Category: Tunes

Stream the Emma Kupa EP

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emmaI’ve made it quite known about my adoration for former Standard Fare songwriter, Emma Kupa.  So, as Wiaiwya preps the release of her Home Cinema EP, I want you take a minute to stream in its entirety.  It’s mostly light indie pop fare, built around Kupa’s lyrics and her guitar, though she brought in friends to fill out the sound of the EP itself.  Definitely a nice step into her own limelight, showing Emma as the charming songstress we’ve come to know her as.  This will definitely make your day a bit brighter.

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Miniboone Return!

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minibooneband-thumb-550x366After just doing a quick search on ATH, I’m seeing that we started posting about Brooklyn based indie-pop band Miniboone almost 5 years ago.  The band takes a simple approach to songwriting with their catchy pop melodies and all around fun vibe to their songs.  This new song, “Basic Song”, is yet another track that will prove hard to resist unless you flat out hate energetic and fun pop music.  Check it out.

New album entitled Bad Sports is due out April 20th on Ernest Jenning Record Co.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/187209761″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Hooked On This New Grounders Track

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groundedI’m not really sure what it is about Grounders, but I’m entirely hooked on their sound.  Seemingly, the song is all over the place, touching on various genres, from electronic-induced pop to swirling dreamgaze.  That being said, there’s an undeniable pull that draws the listener (in this case me) into the track. There’s so much going on in this tune, that you’re almost begging to play it again before it’s finished, just so you can go back and check all the musical highlights occurring within. The group releases their self-titled album on May 12 via Nevado Records.

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Indiepop Joy from Skittle Alley

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10523116_10152579979492091_287849880994909169_nGotta throw a nod towards my friend at IPSMYL for pointing out this great new track from Skittle Alley; it’s made my day just to know this track is out there.  I’ve written about the French group before, and they’ve lived up, and perhaps surpassed my expectations with this tune, even if it’s labeled as a demo.  I honestly don’t think it needs much more…the vocals have that indiepop softness, the guitars jangle in all the right places and there’s an overall emotional appeal that makes the song worth repeating over and over again.  Can’t wait to see what’s next from these guys.

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Show Preview: Craft Spells @ Red 7 (3.3)

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Craft-SpellsThere’s always a lull right before SXSW, so you’ve got to grab onto the great shows while you’ve got the time.  Tuesday night offers the dream pop of Craft Spells, and you’re really going to want to be in attendance for this gig. The band have capitalized on two great albums, Idle Labor and Nausea, both on Captured Tracks; they’ve built a name for themselves on creating music that will entrance you, erasing everything around you so that you’re lost in their work.  Personally, I’m also really excited to see openers The Bilinda Butchers who I’ve been onto for years, and locals Whiite Walls.  It’s going to be a beautiful night of tunes, so join me at the show, won’t you?

Here’s song from Craft Spells and Bilinda Butchers. Tickets are $12; you can buy them HERE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/10.-Breaking-the-Angle-Against-the-Tide.mp3] [audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-Bilinda-Butchers-HEAVEN-02-Less-Than.mp3]

Stream the New Tam Vantage EP

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settinIt seems like stepping away from Pop Singles isn’t going to slow things down for Melbourne’s Tam Vantage. He’s been cranking out great track after track for about a year now, and he’s finally got the full Setting Sun EP for you to listen to, if you’ve got the time to love great music.  There’s a bit more power on these tunes than perhaps what I was expecting, though there’s still an underbelly of Australian pop that supersedes that edge.  My favorite track on the listen is “Marry Me,” but I’m sure everyone will have their own pick.  Get involved in the Tam Vantage movement, as he’s been on a roll and doesn’t look to stop anytime soon.

Martin Gore Announces New Album

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Photo Copyright Travis ShinnI make no bones about my love of Depeche Mode. I even cried at a show a few years back; I miss my Maggie dog, they got me with the sad doggies on the video screen during “Precious”, it was an emotional time, family stuff, whatever, man enough to admit it.

Anyway, the driving force behind Depeche Mode has always been Mr. Martin L. Gore. You will see that name on the writing credits for every song, only joined by David Gahan a few times. The guy is a prolific songwriter, I even have a rather rare “solo” album where Gahan still provides vocals. Depeche Lite? But Martin’s latest project is truly solo, instrumental electronic music and the preview track is wonderful. Solemn and melancholy, as could be expected, it works as a great prelude to the album called MG due in April on Mute Records because you want it to be five minutes longer.

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This Twist Single Has Perfect Timing

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twitsIf you’re outside of Austin reading this, I’ll apologize for being whiny, but the weather here’s pretty miserable.  Rain, cold…so un-March. But, with shitty weather comes fitting music to provide an escape.  On the new single from Twist, the track opens with little more than guitar and vocals; it doesn’t pick up immensely, though it does pull in some electronic beats to fill in the sound.  For me, it’s the perfect storm to match that going on outside my window at the moment, providing a dense bit of pop that’s both calming and unsettling.  No words on a release anytime soon, but at least we’ll have this track.

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Nerd Pop from Robot Princess

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RobotPOur friends over at Fleeting Youth Records (buy local!) passed this tune from their latest signing, Robot Princess, my way, and I’ve been rocking it pretty loud.  I’m a huge fan of the playful style that fills the various verses in the track; it’s got nerdy narratives, which is a huge bonus for a dork like myself.  The chorus has crunchier distorted guitar, harkening back to glory days of good old college rock.  The label will be releasing the bands Teen Vogue LP and their new Action Moves EP together, in what I can only assume is a rad package on March 24th.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/11-Action-Park.mp3]

Download: Robot Princess – Action Park [MP3]

Have You Heard Ruby the RabbitFoot?

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rubyI was looking for something rad to toss up today, something that would definitely lift the spirit, yet still hold true to my personal aesthetics (wherever those are). So I’ve been constantly listening to this brilliant Ruby the Rabbitfoot tune that’s been floating around for a wee bit; I started listening in anticipation of her show at the Blackheart on March 13th. It’s a bit songstress, though there’s this careful artfulness to it, like the bubbling guitar chord you hear lurking beneath her vocals.  She’ll be blowing in to town with her album New as Dew, which comes out the week of her Austin visit.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/01-Ways.mp3]

 

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