There’s a lot of super-fresh stuff for this week’s Five Songs You Must Hear list, which is another way of saying most of what’s included is from groups who are just breaking out. Trust me on these.
1. The Linda Lindas, California Sun
Single (Epitaph)
Recommended If You Like: Riot Grrrls meet The Ramones
The Linda Lindas gives me hope for the future of rock. Made up of four teens from LA (only a couple of them are old enough to drive). Signed to the legendary Epitaph label, they’ve already made serious inroads with their riot grrrl-style material. For their latest, it’s a cover of The Ramones’ cover of a Joe Jones song from 1960 that appeared on their Leave Home album in 1977. Punk rock lives!
2. The Barbarians of California, Bomb to a Knife Fight
Single (Villains for Good/Two Twenty-Five Music)
RIYL: Revisiting youth
AWOLNATION seems to be in Aaron Bruno’s rearview mirror, because he has this new project with producer Eric Stenman. They discovered that they had a lot in common—punk, hardcore, metal, skateboarding—years ago. There were some collaborations before Aaron moved to AWALNATION and Eric produced albums for Deftones, and a bunch of other bands. It went this way for a couple of decades before they decided to work together again.
3. Broken by the Scream, 追憶のナスカ (Nazca of Remembrance)
Single (Metal Blade)
RIYL: Insanely good metal
There is a massive metal scene in Japan featuring all-females. Broken By the Scream offers crunching riffs, screams, growls, and melodic vocals all in one package. With a new record deal, BbtS will be performing at metal festivals outside Japan this year with new album in the works. Ignore at your own peril.
4. Odd Marshall, On My Way
Seconds (AWAL)
RIYL: Indie rock collaborations
How about a group that features members of Blind Melon, Foo Fighters, and Afghan Whigs? Odd Marshall, a Toronto singer-songwriter, who is friends enough with Christopher Thorn and Roger Stevens (guitarists from Blind Melon), Rami Jafee (Foo Fighters’ keyboardist), and Mathias Schneeberger (Afghan Whigs keyboardist) to help out on this album. If you like any of those bands—along with The Sheepdogs, Geese, and Nathaniel Rateliff—this might be for you.
5. Surf Hat, The Gutter
Modern World Blues (Independent)
RIYL: Groovy vintage songs
Coming from Squamish BC, Surf Hat is a duo (Jon Allan is originally from Ottawa and Evan Camm is from Newfoundland), who love a soft sort of psych. Inspiration comes from the natural world of British Columbia. And yes, their name comes from the little hats both use when they go surfing.
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