From a journalistic integrity point of view, I should not be reviewing the debut New Man album, Sings. The record was released on yk Records and that’s my label. So, the amount of bias involved here is overwhelming. You could call this payola but no one’s getting paid at WOTT, so it’s more like nepotism.

With that in mind, I can subjectively tell you that this is eight songs of smart, witty, pop songs. The term “pop” (and it’s sub-genre Power Pop) often have a, much deserved, reputation for being overly simplistic, shallow expressions of a formula. Sings is not that. The songs are catchy, upbeat and memorable – as a pop song should be – but the layers of dense instrumentation, rich vocal harmonies and surprising flourishes make it surpass any detrimental feelings about the genre.

Listening to the title track “EP” and first single “Maybe I’m Feelin’ Fine”, it should be clear that New Man has a Beach Boys influence. Specifically, there’s a “everything including the kitchen sink” approach to many of these songs that somehow manages to keep itself from becoming a total aural circus.

All bias aside, you can judge it for yourself by giving it a stream or swinging by The 5 Spot tonight (Oct 12th) to see them perform it live.

Last we heard from Kim Logan was with her Psuedoscience: Chapter 3 single collaboration with Gyasi Heus, a swampy rockin’ affair if ever there was one. So, it’s rather surprising and refreshing to hear her newest offering is a Serge Gainsbourg cover of “Couleur Cafe.”

The release comes complete with a fully orchestrated video directed by Liam Jordan that features some sweet choreographed cafe dance moves and some subtle stop motion with Logan herself.

It’s a faithful cover of the original but not without it’s own spin; particularly the presence of Logan’s vocals and a more upbeat pace compared to Gainsbourg’s languid style.

Zach Prosser, mastermind behind Z and occasional Bandsplainer guest, recently announced that the band would be releasing an EP and a full-length in October. The EP, entitled MAGNUfEEK, is a Cassette Store Day exclusive that I imagine you’ll have to beg and plead with Banana Tapes to get a copy. The full-length, entitled BarbedWire.org, is currently unreleased but we may have a bit of a sneak peek of what lies within from a recent Bandcamp posting of the song “Burner.”

Doing some low level Internet sleuthing, it seems that MAGNUfEEK does not contain a song with such a title, so it’s safe to assume this exists outside of that. The song itself is a much heavier number than the previously released “456“, verging into metal territory with the vocal growls, sludgy guitars and plenty of distortion. Does this signal that the track is its own standalone endeavor or that BarbedWire.org promised to be an eclectic offering of whatever-the-fuck style the band wants to put out into the world?

Sure, in this age of social media I could just ask the band but I prefer the speculation route. My money’s placed firmly on the idea that the forthcoming album is a varietal offering. Only time will tell and prove me wrong or right but, in the meantime, I’ll enjoy the surprising offering of “Burner.”

If you missed the premiere over on The Cream, please go take a moment to familiarize yourself with the background of Peachy – the new trio of Leah Miller, Rachel Warrick and Benji Coale – and their new album Squirt that’s been released by Idle Bloom’s own Olivia Scibelli’s new label, Budding Romance Records.

The album itself manages to find that tricky balance between head-bopping pop songs and snarling punkish delivery. The longest runtime clocks in just over three minutes, which means that none of the tracks have a moment to drag or give a moment of reprieve from the energy they’re putting out. “Rich Boy” is the prime example of that unrelenting push forward. Lyrically and musically, it’s emblematic of the album as it could be a Fuck You ode to Trump or just your run of the mill asshole (maybe both), complete with all the appropriate and empowered mentality that comes with it.

Naming your band “Peachy” and giving your debut album a bright pink and rainbow adorned cover would imply an album of keyboard fueled twee pop songs but Peachy is an exercise in subverting your expectations. These songs have bite and an opinion, namely in their rightful expression of frustration and disgust with much of our current social climate.