The new Latvian Radio album “Off we go” has been released and is already getting lots of airtime on US college radio! It was among the top 10 most added new albums in its first week of release, and number 8 on the alternative/SubModern north American college chart. The first single and the song to kick off the album is the hard driving “Tan Lines”, watch the video below. One of the last few great rock magazines still standing in print form, the Big Takeover Magazine, also gave it an early rave review. “Tell Pam with the tan lines to stop giving me the runaround already. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I saw them.” With their new release and first ever vinyl, Latvian Radio relishes once again in their own brand of lyrically charged indie-powerpop and hard driving melodic hooks reminiscent of Buzzcocks, The Replacements and Big Star. “Off we go” consists of bangers, deep cuts, and sparse beauty. Listen here to “Off we go” on Spotify. Records will be available for purchase from Belpid Records (just mail us) and in person at Gerosa Records in Brookfield, CT and Bruised Apple books & records in Peekskill, NY in the States, and at Twang in Stockholm November 30th when a special Swedish edition of Latvian Radio will play live! And here’s the video of ‘Tan Lines’: NY based college radio faves Latvian Radio has been slinging their own brand of melodic, boisterous indie/power-pop to critical acclaim for a decade and a half. Most of their 8 previous albums have charted on college radio and ended up on multiple best album of the year lists. Here’s an interview Patric Westöö did with Spanish Careta Radio in December 2022: Two great reviews of the album ‘Phooey’: “Patric Westoo sure isn’t losing his power-pop touch. Nor has the band lost its flair on Phooey’s many mid-temp rockers. That’s why it’s fun/striking, and not unwelcome, that they begin on such a different tack. As if to throw us off their regular scent. Westoo punches out a faster punk/Flying Nun blend on “Sliding Down A Ladder” then “Make Believe”, with equal success. Turns out any Latvian Radio is good radio.” Patric Westoo returns to his power-pop roots with his latest effort Phooey! as it recalls Chris Stamey, R.E.M., and The Plimsouls with its catchy jangle on the opening gems “Sliding Down A Ladder” and “Make Believe.” The echoing beat of “Waiting On A Letter” is another winner with its bluesy guitar flourishes over the dense jangling rhythm. The late 60s psyche-pop influences are still there with the catchy “Out This Door,” but the best song here is the bouncy gem “Bloody Mary Me Marie” about meeting a girl at a chance encounter. The chorus echoes out the lyrics and the instrumentation is top-notch here. “Heartfelt, clever lyrics and sonically intelligent, the boisterous LATVIAN RADIO relishes an underground garage sound with the feel of sunshine pop.” “Six prior LPs established pedigree, Give In To The Night steps up their game.” Latvian Radio has spent almost two decades now crafting their own brand of lyrically charged and sonically intelligent indie-power-pop. Amplifier Magazine labeled their songs as “Music as both entertainment and art. Truly the best variety.” With their 7th release “Give In To The Night” they made their most prolific and ambitous album to date. Latvian Radio has been a mainstay on college radio since their 2006 release “Happiness Above A Hardwood Floor”. San Francisco based “Bagel Radio” had them in the top 5 for three straight weeks and “Saturday Left Her On The Floor” made their list of top 50 songs of 2006 at number 32. Their second album “Seven Layers Of Self Defense” made the CMJ top 200 chart for five straight weeks. Absolute Power Pop had it on their best records of the year list in 2009, “For love & spite” made it into the top 10, and listed again in 2016 for “Until tomorrow gets in the way”. Powerpopaholic wrote: “Overall a terrific album without a wasted track”. The press has linked Latvian Radio to the likes of Elvis Costello & the Attractions, the Replacements, the Shins, the Decemberists, New Pornographers, Big Star and early REM. After releasing three solo albums, NY based singer/songwriter Patric Westoo, teamed up with longtime Morgantown, WV friends Kim Monday (multi instrumentalist and director of Frozen Sound recording studio), Mark Poole (63 Eyes and Phantom Six) and Brian Porterfield (Cheap Truckers Speed) to form The B-sides in 2002. Their songs were short, raw, uncompromising and delivered with a great pop-sensibility. They released “Troubleshooting” in 2003. The opening track, “Letter To the National Enquirer”, was nominated for best rock song at the independent “Just Plain Folks Music Awards” in Santa Ana, CA. When the time came to release their second record it was apparent that their name, the B-Sides, was taken many times over. They decided a change was necessary and went with Latvian Radio. Same raw energy, armed with stronger songs and a bigger more elaborate sound. Their ever evolving lineup also includes Jason Victor (Dream Syndicate) on guitar, Alex Baker (Skull practitioners) on drums and Patrick Derivaz (Tom Verlaine) on bass. “Smart, mellifluously melodic candy” “If you are Into early REM or the Replacements, give these guys a shot.” “One of my favorites.” “The type of underground college radio phenomenon that we all came for.” “A stellar take on the power-Pop style. Lyrics have a unique substance to them
|
Links
Facebook DiscographyAlbums
|