Speakly Playlist (9/26/11-10/2)

“Coast To Coast” by Those Mockingbirds

Montclair’s favorite Mockingbirds dropped Fa So La earlier this month to much acclaim from this music news outlet.  The band’s sophomore EP is a captivating exhibition in fluidity with four genre hopping numbers bookended by a pair of ominous instrumental pieces that has emerged as one of SIMGE’s favorites of the year.  This next singed number is coated in a sheet of metal and ready for battle, be sure to download “Coast To Coast” and the rest of the record here.

“One Shot” by Verity In Stereo

The Ocean Township outfit, Verity In Stereo, sports an intriguing brand of Indie-Rock led by the weighted key strokes of Mikal Kuhi and the lush vocals of front-woman Kiirstin Kuhi,  which can roll along, seemingly, for days at a time like thunder on plain, or strike in a swift falsettic streak of lightning capable of sparking any casual collection of onlookers into a blaze of jubilation.  The outfit released a six-track EP in January of 2010, its debut, dubbed At The Top Of Your Lungs and released a pair of new demos earlier this year, one, “The Storm,” featuring Eddie Soles of Almost There on guitar…check it out below and look out for more new music from this group coming soon.

“River” (Live) by The Downhill Barbers

The Bluesified Psych-Rockin’ four-piece from Millstone, The Downhill Barbers, is fresh off a pair of shows at the legendary Stone Pony and is currently in the basement studio of Jimi Reno, front-man of The Paper Suns, recording new music that is soon to be released.  This next track is one recorded live at one of the band’s aforementioned Pony performances titled, simply, “River.”

“High Noon” by True Apothecary

The Westchester, NY-based True Apothecary presents the listener with a style of tunes as obscure as the film references it makes.  It’s debut EP Thank You, Janitor, Thank You Scientist, which alludes to a conversation held in the film Half Baked between Thurgood Jenkins (Dave Chapelle), and an uppity scientist at a pharmaceutical plant, is as alluring a title, to this journo at least, as the group’s catalogue of spacious and experimental Indie-Pop tunes.  It’s ambient soundscape construction performed behind melodious Singer/Songwriter-esque tunes, and a truly original and enchanting take on both of those musical stylings…enjoy this next cut from that record “High Noon.”

NOTE: Be sure to check out other selections from True Apothecary on the group’s Facebook page, including “1.21 Jiggawatts” and “What’s In The Box?!?!?!” here.

“Lefted” by Huff  This

The New York City based music project, Huff This, is the brainchild of Alison Clancy an ivory tickling songstress with a style that’s cool to the touch.  Clancy collaborates with a revolving cast of musicians bust mostly with celloist Chris Lancaster and stick wielder Molly Allis.  The group released a slef-titeled three track EP in 2008 than like a Tim Burton film, is chilly and haunting with enchanting streaks of fuzzed beauty.  Enjoy this next selection, “Lefted,” and be on the lookout for the group’s forthcoming release Tuff Love.

“Better Off Dead” by Mind Fish

The Toledo, Ohio based Mind Fish commands the listener to sing along with melodies that burrow deep into the mind and to refrains the dig deeper.  Like the most enjoyable parasitic alien spawn these tunes, a two-track single dubbed Watch Out featuring music that will be included on the outfit’s forthcoming full-length which is being produced by Eddie Ashworth (Sublime, Slightly Stupid, Unwritten Law), attach themselves to your very essence and refuse to depart until Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night” comes on (because nothing is, was, or ever will be, as catchy as that friggin’ song).  These guys have been referred to as Alternative-Rock, Nerd-Pop, and I could call them a mix between They Might Be Giants and OK Go but labels are flimsy and don’t quite explain how seductive this music is…enjoy this closing number “Better Off Dead.”