This is fine.
We’re continuing our SXSW coverage with one of the more creative bands coming to Austin next week, AU. Luke Wyland is the main man behind the project, but he brings in his friends from time to time to flesh out the sound. I can’t wait to catch these guys live, so read on to hear what they had to say about SXSW and other such things… Read more
Oh snap! New Suckers! Man, we absolutely love this band; we’ve probably seen them a combined 25-30 times, and we’ll get another chance when they grace us with their presence at our SXSW Party. But, more importantly, the band has a new record coming out on Frenchkiss Records on April 24th titled Candy Salad. This first listen is a solid track, just as we expected, but it indicates a whole lot of focus from the band, seemingly reigning in some of their spontaneity. Feel sure that the band’s got more great songs up their sleeve, and as an early indicator, this one definitely makes me happy!
Download: Suckers – Turn on the Sunshine [MP3]
Los Angeles outfit Letting Up Despite Great Faults released their Paper Crush EP last year on Old Flame Records, and we jumped all over it. It had this really warm feeling lurking beneath the dream-like pop that the band crafted. As they prepare to head down for SXSW, band member Kent took some time out of their schedule to fill out a brief interview…check out their responses. Read more
A couple months ago, we brought you a psych dance type of jam from SINKANE called “Jeeper Creeper”. Well today we’ve got another song “Runnin” that invokes similar trippy dance feelings. The song appears on a new album from the one time Yeasayer member entitled Mars which does not yet have a release date.
Download: SINKANE – Runnin’ [MP3]
It’s just a week away folks, and we’re here to share some responses from one of our favorite acts of 2011, Twerps. Their self-titled debut blew us away, making our top albums of the year. We’re also really excited that the band has found some time in their busy schedule to join us at our party. Read more
It’s crazy that Sub Pop just released this track by their newest signee, King Tuff, because I just bought the 3 7″ singles collection from Suicide Squeeze yesterday afternoon. KT used to jam with Happy Birthday, and he’s been banging around on his own for a long time as well. The label will be releasing his self-titled debut on May 29th of this year, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to have a lot of fun jamming out to this. Garage rock with hooks galore, just like the track we’ve got featured for you below!
Download: King Tuff – Bad Thing [MP3]
You know, Frenchkiss Records quietly goes about releasing some awesome acts: they’ve got Cut Off Your Hands, Suckers and now they have the wonderful Emma Louise. The Australian singer has signed on with the label to release Full Hearts and Empty Rooms, her new EP, on March 13th. Her first song from the album, “Jungle,” is centered around this nice little groove, but Emma’s voice is what will definitely win you over. In a world full of Lana del Rey’s, it’s nice to have someone of that ilk doing something you can believe in. She’s also just put out a really nice video to go with the jam, and you can check that out HERE. Don’t forget to look up her tour schedule, as she’ll be zooming in for SXSW.
Download: Emma Louise – Jungle [MP3]
Our SXSW interviews continue today with Canada’s Shimmering Stars. Last year they released Violent Hearts on Hardly Art Records, and while it had a little bit of the modern jangle, it harkened back to a purer era in rock n’ roll…the sort you’re mom or dad probably played around the house when you were growing up (I know mine did). Check out what singer/guitarist Rory has to say on the upcoming festival and life in general. Read more
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2012 has been a really good year for rock n’ roll so far, and The Men aim to keep that spirit up! Their third LP, Open Your Heart (out now on Sacred Bones Records) is filled with pummeling rock that begs to be classified. Is it punk? Hardcore? Maybe post-punk? Truth is, there’s no way you can really label everything they’ve done here, crafting an album that fits into all the above categories, yet never stays in one place for too long.
“Turn It Around” opens up the record in furious fashion, if you just wait ten seconds. From there, the sound kicking out of your stereo will surely have you pumping your fists in the air. Perhaps what’s the most interesting is that the group fills their songs with elements of classic rock, they just play it faster than everyone else around. The Men will keep this spirit up with “Animal,” a song that has a bit more of a growl to it. You can see remnants of New York Dolls (it can’t just be me), only with a heavier element–though it’s often balanced with a female backing vocal track. From the get-go, you’re getting kicked in the mouth, and you’ll happily offer up a toothless smile while you rock along.
But, what makes Open Your Heart worthy of repeated listens revolves around the band’s ability to sort of play with more than one formula, while still maintaing their own identity. For just a moment, albeit a long one, you get “Country Song” and “Oscillation,” two sprawling instrumental tracks that span over 12 minutes in length (when combined). It’s no wonder that their bio mentions allusions to Thurston Moore, although they don’t seem as discordant in their style. It’s a nice moment for you to pause and reflect. Yep, this album still rules.
And then we’re off again, with the soaring gang vocal moment you’ll find on “Please Don’t Go Away.” Stylistically, you can see some resemblance to noisier indie bands like Dirty on Purpose, with The Men not afraid to add elements of melody all the while pounding away. Throwing this track in the middle of the album provides that perfect conundrum, yet again illustrating a group who’re willing to throw all their influences into their songwriting. “Candy” is yet another such track; it’s almost a country ballad. Even if it seems unexpected, it’s tied into the album perfectly, using a seemingly lo-fi recording to hold true to the band’s form. For the rest of the album, and really for its entirety, the band go back and forth between sounds, finishing with “Ex-Dreams,” a tune that’s unified by all the band’s possible nostalgic nods.
Open Your Heart might just be a record that we’ll look back on years from now, grateful that someone wrote it. At times it’s intense, yet still has points where you can sit back and absorb the goings-on rather than have them browbeat you. The Men have concocted their own formula for writing a record, and it might just be a lasting formula more bands look to in the future. You can be fast and loud, but you can throw that slow jam in there just for kicks–if you execute it like this, we’re all going to love it.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/06-Open-Your-Heart-1.mp3]Download:The Men – Open Your Heart [MP3]
Quite awhile ago we brought you a new song from Cleveland based band Mr. Gnome. Well today we’ve got another new song from the band entitled “The Way” which appears on a new digital 7″ single from the band due out March 20th on El Marko Records. After jamming the bands debut LP Madness in Miniature for the last several months, and now this sweet jam, it’s time you start giving this band some of your attention. They’ll also be in town for SXSW in a couple weeks so be sure to make your calendars if you dig the tunes.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/01-The-Way-1.mp3]Download: Mr. Gnome – The Way [MP3]
