Whew, there was a ton of crap released this week. I’ll have to make this snappy.

 

Victory – “Play It” video

I have never heard of Victory before, but he’s LA-based multi-instrumentalist Robert Fleming and he makes really catchy, well-produced lo-fi pop. His video for “Play It” is similarly minded with its VHS vibes. It’s not just more ’80s worship, though — there are some serious psych waves moving through that fuzz bass. His self-titled EP is out now; his first full-length record is due April 23, just after SXSW! That’s kind of coming up, guys, we’re into 2013.

VICTORY - "Play It" from Victory on Vimeo.

 

Tera Melos – “Tropic Lame”

Sacramento-based Tera Melos have a new album called X’ed Out coming April 16 via Sargent House. “Tropic Lame” is streaming now via RollingStone. I’m such a sucker for this tasteful, shoegazey alt-rock via Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. but also lesser-known bands like American Analog Set, Lilys and Ides of Space. “Tropic Lame” is not lame. It seriously rocks.

50. Purity Ring – Shrines

Purity Ring make Cocteau Twins­-style dream pop by way of Salem’s hard-hitting witchhouse on an album more notable for its smooth blending of related genres than for its actual songwriting, but they’ve got a sweet sound nonetheless.

 

 

49. Cold Showers – Love & Regret

Cold Showers’ short and sweet debut heralds the arrival of a great new L.A. band, beaming shoegaze guitars over darkwave synths and goth-style vocals. (Read my review of Cold Showers' show here.)

Julia Holter – “Gold Dust Woman”

Julia Holter, who put out this year’s excellent Ekstasis album, sure to be on my top albums of the year list, has contributed a track to Rumours revisited, a Fleetwood Mac cover album (not to be confused with this one, also released this year) with current artists taking on songs from that iconic album. The album, put out with the current Mojo magazine, also includes tracks by Liars, Yeasayer and the Besnard Lakes. (What are the Besnard Lakes up to, anyway? I love those guys.) This cover remains faithful to the original by maintaining and amplifying the scary space in Stevie Nicks’ version, though Holter’s delivery is more slightly detached than Nicks’ sultry vocal. Still, it’s on the warmer end of Holter’s songs, which can range from icy and otherworldly to coy, playful art-pop. Anyone remember the Hole cover of this song (for The Crow 2 soundtrack!) where she messes up the lyric and goes “one less challeoonge” all crazy? Loved that. Find Mojo at Amoeba Hollywood. (See photos of Julia Holter's performance live at Amoeba Hollywood.)

The Soft Moon – “Insides”
 
More new Soft Moon! “Insides” is gloriously creepy, with its sustained, Gremlin-style whispered vocal hovering in the background like a ghost, while the foreground finds piercing new wave sound and Luis Vasquez stepping out of the shadows just a bit with a wordless sounding but emotive vocal. Along with the recently debuted “Die Life,” Zeros sounds like a winner; it’s out Oct. 30 on Captured Tracks (preorder here). Boy, all this great goth from S.F. Isn’t it like beautiful and everyone is nice there?
 



Horrid Red – I’m Terribly Hurt
 
I don’t know much about S.F.’s Horrid Red, but I’m incredibly intrigued after hearing “I’m Terribly Hurt,” a goth pop song that hits both sides of the coin thanks to that droning organ and soaring synths and breathless vocals both creepy and romantic. Nightly Wreaths is due Oct. 9 on Terrible Records.
 

Cold Showers – “I Don’t Mind” video
 
Local goodies Cold Showers have a new video of their reverb-tastic track “I Don’t Mind” via Room 205/Incase. The shadowy textures cast across the band members look almost like they’ve been painted and match the dark undertones of their dreamy post-punk. OK guys, we’ve been drooling over you for a while now, it’s time for a full-length.
 

 

Nick Waterhouse – “The Streets Are Ours” (cover)
 
Garagey doo-wop firebrand Nick Waterhouse has been winning hearts here in L.A. for some time now, but his recent SXSW shows have won him a host of new fans. Check out this cover of the Richard Hawley gem “The Streets Are Ours,” for which the word “swoon” was invented, recorded for Aquarium Drunkard’s Lagniappe Sessions. I’m not sure if this would make you want to listen more or less, but “The Streets Are Ours” was once my MySpace song.
 
Pitchfork Yours Truly Vids – Princeton, Nite Jewel, Julia Holter
 
A number of wonderful L.A. artists have been appearing on Pitchfork’s Yours Truly lately. In fact, three of the last four videos are from L.A. artists — indie-pop group Princeton, noir dance songstress Nite Jewel and heady keys maestro Julia Holter, who recently played a kickass show at Amoeba Hollywood. (Check out the latest albums by Nite Jewel and Julia Holter at Amoeba!)