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Our Fun Fest coverage is nearing an end, but we have yet to give you a top artists post in typical ATH fashion. So here ladies and gents is your ATH top 10 fun fest acts. This is a list compiled by all of our writers and collaborators who did their best to check out as many bands as we could this weekend. Keep in mind that we see as many bands as we can, but certainly can’t blanket the whole fest. Follow the jump for list.
It’s Friday, so I feel like we all needed a nice swift kick in the ass, you know, to get us going into the weekend. With that in mind, I’d like us all to have a listen to this little rocker from Tyvek, who just put out Fast Metabolism via M’Ladys Records. It’s a compilation gathering all the old singles from the group’s early days, thrusting some furious rockers back in our ears. It’s always good to listen to the history of bands we love, so it’s good to get to finally have a hold on these gems from some of my favorite rockers. Give this a go; it’ll save your Friday.
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Known for his vocal and multi-instrument contributions from the band Here We Go Magic, Luke Temple had been a solo artist much before he began his collaborative efforts. However, it seems to be that the greater likelihood that you have discovered him from the role of lead singer due to that band’s buzz status on the internet. Obviously, solo records like this one warrant more of an individual’s reflection of himself or herself; they have total say in what goes for the final copy of their work. This individual album meets this standard quite nicely—Temple’s sounds are far more reliant on the lyricism and less focused the building up of sound that Here We Go Magic is all about.
Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care begins with “In The Open,” which immerses you in the world of Temple. Sure, there are similarities that overlap from other work. You have the jangly percussion elements like tambourines, but there is a groovier vibe to things. Also, the first track feels significantly shorter than you’d expect. It’s not disappointing, rather, it lets you savor the intimacy that is present. It’s like the third wall between presenter and audience has been cut down and Luke is just giving it to you straight.
Even though this album is intimate, it doesn’t mean that the quality you have come to expect from anything that Temple has touched is diminished in the slightest. On the fourth track, “Weekend Warrior,” this becomes inherently apparent. The longest track on here, at around five minutes and thirty seconds, there are some build-ups in this song during each chorus. Starting soft and slow, with whispers of electric guitar and pitter-pattering drums in the background as Temple’s meek voice waivers above, but only just so. Then, during the chorus, there is a plethora of lush sounds that juxtaposes nicely with the overwhelmingly calm other parts of the song. It’s easily one of the best songs to be found on this album.
For less than forty minutes, Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care stretches out nicely, feeling a lot longer than it is. To me, the lack of a backing band does not diminish this man’s sound or goal in the slightest. Yes, there are a few tracks that come off as subdued, but by no means boring or banal. It’s a complete sounding album, great for those who are already familiar with the pop styling of Temple, or those who are new to such an experience.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/05-Ophelia.mp3]Download: Luke Temple – Ophelia [MP3]
Now that the east side seems to be exploding with a new bar popping up daily and hordes of people everywhere, I’ve started to seek refuge in some of my favorite old haunts from years past. These are places that were frequented by me a lot more towards the end of college and into early post-graduation, but are increasingly becoming apart of my weekend routine once again. Before I reveal my list of top dive bars, let us point out what I feel qualifies as a “dive” bar. For starters, ease of parking and access is a must, so you won’t be seeing bars on 5th-7th street (sorry Side Bar). It’s also important that these bars have that old rundown feel about them to create a nice atmosphere for drowning your sorrows in booze. I also require that my dive bars have unique jukeboxes with not a single hint of a 101x ready song inside. Plenty of seating, familiar clientele/staff, bar games, drink specials, and uncrowded places are also a must. Bonus points can always be awarded for random ass decor, crazy old ladies, bikers, distance from downtown or good food. These are places you want to go to get away from the downtown hastle, sit with friends and enjoy each others company (or being alone). My list has also been broken up into regions so you can pick your poison based on where you live in relation to these dives. Follow the jump for list.
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When the Smith Westerns first came about, I showed them a bit of indifference, and I think that was justified. Vocals on their last album were really muddy, and almost hurt to listen to at point. But dammit if the band just didn’t up and turn it around for their latest, Dye It Blonde. Not only do the vocals feel vastly improved, but the music itself appears pristine at points, allowing the band’s talents to be presented to you in all their sonic glory.
