Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 57

The Native Cats "The Image Of Annie and Ivan" s/t LP (Ride The Snake) 2010
Amen Dunes "Murder Dull Mind" Murder Dull Mind 12" (Sacred Bones) 2010
Mac Blackout "Sometimes" Don't Let Your Love Die" 7" (Sacred Bones) 2010
Male Bonding "Before It's Gone" Daytrotter CS (Sub Pop) 2010
Holy Cobras "Feed Yr Head" s/t 7" (Telephone Explosion) 2010
Pompoir "side B (excerpt)" split w/Meat Curtains CS (Isolated Now Waves) 2010
Mongst "Or Does It Explode" Kamira CDR (Isolated Now Waves) 2010
Fabulous Diamonds "Untitled 5" II LP (Siltbreeze) 2010
Outer Limits Recordings "Secret Track" Foxy Baby LP (Not Not Fun) 2010
The Savage Young Taterbug "Slumber Lordy" Syrupy Evenings CS (Night People) 2010
Raglani "untitled" split w/Outer Space LP (Nihilist) 2010
Expo 70 "Metensomatosis" Death Voyage CDR (Sonic Meditations) 2010
Secret Pyramid "Milk And Honey" Ghosts CDR (self released) 2010

Due to studio malfunctions, Episode 57 cannot be heard. Tune in live every Wednesday at 10:00am until 11:30am (PST) to hear Pop Drones live. www.citr.ca

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 56

The Native Cats "Once and Never Again" Always LP (Ride The Snake) 2010
Moonhearts "I Can Go On" s/t LP (Tic Tac Totally) 2010
Tonetta 777 "Red, White and Blue" s/t LP (Black Tent Press) 2010
Jeans Wilder "Pretty Bird" Relics 2xCS (Bathetic) 2010
The Sandwitches "Stardust" Duck, Duck, Goose 12" (Empty Cellar) 2010
Fabulous Diamonds "Untitled 4" II LP (Siltbreeze) 2010
LA Vampires/Zola Jesus "Searching" LA Vampires Meets Zola Jesus 12" (Not Not Fun) 2010
Holy Strays "Black Journey" Hyperion CS (Not Not Fun) 2010
Pop. 1280 "Bedbugs" s/t 7" (self released) 2010
Anita Fix & Bam Bam "Run For Joy" s/t 7" (Ride The Snake) 2010
The Men "Problems/Burning Up" Immaculada LP (self released) 2010
Zond "Stupid Gods" s/t LP (RIP Society) 2010
High Wolf "Meeting of the Three Seas" Ascension LP (Not Not Fun) 2010
Evan Caminiti "Thunder Breaks the Dawn" West Winds LP (Three Lobed) 2010
Metal Rouge "May 1971" Trails LP (Emerald Cocoon) 2010
Isengrind "Strigele Tanze" Modelitewnik LP (Blackest Rainbow) 2010

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 56 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 55

High Wolf's debut LP has finally arrived, after about a year of releasing cassettes either through his own label, Winged Sun, or on Not Not Fun. If you haven't caught the minor buzz on this French native yet, then now is no better time. Looped guitar lines intermingle with shamanic percussion and shimmering electronics, cascading in psychotropic(al) crescendos. Fans of Sun Araw take note. Absolute highest recommendation.


Been awhile since we've heard anything from the members of the cult psych legends Monoshock, but, kinda outta the blue, there is now a full length to be had done under the name of one of their songs, International Hello. Picking up where they left off, the newly christened band haven't lost any edge, in fact, the intensity level has been considerably amped up. 4 tracks of aggressive and live wire psych exploration that's bound to bring up comparisons of Comets On Fire. Do not sleep on this one...

