More New Music From Husky

We knew little to nothing about Australian band Husky when we heard that they signed a deal with indie giant Sub Pop Records.  Now that we’ve had a listen to some of the band’s tuneage, we are offering up our support of the band and their hushed experimental folk style sound.  This new song “History’s Door” will also appear on the band’s upcoming U.S. re-release of their album Forever So.  It’s purty good.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Husky-History_s-Door.mp3]

Download: Husky – History’s Door [MP3]

Tiger Waves – Don’t Be Yourself

 

Rating: ★★★★☆

When I first encountered Austin’s Tiger Waves, I was caught off guard by their experimental inclusion of bits of noise that eventually shifted into snippets of grandiose pop.  However, on their recent release, Don’t Be Yourself, the band tends to switch it the other way around–clearly indicative of a band who have grown in their songwriting capabilities. 

“From the Start” begins with a bit of a noise snippet, but the impressive forcefulness of the track quickly breaks into full stride.  Personally, I like how the lyrics are hiding just a bit behind the music, almost like the classic rock we all grew up jamming to in our parents living room, and then it ends. But, the motif of classic songwriting comes in with the hints of psychedelia that are present on “Quebec.”  Perhaps it’s just that jangling tambourine and the affected vocal that gives it the San Francisco effect, but it fits perfectly with the mood of the entire album.

When Tiger Waves breaks into “I Hope You’ll Feel Alright” you can tell that the band has abilities beyond just living with their influences; they’ve created their own sound with fluid movements amidst many of the tracks.  Here, you get almost a quieted chant from the get go, but the lurking backing vocal seems to make way for the entire group to make some mono-syllabic noise in unison.  And this is where you’ll find Don’t Be Yourself really taking hold of listeners, as the record moves into “Summer.”  It’s the sort of constructive pop that recalls bands like Youth Lagoon or Ducktails, but only done more effectively since they’re utilizing the songwriting of an entire group in the studio.  Layering the vocals atop the music on this track definitely creates special moments that you won’t want to miss.

As Tiger Waves prepare to wrap up the whole affair, they close things out with the perfect juxtaposition of their unique sound.  Of course, “I Love You George Harrison” surely harkens back to the careful craftsmanship alluded to in the song’s title–and I’m sure it would make George proud.  But, then you end Don’t Be Yourself with the hauntingly brilliant “Underground.” It’s the quiet atmospheric touches, mellow pacing and steady dosage of pop writing that initially drew me to this band; it comes full circle as the band closes out this EP, going out in quite a fashion.

Hopefully this isn’t your first introduction to Tiger Waves, but if so, do yourself a favor and spend some time with the group’s music.  If Don’t Be Yourself is anything with which to judge these young lads by, then they’ll probably be around for some time, hopefully writing more great tunes such as these.  You can grab this EP, as well as other great tunes by visiting the band HERE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/14_Underground.mp3]

Download: Tiger Waves – Underground [MP3]

 

Show Pics: School of Seven Bells @ Mohawk (4/13)

Finally through this last round of shows. It was Friday the 13th, so I wore a hockey mask. Nah, not really.

School of Seven Bells played the Mohawk. A newly refined two-piece, Benjamin Curtis and Alejandra Deheza brought along an extra keyboard player and drummer to fill out their live line up. They also brought along Exitmusic as the opener.

Head past the break and you will get show notes and plenty of pics.

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New(ish) Music From The Great American Canyon Band

I’ll get it out of the way that I’m just a bit late on reporting about Chicago based husband and wife due The Great American Canyon Band.  It seems like I’ve had this song sitting in my inbox for quite sometime, but just sort of forgot about it till now.  I am making amends on my tardiness to the band by posting their incredible new song “Burn” below.  It’s almost like a mellowed out version of some of the finer tunes by fellow duo Dutchess & The Duke.  However you call it, I dig it.

A 7″ single featuring this and A-side “Tumbleweed” will be available on Record Store Day.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/The-Great-American-Canyon-Band-Burn.mp3]

Download: The Great American Canyon Band – Burn [MP3]

Grave Babies – Gothdammit EP

Rating: ★★★☆☆

When a band tosses out a five song EP, such as Grave Babies have done with Gothdammit, it’s often difficult to see it as much more than a stop gap along the way to the next album. But, regardless of where this lives in the band’s on-going catalogue, there are definite steps being taken here towards positive progression.

“Fuck Off” is the start to this rather short affair, but in the matter of time, it’s the longest, although you could easily skip beyond the first minute or so; the band uses the moment as an intro, but you can hear the crackling of the stereo that takes a large precedent over the recording. When the song kicks in, however, it’s just this delicious post-punk moment, possibly hinging upon “goth.”  Brooding bass lines definitely benefit the sound, with the drums seeming a touch to hollow and metallic; this is my stand out track on the EP.

