This is fine.
Famous Centro-matic front man Will Johnson is making another solo stop in Austin at the Mohawk on Thursday night. Tickets for the show can be bought now for $8. Music is set to start around 10pm with a set by Cory Branan followed by The Monahans. If you want to get an idea of what goes on in Will’s head, check out a recent interview we posted with him during Fun Fun Fun Fest.
Download: Centro-matic – Flashed and Cables [MP3]
Waterloo Records is getting back in the game with an in-store by Ben Kweller today. As always, things will get started around 5pm and free keg beer will be provided if you make it out early. Mr. Kweller is currently emabarking on a massive tour in support of his new country sounding album Changing Horses which we just reviewed today.
Ever since Ben Kweller flopped down upon the floor of stages to play his keyboard many years ago, we were all instantly hooked. His uncanny knack for creating simple pop tunes had long been known, but at such an early point in his career it was hard not to be flabbergasted by the young lad. Now, two albums later, can he still win us all over with Changing Horses?
His first release brought us a slew of pop tunes that seemed to be centered around creative tunes written strictly on his piano, but then he brought out the rock with his release of On My Way. If anything, Ben Kweller couldn’t be pigeonholed for a staple sound, and this album is just another example of his musical maneuvering. We find Ben channeling his inner country soul throughout the entirety of his newest release.
Sure, it’s nice to see a singer-songwriter push forward into new ground, and we all saw this coming with the release of his latest EP. Still, the twang of the slide guitar seems to be a step to far in a different direction from Ben. It comes off entirely forced, as if Ben wasn’t really pushing to break new ground so much as he was trying his best not to fall into old patterns. He had tried it the ways he knew best, so why not go in an entirely Texas direction?
For one thing, the clever sensibility that he always maintained seems to be a bit far off on each of these songs. “Gypsy Rose” sounds too much as if he wanted to go down the path of the forefathers of folk music, resting on gentle guitar plucking. You can juxtapose that with “Sawdust Man,” which may share similarities to Dr. Dog, but comes off more in the vein of a teenager trying to write the score to his latest homemade Western movie.
Now, the one thing that always remains true for Ben is his ability to keep you interested by holding onto his voice. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a soft spot for some of his better traits, namely this spectacular voice. The way he can manipulate his inflection mid-melody is definitely something you could use to pass the time. However, sometimes it just doesn’t seem to fit the country-mold of the album as a whole.
You’ll find a few gems lying beneath the covers here, such as “Ballad of Wendy Baker,” which comes across like a more subdued version of some of his earlier releases. Here he lays his voice on the line, backed by appropriate guitar strumming and simple string instrumentation. It’s one of the shining moments. “Things I Like to Do” is very simplistic in its lyrical content, but that is precisely where Ben has always succeeded. He’s never been one to get to deep with the discussion in his lyrics, and simple suits him just fine. It just might not be enough for most fans. Even “On Her Own,” which seems to channel a little Pete Yorn vocal has some fine elements worthy of repeated listening; it just seems like these moments come few and far between.
Ben Kweller has always supplied us with hit after hit, creating seamless albums you could play all the way through. Changing Horses, in the title alone, demonstrates a move in a different direction, as he can no longer ride the same one-trick pony to stardom. Sadly, this might not be a winning horse either.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/05-ballad-of-wendy-baker.mp3]Download: Ben Kweller – Ballad of Wendy Baker [MP3]
Prior to Broken Social Scene taking the stage at Bass Concert Hall we were able to grab a few minutes with Brendan Canning and Charles Spearin. They talk about the current state of the band, their most recent tour, and details about their solo albums. Thanks to Robin and Brendan for all of the arrangements and preparations.
Read the Brendan Canning Interview
Read the Charles Spearin Interview
We love everything that we’ve heard from Violens up to this point. At times, they can cover their pop sensibility in reverb, or, as in the attached song, they can clean it all out to reveal everything beautiful about their sound. Here’s to more great tunes from yet another promising band from New York. You can listen to more songs at their Myspace Page, or buy their first EP.
Download: Violens – Doomed [MP3]
Rating: 
Heartless Bastards, who now dwell in Austin, or so rumor has it, have garnered a lot of claim in recent years for their passionate tunes. They’ve been backed by some big names, though we should probably just stick to the music. The Mountain, their third full-length hits stores this week, ready to establish the band as one of the lead acts across the states.
Looking through a list of the band’s influences, it’s easy to see where the guitar sounds come from on album opener “The Mountain,” as the band blatantly wears their Pixies homage on their sleeves. But, they aren’t one to simply regurgitate sounds of the past, instead adding pedal steel to complete the transfer of the past towards a more modern means. It’s one of the telling signs of growth, as this record shows that they completely own their sound, packed full of tidbits from the great landscape of American underground music.
