New Music From Here We Go Magic

Here We Go Magic are a band that we fancy around here in the ATH offices.  The band puts out solid tunes on a regular basis, is great live, and even manages to be a pretty nice group of people.  Continuing with their hard work ethic, the band  is getting ready to release a new EP of material entitled The January EP on May 10th via Secretly Canadian.  Below you can find a taste of that EP in the form of “Hands in the Sky”.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/02-Hands-in-the-Sky-1.mp3]

Download: Here We Go Magic – Hands in the Sky [MP3]

Friday Top 5: Unexpected Appearances at SXSW

It’s March in Austin, TX. It’s the time of year when a particular festival takes over the music capitol of the world, known as South By South West. Since this time last year, we’ve been recovering from the week long flow of free booze, sunburnt skin, worn out shoe soles (and feet for that matter), loss of hearing and lack of sleep; and we’re ready to do it all over again.

The waves of RSVPs are flooding our inboxes and lighting up our Facebook notifications, and before we know it our arms will once again be plastered with multi-colored wristbands. I have only been attending SXSW the past few years, but during that time my friends and I have witnessed many surprises take place and rumors come true. So, here are a few of my favorite.

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New Music From Oh Look Out

Oh Look Out is the new side project from Built by Snow leading man and Austin resident JP Pfertner.  JP tells me that BBS are currently on a little break and he’s been writing and recording some music on his own in the down time.  The product of these recordings can be heard below in the form of “Analogatron” with a few more on the Oh look Out website.  This tune keeps that nerd pop sound of BBS, but also implements something new and itriguing: a heavier bass sound and scratchier vocals.  I think it’s really showing some growth from JP as a song builder and keeps us looking forward to a new Built by Snow album when the guys start playing again. 

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/analogatron.mp3]

Download: Oh Look Out – Analogatron [MP3]

New Music From Young Girls

We rarely get a lot of music out of our neighbors to the east in Houston so imagine our surprise when we were sent this new song from H-town based Young Girls.  I’ve seen these guys on some local Austin bills before, but have never seen them live or given their music much of a listen.  After a few spins of this new track “Six Pack Back Stab” I’m really glad I gave the band a chance.  This jam has some great surf rock style guitar riffs with those muddled vocals eerily similar to our friends Surf City of New Zealand.  Whoever you want to compare them to, you have to admit that they’ve got some great pop melodies.  A debut LP from Young Girls is said to be on its way in mid-March so stay tuned here and to their myspace page for updates.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SIX-PACK.mp3]

Download: Young Girls – Six Pack Back Stab [MP3]

Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes

Rating: ★★★½☆

If the title didn’t already foreshadow this, Lykke Li has made a noticeable shift to a darker sound in general. The lyrics have reached a point of seriousness that can lead one to believe that this band doesn’t want to be mistaken as just a girly and cute throwaway kind of music. Lykke Li, hailing from Sweden, looks to prove that she can produce mature and progressive songs on this sophomore release.

Starting out on “Youth Knows No Pain,” you can see the immediate shift in this darker direction. While the bubbly organ jumping in and out may not convey this right away, when Lykke chimes in with her sassy voice, telling you to live things up while you can, because the “Youth [that] knows no pain” will soon grow old, you can feel the sense of urgency. On the second track “I Follow Rivers,” the group dabbles in the form of drastic ups and downs. It begins mildly quiet, but then dives right into a full energy chorus that carries the jangly tune.

Changing things up from the bouncy first two tracks, on “Love Out of Lust,” the band sounds anthemic, once again urges their audience to take advantage of the time at their hands before its gone; “dance while you can.” From here, if it wasn’t felt before, is from where the newfound profundity really takes off. Yes, the same fundamental sound is there: the bittersweet vocals of the front woman herself, the amiable bass lines, some electronic elements and the overall ability to make you move. When Lykke chants “I’m Your Prostitute,” on “Get Some,” it’s clear to see that she is reaching farther than before. She wants to make a statement with her music that is as equally as meaningful as listenable.

On Wounded Rhymes, Lykke Li does just that, the songs are enjoyable and catchy, but they don’t just stop there. Instead they progress into tracks that can become statements, driven by the desires of the band itself. However, this seriousness makes for a bland number of songs after “Sadness is a Blessing” brings forth the line that dubbed the album. The loss of playfulness that makes this band is absent here, and it makes for an anti-climactic close. While “Jerome” tries so hard, it doesn’t fit in with the songs that came in the beginning and it sort of feels as though she just gave up with the end.

As disappointing as this is, I don’t think it ruins the whole album. The first seven songs are solid and groundbreaking in this new I’m-a-big-girl-now-take-me-seriously style. For the most part, Lykke accomplishes what she set out to prove.

Show Preview: Sad Accordions @ Mohawk (3/5)

Date 3/5/11
Location Mohawk
Doors 9pm
Tickets $6 @ Door

It really is a weekend for checking out local music isn’t it?  Tons of bands that we really dig are playing this weekend at great venues on the cheap.  Saturday at the Mohawk is one of those great places to stop by while making your weekend plans.  The lineup consists of three awesome local acts in the form of Black Books, Sad Accordions, and Royal Forest.  It’s also a special night for Sad Accordions as they are celebrating the release of their new EP The Colors and the Kill.  You’ve got some tough choices to make on which local show you end up at on Saturday night, but this one should certainly be on the short list.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/05_Inside_Out.mp3]

Download: Sad Accordions – Inside Out [MP3]

SXSW Interview: She Sir

So we here at ATH are continuing on with our coverage of SXSW with a bit of a focus on a couple of our favorite local bands.  Today we’ll take a quick look at up and comers in the Austin scene She Sir.  Leading man and founding member Russell Karloff was nice enough to answer a few of our prying questions via email about his band.  Follow the jump for his answers.

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More New Music From The Dodos

So I’m a bit late on posting this other new song from the Dodos new album, but I don’t really care as it is growing into one of my favorites of the year.  If you haven’t heard the track elsewhere yet, it’s called “Don’t Stop” and is featured on the new Dodo’s album Color. You’ll be able to get your hands on that one during your trip to Waterloo during SXSW on March 15th via Frenchkiss Records.  I’m seriously not sure how I’m gonna handle this busy ass spring.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/The-Dodos-Dont-Stop.mp3]

Download: The Dodos – Dont Stop [MP3]

Show Preview: White White Lights @ Red 7 (3/5)

Date 3/5/11
Location Red 7
Doors 9pm
Tickets $6 @ Door

 A great show is going down Saturday night at Red 7 with some of the best talent this little town has to offer.  Your stacked lineup of up and comers includes The White White Lights, She Sir, A Tiger Named Lovesick, and recent ATH favorite Milk Thistle.  All of these bands could be thrown into the favorites of Austin Town Hall bag.  We recommend that you don’t miss this chance to see these bands, as I’m sure they’ll be playing to larger crowds soon.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/its-cold-here-in-japan.mp3]

Download: White White Lights – It’s Cold Here In Japan [MP3]

New Music From White Denim

So the nice folks over at RCRD LBL posted a brand spanking new song yesterday from everyone’s favorite Austin band White Denim.  The track is called “Drugs” and appears on the bands upcoming and highly anticipated new album D. You fans will be able to get your hands on the new joint from these Austin boys on May 24th via Downtown records.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/White-Denim-Drug.mp3]

Download: White Denim – Drug [MP3]

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