This weekend I had the fortune of seeing PORCHES. play live at the Northside Festival in Brooklyn, and although I was already a big fan of their music that’s been floating around the internet for a while now, their live performance completely won me over.  They are currently prepping to release their debut full-length on Exploding in Sound Records and have blessed us with a single.  ”Franklin the Flirt” shows all of the reasons why PORCHES. are so awesome, with front and center vocals, tried and true song writing, and just enough synth work to not be overdone.  Slow Dance in the Cosmos is currently looking at a rough release date of late August, but if you need something to tide you over until then, I would highly suggest making your way over to PORCHES. bandcamp page for jamz galore.

-TC

Gorgeous Bully have been an interesting band to follow with their music bouncing from UK garage rock to anthemic slow jams and “So Bored” takes them on a breezy, summer appropriate ride.  It may not be a game changing track but “So Bored” has enough memorable hooks and guitar rawking to deserve a spot on anyone’s 2013 SUMMER JAMZ MIXTAPE.  Play this on a boat or while drinking a cheap beer or both.

-PK

Summertime is rolling in.  The sun is heating up.  I’m hiding in my room, searching for beaties.  Because the sun is overrated, right?  Who needs friends when we got Maj of Becousin’ on some dryer sheet shit, Noah B on the good vibes, DJ Smokey and Arizona Iced Out boy Yung Gud on some v emotional music, Sleepy Eyes on some beats that are making me go woaaaaaaah and Jay Curry repping deity gang off his awesome new tape.  Hit that jump, don’t be afraid.

-The Up-Turn

“19″ opens like most of lo-fi/emo goodness we’ve been digging on lately.  Pill Friends sing about slow suburban life and learning to hate things despite not having much to complain about.  A minute in, “19″ blooms into a breezier and less frustrated jam.  Maybe things aren’t as bad as we want them to be.

-PK

Despite the fact that I am continually frustrated with Rejjie’s lack of new material and insistence on asking people to follow him on twitter/instagram/facebook, each time he drops a track I remember why he is one of the most exciting new rappers out there.  As a blogger it is hard to admit, but I do understand that good music takes time.  Hopefully the ridiculous wait for Rejovich is worth it, “Loveleen” isn’t a bad start at all.

-PK

The still highly under-appreciated uhlife hasn’t always been about psychedelic flows and abstract imagery.  A few summers back uhlife recorded this piece of lovey dovey rap that honestly sounds indebted to Gonjasufi (this may have been recorded well before A Killer and a Sufi was even released though).  uhlife definitely channels his inner Andre 3000 while smooth talking over the ambling paced beat.  Play this to yr grlfren in the summertime.

-PK

In case you’re craving even more garage-rock from Manchester, Spring Kings may be your new favorite band.  The stop motion video for their appropriately stuttering “V-V-V-Vampire” matches the frantic energy and fun of the group.  It’s like cool, guys.

-PK

Last night Terence and I ventured out to our hipster haven in Brooklyn to meet up with the cool dudes Sidewalk Kal and Ghost Row who both gave amazing performances in an amazingly cramped space.  Even though their set hardly lasted over 20 minutes, with Kal only jumping in for a few, they reminded proved there is a lot more to their talent than their lush performances.  Kal has some serious gold coming through soon with a mixtape with Mattron dropping later this year.  Whether dropping a few quick verses in a dude’s apartment infront of a crowd of sweaty hipsters or confidently striding over a minute of Mattron’s lush production, Kal never disappoints.

-PK

Cadence Collective just dropped an awesome sampler compilation, and it happened to feature a track from CT homies Ghost Row.  Ghost Row, once again, show incredibly good chemistry with this track.  Color Plus puts together an absurdly smooth beat driven by gorgeous guitar strummings, and Chef lays down some of his most effortless-sounding verses yet, with perfect flow and tasteful wordplay.  ”Cranberry Octave” is an awesome reminder of how DIY rap can rival and surpass the work of artists with lots of resources.  Keep an eye on Ghost Row in the future because if they keep putting together tracks this great people are bound to take notice.

-TC

Whether he’s making music as Pink Teens or Temple Songs, Jolan Lewis is a goddamn hook writing genius.  ”Passed Caring” is an unsurprisingly care-free punk romper with plenty of punch packed into it’s 3 minutes.  For anyone who still isn’t convinced that Temple Songs are a legit band with “good” instrumentalists, just check out the guitar freakout/solo that carries the tail end of this track.  The don’t need to prove anything to anyone anyway.  They’re passed caring and it’s cool.

-PK