Feverishly Anticipating: King Tuff & The Walkmen

Pictured above, that's Seth "Hunx" Bogart embracing his buddy Kyle "King Tuff" Thomas and Walkmen guitarist Paul Maroon hanging out with his family. They look happy. We are too. Because in just a few weeks, on May 29th, the two bands will release Everybody Taste's two most highly anticipated records of the year: King Tuff's eponymous follow-up to his cult classic debut—the devilishly fun Was Dead—and The Walkmen's attempt to extend their perfect album streak to three with Heaven. Both bands recently dished out extra tasty and promising morsels from their records: Kyle Thomas with the gigantic and glammy hand-clapping celebratory basher "Keep On Movin," and on the softer side, The Walkmen with the finger-plucked doo-wop dressed "We Can't Be Beat," which features recent touring mate Robin Pecknold of the Fleet Foxes on background vocals. You know that feeling when you hear that perfect song for the first time? Well, it just happened. Twice. I've got goosebumps. I'm feverish. I'm sweaty. I've pre-ordered. Now to impatiently wait.

Pre-order King Tuff from Sub Pop and Heaven from Fat Possum.

King Tuff - "Keep On Movin" (from King Tuff)

The Walkmen Feat. Robin Pecknold - "We Can't Be Beat"

Youth Lagoon :: The Year of Hibernation

At first, "Montana"doesn't sound like anything special. A reverberating and resonant piano, hushed vocals—it's reminiscent of a live recorded studio outtake or a private home recording. Sweet and intimate, but not necessarily all that captivating. But then "Montana" becomes something else entirely. From the first chime of the track's synth delivered motif to builds of tambourine, bass drum, and electric guitar, a vast wall of sound forms arming that cathartic and introverted singing voice with a sledgehammer of crushing force. The song is by 22-year-old Trevor Powers, who records under the name Youth Lagoon. Powers' M.O. on his debut LP The Year of Hibernation—out September 27th on Fat Possum—is constructing these simple keyboard-driven confessionals and coloring them with sonic goodies that are both colossal in size and grand in scope. It's sort of like bringing a tank to a knife fight: you're expecting mopey-eyed balladry, but what you get instead is a shot of adrenaline right in your ear drum.

Pre-order The Year of Hibernation on vinyl, tape, or CD via Fat Possum.

Youth Lagoon - "Montana" (from The Year of Hibernation)
Youth Lagoon - "Cannons" (from The Year of Hibernation)

Review: Sonny & The Sunsets :: Hit After Hit

Hit After Hit may not have a classic once-in-a-generation caliber single like Tomorrow Is Alright's "Too Young To Burn," but the second full-length from Sonny and The Sunsets is a remarkably executed affair that registers as this group's strongest statement to date: A magnum opus of playful, whip-smart and vintage minimalism of 50s and 60s-inspired California pop sunshine.

The guitar riffs, vocal harmonies and grooves all harken back to images of a twisting and hip-shaking, bob cut, milkshake drive-in drinking youth that's been famously cemented in films like American Graffiti, Beach Party and later re-stylized in Pulp Fiction. But as openly derivative as Sonny Smith's musical diction is, the songwriting here never once comes across as a copy or inauthentic. On the contrary, Smith's voice is one of the most refreshing and original in contemporary pop music. When I listen to songs like "She Plays Yoyo With My Mind" or "Don't Act Dumb" (which employs the lyrics: "Saw you for across the room, talking to some dude / Saw you leave with him, thought you might be dumb too / Girl, don't act dumb"), I honestly don't know whether to barrel over laughing, applaud, or dance and sing-along (the answer is usually a combination).