Cult of Youth – s/t

Rating: ★★★½☆

The minute we heard “New West,” the first single from the self-titled album from Cult of Youth, I’ll admit that I was more than intrigued.  It’s got a bit of a old barroom punk rock ethos, yet the more I listened to the track, the more I discovered about the band and their sound.  Sneaky strings lurked in the background, and that dirty bass line never ceased to grab me.  Dirty alcoholic punk mixed with strings you say? Yes, I do, and oh so much more.

Kicking off the record is “New West,” the aforementioned track that really piqued my interest.  Sean Ragon’s desperate growling vocals evokes a bit of spirit I long thought had disappeared. Despite the song’s desire to have this layer of grit, there’s still an uncanny beauty from the guitar parts matched with the related string instruments.  It’s quite a special track.  From here, the band really sort of keeps pace with this sort of shantie-like track, as if the band’s leading you to sea with their brash blend of folk and punk ethos.

Track four, “Casting Thorns” is when the band begins to alter the sound, creating a space for the string arrangements to really shine in the forefront.  Ragon doesn’t have the same raspy vocals, seeming more calm here as he strums the guitar.  But, there’s still a level of darkness that underlies the track, giving a bit of an angrier tint to the traditionally folk sounds apparent here. It’s this sort of change that leaves the band sort of stuck in the middle of their own sound, which has both positive and negative attributes.  “Through the Fear” even introduces a bit of horns, making the band sound increasingly dynamic.  It’s good to see that the band evolves beyond the sound that I originally noted them for upon my introduction to the group.

The latter half of the album does tire a bit, though there are some exceptional tracks hiding here. “Lorelei” has a great strummed guitar driving the song along, and Ragon’s baritone sounds incredibly haunting here, but in a manner that makes you appreciate a good spirit watching over you.  It’s the most unassuming track of this collection, and perhaps that’s why it’s so successful, or that it precedes the one misstep the band makes, that being the seven-minute sleeper, “The Lamb.”  Okay, so there are some musical elements here that are to most people’s liking, but the song could have been wrapped up much quicker, as it seemed to carry on perhaps beyond its welcome point.

All in all, Cult of Youth has done a great job with this self-titled effort, offering new fans a hint at what they’re all about, but leaving plenty of room for growth and directional jaunts in the future.  You have to appreciate a band that’s not dying to get tied down in one place, and with the diversity of this record, who knows where they’ll go, but I’m sure it will be good.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Cult-Of-Youth-New-West.mp3]

Download: Cult Of Youth – New West [MP3]

New Music from The Bell

Who isn’t a fan of hook-laden post-punk with sweet melodies and electronic pulses?  Well, you should be; you should also be a fan of The Bell, a group from Sweden who are about to release their latest record Great Heat through Badman Recording Company.  Based on this first single, the album is going to be filled with really solid melodies, fueled by the band’s usage of electronic flourishes, giving the band a sound that fits perfectly into any late night gathering of debauchery.  It’s got this powerfully forceful beat, yet it’s still possesses hints of beauty for those who like things a little polished. Take a listen.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/04_today.mp3]

Download: The Bell – Today [MP3]

New Music From The Donkeys

San Diego veteran band The Donkeys have a new song called “Don’t Know Who We Are” that I’ve taken a liking to lately.  The track appears on the band’s upcoming full length Born With Stripes due out April 26th on Dead Oceans.  I’d recommend that you kids start paying attention and pick this one up come April.  You won’t regret it.

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

Download: The Donkeys – Don’t Know Who We Are [MP3]

New Sonny and the Sunsets

I’m not sure quite how Sonny Smith manages everything he does, and still manages to make most if downright enjoyable.  Between making album art for fictional bands he’s created, not to mention the music, then an EP with his friends in the Sandwitches, and now he’s back with his group’s own new record, Hit After Hit, which comes out April 12th on Fat Possum.  This track has the more stripped down country feel that the latter half of the group’s last release contained.  In the meantime, I’m sure that Sonny’s got more in the works we don’t quite know about yet, but I’ll happily be satisfied with this here song.

