Coasting - Various

Not long ago I attended a free gig where Coasting performed as the main act. I made it through the first two acts, but by 12am there were no signs of them performing anytime soon. I bailed. Curse my early wake up calls. I imagine they would have been awesome, though. The duo consists of Fiona, ex-member of now defunct NZ punk outfit The Coolies, and Madison of Brooklyn based Dream Diary.
Their sound reminds me a lot of Vivian Girls' sophomore album, dreamy tunes with some lo-fi grit. Worth checking out.

1. Hots For Teacher
2. Kids
3. Same Old, Same Old
4. Snoozefest
5. What You Want
6. Coasting

Sample the Mix

Reading Rainbow - Songs To Sing To

'Songs To Sing To' is a dreamy little collection of noisy, sun soaked melodies. Like Wavves with more charm. Or a friendlier No Age. Each of the 60 copies of this CD have sold out, but order their latest LP, 'Mystical Participation' here.

Self-released, 2009
1. The Sun is Out
2. A Life To Find
3. In The City
4. Totem Pole
5. I Will Follow You
6. We Are Too Young
7. Great Sky Bear [Keys]
8. Be My Sunrise
9. Animals Take Control OF Me
10. Oh Deer Lord
11. Great Sky Bear [Strings]
12. Where My Body's Found
13. Feral Kids
14. New Safety
15. I Will Wait

Sample the Album
Here
or
Here

White Mystery - Powerglove 7"

Fresh from the oven over at the HoZac Hookup Klub, this single is 1 of 3 7"s from the second batch in the series. This one in particular stood out to me due to it's contrasting grittyness and poppy goodness. It can easily be likened to The Bitters, Pens, or most girl-fronted noise pop bands, really. I've got my fingers crossed for a lot more future releases from this band, very cool.
HoZac, 2009
1. Powerglove
2. Aaron
3. Ye Olde Stone

Sample the 7"

The World's Lousy With Ideas Vol. 8

The 8th installment of The World's Lousy presents itself as a 12", and it contains all of your favourite artists! Seriously, this volume is like a who's who of the scene's best talent. Vivian Girls, Times New Viking, Thee Oh Sees + more each lend an original, unreleased track. Grab this one while it's still sitting on the shelves, you'll be kicking yourself if you don't.
Almost Ready Records, 2009
1. Vivian Girls - Lake House
2. Blank Dogs - Ages Ago
3. Times New Viking - A Lot Of Pai
4. Intelligence - The Beetles
5. Guinea Worms - Soiled Sender
6. Sic Alps - Strepix
7. Thee Oh Sees - Shwag Rifles
8. Tyvek - Flowers
9. Pink Reason - Going Home

-Link removed at label's request-

See Also: Intelligence - Fake Surfers/Vivian Girls - S/T/Thee Oh Sees - Peanut Butter Oven/The OhSees - CDOIR

The Fizzbombs - Sign On The Line 7"

The Fizzbombs are just starting to receive some internet buzz, despite the band being over 20 years old. Their music style displays the sugar coated fuzz of noise pop while being notably strong on colourful pop melodies.
1986, Narnodnik Records
1. Sign On The Line
2. The Words That

Sample the 7"

Christmas Island - Demos

A few more great songs from Californian popsters, Christmas Island. Their songs seem to just ooze warmth and joy. Full length on the way on In The Red Records.
1. Black Cloud
2. Doing Swell
3. I Don't Care
5. Pre Apocalyptic

Sample the Demos

The mayfair Set - Desert Fun/Already Warm

The Mayfair Set is a collaboration between Blank Dogs and Dum Dum Girls. Their sounds merge together to create dark but melodic noise pop music, an amazing sound. These songs are presumably on the upcoming 7" on Captured Tracks.
Captured tracks, 2009
1. Already Warm
2. Desert Fun

Sample the 7"

Shop Assistants - S/T

They've been mentioned afew times on here, so I figured they deserved a post of their own. The Scottish band emerged from the '80s C86/noise pop scene, appearing on the legendary NME C86 cassette. Their noisy, melodic style has acted as an influence on bands like Black Tambourine, Vivian Girls, Manhattan Love Suicides and similar acts.

