Dryspell Prepping New EP Release

We’ve written about Dryspell before, and they just dropped this delicious new tune yesterday in preparation for the release of their new EP in March. The song begins as many guitar pop tracks would, distorted guitars fighting one another for your attention. Perhaps the best moment comes in what would be perceived as the chorus, the vocals take on almost a Win Butler-esque quiver just before the group blasts off into their jam. These guys are definitely channeling something special this go round, so keep your eyes peeled for the release of their EP come first of March.

Premiere: Sean Morales Shares Weve Been Apart

Sean Morales has been working in the Austin music scene for some time, most notably as a member of James Arthur’s Manhunt. We now find Sean stepping out to craft his own debut, which is a stark contrast to JAM. Guitar notes are picked carefully at the start, so close to the mic that you can hear the strings if you put your ear to the speaker. Morales’ voice comes across like a whisper, barely willing to step over the guitar sound; he’s joined by an accompaniment at one point during the chorus. Then the song fades out with added textural layers and improvisation, rounding out the perfect vision that Sean’s created with this tune. You can expect the rest of his debut Call It In to follow suit; it’s being released by Super Secret Records this Friday.

Nap Eyes Return with New Album

Last October, Nap Eyes blew into Austin on the backs of Alvvays; I hoped, and prayed, that people would show up early, remembering the perfect morning when I caught their set in a small room during SXSW the year they dropped Thought Rock Fish Scale. Today they return with news of a brand new record, and our first taste leaves off exactly where we left the band. The vocals are given in almost haphazardly spoken manner, and I love how strong they are in the front of the mix. What I didn’t expect, and am appreciative of at this moment, is how crisp the guitar licks sound on this track…even when ramped up to jangling speed. The band are set to release I’m Bad Now via Paradise of Bachelors on March 9th.

 

The Monochrome Set Have a New Album

In certain circles, the Monochrome Set are the legendary sort; they’re the band you secretly slide into a compilation for a crush, hoping that said person will realize either, how cool you are or how odd you are. They’ve been fairly active since the late 70s, save for a period in the 00s when all was silent. Luckily, recent times has seen the band reformed and working vigorously, with the announcement that they’ll be releasing a new LP titled Maisieworld via Tapete Records. The band still have this spritely quality, and I’m quite fond of the playful keyboard work in the back of this track; you’ll find it hard to ignore the natural swing of the track. Clearly the band still have few peers; look for their new effort on February 9th.

 

Nada Surf Announces Let Go Covers LP

I’m an avid fan of Nada Surf; they’ve always found some way to connect with me personally. For me, Let Go, is my personal favorite…so it’s great to see others take notice by covering all the songs on the LP for a charity of release titled Standing at the Gates: The Songs of Nada Surf’s Let Go. There’s some heavy hitters on the list like Aimee Mann and Rogue Wave, but today we get to share with you this Ron Gallo version of standout track “Happy Kid.” It begins slowly, but takes on the song’s true spirit once it bursts forth just before the 1 minute mark. This LP will see a release on February 2nd, but don’t forget the group will also be touring the whole of the US playing Let Go in its entirety!

Soccer Mommy Announces Debut

If you’ve been anywhere in the Interwebs over the last year, then you’ve surely seen the name Soccer Mommy pop up a time or two (even here at ATH). It looks like Sophie Allison’s star continues to rise with the announcement of her album, Clean, which will be released by Fat Possum. At the age of 20, Allison carries a certain confidence in her songwriting that many veterans can’t come near; the soft hush that hits at the chorus is a pretty special moment, repeated to craft that dreamy essence before the guitar lightly feeds back. Look for this record to be a huge hit when it’s dropped on March 2nd.

Never Hurts to Jam the Men

We haven’t heard from the Men since 2016, but news broke today of a new album headed our way in 2018. The immediate thing you’ll notice is how the band sounds absolutely nothing like the group that gave us Leave Home or Open Your Heart, and honestly, that’s for the best; it’s great to hear a sound you love, but even better for art when you push yourself into something entirely new. There’s still that element of darkness in the pulsing synth lines that serves the spirit of the band to listeners, yet artistic elements elevate the tune such as the sax squawking. The group’s new LP, Drift, drops on March 2nd via Sacred Bones Records.

Premiere: Generifus Ready Free Ways

Generifus is primarily the work of Spencer Sult, though he’s able to get by with a little help from his friends. At the moment, he’s ramping up the machine, anxiously to release his latest album Free Ways into the world. Today we bring you one of the album’s highlights; it wears a touch of similarity to Morby or Vile. Something in Spencer’s voice just sounds so friendly and personable, as if he’s been in your life for quite some time; perhaps you can also find that same quality in the lyrical content. Musically, there’s this remarkable underbelly to the guitar; it has this darkened tone that seems to work in contrast to promise in Sult’s voice…but I love it. The LP will be available on March 9th via Sultan Serves Records.

PreOrder the LP HERE.

Brand New Track from Ezra Furman

It’s a good thing we have this Ezra Furman to start off our day, as he’s one of my favorite curator’s of pop rock. His tunes are rooted in the tradition of garage rock, and on this album, he’s filled the record with lyrical content put forward as a collection of stories. You’ll hear the hooks in this song, with some Springsteen-esque delivery, rocking its way to the sweet chorus. His new album Transangelic Exodus will be released by Bella Union on February 9th. .

Premiere Primitive Motion Release Feed the Signals Video

Bedroom Suck Records is one of our favorite labels, not just in Australia, but in general terms, and they reached out hoping we could spread the word on their first release of 2018: Primitive Motion‘s House in the Wave LP. This video exhibits the band’s creative spirit, whilst working with minimal instrumentation; on this song you have little more than piano and horns dominating the mix. Everyday images are used to express the natural beauty, in both the song and the world in which we live. Perhaps my favorite element, a benefit of live recording, is the slight buzz at times in the room where two recorded; it adds an intimacy that places you right inside the room itself. Look for the group’s new LP to drop on February 23rd.

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