At the moment, I’m pretty obsessed with listening to Posthumous Release, the newest LP from Coma Cinema. There’s something about the craftsmanship in the songwriting, dwelling in the same sphere as early Elf Power, where darkness and fairy tales blend with incredible pop sensibility. On this newest single, there’s a bit of a wash over the vocals, coating them in a shroud of mystery, yet the ability to infect you with emotion still resonates in my ears. This album is one of my personal highlights of the year thus far, and you can grab your copy on June 11th.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I’m really impressed with the growth I’ve seen musically from Emma Louise. When I first heard her awhile back, I liked it, but it was just another great voice–that’s not the case now with her latest effort, vs Head vs Heart. She’s got a much stronger presence behind the microphone, and I like the soulful solemnity in her voice on this bonus single. There’s not much besides the piano and the voice, but if you listen to this track, you won’t need anything else to fall in love with Emma Louise. Her album is out now on Frenchkiss Records.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Emma Louise – Backseats
I passed on this track a couple of days ago; I’m sorry, my life’s a mess! But, now that I’m back with it, I think everyone needs to take a good listen to this new jam from Crocodiles. This is the sort of track I expected to hear more of when the band released their last effort, Endless Flowers, though that ended up a bit too polished. On this number, they still have some melodic hooks, especially in the chorus, but the song itself seems to ooze with noisier elements on the edges, making the track more than just some casual pop ditty. You can find this tune on Crimes of Passion, which comes out on August 20th.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Crocodiles – Cockroach [MP3]
Sometime last year I brought you all a jam from Diarrhea Planet, and while I questioned the name, I couldn’t help but enjoy the anthemic brashness of the group’s sound. You’ll hear just that on the group’s latest single, “Separations,” which will be on their new album, I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams. If it sounds like this tune, then you can be sure the whole album will be filled with exuberant energy and hooks you can sing along to all day long. Perfect for summer time; the album hits late summer via Infinity Cat Recordings.
Jay Arner is a guy who has paid his dues in the indie world under a multitude of monikers and many many roles. He’s now taking his musical venture into the solo game with a self-titled debut album due to drop on June 25th via Mint Records. First taste of the new material “Midnight on South Granville” is found below and conveys a message of 80s synths mixed with surf rock guitars. I’m excited about the new solo album.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Jay Arner – Midnight On South Granville [MP3]
When this track from Exwife begins, it seems like you might be in for a drifting bit of post-rock, featuring ambling guitars and distant vocals. But, as it heads into the 2 minute mark, walls of distortion are inserted, then pulled back. In the end, the song begins to fade, with atmospheric noise circling the listener’s ears as the song draws to a close. I like the sense of brooding and danger that rides throughout. You can hear this song on the group’s upcoming New Colors LP, which hits stores on May 28th, courtesy of Evil Weevil Records.
Back in November, I developed a man music crush on D.C. based Shark Week and their garage rock infused music. Furthering my fandom of the group is this new song “Go West” that sort of infuses a doo wop vibe at the beginning before getting down and dirty with the familiar garage rock sound. Anyone smart enough to see the band during SXSW, can attest that the sound translates really well in the live setting as well. I’m expecting big things from these guys.
Make your way over to Analog Edition to pre-order a new 7″ from Shark Week due out July 30th.
Man, it seems like there’s a whole lot of shows coming our way here in Austin, and we’re back with a chance for you to win a pair of tickets to an exciting show over at the Mohawk next Tuesday. Black Moth Super Rainbow will bring their experimental pop tunes our way, still riding the praise from their latest album, Cobra Juicy. They’ll be joined by the Hood Internet, so you know that everyone’s going to have a blast just by being in attendance, let alone enjoy some great tunes. All you have to do to win a pair of tickets is leave a comment with a number between 1-1000; the contest will end Friday at Midnight. If you want tickets the traditional way, you can head HERE.