24 Deep Discount Mark Down Sounds
24 Deep Discount Mark Down Sounds includes a track by Salt Lake City’s A Deeper Heaven. A new video from UK’s Swansea Sound. Prices deeply slashed but fun is amplified with visuals. Weighing in with a blend of genres from Seattle is New Age Healers. Take listen and let me know what you think they blend into their mix. Finally, Quiz Show. I love game shows, NJ, and am a low key fan of Shudder To Think. Quiz Show check all three boxes. In name, perhaps a game show kind of band name ? They hail from the motherland, aka garden state, and contain members of Shudder To Think. Read on please.
A Deeper Heaven – Future Fear – Shore Dive Records
Not too long ago I listen to the single Stay from A Deeper Heaven. Then I promptly try to capture in words what that track is about here. https://meatsheetfanzine.com/elite-new-diy-sos-help-desk-heaven/ If you didn’t just click through and skipped my intro, then allow me to tell you A Deeper Heaven hails from Salt Lake City at the current moment. Shout out to Iceburn.
Future Fear is the follow-up to that February 2024’s track, Stay .There is a video for Stay. It’s a hard watch for me due to subject matter and having lost my mother and several people to cancer. Alas, like the next entry below it puts the song into a new visual context.
Future Fear opens with snapping, crispy drums.Boom bap boom boom bap. Steady upbeat hits. Ringing chiming clean ish guitars. Following with hefty, burly, Simon Gallup inspired bass notes and slides. The DIIV and Cure influences abound on this song. No need to fear, I link you. https://adeeperheaven.bandcamp.com/track/future-fear
Undeniably, Future Fear is going for the shoegaze sound but still finding cozy spaces in new wave territory, Future Fear has the jangle and reverb guitars that shy indie gazers wish for. The higher notes of the guitar yearning in tone. A feeling that is easier expressed in song, maybe ?
Until about 2 minutes in the guitar drops out leaving the bass and drums to set the pace and offer an introspective mood. If not introspective mood, then perhaps protective and concerned, wistful, as the vocals sing “You’re far too young”. An elder hoping to shield a youth from the too much, too soon life traumas.
That is an interesting contrast from the bright and vibrant strumming through out Future Fear. So if you seek that dreamy sound but desire a touch of pop, and slight late 80’s guitar edge Future Fear abides.
Swansea Sound – Marking It Down – Skepwax Records
Swansea Sound are a recent new favorite for me. You can read about a fantastic LP from late 2023 here. https://meatsheetfanzine.com/new-twentieth-century-swansea-sounds/
This is a new single accompanied with a very amusing video. Perhaps record store employees and vinyl aficionados will relate on some, or many levels. Speaking of which Skep Wax produced a limited run of the 7″. By the time you may be reading this they are sold but maybe I’ll be able to secure a less limited 2nd or 3rd press. This limited run features hand crafted art which looks super cool and I love that personal creative touch (see below) .
Secondly, this is probably my favorite track from Twentieth Century although it could rotate depending on the day. What’s cool is the gap in time between the song and the video release.
I already painted my own visual picture and then Swansea Sound provides a whole new context by filming a video in a record store. It’s as if I get to go to a record shop somewhere in the UK, something I have yet to do. It’s on the to do list.
Therefore it has a personal, special charm for me, how do you find it ? No need to look further here is the embed for your review. Go into the link for more fun stuff that will tangibly support the band. Shares and views are great and free, but sales are key. https://swanseasound.bandcamp.com/
Although I have never worked in a record store, the exchange between lead vocals Hue and Amelia Fletcher is far too familiar. In this video the facial expressions are golden. Solidifying the video with song /lyrics.
When you work in a record store or frequent them often, one can hear exchanges like this. Retail workers literally listen and hear the same things, sometimes multiple times a day from differnt people. This makes me wonder (when i worked in music gear store) ” Am I being pranked ” . “Are these customers all plugged into the matrix and are Agent Smiths , just less bright? ” But I digress, it takes all kinds to make the world go round. But still …
There’s always ‘that person’. In my experience it’s most times an awkward male. I’m sure there was a time where it was me because I discover something and fixate on it. Which makes this video even more amusing in the sense I’m laughing at my past self.