“Weekend” really kicks things off on the right foot, and it even shines through with a bit of the musical nods to bands of the past. That opening guitar squall, as well as many that appear throughout the record, definitely give me the feeling of “The Concept” by Teenage Fanclub. Such a gentle vocal approach really sets the audience up for a warmer listening experience in comparison to the aforementioned early works; if you’re not hooked right away, just hold on a second. They give off a bit of an off-kilter vibe in “Still New,” using a steady drum beat to accompany the feedback of the guitar as it maneuvers sharply through your ear canals. Personally, this is the song that grabbed me, but admittedly, I’m a dork for classic power-pop, even if you can see Bowie/Bolan prancing around in the background.
You’ll find the band’s glam influences evolved, and they no longer feel as if that’s the sole inspiration for the writing on Dye It Blonde. Sure, you can hear it in a track like “All Die Young,” especially with that high-pitch vocal touch, yet the band seems really bent on creating the perfect hodgepodge of all things pop. If you can combine glam and Britpop, turn it on its head to make it sound modern, you’re bound to find winning tracks left and right; that’s just where Smith Westerns have gone beyond our expectations. Besides, the fuzzed bass on “Fallen in Love” melded with some jangling guitar and cymbal work really provide you with everything you need in a solid pop album.
The thing I’ve noticed about Dye It Blonde is that its appeal is so large that everyone is going to discover their own personal gem, and I think that really defines this record in the long-run. Personally, the whisper of the vocals on “Only One” grabbed at me right away, pulling me in as a listener. It went on to move a bit away from the glam influence, almost reverting back to the days of pop that served as a precursor to the likes of T. Rex. There’s even a bit of a jammy breakdown near the end, so you know it’s going to be a rocking number live too!
You couldn’t have asked a band to do more in a short period of time than what Smith Westerns have accomplished. They pieced together an album that utilizes their various influences, given those touches some nice fresh tweaks, and everything else dazzlingly fell into place. If you’re going to search for a record you can share with you and your friends, all of whom love different things from the rock n’ roll musical canon, then Dye It Blonde is assuredly the one for you.
Am I lacking that much in creativity, that my only scribbles are festival related, or is it just pure timing? I’m going to go with timing. Follow the jump for the top moments experienced by yours truly…not necessarily music related.
In a conversation with one of our local blogger friend’s, Sonic Itch Mike, I decided that I really needed to take a close look at which spots on any given album are the killer spots to put your hits. Some people think that the immediacy really makes Track 1 the best, but I’m going to look a little closer at this idea. I mean, there are hundreds of classic albums out there, and surely they ascribe to this great song placement formula.
Today is just one of those days where I needed a nice dosage of sweet straight-ahead pop tunes. Don’t you ever have those days? Well, I first caught wind of the Salteens because I’m weird and I followed the Yo Gabba Gabba tour, as far as bands playing, and I was fortunate enough to come across these kids. They’ve got a new record out this week titled Grey Eyes, and its full of great guitar pop. If you, like me, had a long weekend, then you’ll probably want to check out this band today. Or, if you just like well done pop music, this is for you too.
Download: Salteens – If Love is Gone Where Do We Go from Here [MP3]
Well, we’ve finally recovered, and we hope your sunburn is peeling and your liver is resting quietly in a tub of water. After a long weekend, filled with good memories, tunes and pretty much anything else we needed, we got down to the nitty-gritty. That’s right folks, after careful collaboration, and tireless hours of discussion, we bring you our Top Ten Acts of Austin City Limits 2010.
With only about a week and a half remaining until the huge ACL festival starts on the 8th of this month, it’s time that you really start thinking about that plan of action for who you want to see over the weekend. Sometimes your choice will be easy with only one decent band playing at a certain time, but then you’ll have a choice like this one that will make you want to pull your hair out. So on the one hand you have The Flaming Lips who formed over 25 years ago and have been doing their psych rock thing for longer than most of us can remember. But then we have a more recent favorite in Band of Horses who can still hold their own despite their relatively short career together. Both bands are playing on Sunday late in the day at 6pm on opposite sides of the festival, so you have little hope of catching a bit of both sets. My initial feeling was to go with Band of Horses based on my just having seen Flaming Lips at Free Press Summer Fest earlier this summer. Plus, I feel like The Lips are still using the same damn live gimmicks that they’ve been hitting us with for the last 5-6 years… I mean cool, but I’ve seen it more than once. Then again, Flaming Lips play right before The National on back to back stages so it would be nice to just post up and avoid fighting the crowds. I also fear that the Band of Horses crowd could be old hippie city since The Eagles play on the same stage shortly after BOH. My indifference towards the recent material from both of these bands may cause me to just go with a majority vote amongst my friends. Care to share your thoughts?