Tim Cohen "That's My Baby" Laugh Tracks LP (Captured Tracks) 2010
The Fresh & Onlys "Garbage Collector" August In My Mind (Captured Tracks) 2010
Tonstartssbandht "Midnite Cobras" Midnite Cobras 7" (Psychic Handshake) 2010
LA Vampires/Zola Jesus "Bone Is Bloodstone" LA Vampires Meets Zola Jesus 12" (Not Not Fun) 2010
Edibles "Invader" split w/Duck Dive CS (Stunned) 2010
Sean McCann "County Heirlooms" Chances Are Staying LP (DNT) 2010
Rene Hell "Bored Night Stalker" Baroque Arcade CS (Night People) 2010
Dirty Beaches "Paris" Night City CS (Night People) 2010
Tracey Trance "untitled" Mummy Fingers CS (Not Not Fun) 2010
High Wolf "In My Bones" Ascension LP (Not Not Fun) 2010
International Hello "Someone's Coming" s/t LP (Holy Mountain) 2010
Mark McGuire "The Invisible World" The Invisible World CS (Cylindrical Habitat Modules) 2010

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 55 here (Right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 54

Excellent new(ish) full length on the unstoppable Fan Death Records comes courtesy of Baltimore's Pfisters. Heavy Jesus Lizard influence on this one, which mostly comes courtesy of their guitarists' demented, almost country-ish twang combined with clean, melodic guitar lines. Though the singer definitely has a bit of the slurry Yow thing going on too. Narcicity is the kinds of record that barely gives you time to breath, streaming from one end to the next. Sadly, got to this one a little late, as it looks to be sold out from the label, but some fine distros and shops ought to have this one still.


After Vile's disappointing debut LP for Matador (there was something about Childish Prodigy that seemed forced), the Philly songsmith has relaxed a bit and dropped an unexpected EP that drifts along as effortlessly as those early recordings that we fell for in the first place. Square Shells is actually more hazy and dreamy than any of his preceding records. An excellent follow-up to a disappointing full length.



Excellent batch of new material over at Night People. Sleep Over make an eerie, almost goth-like smear of shoegaze electronics. Featured on the excellent Dark As Night comp on Bathetic. The kids have something going here, so stay tuned...


Birthed from Olympia, the same city that brought us Broken Water, the unfortunately monikered Lazer Zeppelin are also grafting some interesting sounds together. Mainly a honky tonk stomp blown out into a heavy psych whirlwind. Can't wait for some higher fidelity recordings.



Rene Hell, who has also released music under the moniker Marble Sky, Secret Abuse, Impregnable and a few more, has two new releases under the moniker and this tape for Night People is the best of the label's new batch. Here's what NP had to say

"Will anyone ever fully catch on, be able to keep track of, or catch up with Jeff Witscher’s mysterious output? like trying to understand alien technology, like feeling space and time itself like a drug, this cassette of new Rene Hell material falls easily amongst Witscher's best offerings and falls like a prelude to his upcoming LP on Type. An intense abyss of ambiguous voices, decaying rhythm tracks, synth ambience, super hi fi production and panning techniques, Baroque Arcade endlessly stretches out from the speakers like some new world being born."

Definitely recommended for fans of the new breed of synth heroes, including Oneohtrix Point Never and Emeralds (both on this week's show). This tape is still available and so is the excellent LP on Type. Snatch 'em up


Kurt Vile "Invisibility: Non-Existent" Square Shells 12" (Matador) 2010
Altar Eagle "Lazy Circles In The Sky" Vintage Cats CS (Digitalis) 2010
Miracles Club "untitled (?)" Light Of Love 12" (self released) 2010
Lazer Zeppelin "Highway Hypnosis" Pyramid Echo CS (Night People) 2010
Sleep Over "Your World Is Night" s/t CS (Night People) 2010
Nu Sensae "Passing The Word" TV, Death and the Devil LP (Nominal) 2010
The Men "Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition" LP (self released) 2010
Pfisters "Drag" Narcicity LP (Fan Death) 2010
Psychedelic Horsehit "Modern Daze" Acid Tape CS (Fan Death) 2010
Rene Hell "M. Far" Baroque Arcade CS (Night People) 2010
Rene Hell "IV 18 54" Porcelain Opera LP (Type) 2010
Emeralds "Lake Effect Snow" s/t 7" (Wagon/Gneiss Things) 2010
Emeralds "The Cycle Of Abuse" s/t 7" (Wagon/Gneiss Things) 2010
Oneohtrix Point Never "Where Does Time Go?" Returnal LP (Editions Mego) 2010
Faceplant "untitled" Get High and Listen CS (Catholic Tapes) 2009

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 54 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 53

Oh man, lots of music to catch up this week. Apologies for the lack of updates. The summer sun has finally hit Vancouver, resulting in, well, an inability to be able to sit in front of a computer for extended periods.

Anyways, right to the goods...

