This is The Weekly Spread, a roundup of some of our favorite new music in and around the indie scene. Always on Fridays, always free, it’s the bread and butter of Bread and Butter (lol).
Hello and happy new year! We are back from our holiday hiatus, which I realize we never officially announced, sorry! It was important for us to take some time away to shut off our brains and play a lot of Tony Hawk Pro Skater (and then watch this youtube video of Tony Hawk playing it. beautiful stuff). Anyway, now we are rested and ready to dive into some good new tunez. Hope you find something you like. If not, you have bad taste! (lol JK JK)
hugs n kisses,
Britnee and Eddie
JW Francis - Going Home to a Party
“Going Home to a Party” sounds exactly like you think it should—propulsive drums, uplifting guitar, and groovy bass instantly form a party in your ears that will have you dancing no matter where you are. Spacey synths plink and soar, adding a dreamy quality to the arrangement that reiterates the song’s central message: when you’re in love, every day feels like a party worth celebrating. The track’s pulsing energy is complimented by JW Francis’ inviting vocal, which sounds almost conversational with its easygoing cadence and quippy lyricism. “It’s time for you to feel good / it’s time you enjoy you,” Francis sings. Maybe it’s the hopeful melody, or the quick, bopping beat, but it’s easy to take Francis’ word for it. “Going Home to a Party” is the optimistic jam you need to start off 2023 the right way. If you like this one, be sure to check out JW Francis’ album, releasing January 27. In the meantime, watch the video for the song here.
Cornelia Murr - Only You Know
Cornelia Murr has meticulously designed a blanket-lined soundscape for you to wrap yourself in when you need it most. Her latest EP features the head-bobbing, fantastical cover of Dion DiMucci’s “Only You Know,” a track that tugs at your heartstrings but then soothes you again with its gentle embrace. Murr’s toasty vocal comes through the speakers and tickles the right part of your brain, making you wonder where you’ve heard her voice before. Ethereal keys, light drums, loosely played guitars, and an ever-present tape hiss serves the London-born singer’s voice on a silver platter of sentimentality. But what is most impressive is that Murr has turned this 70s classic into a masterpiece of her own. She has combined her singer-songwriter approach with a grander, shoe-gaze style that is truly unique and a pure treat for the ears. Her wonderful new EP, Corridor, is full of surprising songwriting and remarkable production, so do yourself a favor and listen to the whole thing here.
The Lemon Twigs - Corner Of My Eye
“Corner Of My Eye,” the warm and fuzzy new single from The Lemon Twigs, feels like getting lost in a daydream full of fluffy clouds and baby cupids. The hazy, 60s-inspired track has soft-rock influences, with gentle guitar, crooning vocals, and a lovely, delicate vibraphone - a standout addition to the arrangement. The vintage production style adds to the track’s throwback feel, emphasizing its already inherent sense of nostalgia and melancholy. Every little detail shines: the backing oos, washed-out percussion, tongue-in-cheek lyrics that cut like a double-edged sword (I played the game of heartbreak / The emptiness remains / But how much loneliness can a man take / Til he tries to take the reins?) Overall, “Corner Of My Eye” is a subtle gem that packs a punch. The track is The Lemon Twigs’ first single in two years, but they’ve been playing it live for a while, so it’s nice to hear it fully realized through headphones.
Kathryn Brooks - Won’t You Stay
“When the time came I wasn’t ready / I was having too much fun.” So begins “Won’t You Stay,” a soft and earnest track from Louisville-based Kathryn Brooks that ruminates in life’s little moments. The deceptively simple arrangement carves a deep emotional groove: Gorgeous acoustic guitar paired with Kathryn’s sweet vocals evokes effortless nostalgia, transporting you to a world of lost love and bittersweet memories. But the hopeful melody guides you forward like a gentle breeze, letting your regrets float away with the wind. By the time you reach the guitar solo in the bridge, you’ll be smiling at the past, forgiving yourself for the things you can’t change. In many ways, “Won’t You Stay” is a gentle nudge toward mindfulness. Live for now, because the people you love and the places that touch you can never really leave you. It’s simple and profound, much like life itself.
“Won’t You Stay” is the second single off Kathryn’s Debut EP, out January 20. If you live in Louisville, be sure to check out her EP release show that night at The Chapel of St. Philip Neri.
Grapetooth, Squirrel Flower - Shining
Chicago duo Grapetooth has returned from a five-year hiatus to release “Shining,” a transcendental bop of a track with a catchy hook. Groovy bass and luminous guitar accompany energetic percussion to create a danceable, psych-rock jam. The arrangement is lush and surprising, packed with colorful synths and unique instrumental solos. It makes for a sound that swells but never feels overwhelming thanks to the crisp, clean production. Washed-out, moody vocals from Squirrel Flower add an atmospheric touch, especially alongside Grapetooth’s deeper vocal tones. Together they sing, “Til the end of time / I'm gonna be shining / Go ahead, turn up the lights / I'm easy to find." The vibe feels laid-back but up for anything, which feels appropriate heading into the new year. If you like this one, be sure to check out “Infinite Source,” the other single Grapetooth released along with “Shining.”
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All songs from every issue of The Weekly Spread in one playlist: