Austin Psych Fest Announces Line-Up

Fresh off a rad year at Levitation, those good folks announce the line-up of their Spring edition Austin Psych Fest. After being gone for a bit, it’s been a great return to the Austin music schedule, with this year’s event taking place over the weekend of April 26 – 28! Line-up highlights include heavy hitters like Courtney Barnett, Dehd, Alvvays and Kurt Vile, but you know they always work hard to develop and curate, so expect some surprises as we draw nearer the date. You can grab tickets tomorrow via PreSale, and tickets go out to the public on Friday. Check HERE to get yours! The whole event will take place at the Far Out Lounge, home of $13 Miller Lite Drafts.

Show Preview: Alvvays @ Stubbs – TONIGHT

If you’ve been anywhere near the indie sphere the last few months, and perhaps even in the pop realm, you’ve definitely heard people raving about Blue Rev, the new LP from Alvvays. I covered every single that came out, increasingly impressed with how much the band took their bedroom indiepop sound from years ago and continued to grow it into a full-fledged pop rock masterpiece, brimming with nods to their past whilst readying them for arena rock performances. Lucky for Austin fans, the band will take the stage at Stubbs this evening, accompanied by tourmates Slow Pulp. You can expect a smattering of hits, and maybe a deep cut or two, but you can rest assured that Molly Rankin and company are going to be brining their A game. Tickets are still available HERE! Doors at 7, show begins at 8 PM.

 

Last Week’s Jams, Today (10.3 – 10.7)

Lots of coverage running around last week, and with ACL in town, there was some coverage of shows and what not. We ended the week throwing up some streams of our favorite LPs that dropped too. But, ultimately, you came here for the tunes, and we had lots of them. Personally, I loved new stuff from I Was a King, Heather Trost and Field School, not to mention the little twist in expectations thrown in by the latest from Smashing Times. RayRay loved some rockers from S.C.A.B and Fluung, and they’ve all been conveniently added for your listening pleasure below. Browse, and head back and see what we had to say if you’re so inclined.

Friday Album Streams: Alvvays, The Mall, Peel Dream Magazine and More

Well, Friday is here, and that’s a great reason to check in on some cool releases. Plus, get the bonus of knowing its Bandcamp Friday, so you get a chance to support your favorite artists and labels by streaming and jamming and buying! The Alvvays record has been buzzing everywhere, including our site, so we had to include that one. I’m personally stoked to hear how all the new Peel Dream Magazine songs fit together, as it seems like a different sound coming our way…we’re in for an exciting plot twist. There’s a couple other small releases here that we figured might fly under the radar, so wanted to be sure to include a bit of the other goods too! If we’re missing something cool, holler at us so we can be sure to give it a listen.

 

AlvvaysBlue Rev (Polyvinyl)

The MallTime Vehicle Earth

Peel Dream MagazinePad (Slumberland Records)

Cool SoundsLike That (Chapter Music)

CielNot in the Sun, Nor the Dark (Jazz Life)

Last Week’s Jams, Today (9.19 – 9.23)

Happy Monday! Man, we covered a ton of ground last week, and I’m super stoked with the songs we squeezed into this playlist…and for the first time all of them are available on one streaming platform. That either means my tastes have gotten super basic, or those DSPs have taken over! Either way, there were a bunch of songs to love last week. I’m smitten with this new track from Kindsight, and I can’t stop playing that Cozy Slippers tune, so that’s a fun place for you to start. We get bonuses as members of Math and Physics Clubs have created two new bands, both with great new singles: Field School and Model Shop. Just a bunch of great jams to get your morning off on the right track.

Two New Alvvays Jams For You

Honestly, I didn’t expect to totally fall for the new Alvvays record immediately. I knew it would be good, that was just a given. But, today with two new singles, it’s like they’re leaving us these tasty little breadcrumbs to follow on our path to enjoyment. On one side here, you get a fuzzier bit of grungy pop, sounding like many of the band’s choruses, only stretched. Then you flip it and you have this almost new-wave meets psychedelia spun through a pop lens, a la Broadcast or the like. Each of these tunes, while sounding every bit like Alvvays, seems a touch different than what the band have given in other singles, so its like a smorgasbord of pop gems waiting to be devoured. Blue Rev is out October 7th via Polyvinyl.

Last Week’s Jams Today (8.8 – 8.12)

We cover a lot of tunes here, but in looking back at last week’s jams, there were so many hits that popped up on our pages. You wanna dance a little? Try the new Cool Sounds or the Dare? Looking for a little wayward jangle? Try on Old Moon or the Slow Summits! Maybe you just want classic pop? Well, check out those Alvvays and Elizabeth tracks! Wait, you need a reissue? Well, there’s great stuff coming out from the Variable Stars and Self Improvement! Plus, we had mellow jams from Old Fire and Kramies, to hit all the right notes. Just hit play and enjoy yourself while I get ready for the first day of school!

Alvvays Release Easy On Your Own

Listening to this new Alvvays tune really illustrates why the group have continued to rise in prominence through their career. With each album, they’ve taken some touchstones from their first effort, though they’ve spun them towards being crossover pop hits at the same time. This latest single is no different, filled to the brim with noise and distortion, then balanced on a razor’s edge with a smashing blast of pop; the sheer volume work here is definitely an added tool, illustrating the band’s thoughtfulness in recording as they toy with the expectations of breaking out of the indiepop mold. Blue Rev will be out in October via Polyvinyl.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (7.5 – 7.8)

We packed as much sweet music as we could into four days, especially considering one of us was down with the ‘Rona…and on vacation no less. Still, there was so much great new music that it was hard to stay away, from brand new Lande Hekt and Alvvays to the release of that latest Flowertown LP. Personally, I was glad to see Northern Portrait back on the menu, with a new album slated for a Fall release. Sit back, start you week, and enjoy a replay of what we got into last week!

Alvvays Announce New LP

Looks like we’re going to have a popaholics kind of day over on ATH! Alvvays announce a brand new record today, and we’ve got that brand new single for you to stream! It’s hard to believe its been five years since their last LP, though Molly Rankin’s voice still remains central to what they’re offering listeners. I like that her sugary voice is juxtaposed to the psychedelic swirl operating just behind it, kind of messing with the listener as you’re not sure what’s attracting you to the sound. It’s a brief tune, but they toy with the formula a great bit, so hats off to the group for pushing their sound beyond expectations and the trappings of pop. Blue Rev is sounding awfully special; it drops in October via Polyvinyl. Be sure to sample these new songs on the band’s NA tour this Fall!

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