Watch This Expert Alterations Video

As we draw to the end of the year, people are making their year end lists of great albums. For me, one of the things that’s sure to make the top of my list is the new LP from Expert Alterations, You Can’t Always Be Liked, which was just released by Kanine in October. Just in case you needed a reminder of how superb their tracks are in real life, the band has this brand new video for “The Past and You.” I don’t really need to offer up too much more, as I think the video and the song speak for themselves. Have a heart for pop, then this should be in your collection now.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/ktViaKF4JtA[/youtube]

The Shivas Are Back with a New Album

shivaI’ve been on the Shivas train for quite some time, and I’m rather surprised at how quickly they’ve returned considering they were just rocking their last album less than a year ago. This track, however, might catch a few off-guard, offering a smooth Western-tinged ballad that brims with soulful vocals. Sure, lacking in the punch and hooks they’ve offered before, but the song builds in such a way that it’s hard for listeners to turn this thing off. It’s a song of maturity and growth, giving us a glimmer of what we should expect on the band’s new LP, Better Off Dead, which is being released on February 9th via K Records.

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Digging Oakland Health Academy A Great Deal

dreamA short while ago, I wrote about Oakland Health Academy due to their 7″ on Emotional Response, but since going back, I’ve really been enjoying the band’s Dream Palace album…released in September. The album itself offers a lot of differentiation; “About a Friend” sounds like a long lost Guided by Voices tune, then there’s the bedroom ballad of “She’s a Ghost” to charm your heart. Feels like there’s something for everyone in here, so I figured I’d share it with you to encourage some good mid-day listening times. Happy day to you. It’s also available for the NYOP, but you better donate! 

Endearing Track from Dan Kelly

11899892_10154169102854377_9129540690693289141_oThis track was pointed out to us by a good friend of the site, and while it’s from an Aussie act, it actually doesn’t sound too much like what’s been breeching our shores as of late. It’s a pop rock tune straight through, though I’ll admit a slight little twang in the vocal definitely caught my ear. There’s something to be said for a song that shoots straight, just bringing you hooks front and center to charm you from the start. This is Dan Kelly folks, and his album Leisure Panic is available now if you just like your rock n’ roll to be fun.

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Show Preview: Flesh Lights @ Sidewinder (Tonight)

12189211_1670535453161781_4666457673454939594_oThe following reasons should encourage you to go to Sidewinder this evening in Austin and catch a great show featuring some of Austin’s best rock n’ roll. Reason One: Flesh Lights are headlining…they put out one of my favorite records of 2014, Free Yourself; it’s punk, it’s power pop and it’s just plain good. Also, Sweet Talk is in the mix, and their album Double Perfect will be in my 2015 year end list for sure…best work of that band to date. Oh, and opening the evening is Slow, who don’t have an official release, but I’m betting they’ve got new songs that will blow you away. And, Endless Youth! It’s going to be cheap and it’s going to be all ATX awesome, so we’ll see you there! Doors are at 10 PM.

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New Music from Michael Nau

Erika_12JKT EPS_r4Just because Cotton Jones haven’t released anything in a few years, it hasn’t slowed down the writing process for Michael Nau. He’s just announced that he’ll be releasing his new album, Mowing, under his own name, though all indications point to the help from his Cotton Jones crew. His approach on this first single seems to be one of really relaxed folk-influenced indie rock. There’s a slight swing in the guitar chords, almost implying a soulful feel to the track, met by his soothing vocals. Maybe this is the slow jam of the year. Look for his new record via Suicide Squeeze Records on February 19th.

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Second Round of 2016 Artists at SxSW

sxsw-music-logoWe have another big batch of bands you will have to sort through in wristband lines and witness on day party stages.

Here are a few highlights in the initial scan. We have Dead Gaze, Diet Cig, Girls Names, Kuroma, Night Beats, Oberhofer, PWR BTTM, Royal Canoe, Spain, Sweet Spirit, Thee Oh Sees and Chad Valley. The full list announced today is copied and pasted after the break.

…and WRISTBANDS GO ON SALE TOMORROW.

Read more

Austin Spotlight: Another Grape St. Hit

Grape St.Remember when we put out that first Grape St. LP? Yeah, that was pretty sweet. But, the band have since gone on to release their latest album, this time with Burger Records. The album is titled Wallpaper, and if anything, it’s another assured dosage of garage pop power from Curtis O’ Mara. Listen to this new single they just tossed up to support their mini West Coast tour; it has long been a staple of their live show, and I have a feeling you’ll dig hearing it in the recorded version. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to grab their new LP. You can get their old debut HERE.

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Dance Through Your Wednesday With Future Elevators

unnamed-5Oh man, this track is so good. So good that you’ll be streaming it through the rest of the day and then probably for the rest of the week. Future Elevators are a brand new group out of Alabama, but their sleek sound transcends place and belongs to a futuristic setting. It’s got a rock base, fleshed out with synths and radio-ready vocals, and that stomping beat. This track, “Modern World,” is the first track from the upcoming debut album from this band, which is due out at the beginning of next year on February 19th via Communicating Vessels. Take a listen, get down, and then repeat.

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