• Top Songs of 2019

    Phew, the end of the year really snuck up on me this time and it’s crazy to think we are moving on from the 2010s. Before we do so, Nathan

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  • Top 25 Albums of 2019

    This is the list you’ve all been waiting for, well, sort of. This is my Top 20 LPs of the year. Admittedly, there’s none of the high profile hitmakers on

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  • Levitation 2019: A Reflection

    Team ATH has been covering Austin Psych Fest/Levitation since its early inception, probably in the second year at Radio Room (sorry we missed the first year!), so we’ve seen the

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  • ACL WE2 in a Nutshell

    Another Austin City Limits is behind us boys and girls and it’s always a good time to reflect on the music and experiences from the weekend. I considered myself very

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  • SXSW 2019 – A Recap

    Yet another SXSW is in the books and it’s time for the ATH crew to reminisce a little and offer some highlight from the week behind us. I think we’ve

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Kluster B Return with Counterpart Single

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Kluster B, formerly Kluster, caught my attention a few years ago with their debut album, Civic, but they’ve been mostly quiet since that time. Today they return with a new single, signalling a new LP on the not too far distant horizon. In the song, I feel as if they’re taking notes from the likes of early Pinback, drawing on indie rock influences and fusing them with bits of jazz structure and pop moments. Linnea’s voice haunts the tune during the verses, and shimmers in the chorus as the guitars clang noisily, eventually leading towards a closing that could easily slide into the best of dream pop vibes you’ll hear this week. Keep an eye out for a new LP with their label Rama Lama.

Star Parks Announces The New Sounds of Late Capitalism LP

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We knew that Andy Bianculli had something in the works when word came out that his project Star Parks had signed with Modern Outsider Records, so we’re glad the word is The New Sounds of Late Capitalism. It’s a playful number brimming with various movements within the song’s general structure that take the listener up and down. A fuzzy stomp kicks you into gear before fading into a more angelic float of vocals, accented by some real light keys that bridge the gap between the airy melody and the tapping of the drum work. You’ll find the hook-laden chorus harkening to some of Austin’s finest pop purveyors like Spoon, filled with the horns and all that extra jazz! The new LP drops on February 14th.

Another Track from the Basic Plumbing LP

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On Friday, we’ll get the release of the posthumous Basic Plumbing, the project Patrick Doyle was working on before his untimely passing; he’s also known for his time in Veronica Falls and Boys Forever. When I first heard this track, I was immediately drawn to the guitar sound; it felt both poppy and heavy, especially when matched by the drumming; darker tones continued when Doyle offers a soft croon in the verse. Still, I’ve been gravitating towards the slight switch in the song’s mood that comes in just before the 2 minute mark; it’s ever so slight, but definitely draws on Doyle’s penchant for pop sensibility. Proceeds from the record will go to LA’s LGBT Center and UK’s Calm

Kleenex Girl Wonder to Reissue Ponyoak LP w/ Demos

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Looks as though today’s coverage is going to revolve a great deal around a few bands that are so great they’ve probably slipped under your radar, like Kleenex Girl Wonder. The band has primarily been the outlet for songwriter Graham Smith, and while they’ve been active pretty recently with LPs Vana Mundi and White Lacuna, this post is here to celebrate Ponyoak, the band’s classic 1999 LP (you can stream it HERE). It’s a great collection of Smith’s songwriting, particularly if you consider he crafted the songs at the age of 18; you’ll hear nods to GBV and the Beatles alike. But! If you pre-order the LP now, you’ll get a bonus download that includes demos and out-takes from the recording session, including the tune that’s featured below; you can hear more of the bonus tracks over HERE.

Emotional Response Announce Typical Girls Vol. 5

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Every year, Emotional Response brings us a collection of the best female led punk and indie, with a nod to the Slits in the compilation’s title, Typical Girls. Today we bring you news of Volume 5 with a great track from Color TV; it’s a pop rock gem heavy on hooks, with a huge chorus that’s destined to find itself engrained in your brain for the rest of the day. The rest of the compilation bounces around the globe bringing hits from the likes of Spain’s Linda Guilala, Australia’s Slag Queens and Scotland’s Vital Idles…not to mention about 12 other acts you should have on your regular rotation. Typical Girls Volume 5 will be out via Emotional Response on February 21st.

Nap Eyes Announce Snapshot of a Beginner LP

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I feel like Nap Eyes are one of the great unassuming bands out there; they’ve got a songwriting consistency that we all hold near and dear, though they often seem to go quietly unnoticed for their gifts. Perhaps that’s about to change with Snapshot of a Beginner, the band’s new LP; there’s promise of more punch and larger arrangements added to their poetic craftsmanship. It’s prevalent on the new single “Mark Zuckerberg” with a definite rocking element pushed through by the stomp of the snare and heavy riffs. Still, the greatest moment comes at the 1:41 moment with the line “transcendence is all around us;” it’s this beautiful moment that lets your mind and body drift away. The new LP is out on March 27th via Jagjaguwar/Royal Mountain.

SXSW Music Wristbands

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Wristbands for SXSW‘s 2020 Music Conference go on sale tomorrow. Here is what you need to know.

Purchase Requirements

  1. You must provide a valid credit card with funds available to purchase the number of wristbands you request (up to 2).
  2. The purchaser will provide their name, phone number, email, valid credit card number and expiration date and billing address. The billing zip code must be listed in the approved greater Austin area list.
  3. A second wristband may be purchased by providing a separate name and email address. These wristbands are non-transferable and nonrefundable.
  4. Each named person must personally pick up their wristband (which will be put on their wrist at that time) at the Austin Convention Center.
  5. Each person may only buy one wristband for themselves and one friend. Any person who succeeds in purchasing multiple wristbands will be charged, but will not be able to use them for other people other than the one friend named at the time of purchase. Click here for an approved greater Austin area list.

Another Mo Troper Hit

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With Mo Troper‘s Natural Beauty just on the horizon, he’s sharing another track to entice your ears. This one definitely feels like it’s got an old school emo sound to it, and mind you, I’m not knocking that at all. It reeks of emotion and intimacy, while still sounding powerful behind the burst of the guitar chords. I love the moment that begins with the line “when we were young” just at the 34 second mark; its just the perfect pop nugger to devour. Something about Mo just makes me happy; if you’re in the same boat, check out his new record Natural Beauty on Tender Loving Empire on February 14th.

Another Stunner From Monad

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A couple of months ago Nicole shared the new single from Tel Aviv based Monad, and I’m pleased to be sharing this new one from the band today. On “September” we are once again treated to a beauty of psych rock, dreamy pop music fit to stand beside the very best of the genre. Though he may be living on the other side of the world, Eshchar Nachmany, and his project know as Monad, is sure to be making waves in the online music world.

This track appears on a new EP entitled Dissolution due out on January 31st.

Enjoy This New Strange Halos Track

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As the clock continues to tick and the weekend relief draws ever near, take a second to enjoy this new song called “Mistakes Were Made” from Asheville based band Strange Halos. Personally I think it should be the perfect song to match this dreary weather and foggy feeling. To me it sort of sounds like the psych-pop vie of a band like Portugal. The Man but with these super catchy and infectious elements of folk music. The blending of genres seems to work perfectly together and I hope you do enjoy the track and a dry weekend. Party on.

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