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

Download: Sonny & the Sunsets – I Wanna Do It [MP3]

New Music From La Snacks

It’s been quite some time since I’ve heard any news coming from an old local favorite La Snacks.  Well the guys are in fact still together and are actually prepping the release of a new 7″ single come this April.  Below you’ll find one of two tracks on the release called “My Little Sugary Friend”.  You can also check out new song “Christ Sakes and Milkshakes” over on the La Snacks bandcamp page.  Both songs are making me hope that the guys are gonna stick around for awhile this time and not keep us so worried about their state of being.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/La-Snacks-AA-02-My-Little-Sugary-Friend.mp3]

Download: La Snacks – My Little Sugary Friend [MP3]

Show Preview: Balmorhea @ Mohawk (2/25)

Date 2/25/11
Location Mohawk
Doors 8pm
Tickets $10 @ Frontgate

Those looking for some solid local shows this weekend have a lot of good options and one can begin their quest with a set by Balmorhea at Mohawk on Friday night.  The show has local support provided by The Eastern Sea and Danny Malone.  It should be a great weekend to be outside for a show on this incredible outside venue.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/WV80.CL4M0R.192.mp3]

Download: Balmorhea – Clamor [MP3]

Banjo or Freakout – s/t

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The bedroom effort of Alessio Natalizia, Banjo or Freakout has become fully realized with this debut release. With a touch of professional production, the spacey and atmospheric sounds of this group feel tangible, yet still far away in their nature. A mix of electronic and physical sounds mesh fairly well on this album, and for some of the time, the band maintains that tightrope of emptiness.

Starting out strong, the band doesn’t sound very atmospheric. On “105,” the only hollow element that is prevalent in the song would have to be Natalizia’s pale and borderline falsetto voice that intensifies the buzzing guitar. Some synthesized dulcent undertones gradually trickle into the song, and pull it away from its humble beginning into the deep void of electronic emptiness. The synth undertones meander their way to “Go Ahead,” which is one of my favorite tracks on the album. A little bit muddier than that of the first track, it really focuses on a slightly playful quality in the mumbled vocals of Mr. Natalizia. Even though it’s shift towards a more electronic style, which I’m normally inclined to disgust, it takes a step in a fulfilling direction and becomes an enticing narrative marked by effervescing synthesizer and the dull roar of fuzz.

 Despite its promise at the beginning, there are some huge setbacks to this album. While it is a good start for a band like this, it is nowhere near perfection. Like other albums similar in style, the golden qualities that are presented in the beginning fizzle out, leaving the rest of the songs to sound overlookable and boring. The atmospheric levels of noise that interest and seem so intricate during the first few tracks slip easily into the recess of the listeners mind. Too simply it becomes background music that only serves for filling space, not for bedroom listening. Tracks at the very end like “Dear Me” lose the boundary between vocals and hollow sound, so that the two mold into one. The song loses its edginess and becomes just a bunch of noise that sounds thrown together with much haste.

 Some may say that this album falls under the chillwave category, or at least the latter part. While it does offer a relaxing break from a stressful day, it doesn’t stimulate the senses, save the first few songs. Perhaps I stand alone in the desire for music that will push and pull me places, all while maintaining entertaining qualities. Banjo or Freakout just leaves my brain hanging alone in the cold void of outer space. With some work, their next release could be stellar, so long as they focus on what makes the start sound so good.

New(ish) Music From The Honey Pies

Here’s how things work in our music world sometimes: we receive email about an awesome band, we get busy, we lose said email about awesome band, we somehow find said email about awesome band, and then we finally post about awesome band.  So here is a bit of a belated post about Australian fuzz-pop band The Honey Pies.  As previously stated, I dig their tunes and recommend all fans of the style to pick up the debut LP Think of England in your local record store or on itunes.  Here also is a belated upload of The Honey Pies extremely catchy single “Get it Right”.

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

Download: The Honey Pies – Get it Right [MP3]

New Tunes from Heidi Spencer

Well, this is a bit of a change up for us this week, as we’ve been running around with lots of high energy tracks, but I couldn’t resist a bit of mellowness as the week winds down. Heidi Spencer & the Rare Birds have been making a huge wave over with the NME, and you can tell that a lot of American audiences will definitely enjoy her work due to its similarity to a woman and her harp. Regardless of similarities, Spencer does seem to have a bit more of a traditional folkie in her.  You can check out her album on March 29th, titled Under Streetlight Glow. Give the tune a listen.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Alibi_20110201_155016.mp3]

Download: Heidi Spencer – Alibi [MP3]

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