Our newest L.A.-based contributor Josh Calixto took on the new Charli XCX record, True Romance, which he described as “the perfect setting for good pop, and True Romance is a prime example of what the genre can still offer to a generation jaded by top 40 radio stations and terrified of internet backlash.” In interviews, Katrina had a chat with guitarist/vocalist Kyle Gibson of the Los Angeles pop garage band Audacity, who talked about their forthcoming album due next autumn, the craziest thing that’s happened on the road, and the best ways to convince someone to see them live. It’s pretty entertaining, which I guess is a “soft sell” in itself.

In other news, Marissa Nadler covered the Game of Thrones Theme song, all vocal a capella style, making for a much more haunting, somber take.

14-piece orchestral indie rock ensemble Mother Falcon has a new tune called “Blue and Gold.” It takes a while to get past the slow, bucolic start (blue?) – which actually lasts through the majority of the song – but when it picks up (the gold?), all of a sudden it’s like the clouds part.

Foxygen made a video for “No Destruction” using footage from old films the boys made back in their high school days. Proof that they’ve been dramatic and behaving like they’re on serious hallucinogens since at least 2005. But that’s just me being an asshole, because I live in Brooklyn. Heh heh.

Standish/Carlyon, the duo of Conrad Standish and Tom Carlyon are gearing up for their first North American shows the end of this month, after releasing their Deleted Scenes LP.  I’m especially feeling the late night groove of single “Nono/Yoyo.”

Recent Jagjaguwar signees DIANA are proving that they are smooth as fuhh with new jam “Born Again,” which they made this “trippin-at-the-zoo” video for.  “Lay your hands on me / I need healing,” oh I think I just felt it.

I may have already featured Cool Ghouls on a previous mix, but that’s alright because this new jam “Natural Life” sums up all I want out of life. Nailed it.

Burnt Ones released video for “Web” shot on VHS and sounding just as awesomely throwback. Nothing much actually happens in the video though, except for the feeling of backing slowly out of a house of mirrors where the band is playing at the end of the hall.

The Dig is releasing a new EP called Tired Hearts June 4, and the first taste is woozy and sultry alt rock jam “Angeline.” A little more than halfway through they pick up the pace, with piercing guitar, throbbing bass, and you can really hear the piano sneaking in louder. Yeah, we’re movin’.

I was/am a big fan of Sunny Day Real Estate and The Dismemberment Plan, and Two Inch Astronaut is bringing those memories straight back. Their Debut full length Bad Brother comes out June 18, and from the sound of featured track “Blood from a Loyal Hound” they are definitely keeping that 90s post punk sound alive.

Tracklist:

Marissa Nadler – “Game of Thrones Theme”

Mother Falcon – “Blue and Gold”

Foxygen – “No Destruction”

Standish/Carlyon – “Nono/Yoyo”

DIANA – “Born Again”

Charli XCX – “Stay Away”

Audacity – “Finders Keepers”

Two Inch Astronaut – “Blood from a Loyal Hound”

Cool Ghouls – “Natural Life”

Burnt Ones – “Web”

The Dig – “Angeline”

BONUS Video: NJ-based melodic rock band Owel premiered a video for their tune “Once the Ocean,” which is sweet like a lullaby.