ATX Popfest Presents…Welcome to the Jangle @ Spider House (3.16)

welcome to the jangleSXSW is nearing, and ATH has been working with our friends at ATX Popfest to bring you what we know is THE place to be on Wednesday, March 16th. Welcome to the Jangle! Those of you who are pop fans need to come over to Spider House on that day, starting at 12 PM. It’s ALL AGES, and will go all day and night…filled with some of the best talent coming into town. Here’s a quick list of who all is playing: Summer Salt, Hockey Dad, Pinact, Mercury Girls, Wildhoney, Brothers In Law, Beverly, Expert Alterations, Rose Selavy, Fear of Men, September Girls, Diet Cig, Spook School, Dead Stars, Hibou, Tennis System, Literature, and Ramesh.

We’ll have more details as we get closer, but wanted you to plan on taking the day off to spend it with us.

The Best in Indiepop of 2015

indiepopTons of genres out there, but if you’ve been following our work, you know that I’m really partial to the indiepop scene. I scour the confines of the Internet for any and the best of the genre, and admittedly get tons of tips. So, I looked back through what had come out and wanted to throw a little bit your way…just another list of what I think was the best in indiepop in 2015. Still staying away from numbering. Also…some of this has made my other lists, but I wanted to expand on my favorite genre a little bit. Read more

The ATH Top 50 Albums of 2015

Albums ListYear-end lists are everywhere…and I can see why they’re important to people. But, seeing as we generally walk off the beaten path more often than not, our list of the Top 50 Albums of 2015 is in no particular order, save alphabetically. It seems pointless to rank one piece of art higher than another, especially when the four of us at ATH all have varying tastes. We just put this list together of the albums we loved the most this year. Are we saying they’re better than records by Grimes or Kendrick Lamar? No, we’re just saying that these are the records we loved more than others. So, you can read on for what we thought was hot.

Also…put links to individual stores where you can buy the albums from the bands…as that’s how we all survive in this music world.
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Watch This Expert Alterations Video

As we draw to the end of the year, people are making their year end lists of great albums. For me, one of the things that’s sure to make the top of my list is the new LP from Expert Alterations, You Can’t Always Be Liked, which was just released by Kanine in October. Just in case you needed a reminder of how superb their tracks are in real life, the band has this brand new video for “The Past and You.” I don’t really need to offer up too much more, as I think the video and the song speak for themselves. Have a heart for pop, then this should be in your collection now.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/ktViaKF4JtA[/youtube]

Stream the Expert Alterations LP

expurtIt’s the end of the day and I wanted to toss out something your way that’s been an absolute treat: it’s the latest album from Expert Alterations. I had high expectations after catching them live, then those raised when they re-released their EP via Slumberland (a name you can trust). We’re now in the release week of You Can’t Always Be Liked, but if every person had a love for indiepop, then you can be assured that these guys would definitely be liked by all. Just enjoy a stream on this Monday as you’re wrapping up your day, and grab the LP from Kanine on Friday. 

Another New Track from The Mantles

themantlesWarning! I’m fawning here. There’s been two records I’ve been sent a few weeks early that I’ve played non-stop. All Odds End, the new effort from the Mantles, is one of those two (the other is the new Expert Alterations). It’s one of those albums that goes beyond all the influences you could hear early on in the band’s career (though I loved that too). All the promise and all the dreams are more than exceeded; it doesn’t hurt that these are also some of the most infectious tunes out there. Just listen to the bounce that goes through this track…if you’re not tapping those toes then you’re not living. Look for their new record on October 16th via Slumberland Records.

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Hot New Single from Expert Alterations

expertIf you haven’t completely given into the world of indiepop, then perhaps this new single from Expert Alterations will be the one to get you there. Their new album You Can’t Always Be Liked is definitely in my list of must listens for the entirety of 2015, and the spirit in this song should be enough to make you see why. There’s a rolling rhythm section that builds the energy from the get-go, pushing the song forward as the guitars chime in and out. There’s almost a stutter to the way the vocals are delivered, which has a huge impact on the listener. You can grab this great LP from Kanine on October 30th.

More Fresh Tunes from The Mantles

themantlesAnother new Mantles song? What a great week for music I love. I think for fans of great pop music, there’s not going to be a better release at the end of the year than this band’s new LP (well, that Expert Alterations is stellar too). There’s definitely some sonic changes in the band’s approach this round, and on this single in particular, rocking almost a punk rock approach in the bass line and energy department. Still, you can expect a group this good to get away with hooks, which are making their way with the way the vocals are delivered and enunciated. Look for their album All Odds End via the ever-reliable Slumberland Records on October 16th.

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Expert Alterations Nail It Again

eaAs we’re gearing up towards producing a small scale Popfest here in Austin, it’s gotta be clear to folks that I’ll do anything I can to propel the cause of the indiepop genre.  We’ve been excited about Expert Alterations, shortly before we caught their EP for Slumberland Records…and now they’re moving on to Kanine Records for their full length. This song definitely feels like it’s nodding towards a more Aussie sound, something from the early creation of what we now lump into the indiepop genre. Guitars have a slight jangle, percussion bounces and what a wonderful vocal on the tune.  Look for their debut You Can’t Always Be Liked on October 30th; I know I will.

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Another Reason to Buy the Expert Alterations 12″

expertA long while ago I caught Expert Alterations here in Austin, along with some other great acts.  I raved about the band and their perfect indiepop sound, immediately posting a song to get you hyped to their sound.  Soon after, they agreed to put out a record with Slumberland and Kanine, and we’re getting another listen.  It’s a jangly number, fitting in the appropriate level of cool bounce to every turn of a word.  I like the drum work in the middle of the tune, essentially creating a breakdown that sets you up for the rest of the tune. Look for the EP to be release on June 2nd.

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