Die! Die! Die! captures the spirit of anarchic post-punk — but their sound is so damn groovy, it’s a turn-on even for listeners who might be turned off by noise rock. Check out our exclusive premiere of the walloping title track to their new album, This Is Not an Island Anymore.
On Wednesday, Vanderslice released the first song by his new electronic-music project, OrangePurpleBeach. He spoke with the Big Takeover about the song, “Pylon Shadow,” the video for which just dropped as well.
The Big Takeover premieres department goes way back with London post-punk/new-wave legends. Four years and one (ongoing) pandemic after premiering one of their videos, we are savouring the opportunity to exclusively roll out “Box of Sorrows,” the latest song by the ever-brilliant Bid and his gents.
Fortunately for fans of the power-pop vets who read the Big Takeover, Davenports leader Scott Klass kindly granted us the exclusive premiere of his band’s new single and its accompanying video a day before release.
Raleigh, North Carolina, quartet Thirsty Curses are spiritual heirs to the drunken, sardonic and masterful songcraft of the Replacements, Violent Femmes and hometown power-pop heroes Let’s Active. The band’s forthcoming fourth album, To the Ends of the Earth, is a refined take on the band’s punk-pop sound that showcases its most sophisticated hooks to date.
“Last Angry Man,” whose video premieres today with the Big Takeover, is one of 10 song written under the cloud of a seven-year lawsuit North’s family ultimately won and that alleged violations against his son’s special needs by Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Last year, the singer/songwriter began releasing a series of videos from her secretly recorded “Stein Away Sessions,” featuring her performing in unique nature filled environments with her yellow piano. Today, the Big Takeover is pleased to host the premiere of the Stein Away Session video for “Philosophical,” a track whose studio version appeared on Letters.
For the unindoctrinated, the members of the post-punk/shoegaze/alternative rock band aren’t newbies by a long stretch; in fact, the three musicians have over 20 years of experience. The trio of musicians/friends who reside in separate states will release their self-titled EP on Friday — but today, the Big Takeover premieres an exclusive sneak peek.
Today, proto-Americana rockers the Rave-Ups release Tomorrow (Omnivore Recordings), a reunion record that comes 31 years after their last album dropped. The Big Takeover delivers a stream of the first song on the record, “So, You Wanna Know the Truth?”
After three years of living and working together, the indie-rockers found themselves in two continents at the start of 2021. It’s no great surprise, then, that many songs on their second album – Closer Than We’ll Ever Know, due June 3 on Born Losers Records – address the distance between them.
A Brooklyn band featuring longtime DIIV lead guitarist Andrew Bailey, Dead Tooth drops their new EP, Pig Pile, on March 11. Frontman Zach James immortalizes his agile onstage presence on the release; as he delivers his vocals, one can practically see him creeping and shaking like a long-lost relative of Nick Cave or Guy Picciotto.
The Big Takeover brings you the latest version of the folk classic courtesy of Nashville indie-rock band Flight Attendant — whose solemn take features sorrowful vocals, piano and strings.
From Catnap to Coma, recorded and produced by Yo La Tengo bassist James McNew, drops Friday on Already Dead Tapes & Records. The mini-album is streaming as one continuous piece rather than five separate streams.
Shiva Burlesque’s potent synthesis of acoustic and electric textures, exploratory lyrics and keen sense of dynamics brought them some impressive in-the-know admirers; and comparisons to the likes of John Cale, Echo & the Bunnymen and Love.
The clip shows the bandmembers in their COVID-restricted natural habitat, injecting various substances — which, we imagine, help fuel the band’s brand of twisted psychedelic rock.
“Eyes Can’t Stop Listening” is from electronic-music artist Jason Anthony Harris’ album Songs Need People, which consists of songs written for the Patreon project I Want to Write a Song About You. For the project, listeners fill out a questionnaire about themselves and their circumstances, and the singer/songwriter pens and records a track revolving around the submission within 30 days.
The song features an easygoing pop sensibility, with D’Amato delivering melodies as if they’re effortless. The sprawling guitar of the intro gives way to a pristine, undeniably pop chorus. A groovy bassline cements the entire song, making space for D’Amato to play with harmony and melody.
The Rhode Island-based rock quintet exclusively premiere a video for one of the songs on their new EP, The Mona Lisa Beverage, which drops in two weeks.
The New Jersey quartet’s new song, “Samantha,” describes a thread between two disparate experiences: the joy of a first kiss and the thud of loss. The track features a delicate arrangement that pulls the listener in as it weaves through the story, ultimately climbing to a lush and powerful hook.
Henry’s five-track collection of New Wave-inspired alt-pop tracks examines love and desire from the perspective of classic horror characters. Throughout The Horror! The Horror!, Henry examines the humanity of monsters and the monstrosity of humans atop pulsing layers of cold electronic production that call to mind both John Carpenter’s signature synth scores and modern darkwave artists like Cold Cave in equal measure.
The 10-song effort includes cover tracks of songs by Kate Bush, Depeche Mode and Royal Blood, along with one original, “Valentine,” which the singer wrote just in time for the upcoming holiday. While Undercover hits Spotify and Apple Music starting Friday, the Big Takeover is bringing you a preview of the stream today.
The groovy Australian pop duo’s new effort comprises five tracks of soulful and rich guitar-driven music that is a testament to the creative dynamic between bandmates Dusty Lee Stephensen, Matt Birkin and their cast of long-term collaborators and live band.
Chicago’s the Feeders released their first LP, Kerchoo, in November on Eccentric Pop Records. Not too long after, the album made the cut on Jack Rabid’s list of best records of 2021. Today, the Feeders are proud to share the video behind the first single from the record, for “I’m a Rat.”
