This is fine.
It was a solid year for the Austin City Limits Music Festival. It was one of the best overall lineups in years. Better weather would have been nice, but what can you do about the weather (besides carbon offsets, public transportation, solar, efficiency audits, etc).
Most of us have known and loved Pat Thomas for his undeniable work in indie rock band Cool Ghouls. He’s already made some music on his own, we loved it of course, and he’s about to release more new music under his own name. Previewing his new album, out today, is this new track “Alternator”. You’ll find yourself engrossed by the chill, swaying psych vibe of the short three minute song. Some may also find the message of changing the way you act or feel and accepting love/positivity in your life as vital in the current world we live in. I know I do.
Pat Thomas release his new album I Ain’t Buyin’ It today on Empty Cellar Records. You should buy it.
I won’t shy away from a band that makes a humorous Gabriel Garcia Marquez allusion, especially if they’re crafting delightful pop like Attic Lights. The Glaswegian quartet come at you with these hearty harmonies, particularly glorious during the chorus of this tune. I’m also drawn to the way the band expand on the jangling style, adding just a hint of twang and a tinkering piano line; it allows for a more organic sound that really shines on all the melodic moments coming through the speakers. Love in the Time of Shark Attacks will be out in January via Elefant Records, but for now, you can grab the digital single with an exclusive B Side.
Now, while BDRMM might look upon themselves as a new-age shoegaze outfit, their sound reflects more of a late 80s post-punk sound…a la New Order. The guitar work has you dreaming, yearning for something more as it seems to fade through your speakers. With the vocals, you get a touch of softness, which allows for the pop sensibility to shine though. I do appreciate how they spend the last minute of the track flexing their guitar muscles, leaving room for growth for the future. They’ve just signed to Permanent Creeps, so hopefully we’ll get more news soon.
It’s Friday and I think we could all use a good kick in the face right? Maybe not a literal kick in the face but how about a nice wake up call from our friends in Montreal based band Priors. Their new single “New Pleasure” is two minutes and twelve seconds of sheer badass, rock n roll punk music. If most bands could pack this much energy into such a short amount of time, the world would be a better place.
Priors will be releasing the New Pleasure LP on November 16th via Slovenly Recordings.
I was a big fan of the Hairs, the indiepop act starring Mr. Kevin Hairs, so when we thought about posting the stream of his new EP, I reached out to toss a couple of quick questions his way. Don’t forget to stream the new EP…out today via
ATH: You’ve been working with the name The Hairs for nearly a decade, so why the change to Kevin Hairs? Any particular reason?
KH: I got tired of playing behind a band name and working with that expectation. I felt like I was getting to that point where I just wanted to write and make music by myself and have something that was more intimate. I wanted to play out more with ease. Getting a band around town and practicing…. it’s too much stress. I love the idea of “Kevin Hairs” being flexible and playing by myself or with a bit of a band or a drum machine. It seemed easier and fun. I’m just at that age… but essentially, it’s easier to play by yourself and being a solo artist seems cool to me now.
ATH: How does Freak in the Streets fit in to your catalog? For you, do you see it as a continued progression from While I Hated Life, Barbarian?
KH: “Freak in the Streets” feels like when I started to be myself. It feels like a continuation of the Hairs, but now I feel like I can just get a lil’ deeper with the songs.
ATH: If you can think back to the recording of this EP, what was the one band or album that you were listening to on your own that might have seeped into the sound subconsciously?
KH: I really love “Crab Day” by Cate Le Bon. The way she sings. The music is batshit crazy at first. The lyrics are just bizarre and psychedelic and like free association. She feels like a modern day Syd Barrett. I’m just attracted to that kind of vibe.
ATH: You and I have talked about this a bit…but where do you see physical media going in regards to smaller artists? If you had a preference, where would you like to see it go? Any ideas on how to shake it all up?
KH: Mmmmm – all of my musical listening is streaming. If there would be physical media, I’d prefer it to be useful like shirts (clothing) with a download code attached. Maybe a postcard can be good…to hang on your wall. That band Rocketship was selling postcards with great art on it and a download code. I thought that was beautiful. I find myself being anti-stuff. I don’t like having things. I like the essentials. I think it would make going to shows more necessary. Streaming should be more shared. That’s about it.
ATH: Did Kevin ever get a dog or find something to believe in?
KH: I used to have a dog when I was a tween into my young adult life, she passed away years ago. HAVING SAID THAT…..I think I found something to believe in. Haha. I believe in focusing on positive things. External things come and go. So I think I’ve learned to just focus on how I feel.
ATH: An EP is sometimes thought of as a stop-gap between album cycles…can we expect a Kevin Hairs full length in the near future?
KH: To be honest, I haven’t really thought too far out about Kevin Hairs. I certainly want to make more songs and eventually another short album / long EP. I’m having fun doing what I’m doing. Honestly, I find music to be fun again and I don’t wanna burden myself thinking like that. I’m sure there’ll be other songs and stuff. But I don’t know.
The team over at Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten are responsible for some of my favorite releases the last few years, and they’re definitely hitting their mark with this new Lake Ruth/Pale Lights split 7″. Below we have Lake Ruth‘s wonderfully woozy cover of “Only an Ocean” off their opposites Before There Were Pictures LP. They craft this smooth space pop, which interestingly fits inside the ramshackle pop of the original; it definitely gives you a different viewpoint for the song…and I can’t wait to hear what Pale Lights did to “Through the Lychgates!”
The Marked Men have been around for nearly two decades, influencing a shit ton of your favorite acts, and mine. They’ve even gone on to start other projects we love like Mind Spiders or Low Culture (to name but a few). All this matters as Dirtnap are prepping a collection of the band’s non-LP tunes, including the never before heard track before. It’s precisely the sort of jam you’d expect the band to drop, with furious guitars hinting at pop sensibility, stunning drum work and emphatic vocal bursts. You can grab On the Other Side on November 23rd, and you’ll be damn happy you did.
It looks like we’re hanging out in North Texas today, with a new tune from Two Medicine (Paul of Midlake’s new project). The song is paired with footage of Glacier National Park, from whence the band’s name is derived; it’s a perfect pairing for the cinematic track. It all begins so carefully, building ornately by tossing in some bubbling bass work and twinkling electronic splashes. At times, those sounds combine in a gentle forcefulness, though the beauty of this tune, for me, occurs when that all fades away to reveal the softer underbelly of the song’s latter half. If you feel like getting swept up, see below. Astropsychosis will drop on November 2nd via Bella Union.
Earlier this year Thanks Light released the pleasantly surprising Terrifire. But, the progress and praise led songwriter Zane to revisit the band’s previous release, Hallelujah Amen; he had unfinished business with “Little Pink Fluffy Clouds.” He’d been working on a stop-animation video, but knowingly put it aside due to the sheer magnitude of work involved in the process…and he’s finally ready to share the final product with us. I love how the video utilizes Light Bright, one of my favorite childhood toys; it definitely incorporates the playfulness to this wonderful pop opus. Enjoy the video, and visit HERE to listen to the album, as well as peruse this year’s release.
Thanks Light : : Little Pink Fluffy Clouds : : from Enjoy Eyes on Vimeo.