Blue Guitar, 1986
1. Idon't Wanna Be Friends With You
2. All Day Long
3. Before I Wake
4. Caledonian Road
5. All That Ever Mattered
6. Fixed Grin
7. Somewhere In China
8. Train From Kansas City
9. Home Again
10. Seem To Be
11. Afterdark
12. All Of the Time
13. What a Way To Die
14. Nature Lover

Sample the Album

Little Girls - Youth Tunes 7"

These two tracks alone have got me super excited for upcoming material from Little Girls. A mesmerizing blend of post-punk gloom and joyous noise pop. Yet to be released, so make sure you grab one!
Captured Tracks ,2009
1. Youth Tunes
2. Venom

Sample the 7"

Dum Dum Girls - S/T EP

There are definite similarities to Black Tambourine and Shop Assistants in Dum Dum Girls' music. Wishy Washy fuzz, jangly guitars and melodic female vocals. Set to release a bunch of stuff this year, she's (there's only one Dum Dum Girl) one to keep an eye on. She's also releasing a single through the HoZac singles club.
Zoo Music, 2008
1. Ship Of Love
2. Longhair
3. D.A.L (Dream Away life)
4. Catholicked
5. Hey Sis

Sample the EP

Pens

Pens are another lo-fi poppy band to emerge in recent months. Their poorly recorded fuzz pop comes off charming and ultra-catchy. Sometimes more punk than pop, but with lots of Oohs and Aahs to sing along to.
1. Freddie
2. Hate Your Calender
3. Hide The Kids
4. High In The Cinema
5. Networking
6. Yeah Baby I'll Take You To Bagel Town

Sample the Mix

Wavves - Wavvves [LEAK]

More than a month before it's official release, Wavvves is here(!) in all it's tasty fuzzy pop glory. Check it out.
Fat possum, 2009
1. Rainbow Everywhere
2. Sun Opens My Eyes
3. Get In The Sun
4. Jetplane (Staying On a)
5. No Hope Kids
6. More Fur
7. So Bored
8. Summer Goth 2
9. Surf Goth
10. Goth Girls
11. Ghost Ramp
12. Killr Punx, Scary Demons

-Link Removed At Label's Request-

The Manhattan Love Suicides - S/T

Such a great band. Their sound is reminiscent of early '90s noise pop and shoegaze, most obviously similar to Black Tambourine, Shop Assistants and the most recent underground sensation, Vivian Girls. Sweet, soft vocals and pop melodies buried under constant feedback and fuzzy guitars.
Magic Marker Records, 2006
1. Things You've Never Done
2. Skulls
3. Evil Side
4. Crush Whatever
5. Thinking Is Killing Me
6. (The Guy On the) 14th Floor
7. Home
8. Suzy Jones
9. Kick it Back
10. Negative Push
11. Indian Summer
12. Providence

Sample the Album

Vivian Girls - S/T

If you haven't heard Vivian Girls, then you should, ASAP. There's been a lot of comparison to Black Tambourine (they also site them as a main influence), just imagine them with a punk attitude and the occasional '60s girl group vibe. They could easily have fitted into the Noise Pop scene of the early '90s, so check them out if you have a weak spot for gritty noise pop.
Mauled By Tigers, 2008
1. All the Time
2. Such a Joke
3. Wild Eyes
4. Going Insane
5. Tell The World
6. Where Do You Run To
7. Damaged
8. No
9. Never See Me Again
10. I Believe In Nothing

