Shannon and the Clams 'Sleep Talk'

I know, I know, this has been out a while but here's the thing...when 1-2-3-4 GO! Records said they were putting out the new Shannon and the Clams record I went back to debut 'I Wanna Go Home' and the live session on WFMU, and they stayed in rotation for what seems like ayons. Then everyone's top 10 records of 2011 came out most of which featured 'Sleep Talk' and realized I'd left it behind, what a dummy! Because, this is such a great pop record, not least due to Shannon's incredible voice. Packed into twelve songs is something dreamy, ballsy and a little creepy. "The Cult Song" and "Old Man Winter" fall into the wonderful-weirdos camp letting vocals freely roam alongside melodies and arrangements you might expect from bands played on Mad Mike's radio show, but with a distinct West Coast/surfer feel. 'Sleep Talk' has softer moments with "The Woodsman" and "Done With You", setting a forlorn tone before launching into another raucous number. Cue "Toxic Revenge", a take-no-prisoner stomper with crunchy guitars, palpitating bass and howlin' vocals leveled off with crashing rhythms. Shannon and the Clams is everything you could want from a modern day girl-fronted garage band, taking the very best bits of the 60s and flipping them on their head 'Sleep Talk', as many worthy bands and labels have already said, is a great, great record.

Shannon and the Clams - The Cult Song by Gilded Gutter

'I Wanna Go Home' - http://www.mediafire.com/?13fldzwnaiydfnn

Find copies at 1-2-3-4 Go! Records
Shannon and the Clams Facebook

Uzi Rash 'I Saw You'

Roughly 4 years ago or so New York regained its reputation for being a hotbed of activity for music. New bands continue to travel to and emerge from every nook and cranny of favoured Borough, Brooklyn. This area is now so rich with artists playing and recording that there's always an opportunity to discover your new favourite band there. However, having the luxury of choice with seeing bands in abundance can at times arguably make the scene feel bloated. This poisoned chalice is what fresh bands from the area seem to have to contend with today.

But, this doesn't seem to be an issue for DIY clusterfuckers Uzi Rash as they are proving a force to be reckoned with from their non-stop touring. Following debut full length 'High and Phree' released on Freedom School Records a forthcoming single on 1234 Go! Records is due in March. Uzi Rash bring noisy Australian bands like Kitchen's Floor and Naked on the Vague to mind in their nihilism. What separates Uzi Rash vastly from these two bands is the recordings sound bare and confined in comparison. Their loner stripped down bedroom pop is littered with deranged vocals, metronomic beats and angular, frenetic guitars. You can find the single when it's out here and songs to check out on their myspace here.