Coming In And Out Of Style

Hey Willpower “Hundredaire” – Though it breaks my heart to learn that Imperial Teen are on a (possibly permanent) hiatus, it’s fantastic to get some new music from co-frontman Will Schwartz. Hey Willpower finds Schwartz indulging in Har Mar-ish modern electronic pop and white-guy r&b, but with considerably less kitsch than one might expect. Writing about sex is nothing new to Schwartz, so the guy isn’t trying to push the envelope in that regard. Instead, the songs seem to flow from an obvious love of contemporary pop and the freedom to arrange his songs outside the context of an indie rock band. “Hundredaire” rates among Schwartz’s very best work, a conflicted lament for a fading love set to a simple, mellow keyboard figure and rich backing vocals. (Click here to buy it from Cochon Records.)

B For Brontosaurus “Who Will Sail My Ship Ashore?” – Three young people sing a sweet, if slightly goofy, song of friendship and devotion. B Is For Brontosaurus is surprisingly versatile for a brand new band, veering from this sort of Bible-camp folk tune to a caustic girl-punk number and a couple upbeat Jonathan Richman-style singalongs within the span of their first demo. (Click here for B For Brontosaurus’ MySpace page.)

Love Is All “Motorboat” – Fluxblog exclusive! This exuberant Kim Fowley/Jimmy Jukebox cover is an outtake from Love Is All’s forthcoming debut LP, which should be out sometime in November on the What’s Your Rupture? label. If this is the sort of thing that they would cut (cover or not), then my hopes are even higher for the full length. (Click here for the What’s Your Rupture label page.)