After a spate of releases when he first appeared, which quickly resulted in his announcement of retirement, Madison Wisconsin's Dead Luke re-appears with a full length LP on Florida's Dying. Quite unlike the warped synth punk/garage heard on his Sweet Rot, Sacred Bones and Sky-Fi releases from 2008, American Haircut is more of a psychedelic blues record with almost gothic overtones that doesn't really sound of this time and era. Sitars, synths, acoustic guitar and hazy vocals intertwine and make for some uneasy summer listening. Limited to 500 copies. Eye popping cover art, too!


New York's The Men have dropped their second vinyl release and topped the previous effort. Immaculada is a puzzling mix of wailing, bending shoegaze guitars, drone and hardcore-style vocals. A head scratching mix if there ever was one, but highly recommended if you like yr disparate genres ....
First press of 300 handmade, self released copies sold out quickly. Looks like a second press is due soon.
Check out this in depth review over at the always amazing Built On A Weak Spot blog.


Speaking of self released records in the hardcore vein, Drunkdriver, after much hullabaloo, have decided to put out their new LP on their own (buy it here). If you picked up the Fire Sale seven inch on Fashionable Idiots or the LP on Parts Unknown, you know what to expect--wrenching feedback, vein-popping vocals and pounding riffage of the AmRep variety. Awesome looking record in a nice tip-on sleeve in a one-time pressing of 1000. Don't sleep on this...



Vancouver's own Nu Sensae have finally released their debut LP. A nice advancement on the Isolated Now Waves one-sided 12" from a few years back, TV, Death And The Devil ups the ante considerably on the fidelity end, while also fine-tuning and honing their vicious bass/drums/scream assault. This record actually does their ear splitting live show justice. Not only a modern punk classic but one of the finest LP releases Vancouver has ever seen. Also comes with a poster about the size of a fridge. Released on the essential Nominal Records, who earlier this year dropped another Vancouver insta-classic, Defektors' Bottom Of The City (snatch those here).


After an impressive cassette on Not Not Fun a few years back, LA's Metal Rouge return with a heavy dose on their own Emerald Cocoon record label. Diverging from the Eastern drone of earlier releases, Metal Rouge have opted for a decidedly more rock-based psych exploration, showcasing the bands muscles which were previously hidden from the listener. LP is limited to 300 copies. Grab that here.




Montreal's Psychic Handshake has been culling some of the oddest and skewed punk/garage bands from across our nation, beginning with the Nymphets, Red Mass and one of my 2010 favorites The Wicked Awesomes LP. The label has recently issued two new seven inches, both Montreal-based bands. Dead Wife make an urgent stab of noisy hardcore and snot garage, while Tonstartssbandht have a blown-out, damaged psych vibe that seems to radiate off the turntable. 'I'm A Welsh Souper' is particularly anthemic and forceful, not to mention addictive. Easily one of the best singles of the year. Tonstartssbandht also have a new cassette of Parson Sounds (!) covers that you can snatch here. Psychic Handshake now have proper distribution across North America, so don't sleep on this limited number. Grab it here if yr local grocer is sleeping. Looks like the band was ready to play Vancouver with Run DMT this July but their myspace is saying otherwise. Anyone in Vancouver have any info on this? Drop a comment, please. Oh, and be sure to grab some of their free tunes from Free Music Archive.

Tonsstartssbandht "I'm A Welsh Souper" Midnite Cobra 7" (Psychic Handshake) 2010
The Mantles "Cascades" Pink Information 12" (Mexican Summer) 2010
Gun Outfit "Dead Broke" Possession LP (PPM) 2010
Dead Luke "Dreaming Pt. 3" American Haircut LP (Florida's Dying) 2010
Broken Water "Feminism" s/t CS (Night People) 2010
Black Feelings "Magic Feeling" split w/Grand Trine 7" (Blue Skies Turn Black) 2010
The Men "Lazarus" Immaculada LP (self released) 2010
Drunkdriver "Half Mast" s/t LP (self released) 2010
Veins "The Thrill Of Utter Defeat" s/t CS 2010
Dead Wife "Gentleman Rapist" DWSYHF 7" (Psychic Handshake) 2010
Nu Sensae "I'm A Body" TV, Death and the Devil LP (Nominal) 2010
Lumerians "Deathray Bradbury" s/t 7" (Rococo) 2010
Moon Duo "Set It On Fire" s/t 7" (Agitated) 2010
Cave "Hot Bricks" Pure Moods LP (Drag City) 2010
Gnod/White Hills "Drop Out" Gnod Drop Out With The White Hills II 2LP (Rocket Recordings) 2010
Metal Rouge "The Sunshine Path" Trails LP (Emerald Cocoon) 2010
Oneohtrix Point Never "Returnal" Returnal LP (Editions Mego)

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 53 here (Right click link, then Save As)

Vacation

Pop Drones is off the air for the rest of the month. Regular podcasts will begin first week of July.

