OE Monomania 2-1-16

OE Monomania is a weekly playlist of songs that are currently stuck in our heads. The songs we can’t quit listening to. This week, 2-1-16, we are listening to:

BBQ – “Agitated” (Mark Sultan)

Canadian rock legend Mark Sultan has played in many bands under many aliases, including The King Khan and the BBQ Show, who I finally saw live last year and was absolutely blown away. This morning, Mark dropped a new song on his Facebook (under Jumbo Lions), bringing back his solo moniker “BBQ” with a new garage rocker “Agitated”. Mark posted the following statement: “My new album, recorded in 2014, but delayed and delayed to make space at the plant for much coveted major label vanity reissues etc, will be out in a couple of months. Finally. I’m stoked.
This means I will be ready to do some solo shows in August-September. Write my inbox for offers worldwide. I’d be happy to play.” Well check your inbox Mark, because I know Atlanta would love to have you back. – MG

Beach Baby – “LadyBird”

Beach Baby is a four piece out of London recently releasing their EP Limousine (B3SCI Records, 2015). Their debut single “LadyBird” brings this post-punk shoegaze, alt-rock approachability to it.  Lyrically reciting a torrent love affair in a 20’s something mindset. The build and transition of the chorus, provide the excitement when stumbling upon a great song from an indie rock band that is doing something slightly different from the rest.  – LP

Black Linen – “Alone at Last”

I included Black Linen‘s self titled debut album on our best albums list for 2015 because it’s a truly stellar album, top to bottom. The album has a myriad of influences that Black Linen has taken from, giving them a unique sound from track to track, not quite sounding like anything else, but with their ears clearly in the 50s/60s. The best description is their music sounds like it could be in a Tarantino movie. “Alone at Last” is such an infectious single that I had to include it. It’s a perfect 60’s fuzz, surf pop rock song to have you swinging around, yet when it hits the chorus, the sounds fits smoothly into the best of modern day indie rock. It’s always good for repeat listens. – MG

Culture Culture – “RGB”

Atlanta’s Culture Culture released an EP in 2014, the “Ashton Kutcher, Come Back” single in late 2015, and now they dropped this new single “RGB”. This is such a little sampling of music so far but with what little they’ve put out, it already feels like they are surpassing more seasoned electro indie pop bands like themselves. “RGB” continues their exploration of 80’s synths, with plenty of interesting twists and turns where the band experiments above the average pop band, yet without losing the melodies, always swaying the listener along for the ride. The vocals are so smooth, with an R&B flair, at times edging it’s way through disco, motown, with a little Daft Punk or Toro Y Moi at his best. Culture Culture continues putting out singles that is a welcome hitting of that repeat button. – MG

Day Wave – “Gone”

Her – “Five Minutes”

With the release of their debut mixtape Her Tape #1, details have started to emerge about the mysterious French duo Her. From Rennes in Northwestern France the duo of Victor Solf and Simon Carpentier have been called a mix of Jungle and Al Green by L’Express Styles. Like Jungle quickly gathered hype and blew up, Her is well on their way to the same path. They have this indie electro neo soul vibe on “Five Minutes” with a sexy groove of a baseline. While it’s such a simple song, it’s hard not to get addicted and want the 5 minutes the song promised while clocking in under 4. – MG

Joey Kneiser – “Heaven Only Wants Us Once We’re Dead”

What a powerful song this is. Taken from the Glossary frontman Joey Kneiser‘s third solo album The Wilderness (Nov. 2015 via This Is American Music), “Heaven Only Wants Us Once We’re Dead” is a modern country take on the inequality that still exists today, yet could easily be be heard as a powerful voice half a century ago. Kneiser told PopMatters the song was a letter for his bi-racial nephews. In the song Kneiser channels an anger and grit in his voice, building into heavy strums of the guitar providing a little kick, all accentuated by the haunting harmonies of backup singers and some harmonica becoming a soothing folk song that despite the sadness, anger and hopelessness, it feels like there is hope for a better future hidden in there. – MG

“Change of the Guard” is a killer opening track to Kamasi Washington‘s solo album The Epic. This is one of my new favorite jazz albums. If you’re not already familiar with him, you might’ve heard him play saxophone on Kendrick’s To Pimp a Butterfly. – JB

Massive Attack – “Voodoo in my Blood”

Matthew E. White + Natalie Prass – “Cool Out”

Matthew E. White produced Natalie Prass‘ excellent debut album at Spaceland Studios in Richmond, Virginia. The two seem to share a love of old R&B, and here they decided to pair up once again for a duet, crooning together over late night secrets over a hush electronic drum beat. It’s easy to “Cool Out” with these two souls. – MG