New Music Monday: Girls

San Francisco's Girls are poised to release their debut album tomorrow. These boys rock a simple sound that straddles garage, psychedelic, and surf. What I like about Girls is their straight-forward approach to their music. When a lot of groups are wrapped-up in doing something new and cool, Girls have looked back on their influences and taken them as their own. Girls have themselves to thank for building a serious buzz at SXSW resulting in an extensive European and North American tour. I'll be sure to check them out when they swing by.

Enjoy!

Girls - Lust for Life

Girls - Ghost Mouth

The Corto Maltese

Austin, Texas. The SXSW host has long been regarded as a music hotbed, churning out bands of all persuasions in hopes the world will take notice come festival time. Though the excitement of March isn't breaking news, there are bands from various showcases that happened to slip through the cracks of my playlist. Shuffling aimlessly recently afforded me the pleasure of hearing a band called The Corto Maltese, who've been compared to Arcade Fire by seemingly every journalist who checked out their set. The accuracy of the comparison isn't spot on, but it makes sense. Their arpeggio laced number "Providence" does skip along to deliver a pretty Neon Biblish vibe, with wavering, tense vocals that upon release seem to quell a good deal of anxiety. Wolf Parade fans should definitely give them a try as well.

The Corto Maltese - Providence

- BA