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Blood on the tracks

New England Music News

Whipped into shape

Lady Zen

• We feel pretty amped about Supercharged, the debut EP by the hardcore rock and roll band WHIP HANDS. Recorded in March at 131 Washington, the four songs are driven by a fierce dual guitar attack, constantly threatening to blow out the high end while circling each other with excellent melodies on the low. A nihilistic approach and lo-fi aesthetic belie some subtly complex formulas, and we were pleasantly surprised to hear some longer instrumental passages — generally a rarity in these genres — which indicate this isn't merely a thrash-and-burn routine. Summoning the ghosts of New York Dolls, the Wipers, Hot Snakes, and the Reatards, Whip Hands are up to something filthy and committed. Dig up Supercharged at whiphands.bandcamp.com. We hear their live show translates; see for yourself in the dark dungeons of Flask Lounge this Monday, with Great Western Plain, Old Night, and Ace Galloper.

• Tune in to the latest episode of Food Coma TV to see SPOSE gettin' all charming, quipping about Settlers of Catan and Coldplay and calling the show's host a "foodie Rick Ross." Aside from numerous Spose cuts, the episode also weaves in tracks by SUNSET HEARTS, MATT ANDERSON, CAM GROVES, KEVIN GRANT, EDUCATED ADVOCATES, and A SEVERE JOY. The amount of delirious consumption on that show is incredible, sure, but the amount of exposure they're sneakily giving to local artists — who get to hear their music soundtracking a professional comedy program — is truly a marvel. No other web series comes close.

• Jazz poet and scene maven LADY ZEN made it to the semi-finals before being cut from the pool of candidates for the new season of The X-Factor. Congrats for making it that far, but an early exit might be a blessing in disguise. Seems like it would have been a weird fit: the exposure would be great, but Zen is all about integrity, and we honestly couldn't picture her act on such a weird soap opera.