Austin Town Hall

When we caught PUJOL at SXSW this year I was surprisingly energetically his set came off; he was more punk rock than garage pop.  But, as the date draws near for the release of his United States of Being, which hits on June 5th via Saddle Creek, it seems that he’s going to show a bit more restraint on his recorded material.  There’s a gruffness to his vocal performance, but he’s not banging out the song like when we caught his live set.  This isn’t a bad thing, and if anything, it only ups the ante on his shows…giving audiences a full dosage of energy and pop.  Check out the new single.

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Download:PUJOL – Providence [MP3]

It’s Friday and that means Spring Break’s here! In honor, I wanted to toss up some funky hits today, like this catchy new tune from Icky Blossoms. This is definitely a dance track, and I’d love to hear it in the club (you know versus my laptop); the song is the debut single from the group’s upcoming debut on Saddle Creek. Dave from TV on the Radio is producing it, so you know there’s a man with tastes behind the knobs.  The band will be here for SXSW too, so turn it up, shake it a little, and lets get ready to party.

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Download:Icky Blossoms – Babes [MP3]

Well, this track isn’t precisely a loud rocker, but it’s loud in the sense that the Mynabirds, and main songwriter Laura Burhenn, came across a lot quieter on their first effort.  Now the group is back with Generals, again produced by the excellent Richard Swift; you can get your hands on the ablum on June 5th via Saddle Creek Records.  According to our sources, the record revolves around the concept of political protests, which isn’t surprising considering she used to work with John Davis of DC’s Q and Not U.  Several listens in, and this feels a little bit like a political bent on the Kills–not a bad thing.  Give this one a taste, and be sure to check the group out at SXSW.

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Download: The Mynabirds – Generals

Cursive have long been a band deserving of attention in the music game.  Hell it seems like only yesterday when I was jamming their 2000 effort Domestica, which I still consider their best work. New music comes from the group today in the form of the new song found below “The Sun and Moon”.  This track will appear on Cursive’s upcoming new album I Am Gemini due out February 21st on Saddle Creek Records.  A pre-order for the new album has actually been set up already for you fans.

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Download: Cursive – The Sun and Moon [MP3]

If you’ve been a follower of the Elephant Six work and the Saddle Creek Records family, then perhaps your introduction to Harouki Zombi might be a bit of a surprise.  The duo is comprised of Orenda Fink, who led Azure Ray, not to mention her own solo outings, and also Nina Barnes, wife of Kevin Barnes.  Together they’ve combined to create an interesting piece of art pop, using theatrics (primarily designed by Barnes) and electronic influenced tracks in their performance pieces.  Clearly the duo are in this for a great bit of fun, but the music, not to mention the project itself, seems tinted with oddities, but also grace.  While it might just be hedonistic DJ music, you can’t help but be drawn to the collaboration.  Keep a look out for these two in the near future.  Here’s a preview of their work together.

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Download: Harouki Zombi – Harouki Zombie Swamp Theme [MP3]

How much more can we really tell you about Nashville’s Pujol?  Nothing much reall, other than you need to be jamming to this kid. He’s signed on with stalwart label, Saddle Creek Records, who will be releasing his EP, Nasty, Brutish and Short on October 18th. It’s gritty, but it’s not something you can immediately pass of as some sort of garage re-hash.  Yea, there’s touches of that, but the overwhelming quality seems rooted in far more than some lo-fi phenomenon. So, if you didn’t listen to us the first time, maybe now you’ll get into Pujol. You’ll also find the band tearing it up at Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, so yet another reason to get your ears ready.

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Download: Pujol – Mayday [MP3]

We’re just a few weeks away from the release of the new album from recent Saddle Creek signing, Big Harp. Their album is titled White Hat, and it’s going to be in stores on August 30th, surely winning over a lot of new fans for the band.  I like the trickling melody of this single, and of course, the deep quality of the vocals definitely attracts me.  I’m also appreciating the dichotomy between the vocals and the underlying pop sensibility of the song’s construction.  Things looks to be a really promising debut for the husband and wife duo from Nebraska.

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Dwonload: Big Harp – Everybody Pays [MP3]

The interwebs is going crazy today with the new Bright Eyes track that has just been made available for download.  The tune found below “Shell Games” will appear on upcoming album The People’s Key out February 15th on Saddle Creek Records.  I know some of our staff members will be peeing their pants for this new record, so we just had to share.  The attached fiery image is the planned album artwork for the first new LP from Bright Eyes in close to four years.

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Download: Bright Eyes – Shell Games [MP3]