Sample the Album

See Also: The World's Lousy With Ideas Vol. 8

Wavves - Wavves + Beach Demon/Weed Demon 7" + Various

ATTN: All who have been living under a rock for the last few months.
Wavves is Nathan Williams, former member of Fantastic Magic and current creator of noise pop-beach punk-lo fi musical gems. Receiving a lot of hype and with HEAPS of stuff coming out from now into the new year, keep an eye out.
FuckItTapes, 2008
1. Intro Goth
2. California Goth
3. Wavves
4. Lover
5. Space Raider
6. Vermin
7. Side Yr On
8. Beach Goth
9. The Boys Will Love Us
10. Spaced Raider
11. Yoked
12. Teenage Super Party

Sample the Album

Tic Tac Totally!, 2008
1. Weed Demon
2. Beach Demon

Sample the 7"

[None], 2008
1. Fun In The Sun
2. Getting Out Of Bed
3. Ghost Ramp
4. Gun In The Sun
5. More Fur
6. Sun Opens My Eyes
7. Surf Goth
8. No Hope Kids
9. So Bored

Sample

Various - 3,2,1.....Action! 7"

One of my most prized records, and I was pretty lucky to pick this up for next to nothing considering it contains a track by pre-Shins band Flake Music. No idea how many copies were pressed - there's barely any info about it on the net apart from a mention on The Shin's wiki page. It also seems that the website for record label Pocket Protector Records ceases to exist, so it's all really quite mysterious. Anyway, it's a totally awesome compilation of noisy pop featuring a few good bands which apparently didn't last since this release.

P.s. The track 'Red' by Flake music is exclusive to this compilation, so you won't find it anywhere else!
[Ripped from vinyl]

Pocket Protector Records, 1997[?]
1. Flake Music - Red
2. Anchorman - Bullet Proof Everything
3. Luxo Champ - Block Mover
4. The Honeys - Calling H.G. Wells
5. The Rondelles - Distraction

Sample the Compilation

See Also: The Rondelles - Fiction Romance, Fast Machines/Flake Music - When You Land Here It's Time To Return

The Suncharms - Suncharms EP

I picked this up on a whim, never having heard of the band, but wow - they are so good! Seriously. Bursts of loud, swirling guitars amoungst mellow dreamy pop. Couldn't find this anywhere on the net so I've ripped it from vinyl. Enjoy!
Wilde Club, 1991
1. Sparkle
2. Reflections
3. Time Will Tell
4. One I See

Sample the EP

See Also: The Suncharms - Tranquil Day EP

Flake Music - When You Land Here It's Time To Return

Before The Shins, there was Flake Music. Their sound was a lot less neat and polished. Still pop, but with more noise and strenuous sounding vocals from James Mercer.
Omnibus, 1997
1. Spanway Hits
2. Blast Valve
3. Roziere
4. Structo
5. [Untitled]
6. Deluca
7. Mieke
8. [Untitled]
9. The Shins
10. [Untitled]
11. Vantage

Sample the Album

See Also: Various - 3,2,1.....Action! 7"

Henry's Dress - Bust 'Em Green

Like it was rubbed in dirt then dipped in sugar, the balance between noise and pop is ideal on the band's last release. Ridding their sound of the slight melancholy of their self-titled release, this one is more on the cheery side.

Slumberland, 1996
1. The Way She Goes
2. Target Practice
3. Winter '94
4. Hey Allison
5. Tree Fort
6. Get Yourself Together
7. Jimmy
8. Sunshine Proves All Wrongness
9. All This Time For Nothing
10. Zero Zero Zero
11. Not Today
12. Self Starter

Sample the Album

See Also: Henry's Dress - S/T

Henry's Dress - [Self-Titled]

Henry's Dress' first real release after a couple of 7" splits and singles. A great blend of feel good pop tunes and messy feedback, altering between boy and girl vocals.

Slumberland, 1995
1. Definitely Nothing
2. Title Forthcoming
3. Sally Wants
4. (You're My) Radio One
5. "A" is for Cribbage
6. Three
7. Feathers
8. You Killed a Boy for Me

Sample the Album

See Also: Henry's Dress - Bust 'Em Green