2015 Favorite : Menace Beach

Leeds, England band Menace Beach formed in 2012 when Liza Violet and friend Ryan Needham joined creative forces. The band line up has changed a few times over the years but at their core is this duo of a songwriting team whose debut album Ratworld has remained in my top 10 list of favorites for 2015. They also just released a new EP entitled Super Transporterreum that picks up where the full length left off. Their intertwined male/ female vocals deliver an endless chain of hooks on top of blazing, fuzzy guitar driven Pop. My two favorite things are present, harmony and NOISE! There are hints of Dino Jr,, Weezer and Veruca Salt grungy power pop sensibilities which makes for a really tough decision. Do you sing along or head bang? Screw it, I can to do both at the same time.

Band to Watch : Doe

How could you not love a band that has this bio? "We’re Doe. We’re from London. We like feminism, horror films and brown beer." 

And who is the band influenced by? Sleater-Kinney, Helium, Plumtree, Superchunk, Autoclave, (early) Weezer, Pixies, Breeders, Pavement, Bikini Kill

I'm sold. 

(and yes, I like cats too.) 

Stream all sorts of their records here.

Bow Wow Wow & the Cassingle

Did you know that the world's very first cassingle AKA cassette single was Bow Wow Wow's "C30, C60, C90, Go!" in 1980? 

This UK group also features Annabella Lwin who joined the band when she was just 14 years old. 

2015 Favorites : Trash Kit

2015 isn't quite over yet but if I had to name my top 5 record of the year thus far, it would include Trash Kit's Confidence. They are an all female three piece band from London playing polyrhythmic punk. There is African fingerpicking styles blended with raw energy and soul but there is so much more rumbling out of this band too.

Check out this interview.

You can buy their music here.

Their Facebook page is here. 

They also have a HUGE band family tree that includes Shopping, Electrelane, Cover Girl, Sacred Paws , Lesbo Pigs (video below), The Battys, Ray Rumours, Columbus & Crusoe and Halo Halo. I am sure there are probably more I am too square to know about but this is a good starting place at the very least. Lemme know what I missed!