Preoccupations

Canadian band Preoccupations have announced their upcoming 5th album "Ill at Ease," and dropped a very cool, cult-filled video for fist single "Focus."  The new tune has a punchy new wave feel to it that will stick in your brain for an afternoon.  Check it out below and pre-order the LP here from Born Losers Records.

Cindy Lee

I would be remiss if i didn't inform you all that Cindy Lee's massive album-of-the-year contender "Diamond Jubilee" is finally getting its much deserved physical release.  Pre-order the 3LP here from Superior Viaduct and listen to one of the many album highlights "Kingdom Come" below.

Daily Jam - Black Rice

Gone but not forgotten, one of my favorite bands from a decade ago, the noisy Canadian post punk group Women.  The surviving members of the band carry on with other (also excellent) projects, and i love them all.  Here's "Black Rice," our Daily Jam.

 

Cindy Lee - Heavy Metal

Good news everyone!  February brings us a new record from Cindy Lee, Patrick Flegel's wonderful project that combs the sounds of old girl groups and reverb and pairs them with reflections on loneliness.  The project has produced some of my favorite music of the last five years.  Pre-order "What's Tonight to Eternity" here via Superior Viaduct, and listen to album closer and tribute to former band mate Chris Reimer (RIP), "Heavy Metal," below.

Daily Jam - Power and Possession

From one of my favorite albums a few years back, today's tune is the down and melancholy yet hopeful track "Power and Possession" from Cindy Lee's wonderful 2015 record "Act of Tenderness."  It's perfect for this gray and rainy day in Central Texas, OR for whatever weather you've got wherever you are too.  Check it out below.

Cindy Lee

One of my most favorite artists to get into these last few years is Cindy Lee, the wonderful project of ex-Women member Patrick Flegel.  The mix of old girl group sounds meshing with lo-fi noise and hum has been like something i was always searching for to listen to, yet never knew what it was.  And now, the artist has digitally released "Model Express," the instantly sold out cassette of unused takes, B-sides, alternate versions, and other unheard sonic detritus.  Stream the whole thing below and get it here via W.25th.

Cindy Lee - Malenkost reissue

Rumors circulating that we are soon to get new music from Pat Flegel's (formerly of Women) gender-bending project Cindy Lee sometime this year, which is wonderful news.  Also good news is that the band's out of print 2015 album "Malenkost" is getting a vinyl reissue on Superior Viaduct in April.  Sign me up, pre-order here, and listen to bonus track "A Message from the Aching Sky" below.

UPDATE: The record can also be ordered from Maple Death Records.

Women - Group Transport Hall (Alternative Version)

If you haven't already pre-ordered the wonderful charity compilation "Our First 100 Days," then what are you waiting for?  So far we've had releases from Angel Olsen, PWR BTTM, Avey Tare, and Jason Molina.  Today brings us an unreleased track from gone-but-not-forgotten Canadian band Women (one of my favorites from the last 10 years, and now carrying in on in the form of Preoccupations and Cindy Lee).  Listen to "Group Transport Hall (Alternative Version)" below.

Preoccupations (fka Viet Cong)

While i wholly understand the band's decision to change their name, after the slew of negative press they received about it, it still irks me just a little bit as i feel our culture has become way, way too easily offended.  Also, i'm incredibly OCD about certain things and will now have to split up the records by the band in my alphabetized collection.  (It's always about me.)  That being said, Preoccupations is a good name.  And what's even better is the band has a new record coming out in September on Jagjaguwar (and with the new name, the band gets to go self-titled again).  First single "Anxiety" is an appropriately anxious and moody jam, full of noise and dissonance, with a kind of gothy, post-punk vibe running underneath.  It's excellent.  And the video is creepy.  Listen and watch below.

Cindy Lee

Cindy Lee is the project of former Women guitarist/vocalist Patrick Flegel, and so far this year, have released the amazing, haunting, devastating album "Act of Tenderness."  The physical version of that record is not even out yet, and already we've got a new album from the band called "Malenkost."  It's just as amazing, haunting, and devastating as ever.  The cassette came out last week on Isolated Now Waves, and is already long sold out.  No word on a digital release or repress yet, but most of the songs can be found on Youtube.  Take a listen to "Always Lovers" below, and while you're at it, head over to CCQSK Records to pre-order "Act of Tenderness" or grab a download of the whole album for free.  It's well worth your time.  These records are beautiful.

Cindy Lee

Calgary post-punk band Women was easily one of my favorite acts to come out of the 2000's, and i was super bummed when they disbanded (pun absolutely intended) in 2010.  Since then though, the surviving members have been cranking out individual projects to rival Women's all too short of a run.  One of those projects is the band (soon to be formerly known as) Viet Cong who put out what is still my favorite album of the year back in January.  Another project was called Androgynous Mind which seems to have morphed into what is now called Cindy Lee.  Their debut full-length LP, "Act of Tenderness" is due at the end of December, and from the samples and songs that i've heard, it's a messy, noisy masterpiece.  Listen to the jerky and haunting "Quit Doing Me Wrong" below and be on the lookout for the record from CCQSK.  Get more info here.

Viet Cong - Silhouettes

Viet Cong's self-titled album comes out later this month on Jagjaguwar, and based on the unbelievably awesome first single "Continental Shelf," is one of my most anticipated albums of the year.  Last year's "Cassette" EP only stoked those fires.  Well here's the second taste, another blast of post punk called "Silhouettes."  This record is going to be a monster.  Listen below.

Viet Cong

From the remnants of gone, but not forgotten Calgary band Women comes Viet Cong.  After their promising "Cassette" EP on Mexican Summer earlier this year, my interest was piqued.  And if the first taste, "Continental Shelf," from their upcoming debut on Jagjaguwar, out early next year is any indication, we are in for a treat.  The song is noisy post-punk at its finest, but with a lo-fi undercurrent to keep things fuzzy.  There's also an unease and tension withing the whole thing that builds and builds, creating a sound that's all at once discordant and gorgeous.  Listen below.

Viet Cong

The demise of the fantastic Calgary band Women was pretty tragic, an ugly break up that occurred on stage, followed by the death of a band member.  Since then, members have been putting out various solo projects like the excellent Androgynous Mind, and now Viet Cong who will soon have a release ready for Mexican Summer.  Listen to the rough mix of "Bunker Buster" below.  There are a lot of elements of Women in the mix, noise and pop...and that's a grand thing.

Androgynous Mind

One of my favorite act of the last few years was the criminally underrated Women, and was pretty bummed when they broke up.  But good news everyone.  Former singer/guitarist Patrick Flegel has a new project called Androgynous Mind, and is releasing a 7" EP called "Nightstalker" in December on Faux Discx.  Take a listen to the haunting, lo-fi "Knock on my Door" below.