The West Coast of America, undeniably one of the greatest places in the world for surfing, hazy days, reverbed guitar and whining vocals. The style of music is a formula that I have loved for the last few years of my life and transcended my obsession with music one step further. West Coast is a genre in its own right, it can merge punk, pop, rock and even psychedelia. It doesn't even have to be from California, it just has to not give a frick and be timelessly fresh. I thought it only right to express why it is the west coast is so freaking awesome, dude (maybe I don't suit that though). Here's The Music Picture's top five West Coast acts.
1.Top of the list has to be without a doubt, the unsung hero of the West Coast, Ty Segall (pronounced Tai, just in case you were wondering). Segall has featured in a plethora of orange county, underground bands, he has had huge influence on the scene and been solo since 2008. Hard hitting riffs and power house beats under his unique Californian growl make his music exceptional. A rock n'roll, surf, punk attitude sound. What pushes Segall above is the sheer amount of music he has produced. Since 2008 he has created five studio albums and one joint album with White Fence all of exceptional quality. He calls his music garage rock, but epitomises the West Coast.
FIDLAR
2. Drugs, screams, alcohol, guitars and drugs make up Fidlar. West Coast stoner punks who have song names such as Cheap Beer, Cocain, Shrooms,Crackhead Ted and The Punks Are Finally Taking Acid, theycreate wild shows and energetic records. The Los Angeles band formed in 2009 and have some of the best band illustration around. Fidlar stands for a saying the band heard from local skater kids: 'F**k It Dog Life's A Risk'. Made up of 4 guys they released their debut, self titled album last January. They are now hot slots at British festivals and are currently touring with Chicago rockers The Orwells. I was lucky enough to see them in 2012 at Reading Festival and to rub singer/guitarist Zac Carper's head in a mosh pit. I was also lucky enough to see them at The Garage, in London in Febuary 2013 and once again rub Carper's sweaty hair (favourite anecdote).
BEST COAST
3.A softer side of the West Coast brings you Best Coast. Fronted my the iconically cool Bethany Cosentino. They have reached huge success with their lo-fi style, chilled reverbed guitar and catchy vocals. Their breakthrough record, Crazy For You, lead the band to be a key contender on the festival circuit and connected them with childhood idols such as Green Day, No Doubt and Iggy Pop who they've performed and recorded with. Their energetic live shows and fast passed rhythms make them a perfect West Coast band. The duo formed in 2009 from Los Angeles.
WAVVES
4.Happy go luck post-punk, surf rockers Wavves formed in 2008 from sunny San Diego. Stoners with fast paced strumming and the West Coast attitude. They are refreshing to listen to, with a sound that combines indie vocals with mass amounts of reverb and awesome lyrics. Friends with other West Coast acts like Fidlar and No Age they have wild joint shows creating huge buzz for the West Coast scene. Breakthrough record King Of The Beach pushed Wavves to success in 2010 and their latest album Afraid Of Heights evenlanded them on Grand Theft Auto V.
BLEEDING KNEES CLUB
5.As the only non natives in the list, from the Australian Gold Coast, Bleeding Knees Club hold as much of the West Coast sound as any other act. They are so lo-fi they could have easily been recorded 30 years before they were even born. Made up of duo Alex Wall and Jordan Malane, they both share the microphone. They recorded their debut album Nothing To Do in 2012 in New York, produced by Dev Hynes, aka Blood Orange.