Musically, I dig the following track, “Mourning Heir,” particularly that lofty guitar line, but this is the track where I think the recording process began to lose a little bit of the plot overall.  There’s something about the shotgun sounding drums that just doesn’t do the live show, nor the record itself, any justice.  It ends up sounding muddied like the band blew your speakers out.  A bit of the composure returns for the third track, “Nightmares,” with the pop senses taking a bit more of a leading role on this song in comparison to the heavy hitting drums.  Listening closely, you’ll see that there’s musical genius lurking just below the surface.  Then the band seem to get move in another direction…entirely.

With the first three tracks dabbling in noisier, goth-affected post-punk, the last two songs seems more to delve into sonic exploration.  They’re not nearly as focused on the songwriting here, relying more upon heavy chant-like vocals as on “Bloodstains.”  And “Wasting” seems to regain a touch of the songwriting capabilities, but it’s still not quite up to par with the three primary tracks featured at the onset–perhaps it’s just too short to really find its groove.

You see, this is the problem with EPs like Gothdammit: you find some great moments that get you really excited; you also find some areas where execution could be much stronger.  Personally, I think there’s a good future (and a good market) for a more concise version of the first three song–maybe cleaning up the drum sound.  Should they choose to go in that direction, things could get big real fast.  Should they choose to go in the other direction, there’s a market there too—either way, I’m sure they’re good, I just have my preference.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/GraveBabies_Nightmare.mp3]

Download:Grave Babies – Nightmare [MP3]

Gothdammit is out now on Hardly Art.

More Sweet Tunes from Dana Buoy

The Internet has already given some great coverage to Dana Buoy, who really is Dana from Akron Family.  His debut album Summer Bodies will be coming out in a few short weeks (May 8th) via Lefse, and we’re all pretty excited around here for the street date.  For me, I fell for this song because of the way it builds, using atmospherics, then his voice enters, then it continues to build with a bit of a background stomp until the end.  These sort of tracks are always entertaining, and for some reason, there’s a little bit of an emo affectation to his vocals that’s really working for me today. Just give a listen and see what you think.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/03-So-Lucky.mp3]

Download:Dana Buoy – So Lucky [MP3]

Haunting Track from Horrible Present

You’ve always got to support the bands everyone misses, especially when they make such incredible tracks as this one from Horrible Present.  This track is from the excessively titled 54, I love you but its time to get off record the band has just released on Cakes and Tapes, and regardless of the extensive album title you’re going to fall in love with this track.  The darkly tinged vocals give a bit of that haunting feeling to the track, but the minimal production slowly evolving in the background quietly sinks into your music listening soul.  If you’re looking for bedroom pop that sticks, then fall for this song!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/01-cloudy-talks-1.mp3]

Download:Horrible Present – Cloudy Talks [MP3]

Show Preview: Hunx and His Punx @ Mohawk (4/18)

Date Wednesday, April 18th
Location Mohawk
Doors 900 pm
Tickets $8 from Frontgate

Need a little fix of poppy garage rock on Hump Day, then I think you better do your best to make your way over to Mohawk to catch this excellent show! Opener Hunx and His Punx just released Hairdresser Blues on Hardly Art, and it has some of the best songs he’s written to date, not to mention his always entertaining sets.  Then you’ll get the heavier, yet equally incredible Natural Child from Nashville, intent upon breaking into our hearts and ears.  And opening up the night are two other hot acts in our eyes, Grape Street and The Vomettes.  Probably one of the best line-ups I’ve seen in a bit, so be there or be square.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/HX_LoversLane.mp3]

Download:Hunx and His Punx – Lovers Lane [MP3]

 

Introducing You to Velcro!

When we hung out with Twerps the other night, their bosses so to speak, Chapter Music, suggested we get to familiarize ourselves with Velcro, the next big thing to come out of Australia.  The Melbourne group has released two EPs already this year, with my favorite being the first, Highest View.  There’s elements of bedroom electronic pop that they experiment with (fleshed out on their later EP Inadequate Lover) on the track featured below, but I like the innocence the song takes on in its simplicity; it gives you that endearing emotional appeal that a lot of bands seem to short for nowadays.  The rest of their brief catalogue sounds a bit like a Calvin Johnson meeting Diamond Rings in a sunny place.  Familiarize yourself with the band by checking out their BANDCAMP page (free EPs!!!), and then keep an eye out for more great things from the group.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Curfew.mp3]

Download:Velcro – Curfew [MP3]

Show Preview: Chairlift @ Mohawk (4/17)

Date Tuesday, April 17th
Location Mohawk
Doors 630 pm
Tickets $12 @ the Door

Sometimes we don’t do our best to cover all the incredible female voices out there in indie rock these days, but that being said, tonight’s show at Mohawk is going to feature some of the best voices of that ilk.  The headliner Chairlift has been a huge success since they first appeared on iPod commercials, but their sound goes a lot deeper than what you’d expect.  Ramona Gonzalez on the other hand is the woman behind Nite Jewel, and her recent album One Second Love has made a huge impact on the Internet, so expect her to wow the crowd as well. Another female artist, Bell, will be opening the evening for us all, so if you’re looking for the musical genius on the female side of things, you know where to be!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sidewalk-Safari.mp3]

Download:Chairlift – Sidewalk Safari [MP3]

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