Tag: market square records

The Belltowers – Here to Stay / Lovin’ You [2015; Market Square Records]

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Sedate garage rock with a mod streak, the A-side of this single indulges in throw-back style to the point of near-constantly jangling a tambourine in the background, but the main bass riff is sturdy enough, and the spidery guitar licks clever enough, for it to hold together well enough through its ~3:30 run, particularly with the energizing of the drums for the outro.  The B-side takes more of a bubblegum pop turn, though the garage-ish atmosphere keeps it from drifting off into saccharine overload.  Decent overall, but nothing too special.

The Ar-Kaics – Always The Same / Let Me In [2015; Market Square Records]

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The A-side track of this single pops out into a brash slice of British garage rock, retro-flavored without getting bogged down in emulation.  Twangy guitar tones complement the low-key bass, snappy drum-work, and intentionally nasal vocals for a fun little groove at moderate speed, traded off to the B-side for a mellower dig through similar style.  “Let Me In” takes on a colder and more plaintive tone, with more isolated handling of the guitar’s quavering notes and feedback, and while it makes for an odd switch from the energy of the first, both sides show the band operating in strong form.