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 52 (Music Waste Edition)

Special episode of Pop Drones this week. Managed to gather up a stack of mp3s (thanks to all the bands who got back to me in time) of some of my favorite bands playing the Music Waste fest this year. The quality varies from proper studio recordings to live demos, so keep that in mind while listening. Plenty of talent here, in fact, I could have done three shows worth of Music Waste bands. Anyways, here's a taste of Waste...

Tight Solid "'Ment You Let Me Go"
Boy Voyage "High In The Trees"
Half Chinese "Goodbye, Farewell"
Brazilian Money "Doing What I Want"
Koban "Solid Gold"
Muscles "Brilliance Reverber"
Animal Bodies "Tomb Table Testimonies"
Soft Focus "Let It Go"
Cosmetics "Honey Honey"
Petroleum By-Product "TV Date"
Cat Attack "How I Came"
Phonecalls "My Lullaby"
Needles//Pins "Call It Quits"
Crystal Swells "Trees"
Timecopz "Out Of Sight"
Sex Church "Dead End"
B-Lines "Leaving/Dryer Fire"
Flash Palace "A Double Day"
Natural "Nine"
AHNA "Lost Again"
Fortress "Dead Bird"
Cowards "Magic Swede"
Angel Lust "Plagues"
Joyce Collingwood "untitled"
V. Vecker Ensemble "Movement 1: Red Gate"

DOWNLOAD HERE (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 51

Girls Names "Warm Hands, Cold Heart" s/t 12" (Captured Tracks) 2010
John Bellows "Great Big Roller" Clean Your Clock LP (Moniker) 2010
Ty Segall "Bees" Melted LP (Goner) 2010
Box Elders "Tiny Sioux" s/t 7" (Hozac Hookup Klub) 2010
Teeth "B Is For Buck Knife" s/t 7" (Hozac Hookup Klub) 2010
Kurt Vile " I Wanted Everything" Square Shells 12" (Matador) 2010
The Feeling Of Love "Goin' Back To The Nineties" OK Judge Revival LP (Kill Shaman) 2010
Flight "Ghosts" s/t 7" (Plastic Spoon) 2010
Daily Void "Several Feet Under" The Eclipse of 1453 (Sacred Bones) 2010
Famines "Got Lies If You Want 'Em" s/t 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2010
Nu Sensae "Strange Games" TV, Death and the Devil LP (Nominal) 2010
Deaf Wish "Smash" Reality & Visions LP (Exo) 2009
Sun Rarara "Nothing" unreleased mp3, 2010
Wooden Shjips "What It Is" What It Is 7" (Sick Thirst) 2010
Magic Lantern "On The Dime" Platoon LP (Not Not Fun) 2010
Emeralds "Candy Shoppe" Does It Look Like I'm Here? 2LP (Editions Mego) 2010 (pictured above)
Mark McGuire "The Passing of the Road Chief" Tidings/Amethyst Waves 2LP (Weird Forest) 2010, Tidings originally released on cassette on Wagon in 2007 and Amethyst Waves originally released on cassette on Wagon in 2008
Empty Love "Black Mould" Black Mould CDr (Geographing) 2010

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 51 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 50

