More New Tunes from Pursesnatchers

I’m going to say right now, but one of my favorite records so far this summer has been the advance I got of Pursesnatchers, the group comprised of members of Dirty on Purpose and Au Revoir Simone. The combination of gentle melody and explosive indie rock moments.  The rising tides in the songs, much like those in the album, take you on a journey where you’re sure to get your money’s worth.  Their new record, A Pattern Language, will be coming out on July 19th via Uninhabitable Mansions, and I guarantee that you’ll enjoy every last instant of music living in the powerful songs the group have written. Here’s another great track.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/pursesnatchers_wetcement.mp3]

Download: Pursesnatchers – Wet Cement [MP3]

More New Tunes from Richard Buckner

As we near the release of Richard Buckner‘s first album in five years, Our Blood, more new music is slowly starting to come to light.  Buckner did a great interview with IFC this week, and they offered up another great track before the album comes out on August 2nd from Merge Records.   I love how you can feel the emotion in his voice, and the music is so quietly unassuming that you really can’t help but let yourself be drawn into it.  At this point in time, I don’t really see a way that I can’t fall in love with this record. There’s just no way; how about you?

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Richard-Buckner-Escape.mp3]

Download: Richard Buckner – Escape [MP3]

New Track from King Louie’s Missing Monuments

I can’t tell you how much I’ve always enjoyed the projects of King Louie Bankston.  He played with The Exploding Hearts, one of my all time favorite groups, and he also had a one off project called The Bad Times with Jay Reatard, not to mention a slew of other projects that came up in between. He’s recently signed on with Douchemaster Records, and he’ll be putting out an album with Missing Monuments, titled Painted White.  Everything in this song sums up exactly what I love: it’s a little bit of punk, a whole lot of power, and hints of pop.  That’s basically a recipe for a killer song, and a killer album. You’ll find some joy here.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/01-The-Girl-Of-The-Nite.mp3]

Download: King Louie’s Missing Monuments – The Girl Of The Nite

New Track from Pepper Rabbit

Almost less than a year after their last release, it seems that Pepper Rabbit are returning again with a brand new record, Red Velvet Snow Ball.  Said album will be released on August 9th via Kanine Records, and if it sounds at all like this debut track, it’s going to be pretty special.  I love the way the song opens with this sort of bouncy beat, contrasted by some technological warfare on the sound itself.  But, once they get going, it’s hard not to see this as anything as blissful pop music, of the best sort.  For a duo, this band sure knows how to flesh out their own sound, which you’ll definitely be aware of when you listen to this on repeat for the next several hours.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/pepper-rabbit-rose-mary-stretch_2011-06-14-110755-4137-0-0-0.128.mp3]

Download: Pepper Rabbit – Rose Mary Stretch [MP3]

New Track from Case Studies

Long did I champion the work of the Dutchess and the Duke, but as they’ve gone away, at least for the time being, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of Case Studies, the project of former D&D frontman, Jesse, which I caught wind of via our friend Toby over at Finest Kiss. Case Studies will be releasing The World is Just a Shape to Fill the Night via Sacred Bones on August 16th.  Listening to this, you’ll notice that Jesse seems to have a darker tone in his voice, and the female vocal accompaniment seems less like a counterbalance and more like an added instrument to give the song some depth.  His voice always carries the focus for me, and this track is no different. Hope this does well.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/The-Eagle-or-the-Serpent.mp3]

Download: Case Studies – The Eagle, or the Serpent [MP3]

New Song from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

It’s hard not to wish the best for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.  They issued a brilliant self-titled debut, but then sort of side-stepped for their second, Some Loud Thunder.  It was muddied down, and didn’t necessarily evoke the same passion as their first release.  But, as the Internet has blown up today, the group are set to release their third LP, Hysterical, on September 20th, again releasing it on their own.  This new track, “Same Mistake,” seems to be a return to form, with string arrangements gently backing the rhythmic movements within the song.  Surely this will catch your ears, preparing us all for the final release in September.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Clap-Your-Hands-Say-Yeah-Same-Mistake.mp3]

Download: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Same Mistake [MP3]

