Frankie Rose and the Outs

[mp3] Frankie Rose and The Outs: "Little Brown Haired Girls"

We've been listening to a lot of The Ronettes around here of late, and it comes as no surprise that there are a veritable bevy of girl groups out there right now, not only referencing that seemingly ageless Phil Spector production quality in their press releases, but striving to copy it in their own music. Usually we take a quick listen and pass it off as another imitation. But, like the enigmatic sounds of the excellent collective Gigi, Frankie Rose and The Outs channel this oft-copied sound in a way that's tasteful, and at the same time origional. Many of Rose's previous groups ie. The Vivian Girls, have caught a lot of flack on this site for their pretentious lo fi for lo fi's sake recordings. Yet, there seems to be a different mindset at play with Roses' newest incarnation that comes from a more pure place, laced with true harmonies and a dialed-down reliance on the reverb effect. Frankie Rose and The Outs' self titled album comes out 9/24 on Slumberland.

Chin Chin Reissue

[mp3] Chin Chin: "Dark Days"

Exciting news about one of those amazing lost records and artists that Mississippi Records seems to be so adept at finding. This time, Mississippi teams up with Slumberland to release all girl Swiss band Chin Chin's seminal record Sound of The Westway (4/13). For as much as we love bands like the Dum Dum Girls, we children of the 90s must remember that before all of that, we had bands like Chin Chin, Black Tambourine and countless others creating the sound that is so en vogue here in 2010. Cover art after the jump.

Chin-Chin, an all-female group consisting of Karin (guitar/vocals), Esther (bass/vocals) and Marie-Anne (drums/vocals), was formed in 1982 in Biel, Switzerland. At the time experience wasn't needed, a desire to play was. Technical ability was a bonus, a hunger to perform a must. So, although Esther and Marie-Anne had experience as singers for local band Sophisticated Boom Boom, neither had actually played bass or drums respectively before. Similarly, while Karin had some training in classical acoustic guitar, she'd never been in a band or played electric guitar before.

Chin-Chin
Sound of the Westway
(Slumberland / Mississippi)
Street Date: April 13, 2010

1.Dark Days
2.My Guy
3.Never Surrender
4.Even If It's a Lie
5.Jungle of Fear
6.Why Am I So Lonely?
7.Room of Sadness
8.War
9.Love Song
10.Proud Soldiers
11.Stay With Me
12.Dead Life
13.Why Am I So Lonely II
14.Da Doo Ron Ron / My Boy Lollipop

Brown Recluse

Brown Recluse: "Contour and Context"

Philly has been producing a bumper crop of indie rock bands in the past 3 or so years. The newest band in that realm is Brown Recluse.  Their psychedelic blend of tropicalia meets English folk-pop has gotten them signed to Slumberland Records (also having a great year), performances with The Dirty Projectors, Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Matt & Kim and will result in a full-length record in 2010. To hold you over, on September 8th you will be able to get your hands on the Soft Skin EP which comes out digitally and on 12". We have an mp3 for you above. Certainly a band to watch heading into 2010.

Only Summer Today

Andrew Gombert/European Pressphoto Agency

After getting rained out at the US Open yesterday at Bethpage Black (go screw yourself USGA), we're officially only listening to good summer music today. So get ready.

[mp3] Summer Cats: "Hey You"

So here is the first installment of such. Luckily the band is actually called Summer Cats and they just got signed to Slumberland, who has risen to fame on the back of the success that Pains of Being Pure at Heart have had this year. Summer Cats are from Australia and play a sort of 60's garage pop, complete with buoyant basslines, distorted keyboards and super catchy vocals from Scott Stevens (not that Scott Stevens). Their debut album Songs for Tuesdays comes out July 14th and will absolutely help you to break out of the funk that this June weather has caused. See track listing and video after the jump.



Summer Cats
Songs For Tuesdays
(Slumberland)
Street date: July 14, 2009

1. Let's Go!
2. Hey You
3. Super
4. Fulton Gurls
5. In June
6. Wild Rice
7. Christopher Wren
8. Maybe Pile
9. Lonely Planet
10. Camel Cords
11. Waking Up
12. St. Tropez
13. Paperweight