On this round of Bandcamp Bonanza I'm sharing several recent additions to my bandcamp collection in case you aren't actively following along. Big swath of styles as usual and hopefully something for everyone to enjoy.
First up a new band to me, and an album that really had that initial impact on me when I pushed play for the first time. It doesn't hurt that the album is Name Your Price on bandcamp where you can add to your collection and show off to all your followers and maybe help the band out by putting it in the face of more people. The band is Benthos, and they're from New York City, NY.
Benthos II brings us a conceptual domination of crunchy riffs, craggy vocals and perilous atmosphere. They list "ear candy" as an instrument. I cannot confirm nor deny such practice but it sounds oh so sweet.Switching gears and traveling to the opposite end of the USA, the band The Mother Hips from San Francisco, CA dropped a new album called When We Disappear. Any album that has a faint resemblance to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers get my attention and you can hear that on the first song. The Mother Hips have been around for a few years and I'm glad I finally took the time to sit down and add their new album to my vinyl shelf.
THE MOTHER HIPS - WHEN WE DISAPPEAR
The world can always use more Tom Petty worship. The Mother Hips bring a hearty helping of dreamy California psych with strong songwriting chops and a penchant for downright groove.Next up, and a former Rebel Wave Records band (Ripple Music Imprint Label) Las Robertas dropped a new album, this time self-released. The album, Love Is The Answer, is the answer to anyone looking for a surfy, garagey, pop rock album. In fact, I made some claims somewhere online that this was my favorite album of 2023 thus far. It certainly has a catchy appeal and the colored pinwheel vinyl edition only adds to the flair this Costa Rican/CA hybrid band brings.
LAS ROBERTAS - LOVE IS THE ANSWER
If Love is the Answer, then how god damn gorgeous is this new album is the question. Subliminal, delicate, and euphoric with throttling groove and precision rhythm.Jumping across the pond for my next recommendation is a solo artist of sorts who specializes in the dark/Americana type sound. It reminds me a bit of Scott "Wino" Weinrich solo acoustic stuff he did with and I dig it. He snuck this one in at the end of 2022 and I grasped at the opportunity to grab the vinyl edition. Lyrically, the man sings about a lot of relevant turmoil the world is experiencing right now and sets it to a backdrop of heavy, dark acoustic strumming and moody vocals.
I'm a sucker for a poetically inspired, gothic blues based, heavy-hearted, dark acoustic epic. For fans of Scott "Wino" Weinrich solo. Favorite track: Escape.Last on today's list is a buried treasure resurrected by our good friends over at RidingEasy Records. The band was featured on The Thirteenth Trip of their Brown Acid Compilation series. They managed to clean up and reissue a full album from the Detroit band Master Danse. Oh boy, this is a good one. You can order it on vinyl via bandcamp or at the Riding Easy shop online.
MASTER DANSE - FEELIN DEAD
It almost sounds like a killer funk heavy, acid soaked, rock n' roll band unearthed upon the world in the modern day. Oh wait, that's exactly what it is and its fortunate we're able to hear it out in the wide open and on our turntables today. Thanks again RidingEasy and all involved in making this happen.-The Huntsman