The Fresh & Onlys "Cloud 9" s/t 7" (Plastic Spoon) 2010
Fungi Girls "Doldrums" s/t 7" (Hozac) 2010
Lenguars Largas "How A Man Should Live" s/t 7" (iekk! sounds) 2010
Baths "After Death" s/t CS (Wizard Mountain) 2010
Broken Water "Dead Light" Whet LP (Night People) 2010
Box Elders "Plenty Of Room At The Bottom" s/t 7" (Hozac Hookup Klub) 2010
Larry Wish "Hi-Five" Crazy Taxi Cool CS (Moon Glyph) 2010
John Bellows "Travel On" Clean Your Clock LP (Moniker) 2010
Teeth "A Is For Asshole" s/t 7" (Hozac Hookup Klub) 2010
Flight "Crackerjack Woman" s/t 7" (Plastic Spoon) 2010
Feeling Of Love "Leader of the Cops" OK Judge Revival LP (Kill Shaman) 2010
Naked On The Vague "Blank Mind" Heaps Of Nothing LP (Siltbreeze) 2010
Sex Church "Mistaken" 6 Songs LP (Convulsive) 2010
Black Clouds "5 Years Behind Your Time" s/t 7" (Ride The Snake) 2010
The Famines "Syllables" s/t 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2010
Puffy Areolas "Fuck Your Pretzel" In The Army 1981 LP (Siltbreeze) 2010
Charles Albright "Headphones" I'm Happy, I'm A Genius LP (Permanent) 2010
Total Abuse "Discipline" Mutt LP (PPM) 2010
Twin Stumps "Landlord" Seedbed LP (Fan Death) 2010
Mongst "Glass Factory (Song For The Grandfathers)" De-Colonisation LP (Isolated Now Waves) 2010
Mugstar "Ouroboros" Sun, Broken CD (Important) 2010

No time for reviews this week, so I'll let the guys over at Mess & Noise sum up one of the best records of the year so far--Naked On The Vague's Heaps Of Nothing: "If you don't like Heaps Of Nothing, use your fucking imagination, and then try again".

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 50 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 49

Girls Names "Let Me In" s/t 12" (Captured Tracks) 2010
The Fresh & Onlys "You're Known To Wander" August On My Mind 12" (Captured Tracks) 2010
La La Vasquez "Hello?" s/t 7" (Captured Tracks) 2010.
Wild Nothing "Live In Dreams" Gemini LP (Captured Tracks) 2010
Circle Pit "Another Trick" Bruise Constellation LP (Timberyard) 2010
Eddy Current Suppression Ring "Wet Cement" Wet Cement 7" (Mexican Summer) 2010
Teenanger "Rats" Give Me Pink LP (Telephone Explosion) 2010
Defektors "Torn To Pieces" Bottom of the City LP (Nominal) 2010
The Feeling Of Love "You're Better Than A Dog Detective" OK Judge Revival LP (Kill Shaman) 2010
Male Bonding "Nothing Remains" Nothing Hurts LP (Sub Pop) 2010
Ratas Del Vaticano "Esclavo" Tempos De Austeridad LP (Siltbreeze) 2010
Twin Stumps "Business Class" Seedbed LP (Fan Death) 2010
Shearing Pinx "Magnolia's Tomb" Void White LP (Isolated Now Waves) 2010
Puffy Areolas "Deathcraze" In The Army 1981 LP (Siltbreeze) 2010
Magic Lantern "Cypress" s/t 7" (Not Not Fun) 2010
Sun Araw "The Stakeout: Reprise" On Patrol 2LP (Not Not Fun) 2010
Bitchin Bajas "Fresh Hair" split w/Moon Duo 7" (Permanent) 2010
Ducktails "Mirror Image" Mirror Image 7" (Shdwply) 2010
Aerosol Constellations w/Bird Costumes "New Moon At Dawn" s/t CDR (Thankless/Isolated Now Waves) 2010


Two quick recommendations this week...

2009 was definitely a banner year for releases of punishing, muscular and frightening punk and rock records (Hunches, Mayyors and Twin Stumps LPs come immediately to mind), but it's been a slow start for 2010. Enter the debut LP by Cleveland's Puffy Areolas (pictured above). These guys have blended 80s hardcore, Big Black's industrial-strength intensity and heaps of feedback for one of the most ear-splitting releases in recent memory. If any of the above mentioned bands get you up in the morning, then seek this out immediately.




And if you just can't get enough punishment, then the newest Twin Stumps LP on Fan Death is also recommended. With a hammering wall of noise and out of control feedback that manages to outstrip their previous release on Dais, Seedbed is a buzzing, speaker-shredding strike of lightning recommended to all fans of vicious hate rock. Fans of Swans and even Whitehouse are urged to seek this out.

DOWNLOAD Episode 49 here (right click link, then Save As)