Bare Wires - "Impossible Things"

Oakland's Bare Wires may now be defunct, but before the group parted ways, they had time to record one last album: Idle Dreams. Due out October 30th via Southpaw Records, the 12-track LP is billed as frontman Matthew Melton's "final masterpiece" with the project. I don't normally pay much mind to press releases, but given the steady evolution in sound and recording quality from early release Artificial Clouds to last year's Cheap Perfume 10"—a steam-rolling leather-jacketed holy grail of glam, punk, and power-pop—"masterpiece" doesn't sound so far off base. Take a peep of the record's first leak, the pulsating tornado of pure adrenaline, "Impossible Things," below. In more excellent news, Melton's new group Warm Soda will be releasing it's full-length debut on the Thee Oh Sees' own Castle Face Records, along with a cover of "I'm Waiting For The Man" for the imprint's The Velvet Underground & Nico covers album.

Pre-order Idle Dreams from Southpaw. Pre-order The VU & Nico record from Castle Face.

Warm Soda - "Reaction"

One of our very favorites bands of the last five years, Oakland's Bare Wires, broke up this year after a tumultuous SXSW and a subsequently cancelled US tour, as reported by SF Weekly. Though Bare Wires still have one more album en route for release later this summer dubbed Idle Dreams—a follow up to last year's sublime 10", Cheap Perfume—frontman and all-around glam-fueled power-pop mastermind Matthew Melton has already focused his talents and energy towards two exciting new projects: his own East Oakland-based studio and label, Fuzz City, and a new band, Warm Soda—both of which are well under way. Fuzz City—which Melton runs along with his new bandmates Rob Good and Sam Lefebvre—has three 7"s under its belt by Bay area talents Adam Widener, Burnt Ones, and Dirty Cupcakes. Warm Soda isn't far behind either with its own forthcoming single due out shortly via Southpaw. The first gulp of Warm Soda's rock 'n' roll formula is the syrupy, garage-cooked pop of "Reaction." Bare Wires may be over, but "Reaction" retains much of the band's signature moves: muted guitars, snappy solos, glam-smacked drumming, and Melton's sweet gravely hush of a vocal delivery. Bare Wires or not, if Melton continues to produce music this consistently compelling, this fan's appetite will be more than sated.

For vinyl goods, head to Fuzz City or Southpaw Records.

Warm Soda - "Reaction"

Mixtape #21: Chicks with Names

Heron - "Sally Goodin"

Bare Wires - "Peculiar Julia"

Teenage Fanclub & Big Star - "Patti Girl"

Michael Hurley - "Tia Marie"

The Kinks - "Victoria (Mono Version)"

King Khan & BBQ Show - "Anala"

Of Montreal - "Penelope"

Warren Zevon - "Carmelita (1974 Demo)"

Stone Darling - "Angeline"

Royal Baths - "Nikki Don't"

Floating Action - "Marie Claire"

Lee Moses - "Diana (From NYC)"

The Velvet Underground - "Sweet Jane (Early Version)"

George Jackson - "Aretha Sing One For Me"

Wendell Stuart & The Downbeaters - "Mary Ann"

Patti Smith - "Kimberly"

Luna - "Renee Is Crying"

The Love Language - "Lalita"

Francoise Hardy - "Suzanne"

Download:

Chicks With Names.zip
or
Stream on 8 Tracks

Bare Wires :: Cheap Perfume 10"

There's nothing more rock and roll than the three-piece, especially the drum, bass, and guitar combo: straight shots of pounding rhythm and melody with every frill and decoration thrown out the window. The latest release from Oakland's Bare Wires, the 10-song 10" Cheap Perfume, is the perfect example: these songs don't just play, they fire out of the gate at lightning speed, never once looking back over their should nor outstaying their welcome (only one track breaks the three-minute barrier). Formed in 2007 as a side project of Matthew Melton, Bare Wires has since turned into a full-time gig with a string of releases under its belt, including two LPs—Artificial Clouds and Seeking Love—a handful of 7"s and one incredible flexi disc (see: "I Wanna Fight"). Cheap Perfume picks up right where Melton and company left off last, churning out garage-born glam-rock and punk-informed gem after gem, from the anthemic "Don't Ever Change" to the muted-guitar roar of "Television Girls" and rhythmic power-pop tornado of "Ain't Worth Walking Away." Bare Wires have the rare ability to make the listener feel cooler while listening to their music: you could be wearing socks, sandals, and sweatpants, but pump Cheap Perfume and suddenly it's boots, a leather jacket, and a snugly fitting pair of jeans. It's an intoxicating cocktail that recalls all that's fun about rock and roll. There's momentary glimpses of influences like T. Rex and The Ramones (some of those hand claps have me thinking Gary Glitter), but the songs unquestionably belong to Melton, and two choruses into this record as you find yourself pounding your feet and singing along, you'll agree.

