New Dance Jam From Sinkane

A couple months ago, we brought you a psych dance type of jam from SINKANE called “Jeeper Creeper”.  Well today we’ve got another song “Runnin” that invokes similar trippy dance feelings.  The song appears on a new album from the one time Yeasayer member entitled Mars which does not yet have a release date.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/SINKANE-Runnin-01-Runnin.mp3]

Download: SINKANE – Runnin’ [MP3]

New Jam from King Tuff

It’s crazy that Sub Pop just released this track by their newest signee, King Tuff, because I just bought the 3 7″ singles collection from Suicide Squeeze yesterday afternoon. KT used to jam with Happy Birthday, and he’s been banging around on his own for a long time as well.  The label will be releasing his self-titled debut on May 29th of this year, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to have a lot of fun jamming out to this.  Garage rock with hooks galore, just like the track we’ve got featured for you below!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/King_Tuff_-_Bad_Thing.mp3]

Download: King Tuff – Bad Thing [MP3]

Emma Louise Signs to Frenchkiss

You know, Frenchkiss Records quietly goes about releasing some awesome acts: they’ve got Cut Off Your Hands, Suckers and now they have the wonderful Emma Louise.  The Australian singer has signed on with the label to release Full Hearts and Empty Rooms, her new EP, on March 13th.   Her first song from the album, “Jungle,” is centered around this nice little groove, but Emma’s voice is what will definitely win you over.  In a world full of Lana del Rey’s, it’s nice to have someone of that ilk doing something you can believe in.  She’s also just put out a really nice video to go with the jam, and you can check that out HERE.  Don’t forget to look up her tour schedule, as she’ll be zooming in for SXSW.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/emma-louise-Full-Hearts-Empty-Rooms-01-Jungle.mp3]

Download: Emma Louise – Jungle [MP3]

SXSW Interview: Shimmering Stars

Our SXSW interviews continue today with Canada’s Shimmering Stars.  Last year they released Violent Hearts on Hardly Art Records, and while it had a little bit of the modern jangle, it harkened back to a purer era in rock n’ roll…the sort you’re mom or dad probably played around the house when you were growing up (I know mine did).  Check out what singer/guitarist Rory has to say on the upcoming festival and life in general. Read more

The Men – Open Your Heart

Rating: ★★★★½

2012 has been a really good year for rock n’ roll so far, and The Men aim to keep that spirit up! Their third LP, Open Your Heart (out now on Sacred Bones Records) is filled with pummeling rock that begs to be classified.  Is it punk? Hardcore? Maybe post-punk? Truth is, there’s no way you can really label everything they’ve done here, crafting an album that fits into all the above categories, yet never stays in one place for too long.

“Turn It Around” opens up the record in furious fashion, if you just wait ten seconds.  From there, the sound kicking out of your stereo will surely have you pumping your fists in the air.  Perhaps what’s the most interesting is that the group fills their songs with elements of classic rock, they just play it faster than everyone else around.  The Men will keep this spirit up with “Animal,” a song that has a bit more of a growl to it.  You can see remnants of New York Dolls (it can’t just be me), only with a heavier element–though it’s often balanced with a female backing vocal track.  From the get-go, you’re getting kicked in the mouth, and you’ll happily offer up a toothless smile while you rock along.

But, what makes Open Your Heart worthy of repeated listens revolves around the band’s ability to sort of play with more than one formula, while still maintaing their own identity.  For just a moment, albeit a long one, you get “Country Song” and “Oscillation,” two sprawling instrumental tracks that span over 12 minutes in length (when combined). It’s no wonder that their bio mentions allusions to Thurston Moore, although they don’t seem as discordant in their style.  It’s a nice moment for you to pause and reflect.  Yep, this album still rules.

And then we’re off again, with the soaring gang vocal moment you’ll find on “Please Don’t Go Away.”  Stylistically, you can see some resemblance to noisier indie bands like Dirty on Purpose, with The Men not afraid to add elements of melody all the while pounding away.  Throwing this track in the middle of the album provides that perfect conundrum, yet again illustrating a group who’re willing to throw all their influences into their songwriting. “Candy” is yet another such track; it’s almost a country ballad.  Even if it seems unexpected, it’s tied into the album perfectly, using a seemingly lo-fi recording to hold true to the band’s form. For the rest of the album, and really for its entirety, the band go back and forth between sounds, finishing with “Ex-Dreams,” a tune that’s unified by all the band’s possible nostalgic nods.

