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).
Today is a great day! Eddie’s band, Dazies, has released their first single, “idm.” I won’t say more here since I reviewed it below. Hope you like (:
I don’t really have any other updates for ya. It’s freezing outside and I’ve had a busy few days of work, so I’m very much looking forward to logging off and cuddling up on the couch. Eddie is working tonight, so if you live in NYC, stop into Llama Inn and tell him how much you liked “idm.” High-fives optional!
Have a chill(y) weekend,
~Britnee
Dazies - idm
Let me start this review by saying Eddie has no idea I’m writing it. If you’re new to Bread & Butter, you might not know that Dazies is Eddie’s new band, and “idm” is their debut single, out today! When he finds out his own band is being covered in the weekly spread he will probably be all ~shy~ about it, but it’s a great song that deserves to be here, so I don’t care (or should I say, I don’t mind…) Anyway!
“idm” is breezy and cool, a versatile track appropriate for relaxing on the beach, singing (yelling) along in the car, and everything in between. Its head-bopping beat and catchy, laid-back melody make for an inevitable earworm you’ll be happy to have stuck in your head. Jangly guitar, crystalline synths, and kaleidoscopic production set a dreamy, slightly disorienting tone, which is emphasized by the track’s opening lines: “you call me up / I know you’re drunk / all of your nightmares are back to haunt you.” Indeed, the deeper you listen, the more this song seems like the perfect soundtrack for a ghostly dance party: the backing ooohs and cha chas, the chilly reverb, the plinking keys that feel like falling into a vertigo-esque spiral of sound. “When I decide to, I’m gonna pull it together,” Eddie sings at the end of the track, just before the song ends, abruptly, with the clicking of a tape recorder. At that point you almost can’t help but play it again, choosing, like Eddie, to ruminate in the beautiful chaos for just a little while longer. “idm” is the first of many great songs to come from Dazies — give them a follow on the ol’ IG so you won’t miss a thing.
Geese - Cowboy Nudes
In the unfounded yet seemingly endless argument over the relevance and vitality of rock and roll music in the modern age, Geese may be one of the strongest arguments in years that it’s alive and kicking. In 2021, Geese released one of the most surprising records of the year, garnering attention from the likes of Spoon and The New York Times, seemingly by accident. Their plans to separate after high school and go on to college were abruptly upended when they decided to write and record a collection of songs for memory’s sake, unintentionally stumbling upon a sound that is instantly classic and wholly their own. With a breakout as unexpected and interesting as Geese’s, the pressure to follow up has understandably mounted, and with their latest offering, Geese delivers as promised.
“Cowboy Nudes” is a vibrant, soul-lightening tune spilling over with charisma and character. And though they never lacked any, their confidence has audibly grown. Most notably, Cameron Winter’s vocals shine with the swagger of a young Mick Jagger, dipping in and out of falsetto and full-throated screams. The rhythm section backs him with an insatiable groove and brims with spirit, at one point breaking out into a drum and percussion solo. Not to be outshone, the guitars are beautifully intertwined with melody and tone for days, and there’s even a surprise appearance from a sitar in the second verse. All this builds into one thing: excitement. It’s an exciting song and an even more exciting sign of things to come. Check out the song and watch the surreal music video here.
Anna Shoemaker - Holly
90s-inspired dreampop meets guitar-driven indie rock on Anna Shoemaker’s new single, “Holly.” Like the perfect breakup anthem, this track is equal parts moody and fun. Propulsive drums and driving acoustic guitar give the arrangement an infectious energy, while yearning vocals and captivating lyricism add to the introspective core. “Did you mean to put your cigarette out on my heart?” Shoemaker sings, dreamy and reflective, and so the story of a toxic relationship unfolds in the form of anecdotes told to the narrator’s friend, Holly. “I told Holly we were high but we came down… I told Holly I was good til you’re around.” The cheeky double meaning cuts deep and is an astute metaphor for the song as a whole. Danceable and optimistic until the slowed-down piano outro, which loses the upbeat energy of the first two minutes in favor of something darker and more contemplative - much like coming down from a high. Thoughtful and empowering, “Holly” is an instant classic you’ll want to listen to again and again. Watch the music video for the song here.
Bonny Light Horseman - Once on Another Day
You know how it feels when you see a puppy so cute you just want to smoosh its little face? That’s kind of how I feel about “Once on Another Day,” a song so lovely I just want to squeeze it tight and never let go. The newest digital offering from Bonny Light Horseman finds Eric D. Johnson’s (Fruit Bats) warm, signature vocal paired with gentle keys and light, plucked guitar. The lyrics are sparse but the sweet, harmonized oohs are pure beauty, conveying much more than simple words ever could. On Instagram, Johnson describes BLH’s sound as “epic lovey-dovey hymns,” and I think that’s just right. Listening to this song feels like standing in front of a gorgeous mountain sunset with your eyes closed, letting your worries float away with the autumn breeze. At once intimate and grand, “Once on Another Day” will tap into your existential angst and fill it with hope.
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All songs from every issue of The Weekly Spread in one playlist: