El Fatso make contact, Pink Cocoon have no time to waste, Fever 333 bring some heat to the street, Miss Lava do some serious long division — and those are just the first courses in the feast that is your Weekend Roundup. Spoiler alert: There are a handful of holiday tunes peppered throughout the proceedings — but not enough to put you off your food.
1 | El Fatso | Touch Base
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dutch rock formation El Fatso have released their new single Touch Base. It’s the third preview of El Fatso’s upcoming EP Rock ‘n’ Roffa. As they say: “The song is the BIG NASTY of hookup songs, as it is introduced in the first line: Supple hips started swaying, when you caught me misbehaving. The foxy vibe of the verse is followed by a sexy and intimate chorus with warm and sultry vocals. The single has been released with a ’50s-themed video clip featuring roller skating waitresses, dancing and cross dressing.”
2 | Pink Cocoon | Wasting My Time
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal doom-blues act Pink Cocoon, masterminded by multi-instrumentalist Marc Zolla, play electrically charged heavy music with savage guitar jabs and hot solos. Live and loud, but soft when needed, Pink Cocoon are equal parts penetrating pomp and strident stomp. On the heels of the August release It’s No Fun, Zolla — a dedicated student of guitar heroes like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan — wasted no time generating another music video/single. This time it’s darker and heavier, with an evil mix of Jimi Hendrix and Black Sabbath flowing through a pop atmosphere — and a video that could be described as Tim Burtonesque.”
3 | Fever 333 | Block Is On Fire
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Fever 333 dropped a new video for Block Is On Fire.” And really, what more do you need to know?
4 | Miss Lava | The Great Divide
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Lisbon heavy rockers Miss Lava unveil their post-apocalyptic video for The Great Divide, by way of the band’s full-length Doom Machine, set for release Jan. 15. The Great Divide video was filmed at a spectacular deserted open pit mine in Alentejo, Portugal. It was the first place in Portugal to have electric lighting. Comments vocalist Johnny Lee, “The Great Divide is an euphemism for death; an apocalyptic vision for mankind. We keep destroying our planet and forgetting that when it ends, it ends for everyone.”
5 | The Prudish Few | I Am From History
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Prudish Few released their debut album The Eagle Has Left the Building back in August. The new video for I am From History is a salve for the winter doldrums. Sure, it’s about the crushing weight of nostalgia — but it feels good.”
6 | Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection & Erin Rae | In a Mist
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “An intimate backyard performance by Spencer Cullum and Erin Rae, covering the 1972 single In a Mist by Duncan Browne. It’s a sad tune, but these two songbirds deliver an absolutely beautiful performance.”
7 | Rough Dreams | The Artist in the Ambulance
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Knoxville’s Rough Dreams have dropped a video for their cover of Thrice’s The Artist In The Ambulance. The clip was directed by Kurt Fowles of Sirius Cenema. Singer-guitarist Jake Jones explains, “We decided to make a video for The Artist in The Ambulance because the song perfectly sums up the vibe of the early 2000’s underground emo/punk/post-hardcore era. That time period in music is so nostalgic and brings back such great memories for so many people.” The track will appear on the band’s upcoming covers EP From the Graves of Better Days, set for release on Feb. 5.”
8 | Izzy Pollak | Single All The Way (ft. Thomas London)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging artist Izzy Pollak has released It’s Never Too Early, a holiday charity EP. All proceeds from downloads and streams will be donated to CASA of Los Angeles to provide abused and neglected children in L.A. County’s child welfare system with a stable adult mentor. It’s Never Too Early features reimagined versions of Christmas classics, plus the ‘original Hanukkah banger’ Single All The Way. Pollak has also released a music video for Single All The Way featuring Thomas London, shot and co-directed by Montana Tucker.”
9 | Coupler | The Great Wave
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From Coupler’s new EP, The Forgotten Openness of the Closed World, this Ben Marcantel visualizer video is a reminder that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. An opportunity for meditation. Sit, stare, enjoy.”
10 | Crown the Empire | Red Pills
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Hard rock band Crown the Empire are closing out 2020 by dropping the futuristic and participatory video for Red Pills, from 2019’s Sudden Sky. The Matrix-inspired, visually frenetic video comes equipped with two endings. At the 2:10 mark, viewers can choose between the alternate endings — Red Pill or Blue Pill — just like Neo in The Matrix. “We created an interactive experience where you, the viewer, will be taken down a wormhole to decide your own ending,” the band say. “Choose your destiny wisely…”
11 | Gloria | You Had It All
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Gloria are preparing a second album, Sabbat Matters, scheduled for March. But a new single taken from the album, You Had It All, is already available.”
12 | CamelPhat | Easier
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Grammy-nominated duo CamelPhat have unveiled the official video for their latest anthem Easier. The visual is a tribute to struggling night clubs which are still closed due to the pandemic. The director, Tom Haines, says: “There’s nothing more frustrating than knowing all that energy and potential we collectively enjoy is hanging in the balance, mothballed while it waits to be reanimated. That’s what I wanted to conjure with the video for Easier, the idea that it’s just within reach, that the rich history of clubbing and dance music and all that brings with it, is in the ether. I hope that it’s by parts joyous, ecstatic and also emotional as a video.”
13 | The Lumineers | Silent Night
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Lumineers have released their rendition of the holiday classic Silent Night. For an entire year, all proceeds from streaming the song will benefit the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund, helping save some of the music industry’s most important stages. The Lumineers issued the following statement: “Venues have gone silent all across the country and world because of the pandemic. Hope is on the horizon, and we believe we’ll be playing again in 2021. But independent venues need our help to survive that long. Don’t let the venues remain silent forever — Save Our Stages.”