Cleverly hidden albums from Swansea Sound’s former and current bands are featured in the background. It’s clever product placement for Skep Wax and I am all about capitalizing on visual aspects like this. It’s like finding indie rock Easter eggs. Fun times. Super bummed I cannot make the trip cross the USA to see them play North East Coast. But if you live there or travel there maybe you can. Check Skepwax site for all info.
New Age Healers – The Spin Out –
I can’t review everything that comes through my email because I have to sift through spam about erectile dysfunction, space age Mag lights, AARP, and walk in bathtubs and such. Sometimes it just gets to be overwhelming. But I was able to rescue this one.
Upon further investigation this LP fits nicely between the cracks of my love for tuneful pop, punk, indie rock and pop and a few other genre bending and blending nooks.
Seattle’s New Age Healers are led by Owen Murphy’s vocal skills. Adam LeVasseur’s vigorous drumming, with Allen Murray loose but still rhythmic basslines fill out the indie grooves. Plus tasteful, showering synths of Farkhad Saidmuratov and Jeremy Koepping. Jeremy filling in on guitar too. For me, the right amount of keyboards can make a big difference. The New Age Healers navigate the guitar/ synth straits just fine. Staying on course. Don’t just take it from me. Listen for yourself https://newagehealers.bandcamp.com/album/the-spin-out
First track is Dying Moon. Imagine 80’s new wave driven over the edge into the outskirts of punk. With keyboards dotting the fuzz laden guitar riffs. From what I heard of 90’s Swervedriver’s catalog this is close in guitar delivery. Owen Murphy’s distinct, succinct vocals shine on this and throughout. The bass guitar makes good use of rhythm yet incorporating slides or shall I say glissando?
Next is The Spin Out or title track. A hip hop (or if you prefer industrial) inspired beat sets the pace. Boom bapping alongside Gary Numan / Depeche sounding keys. Slower, cutting guitars whirr in and out. If you know Soft As Snow But Warm Inside by My Bloody Valentine, then you will easily make a connection to The Spin Out.
The vocals fall between hazy breathe – y and projecting. This works well for this track, if it were too dreamy, it would not accentuate the other tones and tapestries that the Healers are weaving.
Here is video for The Spin Out billed as ‘dizzying psychedelic video’ embedded not far below.A few key notes. A Jazzmaster or Jaguar like guitar conforms MBV influence. Slow motion footage and photos strung together give semblance of cell or computer animation. Visually not shabby at all. As I watch and listen I hear more and more “Isn’t Anything” (mostly guitars) and “Soon” (Colm’s drums) all over the song. The synths adding a fuzzy layer that My Bloody Valentine did not utilize in the early years.
Fourth song is Operatic . What starts as punk and new wave shifts into more soaring sunset colored cloud realms. Feedback from treble guitars,chugging bass. The percussion fills and beats are especially groovy on Operatic. Melodic and repetetive guitar motifs open up to a crescendoing bridge with even tastier rhythms (both bass and drums). The vocals sparkle and hum in unison. I’m not sure if its lead and backing vocals on this track, or perhaps
Chemical Control is an angular, arpeggiated hummer. The keys and bass frequencies take the front seat. The guitars are mostly tacet but when they kick in, its like an OOF moment or a run that reminds me of The Cure. Ya know artsy in the good way, not in the $12.00 cappuccino way.
Radiate gives you the groove and swagger of the 90’s creation bands like Primal Scream. Lest you think its as electronic or house music inspired like Screamadelica. More in the vein of early Primal Scream. More guitar driven. Warm synth like that kind you may hear on the S/T Lords Of the New Church LP from way back. Both sound fresh, be it now or then. Owen Murphy’s vocals
Last track is All Wrapped Up. Some notes on the closing song. Choppy, yet satisfying tremolo drenched guitars set to Johnny Marr BPM rate (or just about, work with me)
So satisfying in fact that the track ends several times and I want to replay it. Clever placement, leaving me wanting more. The Spin Out starts out strong. It’s good. As I listen, it gets better and better, it’s one of those. By the time Radiate plays I’m in a different musical place.
In conclusion The Spin Out album is rooted in indie and Brit pop sounds but still mobile enough to flow into artsy new wave and post new wave soils.