Order the 10" from Southpaw Records.

Bare Wires - "Don't Ever Change" (from Cheap Perfume)
Bare Wires - "Cheap Perfume" (from Cheap Perfume)

Previously:
Video: Bare Wires - "Don't Ever Change"

Mixtape #17: Snacking On The 7-inch

The latest installment of our mixtape series highlights the 7" vinyl single—a format that was introduced in 1949 by RCA and is still alive and thriving today. The tracklist below features 21 different 7"s put out by some of our favorite artists and labels.*

Must-Have Vinyl: Castle Face Records :: Group Flex

Castle Face Records—the label headed by Thee Oh Sees' frontman John Dwyer—recently put out a 5x7 inch flexi disc book featuring exclusive tracks by Bay Area heavy hitters Thee Oh Sees, Bare Wires, the Fresh & Onlys, Blasted Canyons, and Ty Segall partnered with Mikal Cronin. Flexi discs are phonographic records pressed onto a thin and flexible vinyl sheet. Here, the flexi discs are multi-colored, adorned with holographic images, and interspersed with artwork by resident Castle Face artist William Keihn. Keihn's fusion of retro action figure packaging and comic book-style art here is brilliant, placing the compilation's 10 tracks in their own distinctively time-warped and mind-altered universe. It's truly a one-of-a-kind work of art, and I haven't even mentioned the music: a rip-roaring lineup of fiery rock gems, including two colossally fuzzed-out David Bowie covers by Segall and Cronin.

You can purchase Group Flex now via Midheaven mailorder.

Bare Wires - "Wanna Fight" (from Castle Face Group Flex)
Ty Segall & Mikal Cronin - "Fame" (from Castle Face Group Flex)


After the jump, take a look at the stunning visuals and holographic discs produced by the folks at Pirate Press in San Francisco.

Bare Wires - "Cheap Perfume"

ET's favorite Oakland trio Bare Wires will be releasing their newest LP Cheap Perfume on September 20th via Southpaw Records. The record's ten glam-punk tracks will be pressed onto 10" vinyl with a cassette option available via Burger Records. Below, listen to frontman Matthew Melton casually croon over an assault of muted and riffing guitars on the album's title-track.

Pre-order the 10" at Southpaw Records.

Bare Wires - "Cheap Perfume" (from Cheap Perfume)

Previously: 
Video: Bare Wires - "Don't Ever Change"

San Francisco Sounds Delicious

For a while now, the music coming out of the Bay Area has been hovering around some level of greatness. Bands like Sonny and The Sunsets, Thee Oh Sees and The Fresh and Onlys—all written about in a recent New York Times article—play music that defies contemporary fads, standards, and to a degree, interference from computers: it's classic in every sense of the word, as if plucked right out of San Francisco during the sweet pop and psychedelic-infested 1960s via some sort of slipstream in the fabric of time. And these bands, along with the Girls and Morning Benders, are just the tip of the city's pop iceberg: groups like The Sandwitches, Bare Wires, The Mantles, and Sic Alps are all producing material of equal quality by the shovelful.

Because it's simply impossible to keep up with every little great band out there, I'm going to do my best to catch both you, my dear reader, and me up on the fabulous sounds reverberating around the various garages and warehouses within the great city by the Bay (and Oakland too).

Video: Bare Wires - "Don't Ever Change"

Holy sweet rock and roll sandwich: Stick some glam, power-pop, and punk stylings in between a few slices of white bread and you have one tasty Oakland-based band, the Bare Wires. Excuse me if I gush, but I get weak at the knees when I hear pop music this economical and uptempo paired with vocal melodies this sweetly crisp. The Bare Wires, signed to John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees' label Castle Face Records, seem forged out of the remnants of a 1970s jukebox with all the stains from years of spilled beer and chewed gum coming along for the ride. Whereas fellow 70s revivalist Free Energy sound fresh out of the wash, Bare Wires pay homage to their influences with a dirtier fuzz and lo-fi sincerity.