Slumberland

Quintessential US indiepop label Slumberland Records, which has been home to Black Tambourine, Aislers Set, Lorelei, Lilys, Henry’s Dress, Crystal Stilts, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Boyracer and more, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year by going back to its roots and celebrating the 7" single.

Oakland's Tony Molina has been in bands for over 10 years (Dystrophy, Ovens, Caged Animal among them), swerving between hardcore and pop. The latter has been the focus of Molina's last couple releases which recall the catchy, crunchy pop of early-'90s Teenage Fanclub and Weezer, albeit with "ch-chunk" metal riffage and twin lead solos thrown in...

Hailing from Cardif, Wales, quintet Joanna Gruesome make a pretty racket, bouncing between manic shout-a-longs and more tuneful pop. Sometimes in the same song, as in "Secret Surprise" which is the first single for JG's forthcoming debut album, Weird Sister, which is out via Slumberland on September 10...

Oakland, CA's Mantles make lightly jangling garage pop, owing a lot to late '60s acts like Velvet Underground, The Kinks or the Troggs. The band's new album, Long Enough To Leave, is wistful like an early autumn afternoon and will be out June 18 on Slumberland...

Artwork to Violens' Violens release their second album, True, this week and the band will also play a record release party this Wednesday (5/16) at Le Poisson Rouge with openers Kuroma and The New Lines...