Oakwood Return!

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Oakwood is one of those Austin bands who we feared may have met the fate of many bands we used to love in this town – initial success, followed by a step away from music. It’s not easy to exist creatively here, and we are hyper aware of that.

We do find it crazy refreshing when you see a band you used to really dig make a comeback like Oakwood did a year or so ago with a new single and some live dates. This year it seems the band is really back for good, and in full force, with more planned shows and a full LP coming at the end of May. They’ve shared a new song today called “A Tangled Mess” to tease the new material with the band’s brand of post-emo meets alternative sound. It’s really hitting the nostalgia chord with me today, in a vintage, yet refreshing way. Hell yeah.

Oakwood’s new album entitled Blurred Away hits the streets on May 29th. Pre-orders are live now. They’ve algo got a comeback show of sorts planned for the same day at Mohawk featuring a solid lineup of locals opening. We’ll be there!

New Not Shameful Share Interlude

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There’s so much noise around right now that you’re likely looking for some respite, looking for a piece of quiet in your world. Might we guide you to New, Not Shameful, an act helmed by Finn Palamaro who just released this delicious EP of slowcore and noise, with the soft-spoken title track featured below. Take a listen there, and you’ll hear the careful footsteps of the guitar, tip-toeing through your speakers so as not to leave a trace behind. You’ll get a little faint whisper of vocals too, seeming to step over the guitar notes, bit by bit until the song magically disappears. If you’re enjoying what’s at play, grab the new Interlude EP from Cherub Dream Records.

Greg Mendez Shares Two New Singles

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Perhaps it’s unfair to work Greg Mendez‘s name into the realm of Elliott Smith, but when you listen to these new tracks, you’re really going to find it hard to ignore the similarities, particularly on “Gentle Love.” Whether it’s the fragility in Greg’s voice or the lightness of the strum being brought into the mix, you’re going to find yourself wishing you were in a quiet listening space while Greg quietly offers his vision. “Frog” is a bit more of an experimental piece, almost like a little sampling of where Mendez’s brain was during the writing process; I hope that the frog has forgiven him. Beauty Land is out on May 29th via Dead Oceans.

La Securite Drop Snack City

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We heard this “Snack City” single from La Securite a few weeks ago in a preview, and I’ve been waiting, circling like a hawk waiting to deliver the news to the masses. The growl of the bass on this track propels the tune forward, driving the track right into your brain! They bounce back and forth between sharp vocal spurts and this spoken delivery that feels more like a march in time with the rhythm section. But, no matter what, I can’t get that damned infectious rumble out of my brain, even when the sharpness of the chorus erupts into this angular burst of nervous energy. They’ll be dropping Bingo! in June via Mothland and Bella Union.

Rural France Share Thirty Seven Forever

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When you drop a name like “jangly adventures in the magical mundane, you’re surely going to find a home on ATH over here, and well, that’s exactly why we’re here to talk about the new Rural France track. At first it feels like they’re going to shoot off into this power-pop strain of the jangle, but they hold tight, pulling it into more of a yearning pop tune that really feels like the best song never written in the 70s; the messaging is also a big feel for those of us that never want to grow old. I think they’re little flex of noise in the middle of the tune manages to illustrate their continual growth and willingness to make up their own songwriting rules. Look for Sloths on May 8th via Meritorio Records and Safe Suburban Home.

A Place to Bury Strangers Share New Video

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When I think of A Place to Bury Strangers, I generally have an idea in my mind of what that sounds like, but I love that their latest single twists that expectation into some newer territory, or at least the more pensive brand of the group’s work. You’ll still get this echo of distortion and noise, but it gets pushed to the way back in the mix, not maximized and up front like one would expect. For me, the draw was the thumping groove of the drum and the sort of seance-esque chant of the vocals, creating more of a sonic haunt…perhaps tying into the acquaintance in Macedonia that influenced this song. Look for their new compilation Rare and Deadly, out this Friday via Dedstrange.

Villagerrr Share Swimming Single

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You’re going to hear a lot for the next few months about Villagerrr, as the Ohio outfit has amassed quite a following fairly quickly, with our anticipation for Carousel matching the hype train. For me, the band’s latest single is where they’re success lives, at least in terms of our interest; it has this really bedroom pop feel, akin to acts like Alex G or Daphne Tunes. But, beneath the surface, there’s definitely a wayward twang on the horizon, which is where it slides into the hearts of us Texans, born and raised on the plains of twang. Those gentle vocal tones don’t hurt me one bit either, so I’m all on board as we look to Carousel hitting in May, courtesy of Winspear.

The BVs Get Remixed by Mark Reeder

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I usually don’t delve into the world of remixes, but this one unites both of my favorite things…the work of the BVs and the remix powers of Mark Reeder. Reeder was hanging out in the Factory Records days, working on remixes for the likes of New Order and Depeche Mode (among others), so you know his talent is there. In all honesty, he doesn’t mess with the original too much, which you can hear on the group’s last LP, Taking Pictures of Taking Pictures; it feels a little cleaner perhaps more beat driven as opposed to guitar driven. Why would he dally here you ask? Well, the BVs have a new remix album, Warped by Mark Reeder and Martyn Schmidt, which is being released by KUS on April 18th.

Club 8 Release There is a Light That Seems to Go Out

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After months of sublime pop bangers, our friends over in Club 8 have opted to churn out a more thoughtful pop piece, something that’s more ballad oriented than what they’ve been offering us of late. That’s not a bad thing, as it’s nice to hear the focus mostly on the vocal work, as smooth and heavenly as ever by the way. You can hear slight jangling notes hanging in the stars of the background, but like the lyrical line of “a light that seems to go out,” the guitars kind of sparkle and fade, like a firework against a dark sky. It’s a really subtle pop twist, and yet another display at the group’s ability to work all over the pop map!

Robber Robber Drop New Year’s Eve Video

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I’m really loving the way that Robber Robber manipulate their structures, particularly as they flirt with every thing cool in the indie sphere. The drumming seems to operate almost as if its a flex on trip-hop, snapping and rolling, almost as if its a pure sample. Nina’s voice molds and folds over each snapping rhythmic moment, playing in between the lines in the best way possible. Not sure if this is the video version or the final cut, as the group plays with structures so much that the meaningful stop in the middle could indeed be included in the final version on the LP. But, we won’t know until we roll into Two Wheels Move the Soul, which drops this Friday via Fire Talk.

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