Tic Tac Records

This morning I was trying to figure out the release date for a Lover! single I'm Not A Gnome I just picked up, and I stumbled upon Tic Tac Totally Records, which seems to specialize in the sloppy rock and roll I love. As a result, I've been listening to their player all morning and I thought I should share. For fans of Lover!, Wavves, Digital Leather, Lost Sounds, Thomas Function, and a whole lot of bands I am just discovering.

Note: I took the player down because I couldn't get the player to stop playing automatically, but the songs are still worth checking out. Go here to launch the player.

Lover! - No Dreams Please EP (2009)

I'm kind of bummed that this is the first I've heard of Lover! At least I rectified that mistake before the Scion Garage Fest. Now I just have to figure how to work them into my schedule.

Although frontman Rich Crook was in the Reatards and Lost Sounds, Lover's music is more akin to 60's nuggets and power pop than the blistering punk and keyboard-driven new wave of those two bands. "Let's Play A Game" is snotty, "Goodbye" layers distortion over Plimsoul-style hooks, and "Fell In Love" snarls over crunchy riffs. The flute blowing over big muff fuzz on "Downstairs To Hell" sounds like a rare psychedelic pop classic. The EP whips by fast, but all seven songs are great. Looks like I'll have to catch the Mojomatics next time.

And if I miss them on the 17th, they'll be back in November at the East End.

awmercy's Fall Shuffle

Good Shoes – “Things To Make And Do”
With all the post punkish British indie coming out a couple years ago, these guys may have been over looked, or just weren’t that original. Either way, this is a decent song for the indie dance party.

Joey Ramone – “Venting (It’s A Different World Today)”
It’s just one big long bitchfest – an old man’s rant. Nice.

Charlotte Sometimes – “How I Could Just Kill A Man”
Not sure who this is - it came off a Magnet Magazine sampler - but the title makes a pretty sweet chorus for a pop song.

The Lost Sounds – “Bombs Over M.O.M.”
One of Jay Reatard’s old bands and one of the many Jay Reatard related songs clogging my iPod these days. It has a catchy retro keyboard riff plus a fun shouted/screamed chorus. I like his solo stuff better, but this song is pretty damn good.

Wanda Jackson – “It Happens Every Time”
A beautiful and reflective country ballad from the queen of rockabilly off a Sympathy for the Record Industry compilation. Way more classic country than the rest of the comp.

Afterthought: Phew. That could've been a lot worse.