Listen To New Tracks From Like Pioneers, Volcano!

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 27, 2012 7:40PM

In the past two days, two separate Chicago indie rockers (Like Pioneers and Volcano!, respectively) have released sample tracks from their respective forthcoming albums. You can listen to both of them right here.

First, let's begin with Like Pioneers (pictured above), a Chicago quintet comprised of some the city's best veteran indie rockers, including members of Bound Stems, The Narrator, and Chin Up Chin Up. In fall 2010, the group released their debut record, Piecemeal, an album whose creators self-deprecatingly said they were “a bit surprised” the album existed at all.

At the time, this writer wrote that, given Piecemeal's commonplace, but quite pleasurable, brand of indie-rock, the band should be cockier. From the likes of "Boggs," it looks like they agree. The six-minute mini-epic serves as the first single from Oh, Magic, the group's second full-length, which sees release on May 22 via Abandoned Love Records.

On the wings of a sing-songy guitar riff, the band carefully adds layer upon layer of simple, but compelling, sounds, including counterpointing guitars, and keyboards, resulting in a track that's much more intertwined than the straightforward structure would indicate.

While Like Pioneers may have started as a lark, "Boggs" undoubtedly shows a band emerging with more songwriting and song-arranging confidence, both qualities that'll no doubt guarantee them more and more fans. Listen below.

Re-emerging after a four-year absence, Chicagoans Volcano! (exclamation point key there) will smash open their third album, Piñata, on June 12 via the Leaf Label. The band premiered the title track and first single via MTV Hive.

There's a bit of a Dirty Projectors vibe here, with the winding, herky-jerky guitar work, electronic touches, and falsetto vocals working in concert to create a brand of otherworldly rock. I suspect most listeners will bristle at the intro, but will come around to the last minute of "Piñata," wherein the rock solid beats take over, and the band rides them out to the track's finish. It's good to have Volcano! back after such a long absence, and for those willing to engage with the band's distinctive music, this sample should whet the appetite for much, much more. Download the track below, via the band's Soundcloud.