Warm Soda - "Waiting For Your Call"

Oakland's Warm Soda—who put out one of our very favorite 7"s of 2012 with "Reaction"—have quietly released their debut long player, Someone For You, via John Dwyer's imprint, Castle Face Records. There's not much info available on the album just yet, save for the lean and mean first single "Waiting For Your Call"—a leather-jacketed, hook-splattered cut of sticky bubblegum that features glam-master-in-arms and frontman Matthew Melton cooing over cuts of guitars, at turns muted and gleefully roaring. Bare who?

Grab the vinyl direct from Castle Face.

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"

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"