Playful Jam from Chromeo

sexyI know it’s only humpday, but I already feel bogged down this week, so I’m looking to the feel good tunes of Chromeo to get me through the rest of the day.  The duo has always had a soft spot in my heart, with “Mama’s Boy” being one of my favorite tracks.  The group’s always employed a fun spin on the world, and they don’t stop with this tune, commenting on a popular social butterfly…I’m thinking they’re nodding to Kim K. You can hear this tune, and what I assume will be more hits, when the band release White Women, their latest LP.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/115343497″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Thursdays Are for Rock N’ Roll

austin-skyline-mark-weaverMan, I was looking up what shows I wanted to love on for you all this Thursday, and I ran into just a smorgasbord of good little shows.  A few of these are locals gigs, and a few are traveling acts.  For the most part, they’re all fairly cheap, so get out on the town, find your groove, and rock it out with the best of us.

Holy Ghost (w/Orthy, Midnight Magic) @ Emos – 8 PM  – $17

Crystal Stilts (w/Lovely Bad Things, Zachary Cale, Holy Wave) – 9 PM – $14

Mean Jeans (w/Audacity, Prince, The Rich Hands, the Vomettes) – 9 PM – Cheap

There’s also some intersting sets from the likes of Austin Lucas, Barenaked Ladies, Finch about town, but my suggestions lay with the previews up above.  Below are some jams from the bands I’m really into, like Crystal Stilts and Audacity.

[audio:

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/01_Couldn_t_Hold_A_Candle.mp3]

Another Rocker from Radioactivity

radioactivity3x372Just last week I was tossing one of the great new songs from Radioactivity your way, and less than a few days later, the band have unleashed another kicking tune for your ears. I love the gritty sound of this tune, even though it still has this underlying pop sensibility to it; you wouldn’t expect anything less from two ex-Marked Men memebers would you? Not only does this capture the sound that I’ve been enthralled with (again) over the last few years, but we can get a big Texas shout out going here.  Their self-titled LP comes out next week via Dirtnap Records…and rumor has it that another one is right around the corner.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/04-Locked-in-My-Head.mp3]

Download: Radioactivity – Locked in My Head [MP3]

 

Recent Jam from Prince Rupert’s Drop

princerupertEveryone was out rocking away at CMJ in NYC last week, so the press world has been kind of slow, us included. One of the things I missed posting about last week was the brand new track from Prince Rupert’s Drop, which features on a digital single from Beyond is Beyond is Beyond.  This tune offers up a groovy stomp, with hints of noisier elements in there.  It sticks with the same groovy attitude that the group has offered us before, which is all the more reason for you and I to pay some attention to the act.  Enjoy a nice bit of jam today.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/112666617″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Review: Crystal Antlers @ the Mohawk (10.19)

Crystal_Antlers-4Sometimes Austin can disappoint you.  I don’t know if it’s the post-ACL hangover or the onset of cold weather, but I was expecting a sold out crowd for Crystal Antlers on Saturday night, especially after the release of their excellent Nothing is Real LP. Sadly, it was half-empty (shame on us), but that didn’t stop the bands on stage from killing it. Read on for some reflection. And thanks to our friend Bryan for the photo!  Read more

Brand New Music from Sea Pinks

seapinksHave I mentioned lately how much I love Sea Pinks?  The group first came to my attention a few years ago with their relationship to Girls Names, but since that discovery they’ve released two incredible LPs, Freak Waves and Dead Seas.  Today I bring you a brand new single that you’ll definitely have to sink your teeth into.  Much like Freak Waves, the vocals are up in the mix, which really does make the group all the more exciting; it allows for the natural vibe and bounce of the group to make way to your eardrums.  They’ll be releasing this track on a new 7″ via the band’s label, CF Records.  This totally made my week worth it.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/112203516″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Nobunny – Secret Songs

nobynnRating: ★★★½☆

For over a decade Nobunny has been doing his own thing, abiding by his own rules and endearing himself to fans all the while.  Secret Songs is his third LP, and while it’s a bit all over the place, it encapsulates exactly what you’d expect from our favorite garage animal rocker.  And shining through it all? Great songs.

Every time I listen to Secret Songs I envision myself rocking out at a show with Nobunny.  “Bye Bye Roxie” seems like a perfect way to kick off the evening, with a bouncing rhythm and heavy-handed guitar playing; it all clears the way for our main man to rock his vocals, wagging his sweat drenched ears in your face. He even slows it down a bit with a twangy guitar stomp on “True Vulture,” before offering one of the standout tracks, “Pretty Girl.”  For me, it’s all about the anthemic nature of the chorus.  I envision you and I bouncing around joyously, beer spraying all across the room as Nobunny enters the foray to make entice us to suck the marrow out of life.

While I’m sure I’ve often lumped our anti-hero into the garage rock category (see above), I can also appreciate his penchant for trying out other genres, while still sounding every bit himself.  “Lizard Lies” is the best power-pop track that the Exploding Hearts never wrote; it’s bratty, catchy and polished enough to play while you give your dad a ride to work.  The longhairs will definitely be shaking their locks at the venues as this song blares out of their local PAs. Then there’s “Do the Stooge,” which is a sort of freak-out jam, which gives us all time to head to the bar, though we’ll do so with a little bit of swagger. You’ll need that momentarily breather before you get into the most classic track, “My Blank Space.”  It’s frantic pace and held syllables are precisely the sort of song that made Nobunny endearing to us all from the start.

And the our night is wrapped up in a poppy little number: “Lovin Lovin You.”  It reminds me of the sort of guitar playing/punk shuffle I grew accustomed to when I went through my Dead Milkmen phase.  It’s a ditty, but there’s something dirty about it…it’s a pop song your parents would be okay with, but every bit of it belongs to you.  And the album, or your night at the club, is over before you know it.  You danced with your friends, you rocked with Nobunny, and those Secret Songs now belong to you.  As always, it’s a secret best shared with those you trust, those with good taste.  There’s nothing quite like it.

 

One More New One from Audacity

tumblr_inline_mj08bavIaS1qz4rgpWasn’t it just last week I posted one of the latest singles from Audacity?  Well, that was from a split release, but this new tune is from their brand new LP!  The album is titled Butter Knife, and it’ll see a release by Suicide Squeeze on October 29th.  These guys always seem to energetic in their songwriting, yet, like all good punk, it’s got a nice dosage of hooks to grab your ears.  If you listen to this track, you get the feeling that big things are in the making for the band, as you’ll find a hard time ignoring just how good the track is.  One of my favorite acts of the moment!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/01_Couldn_t_Hold_A_Candle.mp3]

Download: Audacity – Couldn’t Hold A Candle [MP3]

Poppy Tune from The So So Glos

383997_10150390708559738_62209039737_8404542_442126120_nWe’ve been fans for some time of The So So Glos, and that was cemented by my time spent listening to their phenomenal debut, Blowout.  It seems that some hard-working individuals have allowed them some free studio time to record a track of their liking, and the result seems like its a good fit.  Through their short time, they’ve grown increasingly softer on the ears…meaning that their brash style has sort of begun to fade.  That being said, it’s clear that some bands are meant to move on in that way, as this song offers a glimpse to just how great things sound when all the pieces come together. Give it a listen.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/The-So-So-Glos-Shaking-Through-Volume-4-06-Emergency.mp3]

Download: The So So Glos – Emergency [MP3]

 

1 975 976 977 978 979 1,306