Towards the end of 2023 Seattle based punk ‘n’ roll band The Drowns released ‘1979 Trans Am’/‘Just The Way She Goes’, a double A-sided disc designed as a preview for their next long player. On those terms, it did an excellent job, since one track shared their gruff and ballsy rock sound driven by gravel edged vocals, and the other tapped into more accessible pop punk. It effectively showed off both of The Drowns’ musical extremes in one hit.
Author Archives: Real Gone
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #41
Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the individual mp3s that have landed in our inbox over the previous few weeks. This time around, we bring you the return of some ska legends, a remix from a cult dream pop act, something with a huge electronica/dance core, some massive stoner/doom riffs…and more besides. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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STRANGE MAJIK – NYC Animal
In 2016, David Pattillo released ‘Raised On Rock N Roll’, his second album under the Strange Majik moniker. The record cast aside all of the rap elements from the debut, and some of the funk, but in playing like a journey through the best 70s record collection in the world, its strong influences from Leon Russell, The Allman Brothers Band, Sly Stone and Todd Rundgren showcased a musician with great taste and a very broad talent.
Watch: ‘Strong Enough’ – a new video from Pollyanna Blue
In the second half of 2023, following a handful of digital singles, alternative rock band Pollyanna Blue released their long anticipated debut EP. It did not disappoint. With four songs melding the sounds of 90s grunge with the light electronica of bands like Metric, the material had a brilliant crossover sound, but with very conscious lyrics dealing with themes of depression and other mental health issues, it also had an edge that some new, young bands lack.
SILVEROLLER – At Dawn
With its stomping rhythm, massive glam rock infused guitar chords and rousing vocal, Silveroller’s debut single ‘Hold’ immediately marked out the band as one to watch. There wasn’t anything particularly unique about the track, but it was a near perfect example of great musicians taking an old sound and recycling it with a lot of charm. With that followed by the mellow ‘Come On, Come In’ showcasing the flip side of the Silveroller sound, there was definitely a feeling that their upcoming debut EP might be something rather special.