The Week in Music May 10 – 14

Here we are. Here you are. It’s Monday morning, so let’s go back in time. Way way back, to last week. We’ve got new hits from the Goon Sax and Quivers, as well as some more obscure stuff like Keron and Nina Savary. Plus, we’ve got some old favorites in Dentist, Leon Bridges and Tapeworms, piled on top of a few tunes we dug that already got the mass of hype you’d expect. As per our tastes, its all over the place, which is sort of how I’m feeling on this Monday morning. Have a rad day my friends!

The Go! Team Still Got It

It’s been an incredibly long time since I last heard anything from The Go! Team camp. I definitely bought the reissue of Thunder, Lightning, Strike on vinyl from a couple years ago, but the group have flown mostly under the radar for the last several years. Today I’m pleased to share with you this new single and video for track “Semicircle Song” which can best be described as sounding a hell of a lot like The Go! Team. I forgot how much I used to really love this band… I think the relationship is being mending with this fun new track.

The Go! Team will release Semi-Circle on January 19th. You can pre-order in just about all formats here.

New Track from Boogarins

boogarinsA short while ago we wrote about Brazilian act Boogarins, and it’s time that we return with another track from the band.  It’s really hard to decide where to group these lads, genre-wise, which is perhaps great in its own spectrum.  I hear bits of oddity like you’d find on a Flaming Lips LP, but also toucuhes of collage/instrumental artists such as The Go! Team and Ratatat.  All these signs, and the pop sensibility of the vocals point to good things from the band when their debut record, As Plantas Que Curam, comes out on October 1st via Other Music Recordings.  Let this tune blow your mind.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/105421167″ iframe=”true” /]

 

 

The Go! Team – Rolling Blackouts

Rating: ★★★☆☆

So what genre exactly is The Go! Team? Pop, hip-hop, garage rock, alternative dance, or a list of various others? The answer to these questions is all of the above, as The Go! Team dabbles between many different genres, if not plain and simply their own unique combination of sounds. To me, this distinct variety that makes up this group is refreshing while swimming through a sea of simple pop albums. However, at times the group can sound a tad bit too hyper, and the variety can become a little lost on the ears of previous listeners.

This facilitating sound is apparent from the first song to the fourth. On the first track, “T.O.R.N.A.D.O,” those letters are spelled out from the very beginning, with what sounds like a full band of horns, akin to something you would hear perhaps as a pep rally. As you suppress the urge to yell “go tornadoes!” the song ends and transitions to “Secretary Song,” which begins with some chanting like that of the first, but then moves to more of a pop sound, with subtle string work and tinkling sounds of percussion.  At this point, it seems like The Go! Team might only have two tricks up their sleeve, but then they keep adding more to their repertoire.

On “Apollo Throwdown,” a flat out dance groove is thrown down. Gone are the pep-rally and pop sounds, and here are electronic beeps and almost rap (well rap to a white girl like me). If you can make it through this one without tapping your feet, then congrats, you’re a hard ass! This song is a free-flowing all out party-ready groove, encompassing the crazy energy this group has. Following this outburst of energy and dance tunes comes a complete turn in the form of “Ready to Go Steady,” which takes a sort of 70’s sound based off the slightly echoed drums. It’s hard to believe that these two songs back to back are even the same group, as they sound drastically different

If you are a long time fan of this band, then you know that this in not music for just any old day, but music for days that need a boost of explosive energy that The Go! Team offers. A certain mood is required for this group, and Rolling Blackouts is a sure testament to this. At the same time, if you have been a long time fan of this band, then nothing is that new for you in respect to their sound; it’s the same energy, and not a lot of new aspects that keep old timers’ attentions. As hard as this may be to believe, The Go! Team has lost the freshness that they once had. Granted, Rolling Blackouts is nothing to turn your nose up at, but it’s not something to stop everything for.

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

Download: The Go! Team – Voice Yr Choice [MP3]

New Music from The Go Team

A few years back it seemed like The Go Team could do no wrong, but then their second album sort of fell flat on its face.  The music sounded too claustrophobic, locked in the collage work of the band.  Now the band have returned, with a clear sound, along with the traditional hooks and delivery from Ninja.  This track will be featured on the group’s new record, Rolling Blackouts, which comes our way on January 31st.  Are we really planning for 2011 already? Well, this should get us off to a good start.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/The-Go-Team-TORNADO.mp3]

Download: The Go Team – T.O.R.N.A.D.O. [MP3]