Strange Ranger - House Show

Portland post-punk band Strange Ranger (formerly Sioux Falls) sound very throwback to me. All the way back to the 90's and the best thing going on for that era outside of hip-hop: Pacific Northwest style emo. If you were into Sunny Day Real Estate, Seaweed, Modest Mouse, Treepeople and Built to Spill, you'll like Strange Ranger. They had a solid EP out last year, Sunbeams Through Your Head and have an upcoming release, Daymoon on Tiny Engines. Yeah, another one on that awesome label.

RIYL: Sunny Day Real Estate, Pinback, Build To Spill, Braid, Modest Mouse

Upcoming Shows

WOWH - Early Hours

So call me up in the early hours
Try not to hurt about it
If it's too hard, it's too hard

So here's a fun track from London indie pop outfit WOWH that reminds me of a lot of the music I loved in the 80's; bands like Blancmange, China Crisis, Ultravox and the like. It's dance-beat driven pop, but has a bit of a polish that sets it apart in my ears. I'll be following along, hope to hear some more from them soon.

RIYL: The Republic Tigers, Blancmange, Ra Ra Riot, The Little Ones, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsen

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Skela - Hella

All I've ever wanted was you
Someone whose life was the same shade of blue
All I've ever wanted was someone to drink with
But now that you're here, I can't stop fucking drinking

So pour it up high, talking real low
Pulling at the collar of your sweater
Wrapping my roots all around you
Don't be so selfish with forever
Come on baby, let me tell you what we're supposed to do

Sexy and sultry, yet detailed and devoted, this song reminds me of the popular track "Starving" by Hailee Steinfeld (w/Zedd). Unlike the Southern California actress/singer, Queens-raised Brooklyn-based Skela fashions herself a musician/poet/writer and is hoping to put an "intellectual, nostalgic spin" on modern pop music. We'll see. But any way it pans out for her, this is a repeat-worthy mellow summer jam. 

RIYL: Alessia Cara, Daya, Hailee Steinfeld, Vanic

Upcoming Shows