Oakland post-punk-psychedelia band Parallel just dropped an impressive self title 6 song EP. The dreamy dark vibe brings shoegaze sensibility with an affinity for post punk. You’r immediately drawn to the impressive singers, both male and female, who execute with intoxicating delivery and melancholy affect. Boosted by the dark melodic musical design and enticing lead guitar work, you’ll easily lose yourself to the aura of their signature sound. Offering diverse influences from shoegaze icons Slowdive to the punk-psychedelia of bands like Sad Lovers and The Chameleons, Parallels are stylistically aligned with the bands that inspire them.
The echoing design could draw similarities to Warpaint, but with evidence of dream pop and post rock. There’s hints of Beach House and Explosions in the Sky. At the root is 80s post punk, most evident in the single Bring Me Down, with an aura familiar to the Cure and Bauhaus, but with a more underground dark wave ethos.
The band dips into the world of pop on the new wave instant classic Precocious. The most infectious of this vibe heavy collection, Precocious embraces the sugary feel of pop punks first movement, when bands like The Bangles and The Go-Go’s splintered out of punk to chase mainstream success. This timeless vibe shines with catchy nostalgia.
Altogether a solid collection, its a postcard to see Parallel perform live. The members have been kicking around between various projects in the Oakland area, they’ve seen a stage or two in their time, and are guaranteed to bring a memorable live show.
Until then enjoy Precocious now on our Best New Rock Playlist.
Synth pop buzz band gloomy june return with the anthemic This Party Is A Warzone. A tribute to revitalizing the live music industry after restrictions shut venues and house shows down all over the country, gloomy june reignites the party with infectious energy and genuine excitement. Intersecting synths and tasty guitar leads swirl around an emphatic vocal from the groups vibrant lead vocalist. More modern than past retro releases, the new single could draw similarities to pop rock mega acts like Paramore and the 1975, or even rock cuts from Olivia Rodrigo. The San Francisco based group brings undeniable mainstream appeal. They’re insatiable catchy, with automatic hooks and dance floor snap.
The mood turns momentarily somber in the songs bridge section, as the group laments what it took to get here. They know better than to underscore the trials and sacrifice of our recent histories, they know not everyone’s ready to cut loose, and they show some empathy and lend a helping hand to anyone still suffering from social anxiety. “What you gonna do, are you coming through? I’d do it all, I’d give it all back for you.”
The new single is the last taste in advance of their album Popsick, which drops June 2. They’re celebrating with a full southwest tour. We’ve been a fan since their first single dropped earlier this year, as they’ve earned a reputation for tight energetic studio performances with anthemic appeal. A gloomy june concert would be the perfect release for all your bottled up lockdown angst, so gather up the dead batteries and book them for a recharge, gloomy june has enough juice to get us all running right.
Enjoy This Party Is A Warzone now on our Best New Rock Playlist
And The Broken recently released a fresh 3 song collection, The Black and Blue Ep. The groups post punk leanings have nostalgic appeal. Dark brooding chord designs drip with intoxicating melodic tendency, as the dissonant singers contempt brings attitude and swagger to these black leather vibes. The feeling is on full display on the EP’s opener Evening Sun. There’s evidence of both The Cure and early U2, as well as darker acts like The Cult.
The 2nd track, Say You Will, has more indie sensibility. It could draw similarities to Arcade Fire, Hamilton Leithhauser, and The National. Like the aforementioned indie icons, it brings a contemplative reflective vibe with melancholy attraction. We’re willingly sucked into these somber vibes, wearing a sad song on a summer day. It’s the art of knowing that keeps us together. “Say you will, but you won’t.”
The most progressive effort is the EP’s closer, My Heart’s Desires. There’s evidence of what influenced the first two tracks, as well as the bands own signature touch. This chill dark rock vibe on the tracks first section has dreamy affect. The groove picks up for songs second section, as the band flaunts their penchant for dynamic arrangements.
Enjoy Evening Sun now on our Best New Rock Playlist
The big sound of Port Streets is on full display with their new single Dream Girl, Decide. The catchy anthemic single is mixed crisp and bright. Stylistically its somewhere between the psych pop of Interpol and the Brit Pop of Arctic Monkeys. It also has the sonic production quality of works by Wilco and Blur, with synths and samples swirling around the auditory spectrum. The dense layered arrangement snaps with hard hitting drums that push through the mid tempo with every musical section. Vibrant distorted guitars shine with an affinity for 80s metal in the vein of Weezer’s tone on Maladroit.
The band performance is tight and energetic, it jumps out of the speakers. The singer matches the bands intensity in energy and conviction The anthemic chorus and bridge section has classic appeal, conjuring memories of vintage Boston and ELO.
Altogether Port Streets revitalize classic rock with an indie heart. There’s a hint of indie’s first evolution out of alternative, recalling the glorious aughts and its trove of underrated greats. The theatrical tweaky lyrical under layer recalls the storytelling ethos of pop rock acts like Fountains of Wayne, as Port Streets describe the perils of watching a friend re-enter the mental hospital for the third time. Little does she know that they penned a banger in her honor.
Enjoy Dream Girl, Decide now on our Best New Rock Playlist
The Wild Is Calling 