Male Bonding came to my attention over the last year thanks to releasing a string of killer split 7″s, culminating in their most recent one with Dum Dum Girls. Now the band from Dalston, UK has released their first full-length on one of the most legendary indie labels of all time, Sub Pop. The band plays the style of scuzzy and fast punk that is in high fashion these days, but manages to surpass 99% of the bands aping this style currently. The band does it by delivering some of the best melodies and hooks you’ll ever heard buried below the layers of scum that live on the surface of their songs. I’m not one to fault a band for a lack of originality if they pursue perfection in the style of music that they play. This band is about as close to perfection as this sound gets.

With the release of “Nothing Hurts” today, my best-of-the-year list just got a little more tight and crowded. It’s been pretty much all I listen to since a friend mentioned the album had leaked, and I was excited to order my copy on vinyl earlier today. You should enjoy the preview track below and then do the same! “Worse To Come” is the last track on the album and is very different from all the others that came before it. It’s a mostly acoustic song with backing vocals by Vivian Girls. I included it because it’s one of the best tracks, but also to show the depth that the band is capable of bringing to a style of music that has become very shallow recently. This is one band who lives up to their hype.

Male Bonding – Worse To Come

While we anxiously wait for a new LP from Vivian Girls, the band is preparing to release a new 7″ single on the record label that they run, Wild World Records. The single will feature a new song called “My Love Will Follow Me” on the a-side and will feature a cover of “He’s Gone” on the flip. The song is a classic by The Chantels, who were the original girl group. The cover makes a lot of sense then since Vivian Girls take a lot of stylistic nods from that era, though the band doesn’t quite have the vocal chops to cover it faithfully. It’s still a fantastic cover and was recorded by King Tuff. Check out the original for comparison.

MP3: Vivian Girls – He’s Gone (Chantels Cover)

Vivian Girls is one of those bands that receives an incredible amount of hype, and actually deserves all of it. Yes, their music is incredibly simple, but it’s also incredibly infectious. I also love that they decided to take their second album in a more rugged and punk route than the first, bucking the trends of bands trying to go more “pop” once they get a taste of success. “When I’m Gone” is one of my favorite tracks off the album and the video is brilliant. Vivian Girls playing live in a room. Simple, and perfect. Catch them at Modified on October 13th.

The track “When I’m Gone” will be on said album that is set to be released on September 8th via In The Red. Go grab the track and fire up your stereo and stay indoors!

Click here to download Vivian Girls- When I’m Gone (VIA RCRD LBL)

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti hails from Los Angeles. They play lo-fi music that travels between the realms of electronic, folk, disco, and more. They will be joined by another hot band of the moment, Vivian Girls. Vivian Girls are an all girl punk band from Brooklyn. They play a style of garage rock highly influenced by 60′s girl group harmonies. Local greats Hands on Fire will get it started off. 8pm at Modified.

Ariel Pink and his band Haunted Graffiti play sexy lo-fi music. They come out of Los Angeles and will be visiting Phoenix on April 13th with Vivian Girls. That’s going to be one hell of a show. Here’s a track from their latest album The Doldrums.

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti- Can’t Hear My Eyes

Download Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti- Can’t Hear My Eyes (Right Click, Save Link As)

Word is that Vivian Girls are working on the initial steps of putting together a new album. The band is planning on a September release on In The Red Records. They’ll be coming through town on April 13th for a stop at Modified with Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti.

Here’s a music video for your Thursday evening. Vivian Girls are from Brooklyn and record for In The Red Records. They play fuzzy garage punk with 60′s girl group flourishes. They’re going to be playing Modified on April 13th with Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti.

You can buy tickets here.