Bastille - Blame

You’ve been granted three wishes
Say goodbye to your mother, your father, your son
I can hear your pulse racing from here
Sitting next to this gun beats your heart in your mouth

Fall upon your knees, sing:
"This is my body and soul here"
Crawl and beg and plead, sing:
"You’ve got the power to control"
Don’t pin it all on me
Don’t pin it all on me!

Another overdue post, I've been meaning to pick something from Bastille's latest album since it came out in September! I probably mentioned when I posted one of their remixes earlier this year, but Bastille's All This Bad Blood is a musical touchstone for me. Something about Dan Smith's lyrics, voice, and the band's sound recalls the very best of Martin Gore/Dave Gahan/Depeche Mode and all the feels that gave in my youth. That something was sorely needed in my life in the 2010s. For whatever equally ephemeral reasons, Wild World hasn't touched me quite the same way, with the exception of a handful of tracks. "Blame" is the only one of the handful I've heard live, and so it wins the toss-up of which to share. A gem of Dan's story telling, this song is about a couple of Goodfella-type gangsters facing off. I'll also recommend "Fake It" "Snakes" and "Way Beyond" in addition to the two released singles, "Good Grief" and "Send Them Off!"

RIYL: Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, O.M.D., The Wombats, Two Door Cinema Club

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Indigo Velvet - Sunrise

Sunrise, in my eyes
I can see through your disguise
Your vice, at times
Wander off to other guys
At least now I know
Where I place on your podium
To give you my all
Makes it hard to watch you crawl

More upbeat-sounding indie pop (they label it "tropical pop") for your week, this time out of uber tropical Edinburgh, Scotland. 

RIYL: Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, Coin, Enemies

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Royal Teeth - Kids Conspire

The kids conspire
And leave their bodies on the ground
Their minds get higher
They are never coming down, down
Little girl you gotta do what Simon says
With a crown of clovers on your head
Little boy you gotta be the Superman
Can't you see our future's in your hands?

Louisiana pop band Royal Teeth are back with their first EP since their debut album came out three years ago. Their sound is melodic and optimistic, without being bubble-gum bland. Here's the vid from my favorite song from their 2013 LP, "Wild."

RIYL: Youngblood Hawke, Head and the Heart, Grizfolk

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Flock of Dimes - Everything Is Happening Today

So I watch the sun go up
And I watch the sun go down
And the horizon hovering
Like a missing piece
That can never be found
And as the seasons lie in wait
Like a secret you already know
Winter is behind us now
It is ahead of us, also

Flock of Dimes is the side project of Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner and it's producing some really delightful music. I first heard Flock of Dimes on the Crowded House cover collab of "Don't Dream It's Over" with Sylvan Esso, which is an interesting and groovy take on a classic hit. Flock of Dimes' album, If You See Me, Say Yes, out back in September, is whimsical, well constructed, moody and dreamy. It's also infused with the spine-tingling vocals and production that made Wye Oak's Civilian so compelling. 

RIYL: Wye Oak, Lucius, Eisley, First Aid Kit

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American Wrestlers - Give Up

If I take my time they’ll bury me alive

"Give Up", the first single off American Wrestler's latest, Goodbye Terrible Youth, is an upbeat, sort of summer-meets-fall ditty where catchy guitars and distorted vocals interrupt, in a good way, an otherwise classic shoegazer. It's sort of indicative of the rest of the album; a nicely-crafted mellow-except-when-your-chair-dancing rock affair that sounds familiar in a way I can't really put my finger on. If you're looking for a chill (except when it's upbeat) backdrop to wind up your week, give it a listen.

RIYL: Library Voices, Nada Surf, The Posies, Vampire Weekend

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