BlowUpRadio.com’s New & Notable NJ Music 7/17/23



Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at releases by The Antoine Poncelet Band, illuminihilation, Tyler Elden, Lily Enos, Quality Living, The Tea & Whiskey, Hello Whirled, Danello, Drive, Kid & Funeral Doors, CR and The Nones, Goodbye Friend, and GIN WAR. Plus a look back at “Summer and Smoke” by Ken Shane.

The Antoine Poncelet Band – “Strange Violence”. The latest single from The Antoine Poncelet Band, “Strange Violence”, comes in two varieties, original, and Steven OLaf mix. Both have a post-punk, goth–psych rock thing going on, but where as the original mix is almost melancholy, Steven OLaf’s mix gives it a peppier, synth-industrial rock sound. Both also contain vocals from Painters vocalist, Chiara Savastano.

illuminihilation – “Baby”. It is unusual for an artist to release the last track on their upcoming album as the first single, but that is exactly what illuminihilation (John Gnesin) has chosen to do by releasing “Baby” from the forthcoming “Shattered Shields, Pt. 2” (out September 1st). But unusual suits the project, whose last album (unsurprisingly titled, “Shattered Shields, Pt. 1”) had songs that were punk, metal, hardcore, indie rock… let’s just say it was an unusually diverse, but solid, rock album. “Baby” leans into a indie-punk, almost anthemic rock vibe. Can’t wait to hear the rest!

 

Tyler Elden – “Lighthouse”. “Lighthouse” is a tour-de-force modern rock song from Tyler Elden.

Lily Enos – “The Last Time”. Wow! Lily Enos’ “The Last Time” is a beautiful classic violin & cello based ballad!

Quality Living – “Leaf”. “Leaf”, the new single from Quality Living, may be the catchiest tune ever written from the perspective of being a leaf.

The Tea & Whiskey – “Please Enjoy Responsibly”. Finally! When The Tea & Whiskey did their farewell show in 2012 (they have done a few reunion shows in recent years), they had only released a 3 song demo EP & 1 single, both for charity.

Now, 11 years later, they have come back together to release their debut album. Was it worth the wait? YES! Many of the 11 songs on “Please Enjoy Responsibly” are songs that have been rattling around in my head for all these years with no way of hearing them. Hearing full studio recordings of these songs indie-punk-rock with pop hooks is like a dream come true!

Hello Whirled – “Questions For Concerned Citizens”. The liner notes for Hello Whirled’s latest album “Questions For Concerned Citizens” says, “The second Hello Whirled album to feature a full band, and the first to feature said band playing in a room together.” If this is what getting the full band into the room means for the future of the band I am fully on board as this brings their indie-modern rock sound to a new level!

Danello – “O, Lovely World”. Danello, the new project from Skytop Motel’s Dan Taggart, has released an earworm of a summer song with “O, Lovely World”! Put this one on your summer mix between Fountains Of Wayne and early Weezer.

Drive, Kid & Funeral Doors – “Hearse Split EP”. New Jersey bands Drive, Kid & Funeral Doors, each supply 2 songs to the “Hearse” split EP. While both bands share Nick Manduley (Vocalist/Guitarist in Drive, Kid, and drummer in Funeral Doors), the bands are quite different, though complimentary in sound. The two Drive, Kid songs could not be more different, with “Bloody Pile” being a harder edged punk song, while, “The Rounds”, is a mellower (but not mellow), slightly funky, rock song. Funeral Doors two songs showcase a band who is punk, emo, and indie-rock all wrapped in one.

CR and The Nones – “The Long Game”. What do you get when you combine American & Power Pop? “The Long Game”, a harmonious new song from CR and The Nones. It is the first single from their forthcoming album, “The Ghosts Are Coming Home” (out 9/8)

Goodbye Friend – “Right Now You Need To Be Patient”. This infectious little album from Goodbye Friend popped up on my Bandcamp search, and I am happy it did. “Right Now You Need To Be Patient” is well crafted alterna-pop with emo leanings.

 

GIN WAR – “Tapped Out”. GIN WAR are back with a 6 song EP, “Tapped Out”. These guys are masters of mid-tempo indie-alt-pop, with hooks I can’t get out of my head (that’s a good thing!)

Not New, But Memorable Corner

Ken Shane – “Summer and Smoke”. 20 years feels so far away, but also kind of like yesterday when I hear songs I love from  2003. One such song comes from Ken Shane’s excellent debut album, “South Ridgeway Avenue”. Ken spent a lot of time in Atlantic City in his youth, and “Summer and Smoke” is  reminiscing about those days. The chorus of song fondly pops back into my head at various times, especially during the summer. Sadly, we lost Ken Shane last year, but I am glad I got to tell him multiple times how much this song means to me.

That’s all for this week.

Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic – If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to part of BlowUpRadio.com’s New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We’re also on Mastodon at https://mstdn.social/@BlowUpRadio