Frenchkissing Over A Dream Shake

Who is keen for a Dream Shake? The eponymous debut LP from the Virginia Beach duo came out this week on Frenchkiss Records, and it's an album that slides down easy, tastes great and give you the warm and fuzzies well after the wax stops spinning - even if it's a little sugary at times. Not unlike a Royal Copenhagen Ice Cream Toblerone thickshake. Man, I really could go one of those right about now...

The nine tracks here, made up of names of women from 80s and 90s television shows, are delivered with the slightest of hazy, sepia-tinged, fuzz cauldron echoes, a crunching sound that can start to leaven things out after a time. Still, it's undeniable that Dream Shake knows their way around a solid hook, and when you create early-Deerhunter gems like 'Samantha', you are onto a great thing. This is a fresh new take for the band (formerly called We Are Trees - the shift of name was a good call), and there is more than enough here to come back to - and hold high hopes for the future.

You can buy Dream Shake here.

Crocodiles Are Like Cockroaches These Days

San Diego outfit Crocodiles keep spiralling further away from their batshit no-jazz Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower days, as new album Crimes Of Passion attests. Brandon Welchez and his cohorts have been about embracing and eschewing the garage punk-pop mantras of the past few years ever since they dropped Summer Of Hate back in 2009. Yet if 'Cockroach' is anything to go by, it's still a retro-view sound, more akin to early Raveonettes (especially their Pretty In Black era) and a smattering of the genesis of BRMC than anything that is going on now. Both of these reference are bleeding obvious too - especially seeing as Sune Rose Wagner is on production duties here, their last album Endless Flowers felt like a Raveonettes cast-off (in a good way), and Welchez holds an air and a sneer not too far from BRMC's Robert Leven Been, leather jacket and all. I've always been a bit of a fence sitter with Crocodiles - enjoying their output whilst unable to put a pin into why its any better than the myriad other acts that permeated this fetid earth. Maybe its that their overt, obvious touchstones hold a place in the genetics of my musical tastes. Nevertheless, I await the August release of Crimes Of Passion (out through Frenchkiss Records - pre-order here) with anticipation.

Nothing wrong with being the black sheep

Ive had to frantically surf the blogosphere the past few days, as the glut of new music/news/gigs/albums that sits on my desk threatens to envelop my house, and my life. Not necessarily a bad thing, mind - and the fact that I no longer have a phone has allowed for uninterrupted immersion, and definitely to give all and sundry the undivided attention it deserves.

Suckers isnt necessarily a 'new' band - they have been championed by the likes of Pitchfork, and were Stereogum's 'band to watch' back this time last year - but they are about to make an impact with the release of their debut album, Wild Smile, on June 8 via Frenchkiss, home of the likes of The Hold Steady, Cut Off Your Hands, Freelance Whales and Ex Models. They have borne references to the likes of Yeasayer, but I think that is pretty disparaging - especially as I think Yeasayer are grossly overrated. Be that as it may, I really enjoyed their EP of last year, and if 'Black Sheep' is anything to go by (and apparently it is - many comments on this track is that its far from the best on the album), Suckers is something you should not miss out on. The track reminds me hugely of Wolf Parade at their skewed best, with more danceable accessibility, hence their support slots for MGMT last year.

And lastly - the boys did a mega rad of death cover of Raveonette's anti-rape song 'Boys Who Rape (Deserve To Be Destroyed)', which firmly entrenches Suckers as poll position holders for band to watch this year.

Suckers - Black Sheep

Suckers - Boys Who Rape (Deserve To Be Destroyed)