The attention to detail is staggering. I write some music myself. I don’t know if I could compose even a rough demo that touches the shell of one of New Age Healers songs in demo form.
That is to say, these songs are fully mixed and mastered and sound great but the way the songs are structured are a definite challenge for a listener. Furthermore, it takes a natural talent and or hard work to compose this type of music. Some people can allow the muse to visit, or have a knack for it naturally, and others write their asses off and prune away until they have a solid group of songs. Or any combo of those working conditions. I don’t know where The New Age Healers fit into that, but I do know this album resonates with me.
On the contrary, I wouldn’t say The Spin Out is overly challenging to hear, but if one is engaged , then one can hear a level of composition that transcends hooks and schlock rock.
The Spin Out is shoegaze heavy. But it’s the non shoegaze elements that set it apart from lots of what I heard since 2020 (Coincidentally the birth of this blog) . This makes for compelling listening. John Meat better wrap this one up as I have probably alienated anyone with short attention spans, and that is OK !
Quiz Show – Flotsam EP – Magic Door Records Label
Meatsheet Fanzine tries to be unbiased. However when I read this band is from NJ and has Shudder To Think members in it, an immediate bias appears. I do have a soft spot for early Shudder To Think and most Dischord related material. On top of that I spent my earliest years and at least my first half of my life living off exit 7A of the NJ Turnpike, therefore it can be said I am A Jersey o phile.
Also at this time I would like to apologize for slamming Mind Science Of The Mind (also featuring Shudder To Think member Nathan Larson and Dambuilders members ) in one of my earlier printed issues circa 1996. Years later I realize I was a dumb kid, and I love that album. Three piece from garden state featuring voice stylings / guitar of Chris Matthews. Jesse Krakow on bass and backing vocals. So we go back to our regular schedule program, Quiz Show. Tune in here https://quizshow.bandcamp.com/album/flotsam
First track is Super Concrete. Chugging classic rock riff starts it off, but then quickly turns punk or post punk. It could be a .38 Special inspired riff however when the vocals come in the shift is bloody obvious. You can choose whatever term you genre police like best or fight me in the instagram comments for this blog post. Bottom line the Quiz Show got concrete firm sounds.
The vocals are sardonic, emoting, with a sense of being annoyed and / or venting. Think Gordon Gano of the Femmes meets Alec Mackaye from The Faith.
However vocals more sung than screamy. I’m referring to the three songs of the EP rather than Super Concrete solely. This track is catchy and asking “What kind of life is this to find” A earworm that leaves your head pregnant with the melody. Boy Howdy, I ask myself this in past and present.
Backing vocals singing “Su – per Concrete” well, there is your Shudder to Think fix. Cooing, melodic , and providing the counter melody to Mr. Matthews.
Packing It In gives you another sing along opportunity. All the vocals have that nostalgic late 80’s gritty sing along feel. First you get more chugging guitars peppered with plinking harmonics dispersed at random. Far back in the mix and then barging to the front. Pounding drums with strength that you’s expect to a skateboard or BMX video. The irreverent vocals ping pong back and forth. “You know what I’m talking about right?” A song that seemingly deals with judging others or being judged. I’ll put on my readers and get back you on meaning. This is another catchy number. Throbbing in and out bass. I can hear a similarity to the Offspring a bit. The difference is I am more likely to listen to this band as I find the Offspring insufferable. The melodic, slower bridge on this has a ton more ability and feeling than any three chord struggling Warp Tour or wanna be Epitaph band.
At one point the guitars conjured up Dag Nasty’s Brian Baker tonality. But it shifts from moment to moment. Packing It In is the anthem of the three songs on Flotsam EP. Writing this with no judgement either way. All three tracks have their own merits if may say so.
Last , China Glaze rounds this out. Structurally China Glaze seems to have the most complexity. For bass players, it’s a field day. At about 1:40 in the rhythm section throws down.
Precision on drums, precision on bass. Bonus melody on that bass line that sounds super fun to play.
D D D Daaa. Meanwhile the guitar drones and fills in the higher end string sounds. The drum fills make me envious as I can play only punk / rock basic beats. Several interludes of bass, drums and guitar trickery make this one above and beyond the average punk/post punk band.
