New Power Pop from The Barreracudas

Any of you out there still in love with the Exploding Hearts?  Well, you should be, but if you’re looking for something new to help stoke the old power-pop flame, you need to check out this new jam from The Barreracudas.  The band has a new album, Nocturnal Missions, coming out in stores on October 25th via Douchemaster Records.  It’s a pretty straightforward rocker, but in the best way possible.  I mean, come on, who doesn’t love sing-a-long rockers?  And, if you’re interested in the band, they’ll be touring the States next week, including a November 6th date in Austin at 29th Street Ballroom.

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

Download: The Barreracudas – Baby Baby Baby [MP3]

Playful Pop Tune from Moon King

For some reason the rain always affects the mood, so with recent cloudy skies, I’ve been looking for something a bit peppier to pick up my mood, and yours too.  Luckily, I’ve got this great little jam from Toronto’s Moon King.  They’ve just put out a new 7″ that you can grab for free right HERE, but I’ve got one of the tracks to offer you.  On this number, you get a more organic version of what Karen O did for the Where the Wild Things Are OST. The rest of the tracks are a little bit more electronic-folk, but it’s all good fun when you give it a listen.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/01-Theme-For-Moon-King.mp3]

Download: Moon King – Theme For Moon King [MP3]

Future Islands – On the Water

Rating: ★★★½☆

Although established in 2006, Future Islands seem to be a band that haven’t really been able to get their footing—be it in what kind of sound they are going for, or in the number of full length albums they have put out. Regardless, after a listen or two, On the Water is the album that changes things for this band; it’s a solid synth-pop album with some jams that will have you either bobbing your head to the beat or basking in the glow of their dramatically emotional musings.

Future Islands is composed of three men with synthesizers, vocals and guitars, the combination of which makes for an interesting sound combo. You have these groovy synthesizers that fuse with the passionately gruff vocals of Samuel Herring, which makes up the crux of their sound. Herring belts the words to his songs in his mesmerizing style, pushing every ounce of emotion into every syllable he sings, which drives the sonic interest behind this band and makes the sound more than just some synthesized beats.

On the first song, which is also the title track, you can hear such passion emoted in Herrings vocals. Some atmospheric noise starts things out softly, but then the drum beats and synths roll in and it feels like a beast is crawling over your ears. This image is completed with the entrance of Herring, whose vocals feel strained with raw feeling, even turning into a growl-like state at some points. I’m reminded of a cross between David Bowie and Patrick Wolf in that the throat emotion is the main focus of his style, which may feel melodramatic to some, but proves to be my favorite part of Future Islands’ sound. If you detest it after the first song, I don’t think it would be wise to attempt to pursue this band any further—it is the driving force behind the synth.

There are some standouts on this album that seem to propel it past their last release. One of these comes third and features Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak for some male/female duality in the vocals, and the result is a lovely combination of power. Another highlight comes later on “Give Us The Wind,” in which you can jam to the deep bass of the song and feel the cathartic weight of the lyrics; “We don’t want your blessings/ Give us the Wind.”

While not all songs are exactly the most explosive of numbers, there are enough high points to outweigh the mediocre ones. On the Water serves as a good synth-pop record that will surely warrant further listening.

Show Preview: The Rapture @ La Zona Rosa (10/12)

Date 10/12/11
Location La Zona Rosa
Doors 8pm
Tickets $20 @ Frontgate

It seems like forever since The Rapture have been on a proper tour and their stop into La Zona Rosa on Wednesday night seems to be highly anticipated by everyone.  Opening support for the evening is provided by DJ/producer Poolside.  This should be a good one friends.  Oh and it also seems ridiculous that we have yet to post the lastest single “How Deep is Your Love” from The Rapture, so here it is now.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/The-Rapture-How-Deep-Is-Your-Love.mp3]

Download: The Rapture How Deep Is Your Love [MP3]

New Track from Small Black (ft. Heems of Das Racist)

It’s true, we’re not super well-versed on the world of hip-hop, so we tend not to post a lot of it on our site.  But, when I heard this track, I just had to share it with you, as it involves one of my favorites, Small Black, working with Heems from Das Racist.  Apparently they all met while on tour, and recorded some tracks up in NY later in the year.  Those tracks, as well as a few others, will appear on Small Black‘s Moon Killer Mixtape, which hits the streets on November 11th.  It reminds me of the sort of soundscape M83 would create, but with Heems slowly walking his way through the rap, and occasional lyrics being added by the boys in Small Black. It’s pretty solid, so I hope you enjoy.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/02-Two-Rivers-feat.-Heems.mp3]

Download: Small Black – Two Rivers (feat. Heems) [MP3]

Even More New Music from Bare Wires

Are you tired of me raving about the Bare Wires just yet?  Since SXSW I’ve been digging their solid rock n’ roll records, and with the release  of their record Cheap Perfume just a few weeks from release, I’ll gladly drop a little more knowledge on you.  This track is not as powerful as the earlier tracks the band has released, but I dig the subdued attitude here, demonstrating the band’s ability to just throw good old rock n’ roll right in your face.  There’s no tricks, there’s no hype, just good old fashioned rock.  Sometimes that’s the best kind; actually, it’s always the best kind.

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

Download: Bare Wires – Back on the Road [MP3]

Show Preview: Friendly Fires @ La Zona Rosa (10/11)

Date 10/11/11
Location La Zona Rosa
Doors 8pm
Tickets $20 @ Frontgate

Indie dance hit makers Friendly Fires are stopping back into town this Tuesday at La Zona Rosa after lighting things up during SXSW in March.  Joining the boys on stage is Theophilus London which is sure to be entertaining as well.  Make sure you get there a bit early as this show starts a little earlier than usual.

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

Download: Friendly Fires – Blue Cassette [MP3]

New Rocker from Terry Malts

During the summer I caught wind of this project by following the wonderful Magic Bullets, but Terry Malts is a beast of a different sort.  They’re a little bit more upbeat, and they’ve got a more direct approach to rocking.  Just this week they’ll be releasing a new 7″ on Slumberland Records, and we’ve got the A Side from the Something About You EP.  It breezes in quick, with a little bit of bounce.  You’ll find a sharpness to the guitars, and just one killer hook after another in the vocals.  I’m really excited to see where these guys go from here, and I hope you are too!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/01-Something-About-You.mp3]

Download: Terry Malts – Something About You [MP3]

New Music from Duchess Says

I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting to hear from Duchess Says again.  Their show at SXSW two years ago was perhaps one of the most intense of my SXSW career, and frightening for some.  Out of nowhere the band have come out with a new album, In a Fung Day T, which should be in stores soon.  This first track seems to have put the reins on their ferocious electro-post-punk, which should do wonders for making the band a huge hit with audiences. There’s still that darkness lurking beneath the surface, and I can hear Annie-Claude still scatting out mono-syllabic noises, which both frightens and excites me. Dig it.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Duchess-Says-Time-to-Reiterate-free-track.mp3]

Download: Duchess Says – Time to Reiterate [MP3]

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