New Track Roundup

Flesh Panthers, Beat The Smart Kids, The Grow Ops, Speedy Ortiz

Phil Collins - May 10, 2016

Flesh Panthers, Beat The Smart Kids, The Grow Ops and Speedy Ortiz all released new tracks in the last week. Listen to them all in one place right here.

Flesh Panthers - "Last I Heard"

Chicago garage rockers Flesh Panthers are back with new music in 2016. "Last I Heard" is the first single off their forthcoming album, Willows Weep, which is due out in September on Maximum Pelt. Flesh Panthers released NGC 2632 one year ago. That album made our bracket of the best albums of 2015. We will not have to wait long for the follow up. The first taste of that next record has a western/saloon kind of vibe. This is not the usual fare from Flesh Panthers, but it does not sound like a complete u-turn either. Piano and slide guitar from Joey Rubbish, of fellow local garage rock band The Rubs, give "Last I Heard" that western alehouse feel. Stream the new song below.

Beat The Smart Kids - "Ruby Crystals"

Ska punk band Beat The Smart Kids have their first full-length album coming out this year. The album, Broke Again, will be out soon, according to the band's Facebook page. "Ruby Crystals" is the first song the Chicago band has released off of it. It is a fun, goofy song and it has a fun, goofy Transformers cartoon video to go along with it. The song syncs up with the video at several points. Watch it below. See Beat The Smart Kids live at Quenchers on June 1 with Kill Lincoln and Evil Empire.

The Grow Ops - "Slackspree"

Elgin pop punkers The Grow Ops released an unreleased cut from the same recording sessions that produced their 2015 eponymous album. Much like the songs from The Grow Ops, "Slackspree" harkens back to the pop punk anthems of the nineties. You can hear a little Screeching Weasel in there, as well as a little Green Day. In fact, this song is about sitting around smoking weed instead of doing anything productive. The chorus is a catchy shout-along: "Have we given up/If you ask me/Have we given up/Slackspree!" Stream the new song below.

Speedy Ortiz - "Death Note"

Speedy Ortiz released "Death Note," the opening track off their forthcoming EP Foiled Again. The EP features two new songs, including "Death Note," and two remixes of the song "Puffer," which appeared on their 2015 album Foil Deer. "Death Note" is named after the graphic novel series in which people die because their names are written in an evil notebook. Foiled Again is set for release on June 3. Stream "Death Note" below. Catch Speedy Ortiz live at Thalia Hall on May 19 with Hop Along and Love of Everything.