Kill for Blessed Ivory

Got three new songs that I've been listening to a lot.

#3 Chromatics - "Kill for Love"

Back in 2008, I found a little band called Chromatics because they did a cover of Kate Bush's 1985 single "Running Up That Hill." I thought it was spectacular and needed to hear more. It wasn't hard to find another great '80s cover by them, Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire." For their new album, Kill for Love, they decided to cover Neil Young's "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)." Surprisingly, it's the title track that I'm actually attracted to and reminds me more of the Chromatics greatness. "Kill for Love" is pure neo-80s synthpop. I love it. Pitchfork gave the album an 8.7 giving it the mark of Best New Music. If you liked the Drive soundtrack, you gotta check this one out.

#2 Pure Bathing Culture - "Ivory Coast"

Sound on the Sound is a local music website. They bring news and tracks from some of the best local bands, as well as other nationwide indie acts. Sometimes SOTS can be a bit pretentious with their choice, but they picked a winner here. Pure Bathing Culture was recently featured on the "On Repeat" feature with their song "Ivory Coast." And it's true. I've probably listened to this song over two dozen times now. It's great. Pure Bathing Culture is a Portland group consisting of Daniel Hindman and Sarah Versprille, who you may or may not recognize from their other band, Vetiver. Their debut EP comes out May 22nd on Father/Daughter Records. Definitely going to pick that one up.

#1 Merriment - "Blessed Soul"

You all know that one of my favorite bands in the whole wide world is Eisley, the Texas band with four siblings and one cousin. Well, did you know that those four siblings have two other siblings and that those two other siblings are also in a band? They are and the band is called Merriment. Christie and Collin DuPree have a sound similar to Eisley, but maybe a bit more country, a bit more acoustic, and a bit more angelic. "Blessed Soul" is the second track off of their EP, Through the Rough. I'm happy to announce that it's not their only good song and I look forward to seeing what more these kids can do in the future.

What have you been listening to lately?