most poignant, thought-provoking bus journey imaginable, or soft waves lapping up against a picturesque beach post-midnight. Beautiful stuff.
Supercrush
A fuzzy, sun-tinged haze; huge, riotous riffs; a gleaming sheen of ‘90s alt-rock nostalgia. All essential components of a springtime slammer right? Vancouver-based two-piece Supercrush have put out a terrific single that encompasses all that and even makes a wicked tune out of it too. ‘I Don’t Want to Be Sad Anymore’ is the invite outside all us bedroom dwellers need, swelling and bursting with happiness upon every repeat of the chorus and every throaty, heartfelt “whoa!”. Crack open a beer and kick back to these guys at your earliest opportunity.
CHUCK
Charles Griffon Gibson has been kicking around since 2013, but his new album as CHUCK - ‘Happy New Years Babe’ - could be the record that pushes him into the spotlight. With a scratchy guitar style that recalls the fragility of Paul Baribeau, some playful keyboard and drum machine wizardry and a talent for straddling the line between bedroom pop and high fidelity indie rock, ‘Happy New Years Babe’ is both gorgeous and joyously rough-around-the-edges. The hilarious album artwork is the perfect summation of what’s within - slightly weird, peculiar indie pop with heaps of personality and tons of charm to boot.
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