The Devon four piece, Metronomy, have produced their analogue fuelled, fourth album Love Letters. As a follow up to their masterpiece The English Riviera, the record is all together slower and more emotive. The album shows why the band have such a status in pop, with a subtler vibe. Still with the same unique Metronomy, indie/electro feel, the LP has added funk and motown influences, which shows a different side to the band. The first single released from Love Letters was I'm Aquarius, as an album teaser. It has been on repeat on radio music shows since it emerged and is gaining more and more attention. Catchy female vocals loop: 'Shoop doop doop ah' behind a bassy analogue organ. Good chilled indie that progresses with texture. Opening track The Upsetter is frankly absolutely gorgeous. Every layer adds to it perfectly and subtly. It sways through analogue synths and acoustic guitar that build behind soft vocals sung as a tenner an an octave higher than usual. It has a hum to it. The track alters the stereo direction of Joe Mount's vocals, with an added clean guitar solo that pushes the sound into something superb. The Upsetter feels just as strong as any of Metronomy's hits such as, The Bay or Heartbreaker. Tittle track Love Letters is the highest velocity record of the LP. Its Motown gloss and catchy beat makes it a great indie dance anthem. It starts slow until the songs tittle booms through female vocals, and Mount's voice passionately sings 'Love letters all I see, On every day I read'. The track then transgresses to a perfectly implemented trumpet solo (don't say that to often these days). Metronomy are set to tour the album and play festivals. Although it hasn't felt like they've been away Love Letters is a comeback for the band. The album was recorded entirely in analogue at London's Toe Rag Studios, notorious for their old school approach to production. The move to tape tracks didn't stop Love Letters from sounding fresh. The classic instrumental track Metronomey started with is present in the LP with Boy Racers. A warped, bass, filled rhythm sits below smooth drums and altered key effects create a catchy refresher within the record. A slower more sensitive collection of tracks close Love Letters: Call Me and The Most Immaculate Haircut play with a more alt balled style composier. Reservoir the ninth song on the record has the repetitive listen touch about it. Almost sounding like a eighties arcade quest it bounces Love Letters to its penultimate beat. Weather you want to relate 'reservoir' as a comment to Metronomey's previous album, The English Rivera, is for Mount's brain to decide, the track is beautifully composed and ironically happy as its digital roots. Just as it started Love Letters finishes with a slow, simple track, Never Wanted. 'But it gets better' is sung over a bass riff and chirpy guitar flicks until the direction turns to a more misty, ambient sound and then gets dropped into its fuzzy analogue closure. Although Love Letters could be called a less impactful album compared with Metronomy's previous compositions, the LP feels like a real and more mature side to the band. A step up from indie niche pop to full international status.
When an old formula is given a fresh take magic can happen. Eagulls self titled, debut LP is solid and hard hitting. The new wave, punk rockers fill the album with reverbed riffs and shouts of passion. Like an angry Joy Division, the band pound through the album with a raw style.
Opening track Nerve Endings starts things off with a high tempo, misty punk explosion. Hard drum beats, heavy bass and phased guitar work perfectly with the howling vocals of George Mitchell overlaying. 'Still nerve endings, Still nerve endings wont die' are the lyrics that peak the power house track, perfect for a punk sing-a-long. As an opening track, Eagulls go full throttle and don't hold back throughout the album.
Based in Leeds the five piece are adding to the so called 'guitar band revival'. Eagulls are gaining attention in the US, recently performing Possessed on The David Letterman Show, they are bringing their grundgy ora to the masses. Their debut LP has that attitude and undertone that gives them the rebel appeal. Although raw, they show in Eagulls they can be catchy too. Tough Luck the fourth track on the record has a more melody driven backbone. Echoing vocals give the track an element of space and repetitive cries of 'tough luck' lead over fast passed guitar and drum layers. The manner lyrics are cried, screamed and expelled shows the passion in the record. Footsteps and Fester / Blister are breathtaking displays of throat power (literally from some band members). The tracks swoop in and out of hard beating drums and guitar to unexpectedly soothing bridges that build you back to the full slam of their sound. Through all the feedback and attitude Eagulls debut is not going to be a record to slip through the radar. They are set for a multi-continental, mammoth tour with dates set until August so far. Eagulls are not a new band either, they have been working on their craft for years and this might be a crucial moment to leave the stain they want. They end the album with Soulless Youth, which has similarity to a previous single Council Flat Blues. As they started the record with power and attitude they end it, howling the songs tittle over the buzzing sound into a fade.
3. A softer side of the West Coast brings you Best Coast. Fronted my the iconically cool Bethany Cosentino. They have reached huge success with their lo-fi style, chilled reverbed guitar and catchy vocals. Their breakthrough record, Crazy For You, lead the band to be a key contender on the festival circuit and connected them with childhood idols such as Green Day, No Doubt and Iggy Pop who they've performed and recorded with. 
5.As the only non natives in the list, from the Australian Gold Coast, Bleeding Knees Club hold as much of the West Coast sound as any other act. They are so lo-fi they could have easily been recorded 30 years before they were even born. Made up of duo Alex Wall and Jordan Malane, they both share the microphone.