An/Animal presents its audience with four songs strung into one narrative, made complete by the eerie visuals of its accompanying short film. The music features imaginative arrangements, ethereal to explosive dynamics, primal urgency, deceptively catchy hooks, and elements from gospel, indie, rock, prog, country, ambient and, as always, an infectious pop sensibility.
Having been written in May 2020, lyrically, “Have I Gone Too Far” attempts to capture the day-to day-isolation, monotony and depression that went along with quarantining during the early months of the pandemic
The music-powered spoken word offering is a preview to what’s in store on the spring release of the experimental duo’s sophomore album, Ghosts Before Breakfast.
Titled “Permanently Closed,” the video finds the Minneapolis-based sludgegaze band performing tracks from their two releases in an empty bar — a fitting backdrop for the “release show” of Sorrowful Cries, which was written and recorded in quarantine.
Hailing from Atlanta, Rae started playing in music at a mere 8 years old. She left behind that love to move on to a beauty career until the tragedy of the global pandemic struck — and, as Rae recently told the Big Takeover, everyone returned to be with what we value most.
The songwriter and musician uses her knowledge gained from years spent DJ’ing to create captivating beats and taps into her worldly travels — she’s lived in Germany, the U.S. and England — to write relatable lyrics. The Big Takeover is pleased to host the premiere of “Reasons,” the newest single from the electronic pop phenom.
On April 22, the world will witness the latest chapter in the burgeoning Toronto artist’s career, in the form of her new album, Stolen Time. Lucky for readers whose interest is already piqued, the Big Takeover is pleased to unveil the first single from the new album, as well as its accompanying video, today.
Come February 11, Heatley’s admirers will bear witness to his next foray into music — and first official solo studio record — when Dream Puppy Records releases Life Our Own Way on all streaming and digital platforms. Today, the Big Takeover unveils the time-intensive video that Heatley created for the title track.
Today, The Big Takeover exclusively premieres the newest video from Boston’s power-guitar/synth-pop quartet, who started working together in late 2018. The clip was filmed just outside Boston at The Sanctuary, an old church converted into a music performance space.
Magic Shoppe songs often feature warm and fuzzy tonality that can wash out into textured soundscapes — or crash into a mind-melting maelstrom. Big Takeover is pleased to host the video for the brand-new track, which just hit streaming services today.
The Norwegian indie-rockers draw a far-reaching fanbase that includes aging parents longing for the sweet nostalgia of their glory days, as well as young hipsters who have embraced the ’90s-era aesthetics and charm of melodic guitars and catchy sing-alongs.
Big Takeover is psyched to premiere the video for “Chant,” a piece created by interdisciplinary artist and designer Deborah Johnson for NOW Ensemble, a project that makes chamber music for the 21st century.
My best bets on another great year for music, old and new, and a most such year once again. Hope this little list inspires you to find, or give a second look to, a few cool releases you might miss otherwise that you end up truly loving—especially in the second straight year where so many musicians overcame unprecedented challenges to get us this music. And my gratitude to the musicians and labels that overcame that and gave us this 2021 music when we had so much less of the live variety! Ta!
Good news! Big Takeover Issue #89 Fall 2021 with The Chills on the cover is now out! It should be arriving in stores now or may have just hit the shelves (please ask for it by name!), and subscriber copies have been mailed and will arrive shortly! And if you haven’t already, you can subscribe for yourself and/or your friends as a gift, or send away for our juicy back issues! (All 88 are get-able!) All straight from our secure Shopify online store!
Good news! Big Takeover Issue #89 Fall 2021 with The Chills on the cover is now out! It should be arriving in stores now or imminently (please ask for it by name!), and subscriber copies have been mailed and will arrive shortly! And for the next two weeks, if you haven’t already, you can subscribe for yourself and/or your friends as a holiday gift for 10% off! Ho Ho Ho! Or take 20% any back issues—minimum three, and yes, you can include the new #89 in that!––that you might want to see yourself or your friends at Xmas/other holiday-time! Ho Ho Ho again!
Akron, Ohio-based indie rock/pop band deliver a dynamic and catch anthem about mixed signals, and took part in a Q&A interview.
Old-school/new-school hybrid jazz musician Eric Wurzelbacher and his band display their top chops on an engaging LP; with heartfelt and insightful Q&A interview.
Hilarie Sidney (co-founder of Elephant 6; member of The Apples In Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Olivia Tremor Control) and company release an upbeat and tuneful track from their upcoming LP as The High Water Marks.
Hybrid outfit Black Rose Burning (post-punk, Gothic rock/pop, New Wave), led by George Grant, unveil their compelling new album that was mastered by Jason Corbett (ACTORS).
A bunch of cool and intriguing artists/bands cap off the year with new music, including premieres from Irish post-punker Ava Vox and darkwave outfit VONAMOR.
Josh Caterer, frontman of acclaimed band Smoking Popes, releases his spin on an Etta James classic in the live setting of SPACE in Chicago.
Renowned musician Anton Barbeau unveils an atmospheric and hypnotic music video for an enchanting track from his latest album.
Madison, Wisconsin-located grunge band Bashford channel Nirvana’s angst and catharsis with punk-fueled aggression on their potent fifth record.
Baltimore-located rock duo Underlined Passages unveil a bodacious ’80s-themed performance video for a dreamy track off their upcoming LP.
AMMO’s aesthetic can be described as otherworldly ethereal shoegaze, driven by the pulse of primordial percussive rhythms that provide a backdrop for haunting vocals and lush, atmospheric guitar lines.
It is also not every day that two iconoclastic artists team up with a world-class music video director, so today we explore the outcome of that audio/visual relationship.
Seattle-located rock ‘n’ roll band The Civilians collaborate with Elvis Costello’s longtime keyboardist Steve Nieve on a heartfelt track and performance video.
