Cranking That New Variety Tune

If you know what’s good for you, you already listened to this Variety jam last week via Post-Trash, but, seeing as the band’s the new project from Borzoi‘s Rhys Woodruff (an ATX treasure), we had to give our love to the song as well. I’m enamored with the way that the drums and jingling guitar lines give into this tune’s anxiety; this feels like the more dangerous brand of what Omni’s been doing over the last several years. Woodruff’s got this indifferent curl on the vocals , creating this aura of nonchalance that completely runs in contrast to their surroundings. Austin fans can catch the band playing this Friday at Hotel Vegas, with a few other dates scattered at the beginning of February.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (5.2 – 5.6)

So much good music last week, and so much to cover. Well, we tried to get up as much as we could, plus Brian got some great photos of Good Morning and Packs. Here’s our weekly musical recap, with lots of awesome news, like new releases from Tan Cologne, Field Guides…and Voxtrot! I think the news of their Early Music compilation definitely made my week, even as I was held hostage in my classroom by state testing. Enjoy some jams from last week.

Borzoi Drop Passing Single

Just as I’m lamenting the scene in our hometown, Borzoi pop up with a new single to wake me from my Austin doldrums. Be warned, turning this up at high volume is likely to lead to momentary delirium. The rhythmic section alone has this incredible push and pull to it, like the heavy swaying of a crowd on the verge of cathartic eruption. Hitting heavy at the front, they turn that into this almost playful angular moment right after the one-minute mark, hanging high upon the rafters of that pulsing rhythm. Why this band isn’t the most notable in town I don’t know, but we look forward to hearing more…as we’re still awaiting news on the follow-up to A Prayer for War (12XU)…and this may or may not feature on that release.

A Night At Free Week 2020

Nathan went out Thursday, I went out Saturday. We both got a dose of ATH Records goodness.

For me, catching Big Bill for the last time in their current form was of paramount importance. Sure there were several other great lineups, but drummer Alan Lauer is leaving our fine city. His wife is, too, and she makes amazing cookies so they brought cookies and they were delicious. The jams flowed. It ended up being a packed, raucous set with local celebs, plenty of shenanigans like jumping jacks, praying to the Hotel IndiGod and a pit during “What do you want on your salad?”…

Along for the ride was Exercise, Borzoi, Blood and Son of Stan. I also said hi to some folks next door at Mohawk. Click through for the big gallery…

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Nathan’s Top Austin Albums of 2018

In the year’s end, those who “write” about music claim our superior tastes by spouting off about our favorite releases. I figured I should start off all the shenanigans with a list from our home base, Austin, Texas. Below you’ll find a list of my favorite releases from the confines of our fair city.

Let it be known that we released albums by Marmalakes, Feverbones and David Israel (and an EP by Blushing), but those will not make this list for the sake of favoritism…though they’d all obvious take the top spot…duh. Read more

Borzoi Drop Frantic New Single

Some songs come across the old Interwebs and you’re just drawn to them. The latest from Borzoi is one such tune (not that I haven’t enjoyed the others); I love how the song just seems so jittery and out of control…and yet it’s not. It’s controlled chaos, thrown out into the world with indifference; I just get the feeling of running around in a circle whilst the band seemingly increase the pace, driving me into a spastic frenzy…such feelings that only occur with the best of rock n’ roll. I love the call and response after the 2 minute mark, bringing the tune to an emphatic close. A Prayer for War is out tomorrow via 12XU, and it’s going to be brilliant.

Borzoi Back with Another Single

Borzoi are set to announce themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the music community. They’re brandishing a blend of noise and hardcore, but sculpting it with a slight art-school bend; it might even be fair to compare them to the early work of Shellac. Still, even that isn’t doing their recent work justice. Here they offer that sound, infusing their style with a primal urgency, creating a sense of imminent danger out of thin air. Creativity and noise can work together, as we’ll surely witness when the group drop A Prayer for War on September 21st via 12XU.

Borzoi Drop New Single

Austin’s Borzoi released the excellent Surrender the Farm EP, and now it looks like the band have a brand new LP on the horizon for 12XU. Our first taste offers some great insight into what we can expect, and from the sounds of the song’s opening minute and a half, they’re looking to take an exploratory route to post-hardcore. Sinister guitar notes hang in the air, battling subtle bass lines while the percussion works underneath. Once the vocals come into play, the track takes on an ominous tone, almost picking up pace before unleashing a wall of noise onto listeners. Then it recedes, only to return with a stabbing pulse of angular noise while it sounds like the band are tearing through your speakers. Clearly the band just doesn’t care what you expect, and that bodes well for A Prayer for War; it drops on 12XU on September 21st.

ATX Spotlight: Fresh Borzoi Noise

After being somewhat dormant for the first few months of the year, 12XU has jumped out with several great musical announcements, one being this raucous bit of noise from Austin’s Borzoi. You’re immediately thrust into the discord, drums pounding furiously and guitar chords knifing through your speakers. It’s as if the vocals were recorded in huge concrete war room, echoing notes in a way such that your head’s constantly swirling; they’vegot a steady moment of delivery in the middle of the track that I’m particularly fond of, right before the band crashes the song to a close. Look for a brand new 4 song 7″ from the band on March 24th.

And, I highly suggest another gem from the label’s announcements: Thigh Master. I’ll add that song below too…but nothing too long-winded as we don’t want to bum Norman Wanklord out.

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