Ian McKinney Has 2 Songs on Slack Capital 2

Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the coolest bands in Austin. All proceeds go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. To make sure every one of these bands gets the attention they deserve, we’re unveiling one song per day. (Except today, where we reveal two songs!)

Songs of the day: Ian McKinney – “CRIMEWAVE”/ TV Dads – Vertical Sync

Ian McKinney and TV Dads are the same person, but they represent two very different vibes. CRIMEWAVE is a corroded future-punk anthem, a hilarious and addictive account of what it’s like to thrive in a rotten, failing society. A through-line that connects many of the songs on this compilation (and a quality that, arguably, is essential to the “weird” quality of Austin you hear so often about) is a deep sense of irony, and as McKinney repeats the titular word, it feels more like a taunt aimed at the folks in the gleaming towers than a cry of alarm. Meanwhile, McKinney’s contribution here under the TV Dads moniker is more like a salve, a warped and gentle instrumental with alien-sounding birds in the distance. In the song sequence of the comp, it happens to work as a wonderful introduction to the sweet heartbreak of Magia Negra (but you don’t get to hear that track yet). –Eric Braden

Pre-order Slack Capital 2 rightHERE.

And…we’ll be throwing a release show with proceeds going to SafePlace on April 14th @ Barracuda.

Hear Kay Odyssey’s Slack Capital 2 Contribution

Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the coolest bands in Austin. All proceeds go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. To make sure every one of these bands gets the attention they deserve, we’re unveiling one song per day.

Song of the day: Kay Odyssey – “Slipstream”

For a band with “odyssey” in their name, it’s fitting that “Slipstream” feels like a journey. The guitar-heavy track is psychedelic and mysterious, with swirling sounds that evoke a heavy trip, across a desert or in one’s own head. Band leader Kristina Boswell sings in a Roy Orbison-meets-Corin Tucker wail, gliding upward as the song reaches epic guitar god heights. That’s where they shine the most, when, as cymbals crash ecstatically, the dense and fearful atmosphere succumbs to the will of one who has found their voice.

Pre-order Slack Capital 2 right HERE.

Hear Oozer’s Track from Slack Capital 2

Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the coolest young bands in Austin. All proceeds go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. To make sure every one of these bands gets the attention they deserve, we’re unveiling one song per day.

Song of the day: Oozer – “Clickity Clacker”

Oozer is possibly the best-named band in town. Their songs are sludgy, gross things, full of weird noises and punctuated by super-dry snare hits that feel like kicks to the gut. In other words, they are a visceral band, and they evoke the often shitty experience of having a body. What makes them special is their penchant for melody and songwriting, for sneaking real heavy emotion into places you least expect. They’re a band for misfits, by misfits, which means they’re smart. When James Roo screeches “See you/ When I see you” over and over, it kinda makes you laugh, but it also kinda makes you think.

Pre-Order Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Croy and the Boys are on Slack Capital 2

For the tremendous new Slack Capital 2 compilation, with songs by The Zoltars, Kay Odyssey, Thor & Friends and many more, we’re unveiling a new song every day until the April 14 release party. 100% of proceeds go to SafePlace, so go pre-order it right now!

Today we’re spotlighting a song by Croy and the Boys called “Sleeping Til 2.” Saturated with their characteristic dry humor and a nothing-to-do Sunday morning vibe, this song perfectly encapsulates the modern malaise of a simple man trying to figure stuff out. “I tried some new drugs/ and they were fun/ But six-packs, and my backyard’s/ the budget I’m on,” sings bandleader Corey Baums, and the key is his earnestness, which makes it funny, rather than corny. Croy and the Boys may be in on the joke, but the characters in their songs aren’t, and that makes all the difference.

Announcing Slack Capital 2

Happy Monday everybody! We are very excited this morning to announce Slack Capital 2, a compilation of unreleased songs by 27 of Austins greatest underground and up-and-coming bands. 100% of all proceeds will go to SafePlace, an Austin non-profit dedicated to providing resources for women, children and men hurt by sexual and domestic violence.
Starting today, we will unveil one song per day until the albums release date on April 14. Anytime until then you can can pre-order the album as a digital download ($7 or more) or a compact disc ($10 or more) right here at ATH Records.

The song we’re spotlighting today is Gold Driver, by psych-rockers The Diamond Center. With its swirling keys, hypnotic guitar lines and haunting lead vocals by Brandi Price, this song is lush and mysterious, like getting lost in a desert marketplace only to be picked up by a Rolls Royce limousine. Moody enough for the leather jacket-types but groovy enough for the OG hippies, Gold Driver is a perfect song to kick off todays announcement, and to reinvigorate your post-SXSW work week.

– Eric Braden of Big Bill

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