Line & Circle - "Roman Ruins"

There's a head-clearing cinematic breeze to the track "Roman Ruins" by Los Angeles band Line & Circle. It's the sort of song that might soundtrack a scene in a romantic drama where the protagonist and his or her love interest realize they can never actually be together—there's a touch of cheese and melodrama, but that tragic sentiment is also completely genuine. It's a song that gets caught in your gut, and only escapes when you turn up the dial on your stereo, crank down the car windows, and drive without really thinking or knowing where you're going. (via)

Buy the 7" from White Iris Records.

Line & Circle - "Roman Ruins"

Video: FIDLAR - "No Waves"

FIDLAR—the beer-soaked drug-fueled sleazy punk manifestation of skater motto "Fuck It Dog Life's A Risk"—are one of those bands that seem to be getting bigger by the minute. Once little-known blog sensations pushed by folks like Rollo & Grady, the band went on to release one of 2011's very best 7"s via White Iris, and now signed to Mom + Pop, are opening for The Hives on a major US tour. Who knew so many folks dig songs about weed, beer, and skating? Though there's certainly more to the music than its debaucherous lyrics, such as a pedal-to-the-floor rhythm section and hook-heavy ear-worming vocal melodies. The band's newest creation is a throwback VHS-shot video for "No Waves," which again stars headbanger and lip-syncer in residence, Alice Baxley, from the "Wait For The Man" video. And yes, it also involves beer in a can.

Fletcher C. Johnson - "Messin' Up My Mind"

Brooklyn trio Fletcher C. Johnson, recommended via a commenter here on Everybody Taste, are wonderfully weird purveyors of pop-punk and garage rock. White Iris, the same folks that put out Fidlar's excellent DIYDUI 7", released Johnson's latest single, featuring the snappy and rollicking sing-along "Messin' Up My Mind" ("must have been messin' up my mind / must have been messing up my hair") by way of "Lost My Head," an impressively odd pop concoction with doo-wop background vocals and a short monologue heavy on advice ("always bet it all on Double Jeopardy").

Check out both tracks below, and if ya dig, nab the vinyl.

Fletcher C. Johnson - "Messin' Up My Mind"
Fletcher C. Johnson - "Lost My Head"