FADER PREMIERE
This past spring, I went to North Philadelphia to write a feature about Alex G, a reserved college kid whose home-recorded rock songs have amassed a sort of small-but-diehard cult following on the internet. While hanging in his apartment, he played me a couple songs from DSU, his new full-length that's officially out next week via Orchid Tapes and streaming below in full. Even through the limited speakers of his Macbook, it sounded like a big leap for him, touting a carefully-curated track list and some sharper sonics without ditching the effortless, pointed melodicism of his straight-to-Bandcamp releases. Now, having listened to it properly mastered and sequenced, I feel confident saying it's his strongest release yet, stuffed with tons of weird little quirks to obsess over: the snarling guitars on "Serpent Is Lord," the fluttering (and unexpected) synths on "Promise" or that weird noise that opens "Axesteel" that sounds like a horror-movie scream or tires skidding on ice. "Boy," a song he's been playing live for a while now, is the record's closer and feels the most like a "hit." On its chorus, he sings I am not the boy you knew, which in some ways feels the opposite of true, like maybe he's becoming the kind of top-tier songwriter everyone rooting for him always knew he could be. Since DSU has already sold out two separate vinyl pressings, Orchid Tapes has announced a third round—pre-sale starts today. Alex G is also heading out on a July/August cross-country tour with his labelmates in Elvis Depressedly that will take them to LA for Orchid Tapes' 5th label showcase on August 2nd; all the details are on the very pretty show flyer below.
Stream: Alex G, DSU
Alex G/ Elvis Depressedly Tour Dates:
7/19/2014 Arlington, VA @ CD Cellar
7/20/2014 Charlotte, NC @ Area 15
7/21/2014 Atlanta, GA @ Mammal Gallery
7/22/2014 Orlando, FL @ Backbooth
7/23/2014 Tampa, FL @ Mojo
7/25/2014 New Orleans, LO @ Beatnik
7/26/2014 Houston, TX @ Walters
7/27/2014 Austin, TX @ Holy Mountains
7/28/2014 Denton, TX @ House Show
7/31/2014 Mesa, AZ @ 51 West
8/1/2014 San Diego, CA @ Che cafe
8/2/2014 Los Angeles, CA @ Orchid Tapes Showcase 5
8/3/2014 Oakland, CA @ Growing Up is Dumb
8/4/2014 San Jose, CA @ San Jose Rock Shop
8/5/2014 San Fran, CA @ Ricksaw Shop
8/7/2014 Denver, CO @ marquis theater
8/8/2014 Kansas City, MO @ Art Closet Studio
8/9/2014 St. Louis, MO @ The Demo
8/10/2014 Chicago, IL @ Township
8/11/2014 Cleveland, OH Mahalls Basement
8/12/2014 Pittsburgh, PA @ The Mr. Roboto Project
8/13/2014 Asbury Park, NJ @ The Wonder Loft
8/14/2014 Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts Theatre
8/15/2014 Brighton, MA @ Roggies
8/16/2014 New York, NY @ Shea Stadium
8/17/2014 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire
