(Editor’s Note: Every once in a while we’re asked why there aren’t more Don Caballero puns around the site, and you know what? Maybe we haven’t lived math rock, maybe that’s on us. Either way, the Singles Broken Up column is meant to function as a speed date of sorts for readers short on time that still find themselves thirsting for the new and notable, so… ready to mingle? Excellent – this week we’ve got you covered with drops from Neptune, Quicksand, Daydream Plus, DazGak!, and Dutch Elm.)
Neptune – “Yesterday’s Face”
Neptune is just days away from releasing their next album Play Some Music, but this week they gave us one more taste in advance with this slowly sizzling single. Try as we might to describe the band’s iconically strange dynamic, one thing we love about this video for “Yesterday’s Face” is that it functions as a sort of visual aid – when you see those hybrid drums and those chainmail-and-pipe guitars, the uninitiated already know they’re in for something wild.
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Quicksand – “Crystallize”
Over the past few years it’s seemed that San Diego’s post-hardcore legends have been channeling something more casual, but it absolutely works – considering the band’s background and shared legendary credits with bands like Rival Schools, Deftones and Gorilla Biscuits, it’s no wonder these guys throw sonic hooks like nobody’s business.
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Daydream Plus – “Speed Limit”
You know, even with the memorial holiday, this week was long as hell. But seeing the announcement of a new album from Daydream Plus brought joy to our hearts, and not only is the new single expectedly excellent, the band just teased an exciting alternate format for Second Last Day of Summer upon physical release. But more on that soon in a different column!
DazGak! – “Trixie”
The main takeaway from Stimpy‘s lates single is that DazGak! can crush into slower, shoegaze-adjacent territory with ease. That’s not a huge surprise, but there’s also a couple interesting twin-guitar moments that zap into existence halfway through, so overall we’re as hyped as ever for their debut for Floodlit Recordings.
Dutch Elm – “You’re Not Invited to That Riff”
Of all the singles here today, this one was the most mysterious – for the last few weeks we’ve been seeing their songs pop up on Bandcamp, but we weren’t sure they were part of a pending EP, LP, compilation… then we saw that they’re teasing their debut album, and we liked what we heard so at this point it would be irresponsible not to share their latest with you. It’s kind of a sleeper hit: imagine something between Delta Sleep and Town Portal and you’re halfway there.
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