Mojo’s Favorite Indie Albums of 2016

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Mojo

Let the indie bands hang with the big dogs where they deserve to be? Or let them shine on their own? Tough call. Next year I think I’ll bring it back to one list, but for now, I wanted to highlight some great indie releases under a spotlight of their own. These were my favorite discoveries this year.

Kyng Breathe in the Water

This album grows on me more each time I listen. It’s like Spiritual Beggars with a sprinkle of Alter Bridge. Melodic, soft and heavy in turns, and just flat out good. I saw them live in San Francisco with Clutch and Zakk Sabbath, but they were too loud for their own good and the music didn’t get a chance to breathe the way it should. However, this album is definitely worth picking up, it’s the only one that I’ve bumped the new Metallica for lately. I would have put this on my top five of the year if I had only one list.

Breathe in the Water

Year of the Cobra ..In the Shadows Below

The debut full length release of this Seattle duo is a revelation of slow burn sludge, tasty and timeless. White Wizard is an instant classic. Amy rocks the bass and vocals, __ kills it on drums. There’s still a little of the LA rock fuzz punk from her previous band HDR in tracks like Temple of Apollo. The rest is pure slow stoner bliss.

<a href="http://yearofthecobra.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-shadows-below-2">…In The Shadows Below by Year of the Cobra</a>

The Watchers Sabbath Highway

Debut EP from new San Francisco stoner supergroup of sorts – the Watchers is made up of members of Spiralarms, Orchid, and . They’ve been touring heavily on the west coast since they put this EP together, catch them if you can!

Sabbath Highway

WhiteNails First Trip

Damn this is some solid heavy rock. Right in there with some of the best stoner type rock I’ve heard lately, this Quebec City band’s debut gets you going right away with Damn Judas and just ramps it up from there. Dead in Time is just flat out killer. Keep an eye on these guys.

<a href="http://whitenails.bandcamp.com/album/first-trip">FIRST TRIP by WhiteNails</a>

Electric Citizen Higher Time

Balls out female fronted rock and roll with a 60s/70s throwback feel and a punk attitude. This Cincinnati band kicks serious indie ass.

<a href="http://electriccitizenband.bandcamp.com/album/higher-time">Higher Time by Electric Citizen</a>

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Mojo’s Pick of the Week – Deap Vally “Femejism”

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Mojo

My favorite feminist fuzz punk duo Deap Vally is back with their sizzling sophomore album “Femejism”, just released on Nevado Music. There’s a little less bravado and a little more confidence in the music this time around, like they have less to prove and more to say. It’s a solid, mature album from a group on the rise.

Check out songs like “Royal Jelly”, “Gonnawanna”, and maybe my favorite song on the album, “Smile More”, which is the epitome of the newfound maturity and unsubtle message of this killer duo. Cheers Lindsey and new mother Julie!

Pick up Femejism now at all the typical locations!

This is “Smile More”:

Deap Vally on the web:
http://www.deapvally.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deapvally/
https://twitter.com/deapvally/

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Mojo’s Pick of the Week – Riding Easy Records

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Mojo

This is a first for me – a label being my Pick of the Week. But Riding Easy Records’ Soundcloud page works as a great sampler of some of the best indie stoner and fuzz rock out there right now. Bands like Brown Acid, Electric Citizen, and central California’s Slow Season, a band that recorded their very throwback sounding rock album Mountains in the drummer’s parents’ garage on reel to reel tape.

The whole smattering of songs is a throwback to a slower, simpler, fuzzier time. Check it out by clicking below and be transported back to the incense-burning basement of your childhood!