Once again, singer Erika Winnerstrom’s voice dominates the entirety of this album. At every turn it’s full of passion and pain, simple and yet never overstated. It’s not every day that you can find such a deep voice that carries an encouraging femininity along with it, which shows you just how much power the young lady holds. It’s got remnants in the soul-inspired folk rock of past days, yet you can immediately see the relevance it has in today’s music scene.
You will find it difficult to place the band’s exact sound, or at least locate a genre in which the band will dwell. For all intents and purposes, the band never seems to stay in one place at one time. After the opener, with all its influences, the band jumps into a more direct country sound on “Be So Happy,” this just before the go into a Dinosaur Jr.-esque romper in “Early in the Morning.” All this before going back to a more roots based folk sound.
Despite the power possessed by Winnerstrom, her voice seems to be more suited to the slower tunes here. Beneath the lyrics and the structure of the songs, you can see her personality clearly coming through, begging to be listened to by everyone. Okay, so maybe we’re harping too much on her voice here, but it’s the most recognizable medium on the album, and the one all listeners will most likely attach themselves to when listening to the album. Clearly she can hold her own here, although at times, the songs do seem to drag on a little long, and that may wear the effects of her voice out a bit.
Three albums in, and the band is building on their strengths, pushing forward with solid tunes, and yes, it’s all backed by the power of Erika Winnerstrom’s voice, but who wouldn’t want to listen to a voice like this? And please excuse the poor cover art.
One of our favorite new Austin bands, Built by Snow, will be playing as part of the 101x Homegrown Live series at the Creekside Lounge this Wednesday evening. The band will be joined by other ATH favorites Hollywood Gossip & Harlem. Tickets will be sold at the door for a mere $5 with things kicking off around 9/10pm. If you haven’t seen this band yet, make it a point to do so.
Download: Harlem – Beautiful & Very Smart [MP3]
When Say Anything‘s Max Bemis decided to join forces with Saves the Day‘s Chris Conley, kids all across the globe were salivating as they awaited the first proper release from Two Tongues. Releasing the album via emo stalwart, Vagrant Records, meant that the union was destined to find an eager audience.
The best thing one could hope for in this union is for the lyrical content, as Bemis and Conley have long been penning amazing lyrics for their respective bands. Their efforts here are, as expected, nothing short of their individual accomplishments, each coupling great rhyming moments, often pairing them with one another effortlessly. This is precisely how it was supposed to be done. Sure, they’re still tackling the same old issues, but they do it well.
Moving beyond, it would be difficult not to comment on the vocal compliments these two offer to the other. Conley’s high pitch is counter-balanced by the heavier, deeper tones of Bemis. Their intermingling of vocal parts adds a musical element to the album that is difficult to come by outside of Kanye‘s studio. Not to mention, the combination of vocal harmonies definitely keeps the album fresh, which the gentlemen have been unable to do in recent efforts with their mainstays.
Musically, you just have to combine the stylings of both groups. Sure, it sounds simple enough in theory, but to fuse these two songwriters, and their distinctive styles, one must jump leaps and bounds. The heavier elements almost certainly owe to Conley, as Bemis’ forte seems to be in crafting bouncing pop-punk elements along with angular guitar chops. At times, the combination creates some unique moments, such as the Weezer-esque “Don’t You Want to Come Home.” It might even have a little bit of Billy Corgan in the vocals, but you’ll have to see for yourself.
Perhaps the best moments come on this album when they keep it short, as in under three-minutes, as some of the songs can drag out just a little bit much. But, when they keep the elements contained and simple, they hit hard and fast, just as you would want from a band of this ilk. It’s a solid album for those searching for a more upbeat sound as Spring rolls itself out, which apparently isn’t for another six weeks. Hopefully this will get you there with your spirits up.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/02-if-i-could-make-you-do-things.mp3]Download: Two Tongues – If I Could Make You Do Things [MP3]
Bishop Allen just posted a couple new tracks from their forthcoming album Grrr… due out on March 10th. We’ve got a new tune entitled “The Ancient Commonsense of Things” for you below. You can also pick up their new song “Dimmer” from the Bishop Allen website. While you’re at it, read an interview we did with the band during Fun Fun Fun Fest.
Download: Bishop Allen – The Ancient Commonsense of Things [MP3]
Tonight Rob Crow, of Pinback fame, is stepping back in line with his heavier side, as he brings Goblin Cock to Austin. The band is set to play this evening at Red 7, and the doors open up for your enjoyment at 9 PM. Tickets to this show will cost you $8, and you can pick up your set here.
Download: Goblin Cock – Stumped [MP3]
