Over the course of the past year, Oklahoma has proven themselves to be capable of many facets of indie rock. The few singles released ahead of debut record Fever Dream  had the band showing off their ability to make up-tempo bops. Now, with "Ballerina," they've gone into slow-burn mode. Instead of the Killers, they're embodying a different band that hit it big in 2006 - Snow Patrol. Down to the gentle melody that starts the song, this is Oklahoma's "Chasing Cars." They nail the quiet-loud-quiet dynamic between verses and chorus. Both resonate with a potent dose of romance and emotion. It seems that the band is set to capture the sound of the mid-aughts in a bottle, like a firefly, with Fever Dream . Personally, I'm excited to see what their version of "Kids" sounds like. Fever Dream , featuring "Ballerina" and more, is out this Friday, Oct. 4. Ballerina by Oklahoma

Lapdogs - Zoo  EP (self-released) Ah, the demo. I love it. Unpolished, unhinged, unprepared. One of the best ways for bands to keep fans appeased between gigs. The members of Lapdogs know this, which brings us to their new demo EP, Zoo . Only four tracks long, it embraces the natural rawness in their garage-y sound. Lapdogs play like their songs' life expectancies are rapidly diminishing and they've got to get them into the world before they finally go. Another plus of the demo is its tendency to capture the energy of live shows. The trio explodes on each track; a personal favorite is the ending of "so long." The cacophony shatters a crevasse in the earth and swallows them. All across Zoo , there are tiny eruptions of sonic bliss. Jack Daily of Fox Theory and Eric Cuevas contributed production. Oklahoma - "Sharp Dressed Love" (self-released) The pop-rockers in Oklahoma (the band, not the state) are finally set to release their debut reco...

Technically one of these releases came out in 2017, but who cares? I sure don't! It's week two of the 2019 Local Music Round-Up Redux Extravaganza! On a completely separate note, if a weekly dose of my incoherent hot takes on music isn't enough, I've been writing about one album every day on my website ! It's mostly bad, but two randoms on Wordpress thought it was cool enough for them to follow, so that's good enough for me.  Oklahoma - "Talking Cheap" (self-released) Oklahoma have released a few singles from their record Fever Dream  (including one-off  "Disco" back in August 2018), and "Talking Cheap" is the latest and greatest one. The band finds coherency in a melting pot of 2010s indie influences. Pleading vocals, some slight electronics, and a plinking piano interlude all find their place cleanly. It's difficult to accept the transient nature of human relationships, and Oklahoma rage against the dying of a...

Wes hasn't slept in at least nine decades, but his restless commitment to sharing dope tunes has overcome the odds. Praise be unto coffee. Kate Malanaphy - In and Under  EP Kate Malanaphy sounds eternal. Her vibrant and wondrous vocals draw a map that each song reluctantly follows. Opener "Up to Here" is a minimal, spacious, and haunting ballad. The shimmering cymbals give counterpoint to Malanaphy's fluid and ruinous performance. "Glass" continues the EP with another sonic lake of aching harmony and piano arpeggios. The first half of "Neighbor" feels like a continuation of the previous track. Percussionist Alex Norman breaks up the second half with thudding bass drum, anchoring the wandering vocals. "Liar" closes the release with a gasp of tenderness. A simple backdrop of drums allow Malanaphy to paint a canvas of wasting sunlight. In and Under by Kate Malanaphy Oklahoma - "Disco" Indie rock ba...