More New Music From Starfucker

As previously reported, indie dance makers Starfucker recently released a 7″ single with the catchy tune “Julius” as the A-side.  Well now the boys are prepping for a full on album of new material entitled Reptilians for a release on March 8th via Polyvinyl Records.  Prior to that release date, opening track to the album “Born” has just been made available as a free download.  This one isn’t quite as catchy as the dance track “Julius”, but it is a nice opening number for the upcoming album.  (via MOKB)

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/01-Born.mp3]

Download: Starfucker – Born [MP3]

Free Sampler From Polyvinyl Records

That great under the radar indie label known as Polyvinyl Records has yet another sweet sampler of music they’re offering up for free.  You’ll notice Polyvinyl staples like Of Montreal, Owen, and Joan of Arc along with more recent signings like Japandroids and Someone Still Loves you Boris Yeltsin.  All told, you’ll get your hands on 15 sweet tracks including this one from Headlight’s last album Wildlife.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/02-Secrets.mp3]

Download: Headlights – Secrets [MP3]

New Music From Deerhoof

After a long time out of the  public eye, Deerhoof are jumping back into the scene with their first album of new material since Offend Maggie of 2008.  New album, Deerhoof vs. Evil, is set to be released on January 25th via the band’s new label Polyvinyl.  Prior to that date, we’ve got new track “The Marry Barracks” available for stream and download below.  You’ll notice a familiar Deerhoof experimental and lo-fi take on things with some crazy new ideas typical of the group’s ever changing sound.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/03-The-Merry-Barracks-1.mp3]

Download: Deerhoof – The Merry Barracks [MP3]

New Tunes from Of Montreal

We’ve been hearing for months now about a new Of Montreal album coming our way, and now details have finally emerged.  This new album, titled False Priest, will be out on the streets on September 14th via Polyvinyl. This single, “Coquet Coquette” is a nice switch from the last few albums, not that I disliked those by any means, but opening with a solid guitar riff, and scaling back on the electronic boogie really has me geared up for this release.  You’ll love it too!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/03-Coquet-Coquette-1.mp3]

Download: Of Montreal – Coquet Coquette [MP3]

FTC: Braid

Vinyl reissues are always a great reason to go and revist the classics, or at least those albums you regard as classics.  Luckily, Polyvinyl Records agrees, as they are re-releasing four of the albums by emo band Braid.  They’re one of my favorites for the genre, mostly because they brought on just a little bit more punk and experimentation than some of the other groups.  Their tunes always had that bounce that got me into the scene as a teenager, yet they also had more agression than a lot of the other groups around at that time.  Singer Bob Nanna’s voice has always been one of those I really enjoyed, especially in the live setting.  Unfortunately, the band didn’t last forever, eventually parting ways, though 3/4 of the band went on to form Hey Mercedes.  HM always seemed a bit softer to me, but I still got into it.  Go back and revisit Braid, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor. The track we bring you is from Movie Music Vol. 2.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Braid-Grand_Theft_Autumn.mp3]

Download: Braid – Grand Theft Autumn [MP3]

New Music From Aloha

01111_Aloha3Polyvinyl Records band Aloha are yet another band returning in 2010 after a lengthy break in new material.  The band’s new LP is set to be called Home Acres and hits stores March 9th.  Head down below and you’ll find brand new single “Moonless March” from the upcoming LP.  Anyone ready to offer up some first impressions?

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/02-Moonless-March-1.mp3]

Download: Aloha – Moonless March [MP3]

New Tunes from Love Is All

loveisallIt really hasn’t been too long since we last heard from Love Is All, the band having put out a 12″ last year with covers and some new tunes.  Now, they’ve switched up labels completely, landing on Polyvinyl for their new release.  Said album hits stores on March 23rd, and is yet another number filled title, Two Thousand and Ten Injuries.  Give this new tune a whirl.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Love-Is-All-Kungen.mp3]

Download: Love Is All – Kungen [MP3]

Owen – New Leaves

New_Leaves_digipak_3.inddRating: ★★★½☆

Owen’s sole member, Mike Kinsella, has been tooling around the scene since before we even knew what a ‘scene’.  With his brother, Tim, Mike helped start the groundbreaking band Cap n’ Jazz in 1989 which, with a solitary LP and a handful of singles and compilation tracks, changed the way we saw indie rock.  Since the bands split in 1995, Kinsella has put in time with such indie luminaries as Joan of Arc, American Football, Owls, and eventually settling with a his current solo project, Owen, in 2001.

In that time Kinsella has released five albums under the Owen moniker.  Each of these albums, while progressing with minor changes from one to the next, have essentially remained the same: Kinsella’s calming, but oft-times uncertain voice, telling of drunken late nights and one night stands, all with a background of lush acoustic melodies that surround you in blankets of finger-picking, hammer-ons and pull-offs.  If Kinsella weren’t such an accomplished lyricist and musician this formula would become tiresome.  In all honesty, for this reviewer, it had gotten tiresome around 2004 with the release of Owen’s third album, I Do Perceive.  I had grown tired of the clever narratives and pretty songs about finding girls and losing said girls.  I had all but written off Mike Kinsella.

But starting with 2006’s At Home With… and continuing more in his current album, New Leaves (released this week on Polyvinyl Records), something happened with Owen: Mike Kinsella grew up.  After a marriage and a new daughter, Kinsella’s lyrics have matured. Now he is longing for change in his life.  In the first single “Good Friends, Bad Habits” Kinsella laments about being jealous of his friends late nights and bar fights, but in the refrain he clarifies “Sometimes, like every time she breathes, I embrace my routine”.  This sentiment is carried on throughout New Leaves, in songs like the title track and “Amnesia and Me”.

There are still the tracks, most notably “Ugly on the Inside” and “Brown Hair in a Bird’s Nest” that hearken back to his previous lyrical content, and it just seems tired compared to recent domesticated enlightenment. Overall, though, New Leaves is a beautiful and heartfelt record that deserves a listen or two, but it would be nice to change things up every once and a while.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/02-good-friends-bad-habits-1.mp3]

Download: Owen – Good Friends, Bad Habits [MP3]

New Tunes from Headlights

headlightsOne of our favorite new bands, Headlights, has a new album coming out soon.  The album is titled Wildlife, and it comes out October 6th on Polyvinyl. This new track has a bit of a different touch, although it’s still brimming with pop, there is a certain element of lo-fi fuzz added.  You can try out the song, and check out the band on tour this fall.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/headlights-get-going.mp3]

Download: Headlights – Get Going [MP3]

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