So if one is searching for that Dischord ish sound and you have run the gamut from S.O.A. and legless bulls.. You need something newer to date than Fugazi or Coricky , then you have Quiz Show which is fresher only in release date, but in the neighborhood of east coast post punk, with some extra hooks. More fun times. All hail 201 area code and all of New Jersey !
Next a guest writer returns and joins me for the latest RIDE album. Bernard Ashbahian, whom is part of my “Authors ” tab. We share an appreciation of Sarah Records type bands and Creation bands like Ride. For more info on that https://meatsheetfanzine.com/meat-sheet-authors/
Ride – Interplay – Wichita Records – (Bernard)
Just finished listening to the new Ride album Interplay. This is the band’s third post reunion album and I have to say that even though they have taken their sound in a different direction since reuniting I have enjoyed what they have put out so far and this one is no exception. Right from the first song “Peace Sign” with its bright synths and anthemic chorus it’s obvious that the band have moved far away from the shoegaze sound of their earlier records. Most of the songs on the record have a more of eighties feel to them with the use of a lot more synths and a lot more electronics.
One of the longest songs on the album “Essaouira” is probably the best illustration of the band’s new approach. Named after city in Morroco it incorporates a mixture of trip hop and psychedelic pop as it builds over the course of seven minutes.
Also, going in a more 80s direction is the driving “Monaco” and the New Order-ish “Last Frontier” both which feature chiming guitars and sparking synth chords. “Sunrise Chaser” has glimmering synths while the closing track “Yesterday is Just a Song” goes into more psychedelic territory with its warm coating of haunting electronics.
But where the album really shines is when Ride merge their new direction with the shoegaze sound of their 90s heyday and nothing shows that more than the cinematic “Light in a Quiet Room”. Starting off the band singing over waves of shimmering synths for about three minutes only to switch over to hazy second half that incorporates a noisy build up of shoegazey guitars making it the closet thing to the band’s old sound.
The shimmering “Portland Rocks” with its soaring guitars and the sparkling “Last Night I Went Somewhere to Dream” with its dreamy melody also reminded me of Ride’s older days. The spine tingling “I Came to See the Wreck”, the acoustic and piano driven “Stay Free” and finally the pounding “Midnight Rider” are the remaining songs on the record that best reflects Ride’s new found confidence and continuing growth as a band. So yeah Ride have shown that they have no intention on repeating themselves since reuniting and I for one have no problem with that.
Ride – Interplay – Wichita Records – (John )
Rather than bore the lint out of your pockets I’ll highlight and piggyback off Bernard’s review with key points and songs. On second thought, I back Bernard’s review and will talk on the vlog or include it in the best albums of 2024. Some must listen numbers are Light in a Quiet Room.
Featuring a crescendo, volume swell, and flurry unlike I have ever heard Ride perform. A fine speaker test for your best earbuds or home sound system. Absolutely stunning.
Midnight Rider is sleek, sophisticated ode to the nocturnal sounds that not even Drakkar Noir, or a fine liqueur jingle can touch. Tighten your vinyl windbreaker when listening and prepare for the audio version of hairpin turns and glowing streetlights. I could gush on and on over this magnificent, lush , panoramic,sonic landscape but haven’t you had enough talk or reading ? Interplay is INCREDIBLE.
OK OK. Time to prepare for the next post. Hope you got a good deal on these 24 deep discount mark down sounds.
I’ve used this outro before, but as long as we have the current economy. AI threats to creativity, money and quantity of streams/sales over quality.. I’ll repeat myself. Besides it’s doubtful people find themselves a regular reader of this blog and will spot me repeating myself too heavily.
Support me and the artists in this entry. Many many many hours go into creating these works. Due to socio economic and socio political concerns that will be left nameless, its hard to get your art ‘ out there’. That is to say, harder and harder to monetize artistic works like blogs, zines, music, merch, etc.
So if you follow, share, purchase from any of us, you are doing your part to offset the bloated corpos that do not give a bloody toss about creativity. They care only about keeping their “music business” finances flowing.
Why not have art and the ability to have some good “currency” aka energy or money exchanged ? Stay well, and I hope your muse finds you. – John