The Memories - "Higher"

Discovering Erik Gage's spectacular DIY tape label Gnar Tapes and his shred-happy band White Fang was a serious highlight from my time in Portland. These days though, you don't need to live in Oregon to take in hits of Gage's enthusiastically lo-fi bong-soaked pop music. His newest project, The Memories—comprised of fellow White Fanger Kyle Handley and members of Portland's Boom!—just put out its self-titled debut bicoastally with vinyl from Underwater Peoples and its tape counterpart on Burger Records. Like a copy of a copy of an old beaten up cassette that you have to wind back to life with a pencil, The Memories' music has a real warm, inviting, and lived in quality to it. And don't let the feedback or rawness of the recordings fool you—that's just a little bit of dress-up and misdirection—these guys write simple pop music with the instincts of true pop classicists (see "Silly Little Picture"). Only two songs on the LP break the two-minute mark, so don't be surprised if you find yourself playing honey-sweet gems like "Higher" over and over again.

Nab the vinyl or the tape.

The Memories - "Higher" (from The Memories)


Previously:
Erik Gage - "Little Brother" (from Inner Cosmic)
White Fang - "Not Listening" (from Grateful To Shred)

Delayed Reaction: Air Waves :: Dungeon Dots

I'm not sure how I've overlooked Air Waves—the project of the once Brooklyn and now Austin-based Nicole Schneit—for this long: too much music, too little time I guess. Dungeon Dots, Schneit's debut LP as Air Waves, was recorded at the Walkmen's old Marcata Studios and released last year on Underwater Peoples. If I had known this LP existed back in 2010, there's no question it would have been one of my favorites of the year. Schneit's pop arsenal is comprised of extremely simple and subtle elements—strummy guitars, clear and mellow androgynous vocals, natural yet insistent rhythms—but the barbs on her hooks are fiercely sharp, and once they dig in, there's no letting go. Many writers before have described Air Waves as warm and inviting, and it's true: there's a comforting intimacy and sincerity here that seemingly envelops the listener. But it's not solely comfort, as there's also something distinctly uplifting about Schneit's songs. When you put on "Knockout" or "Lightning," you can't help but tap your toes, bob your head, or maybe even do a little jig. Much of the songs, at least in tone, remind me of Yo La Tengo, especially a record like And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. There's a backdrop of sadness, but it's slowly painted over, rewritten, and turned into something better and brighter with each newly repeated melody and chorus. Oh, did I mention that Sharon Van Etten guests? Yep, still not sure how I missed this record.

Air Waves - "Knockout" (from Dungeon Dots)
Air Waves - "Waters (Feat. Sharon Van Etten)" (from Dungeon Dots)

After the jump, check out an excellent live take of "Lightning" shot by our buds at Quit Mumbling.

Tennis - "Marathon"

Tennis is husband and wife duo Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore. According to Underwater Peoples, the idea for the project was born a few years ago when Alaina made fun of Patrick for playing tennis in college. A year later the couple had left Denver to spend eight months sailing and exploring the North Atlantic coast. Out at sea, they began to document their adventures by writing music together.

Tennis - "Marathon"