The Music Rag

Sirens by E

Wispy but strong, Fleurie's vocals are something to cherish; perhaps the only ones that could take such a generously sad song and twist it into something breathtakingly gorgeous.

Lingering keys, pointedly dramatic synths, and lyrics poetic enough to crack even the stoniest of listeners, the hypnotic intro to Fleurie's "Sirens" gives way to soft, fresh beats and a desperately swirling chorus that will leave you dizzy and begging for more.

Listen to the single below and follow the links for more from Fleurie.

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Seth Bogart - New Album Press Release by E

Burger Records is excited to announce the official debut album from Seth Bogart, the former frontman for iconic DIY acts Hunx & His Punx and Gravy Train! The genre-twisting pop homage features guest appearances from Kathleen Hanna, Tavi Gevinson, Clementine Creevy (Cherry Glazerr), Chela and is co-written and produced by long-time friend Cole MGN.

  1. Hollywood Squares
  2. Eating Makeup (f. Kathleen Hanna)
  3. Forgotten Fantazy
  4. Smash The TV
  5. Lubed (featuring Jeremiah Nadya)
  6. Club With Me
  7. Supermarket Supermode (f. Chela)
  8. Flurt (f. Chela)
  9. Nina Hagen - Daaz (f. Clementine Creevy)
  10. Plastic!
  11. Barely 21 (f. Tavi Gevinson)
  12. Sunday Boy

Seth's reinvention began when he moved to Los Angeles in 2012 and started to focus on his visual art. With new surroundings and inspiration, a laptop, guitar, microphone, a $50 keyboard and help from Cole MGN, Seth's new sound was born.  Inspired by music he grew up loving - Radio Disney, Broadcast, 80s French Pop like Lio and Plastic Bertrand, Le Tigre, Nina Hagen and Kraftwerk - the new sound is a welcomed adventurous step in a completely new direction.

Previously, Seth shared the first single "Eating Makeup", featuring a vocal assist from the legendary Kathleen Hanna.  The song is based on an episode of "My Strange Addiction" in which the subject is literally addicted to eating makeup.  The tongue-in-cheek video directed by JJ Stratford (Telefantasy Studios) shows off Seth's friends eating makeup but also acts as a Pee Wee's Playhouse-meets-Liquid Television-inspired social commentary on the effects of the beauty industry. New track "Forgotten Fantazy" shows his more somber and contemplative side. 

Website             Facebook             Twitter             YouTube             Instagram

End of Year Announcements, Pt. II by E

Two announcements in one month!? It's almost like we're back on my personal blog (still not 100% certain how that transitioned to an actual music site, but let's keep going with this strange, awesome flow)! Here's one last personal note to you guys this year, just for being your beautiful selves in 2015. 

I could not be more excited to share with you everything we have coming in 2016; with our album review and artist feature pages premiering in January, we're excited to continue bringing you even more ways to fall for your music in the new year. Honestly, I get butterflies just thinking about all the new stuff we have in the works (though that could be the caffeine and lack of sleep; not a real reliable measure).

Again and always, I want to pointedly thank all long-time readers for sticking with the site during our near four month slow down and three month hiatus. Getting over the mental and physical complications brought on by a decade of anorexia really sucked, but getting messages that you guys were still here waiting and knowing that there are awesome people who care enough about our site to keep it running, even during a relapse that fantastic, is just so much cooler than words can ever capture; I am super into you people. 

In 2016, I promise you more truly awesome artists, loads of music, some fun new ideas, and an ever present and always active effort to stay true to our 'Good Music, Better Artists' tagline; I would just hate if we knowingly let you fall for the music of an absolute ass of a person.

Below you will find a (relatively.. it is a year's worth) short list of some of my personal favorites from 2015 (only the ones we got in to the site, to hopefully make it a bit less overwhelming and give them a chance at equal views). Everything from beach-soaked Australian productions to jaunty English riffs to smooth, trance-like European mixes and back to sweet West coast beats, cool East coast polishes, and just perfect Canadian rock. 

So, be kind, be happy, and be super fucking excited that you've made it through one more year, I am so happy you're still here.

And, a quick heads up that our first two preview album reviews of 2016 will be those of Vandaveer's and The Gills' forthcoming albums, because Vandaveer keeps it so damn pretty it's hypnotic and The Gills' is far too fun to miss; if "Aria" and "Lemonade" don't get your attention, "La Di Da" and "Gimme" will knock you the fuck out (seriously, it's something akin to The Strokes and The Shins had a lovechild that grew up listening to Franz Ferdinand and post-2010 Phoenix but with a dash of something that can't be defined that just really guarantees them as ones to know).

Tracks That Made Us Stop by E

Singles that made us sit up and pay attention for more than one listen, because beyond the catchy melodies lay music with real emotion and articulate lyrics with meaning; a track that was capable of knocking you out just to put you right again. Because talking about such great tracks tends to take more than it gives, we're offering just a click through list of a handful of the best that we think you should hear at least once more before really diving into 2016.

Mieke - Sleeping Alone

Austin Plaine - Never Come Back Again

Banners - Shine A Light

Terribly Yours - Answered Prayers

Air Waves - Fantasy

Aaron Krause - Jade

Nadia Nair - Hardships

Fleurie - Sirens

Oh, Be Clever - River

Lucy Whittaker - Change Your Mind

Kimberly Anne - Show Me Love

Luka Lesson - Bones

Young Empires - The Gates

Flight of Ryan - You Are Mine

Meredith - Levels

Fred Page - Magnetically

Vindata - Own Life (ft. Anderson Paak.)

Son Little - Lay Down

Just Millie - Not OK

White Sea - Stay Young, Get Stoned

Nina Schofield - Come Down

Running Young - Did You See

Tall Heights - Spirit Cold

Common Tongues - New Moon

Vandaveer - But Enough On That For Now

Owen Rabbit - Denny's

EZA - We Keep The Lights Out

Violet Days - Screaming Colors