14 | Electric Jaguar Baby | Geddit
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A few days afher the deluxe re-release of their debut self-titled album, Parisian acid-fuzz/stoner/psych rockers Electric Jaguar Baby just shared a video for the song Geddit. Since their birth in 2015 in Paris, Electric Jaguar Baby have praised the cult of fuzz, offering it tracks born from a gang-bang with Ty Segall, Josh Homme, Jack White and Ozzy Osbourne, sprinkled with retro and occult ’70s vibes.”
15 | Corvair | Flannel Pajamas
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Portland indie band Corvair are excited to bring holiday the holiday spirit with their latest single Flannel Pajamas. Husband-and-wife duo Brian Naubert and Heather Larimer have created the perfect Christmas song for the strange time/space wormhole known as late 2020. Naubert explains, “Christmas music is pretty divisive but we absolutely love it. I grew up listening to it nonstop because my dad was in a band called The Galaxies who made an iconic Christmas Album with The Sonics and The Wailers, and that record was a huge staple in my house. We felt that with such a strange and desolate holiday this year, it was a good time to add to the family tradition.”
16 | Willa Amai | December
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Willa Amai is closing 2020 with her broody Christmas single December. It was decided that it was apropos to be put out this year, especially with Amai’s lyrics for the song speaking of troubled times over the holiday. Amai retorts that the song’s melancholy mood battles with the acceptance of loneliness and remembrance in a time of joy and love. It’s about learning to be OK with yourself and with being alone — and finding happiness in who you already are.”
17 | Dee Mula | Water (ft. BIG30)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Memphis rapper Dee Mula releases his new track Water (ft. Big30), produced by DJ KJ. The accompanying video was directed by The Wizard and shows Dee Mula, Big30 and friends hanging out on a typical night. Dee Mula also announces the release of his new album Respect, slated for an early 2021 release. The hard-hitting, 15-track album features Big30, Big Homiie G and Jessica Dime.”
18 | Pyramido | Fänrik Källbacks Sägner
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Pyramido share a music video for Fänrik Källbacks Sägner, from the band’s fifth studio album Fem. It’s one shortest and fastest songs Pyramido has ever written. Dan Widing comments: “The video Fänrik Källbacks Sägner was shot in Pyramido’s rehearsal space in Malmö, Sweden and at a couple of live shows (remember them?). The lyrics are about being bullied and what it does with your self-esteem. NEVER give up!!”
19 | Slave Steel | Shut
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Slave Steel started in Rome in 2008 and have evolved into the sonic squad they are today. Rooted in thrash, death and heavy metal, the music from this London quartet is characterised by a hammering rhythm section, groovy guitars, and acid vocals. Newest offering Shut is a short edit of the full track which will be included in an EP due in spring. Slave Steel explain: “The lyrics were inspired from the poem Burial of the Dead from T.S. Elliot’s The Wasteland, both for the contents (disillusionment, desolation, loneliness) and the ironic tone.”
20 | Strydegor | Stars & Strife
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Isolacracy, the fourth album from German melodic death metallers Strydegor, was released on Nov. 13. Now you can listen their new single Stars And Strife, artfully animated by Immanuel Promnitz.”
21 | Sollein | Another Side of Sadness
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Andy Clarke, known primarily for fronting death/doom act The Crawling, has already revealed details of his new solo project Sollein. “I think I have reached that age that happens to most I guess, where you question the very point of being; an existential crisis of sorts. Another Side of Sadness explores my view of the world when I look at people, and what brings joy. We are puppets, our happiness controlled by others, and whilst many may disagree, the point I’m making is: Does it matter?”
22 | Friede Merz | Berlin 2020
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Friede Merz hits the nail on the head with Berlin 2020. it’s a survival anthem for all club-kid unicorns overlooked by politics or silenced out of bigotry. For all expat-chosen-family members stranded in the capital. For all those who wish for nothing more than for Berghain to finally receive its rightful status as a church, at least as a Christmas service.”
23 | Nicki & Patrick Adams | Pannonica
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Brothers Nicki and Patrick Adams have a natural bond that most musicians can never approximate with their peers. Their common upbringing and interests have also given them the idea to blend the aural tradition of jazz with the more written one of classical, with a unique approach that makes their efforts seem buoyant and natural on their new recording Lynx. Patrick’s shining trumpet provides a stark intro into Thelonious Monk’s Pannonica, which finds itself impressionistically melded with harmonic and rhythmic elements from pieces by Khachaturian, Bach and Prokofiev.”
24 | Crash Cathedral | Fangs
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Fusing a radio-ready pop sensibility with sounds pulled from their combined background in electronic, industrial and new wave / goth music, the group’s second song showcases their new vocalist GLMR at his finest, with a performance that lands somewhere between The Weeknd, Post Malone and The 1975. Swirling guitars and a haunting electronic soundscape bring the song into a decidedly more sinister territory than you might expect, with a computer-rendered visualizer (courtesy of NYC post-industrial stalwart Trace Amount) that adds a distinct aesthetic value to a track that already stands out on its own.”
25 | V | No Church on Sunday
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Born in the heart of Philadelphia, built in the dark trenches of the Carolinas, V aka The Big M embodies the belly of Black America while proudly representing the 40M camp and his people abroad. Armed with controversial punchlines and a “bop gifted by the Gods”, the message of Black power is clear. His trailblazing debut No Church On Sunday has been running it up since it release in late August. Now he’s got a video to go with it.”