New Jam from Letting Up Despite Great Faults

Feeling as if the Pains of Being Pure at Heart left you behind by strengthening their sound with a little bit of the loud? Well, if you miss those whispering vocals amid melodious post-rock, then let me introduce you to Letting Up Despite Great Faults.  The LA band has been working really hard, and they’ve readied a brand new EP, titled Paper Crush.  It will be released by Old Flame on the 2nd of August, and I’ve just been blasting it around my house all afternoon.  Sure, there are similarities with POBPAH, but don’t just think this band is here to rip any one off.  The vocals are superb, pristine, yet quiet, and the album has a ferocity that you wouldn’t necessarily expect upon first listen.  Get ready folks, as this is something really special.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/03-Teenage-Tide.mp3]

Download: Letting Up Despite Great Faults – Teenage Tide [MP3]

Vetiver – The Errant Charm

Rating: ★★★½☆

As soon as you come across The Errant Charm by Vetiver, there will be two things that stick in your mind, at least if you approach things in a certain way.  For one, the color scheme of the album sort of seems to hint at finding a warm place in a cold background, or even a sterile one for that matter.  Two, the title reflects finding one’s way by not going the traditional, or expected path.  After spending hours with the record, surely you’ll see where this all fits into the motifs of the record.

Everyone seemingly uses the acoustic guitar nowadays, stripping the sound of on-stage performances in favor of more intimate feelings.  Such is the way you’ll begin on “It’s Beyond Me,” which begins by wrapping the acoustic guitar in hints of atmospherics, but just after the 1 minute mark, things lift up, albeit just a bit.  The gentle shift in mood of the song matches that of the cover, going from one point and blending it into the next.  You’ll really have to spend time with the details here, as they definitely hold a great deal of the musical meaning. For instance, “Worse for Wear” tramps on, with its hollow drum beat, muted strumming, but again, the melody shifts, going in what one can assume is a bit of an unexpected change.  The Errant Charm is full of such moments, making it a joy for those who listen closely.

There’s even some peculiarities in Vetiver‘s approach this round.  On “Fog Emotion” there’s evidence that the group have responded to current themes, kind of giving off that faux-80s groove, but, like the fog mentioned in the song, a mellower meandering track finds its home, moving the song away from known cliches, as the band clearly intends to make the sound their own.  All this moves into what one can deem as the orange area of the album cover, offering up The Errant Charm‘s two hottest tracks.  “Right Away” is a short and simple track, with really nothing special to it, other than the fact that the harmonies presented have a tendency to hang in your mind long after the song has ended. Even more special is the way it tails off, changes a bit, but maintains its lasting impression. “Wonder Why” has a bit of a moving stomp to it, so it’s easily going to find itself labeled one of the more upbeat tracks present, but it’s the momentary touches that grab you, such as the female vocal accompaniment during the chorus, or that piano kicking in and out of the track. This is the type of track that makes you want to go back again and again.

Just as the press release reads for The Errant Charm, it’s clearly a piece constructed for wandering off on your own path, finding your own place in the musical landscape of your soul.  Whether you want that color to be bright or warm, you’re bound to find the songs Vetiver has put together as fitting for your own travels about, even if those travels only take place in your mind.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/9542.mp3]

Download: Vetiver – Wonder Why [MP3]

New Track from Total Babes

One of my favorite records of the year, which still gets spins was the smash hit by Cloud Nothings, so I’m really excited to see what Total Babes has to offer.  TB is the side-proejct of Jason from Cloud Nothings, who’ll be releasing Swimming Through Sunlight on Old Flame Records later this summer or early fall.  While you can definitely see some similarities between Jason and CN frontman, Dylan, this has more of an early Wavves feel to me, with its lo-fi tendencies and vocals shrouded in bits of noise.  Give this one a try, and I’m sure you’ll want to go play it again and again; this is a good thing mind you.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Total-Babes-Like-They-Always-Do.mp3]

Download: Total Babes – Like They Always Do [MP3]

New Music from Braid

I was fortunate enough to tour alongside Bob Nanna and his posse during the Hey Mercedes days, and while I look back at that, the one thing I remember about those guys were how incredibly down to earth and real they were, despite the fact that they were 3/4 of Braid, which was one of my favorites.  So, I’m happy to see that Braid’s original lineup has reformed, or rather, reconvened, in order to give us some new tunes.  Polyvinyl will do us the honor of releasing the new EP, titled Closer to Closed, but says there are no plans for a full-length, as of yet.  This first listen is a lot less discordant and angular, but the maturity demonstrates that they still have the passion, and obviously the songwriting chops to keep on trucking. I hope you love this track as much as I do.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Braid-The_Right_Time.mp3]

Download: Braid – The Right Time [MP3]

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