Open Your Heart might just be a record that we’ll look back on years from now, grateful that someone wrote it.  At times it’s intense, yet still has points where you can sit back and absorb the goings-on rather than have them browbeat you.  The Men have concocted their own formula for writing a record, and it might just be a lasting formula more bands look to in the future. You can be fast and loud, but you can throw that slow jam in there just for kicks–if you execute it like this, we’re all going to love it.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/06-Open-Your-Heart-1.mp3]

Download:The Men – Open Your Heart [MP3]

More New Music From Mr. Gnome

Quite awhile ago we brought you a new song from Cleveland based band Mr. Gnome.  Well today we’ve got another new song from the band entitled “The Way” which appears on a new digital 7″ single from the band due out March 20th on El Marko Records.  After jamming the bands debut LP Madness in Miniature for the last several months, and now this sweet jam, it’s time you start giving this band some of your attention.  They’ll also be in town for SXSW in a couple weeks so be sure to make your calendars if you dig the tunes.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/01-The-Way-1.mp3]

Download: Mr. Gnome – The Way [MP3]

The Magnetic Fields – Love at the Bottom of the Sea

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Personally, The Magnetic Fields is one of those bands that I can’t explain to people, let alone explain to myself.  For almost two decades Stephin Merritt has used the group as his primary outlet for songwriting, but the last couple of years he’s definitely led the group in varying directions, with various effects.  For all intents and purposes, Love at the Bottom of the Sea is a great return to form, demonstrating the prowess of Merritt and his band of merrymakers.

“Andrew in Drag” is the second song on the record, but it’s so phenomenal it’s hard not to start with such a track.  The sound’s definitely on the more playful side of things, at least with the accompanying instrumentation, but Merritt’s soaring voice will win you over.  His gifts as a poet, oddball that he may be, shine through here. “Your Girlfriend’s Face” has the same childish tone in the lyrical matter, which harkens back to the days of 69 Love Songs in its accessibility and clarity.  Electronic flourishes seem to be the sound du jour on this outing, rather than the more distortion-based tracks we found on the last two efforts.

“I’d Go Anywhere With Hugh” is a great track, featuring vocalist Claudia Gonson, but what really sticks out is its remarkable similarity to Bob Dylan‘s “You Belong to Me.”  I’ve played this song so many times tonight that I’m not sure if I love it for its similarities or on its own merit; regardless, you’ll find this song playing in your mind for days to come. What does stand out when listening to this song is the vocal presence of Gonson throughout Love at the Bottom of the Sea, though I’ve always found myself gravitating more towards the Merritt led tracks.  She’s got a certain light-heartedness in her tone that makes it easy to find that union between music and voice; the band’s usage of electronics definitely fits Gonson here.

But, with Gonson taking a more prominent role here, Merritt seems oddly missing for parts. Of course, “I Don’t Like Your Tone” finds Merritt gently wooing the audience, using the deepness of his voice to draw you into the song.  However, when he comes in on “All She Cares About is Mariachi” it sort of seems like a one-tone approach that he’s used on this Magnetic Fields effort, minus the outstanding “Andrew in Drag.”  I guess I miss the man on the oft-overlooked i.

For all intents and purposes, there are some great songs here on Love at the Bottom of the Sea–one that’s probably goes down as a top in the band’s long cannon.  However, the songs by and large just don’t stand out the way you expect from a Merritt penned tune.  You’ll find the juvenile playfulness and short songs, but for once, theses tracks don’t demand your attention and adoration; they sleek by as cute and enjoyable, yet not wholly remarkable. I’ll still stand by this as a good record, just not my favorite from The Magnetic Fields.

 

New Jam from Bright Moments

You’ve probably listened to Kelly Pratt thousands of times and not even know it.  He’s the multi-instrumentalist who has worked with Beirut, Arcade Fire and even LCD Soundsystem, but now is his time to shine as Bright Moments.  His album Natives has just been released, and you’re going to enjoy listening to this track–I guarantee it. It’s definitely a pop song, but it’s got all the careful brush strokes you would expect from a talented musician such as Kelly.  It’s filled with horns, unique percussion and an overwhelming sensation of joyousness.  Try this one on for size.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/08-Travelers-1.mp3]

Download: Bright Moments – Travelers [MP3]

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