This is fine.
California’s The Light Footwork first caught my eye a few years back when I stumbled upon them via a blog I no longer remember. They’re set to release their new album, National Historic Landmarks. This new tune features trade-offs between the male/female vocal parts, and the song definitely has an oddball sense of storytelling. It’s a nice little afternoon number.
Download: The Light Footwork – Rock Island Arsenal [MP3]
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Years ago, Dev Hynes had it all as a member of Test Icicles. The English press fawned over him and his mates, and yet it didn’t last. Still, he has maintained his role in the spotlight by pushing forward with Lightspeed Champion. His second album under the moniker, Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You, carries him in a slightly different direction than his first outing, albeit one that exhibits Dev taking more musical risks.
The moment you realize Dev has grown up, at least in the musical sense of the word, is the moment you arrive at the album’s single “Marlene.” For one, the production here has been amped up quite a bit, which surpasses his earlier work on Falling of the Lavender Bridge. Aside from the production, the arrangements here are much larger, and a touch more significant. Just take the very British “The Big Guns of Highsmith,” which uses a chorus from what appears to be a troupe of actors who adore Sweeney Todd. Such touches have more emphasis this time around, rather than just acting as filler for the empty space left behind by his lone guitar.
What hasn’t changed a great deal is the subject matter of his songs. He still lives in a world where being left alone and pining for women seem to dominate his thoughts. One can’t blame him too much, as he’s still a young chap, but the future will show if his writing offers more for the listeners. Still, while his lyrics often seem somewhat adolescent, you can see hints of a young Jarvis Cocker lying in wait. His storytelling and his affection for large production bring that all to one’s mind.
Those looking for classic Dev, at least in the vein of his other album, will find “Madame Van Damme” a delight. It’s one of the few songs on Life is Sweet… that doesn’t seem to demonstrate his progression as a songwriter. It feels as if he has regressed in age on this song, which also alludes to the lyrical content. All that being said, it’s still a great song.
One of the great surprises for those familiar with Dev is that he offers a lot of variation throughout the album. “Middle of the Dark” wraps up the end of the album with a bit of soaring vocals atop a pounding piano. “Smooth Day (at the Library)” seems to find Dev living it up in that dessert bar, singing out his heart, leaving no emotion untouched. You can’t forget the Western-ish feel of “Sweetheart” either! Lightspeed Champion is interesting in this fact because you clearly see all the influences of the man behind the project; he never seems to leave a musical stone unturned.
At the end of the day, Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You is another good Lightspeed Champion record. You’ll find that there are several great songs for you to dwell upon, all depending upon your mood and desire for subject matter. Most listeners will relish the fact that the album is much more dynamic than Dev’s previous work, leading the masses to believe that there is only more great moments to come.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/02-Marlene.mp3]Download: Lightspeed Champion – Marlene [MP3]
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It seems like only yesterday when Adam Green donned a Peter Pan outfit onstage with his former band, The Moldy Peaches. Since then, he’s gone on to release several solo LPs, with most of them featuring his clever wordplay without ever taking himself too seriously. That being said, Minor Love is his most focused, and probably his most serious album to date; it shows us just how crafty the fellow can be when he puts his mind to it.
“Breaking Locks” opens the album with what appears to be an apology to the masses, as he admits “I’ve been too awful.” It’s interesting to see the man who mocked Jessica Simpson so well show a bit of emotion in regards to his mistakes.
You’ll also notice the influence of other musicians on this album, as Adam tries to step away from the singer-songwriter lifestyle. “Goblin” is one such song, which seems to allude to his relationship with Rodrigo from Little Joy; it’s a song with a touch of tropicalia. “Boss Inside” is similar in the fact that his picking emotes a darker side of things, which is a far cry from his work on Sixes and Sevens. On top of that, his guitar work seems to hop from genre to genre allowing for the album to show some deviation from basic guitar strumming songs. It definitely makes the listening experience for fulfilling than on past efforts.
As you go song to song, you have to give credit where credit is due, as Green’s ability to cleverly unite mundane detail after mundane detail whilst stringing together intricate stories is something at which you can marvel. Not too many artists can make the banalities of everyday existence seem so interesting or heartfelt. If he is destined to only be a one man troubadour, then at least he’s got a solid style that only he seems to perfect.
All that being said, the one drawback from Minor Love is that nothing stands out as exceptional. Your entire listening experience will be enjoyable, though not one that you’ll come back to over and over with desire. I suppose this is always one of the faults with Adam’s solo work; he writes good songs, but he’s yet to sit down and write a great song. Still, you can’t but feel some sort of affiliation with his music, as it comes off as something we all wish to do; Adam Green gives you hope that you too can write such songs of simple wonder.
Still, you can’t discard Minor Love entirely. A tune like “Cigarette Burns Forever” has redeeming qualities that enable you to appreciate the work of Adam Green. You’ll enjoy his songs, and you might even love some of them, but odds are that you’ll just let the record spin quietly in the background while you eat dinner with your friends.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/10-Castles-And-Tassels.mp3]Download: Adam Green – Castles And Tassels [MP3]
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This California band just barely began making waves back in 2009 after successful shows and a rollicking time at SXSW. All those things slowly began to build a lot of attention for the group, and finally we have come to the release of Gorilla Manor by Local Natives. Listening to this for several months now, it’s the most complete record to come out in 2010, and will continue to garner extensive praise for the group.
When you first listen to Gorilla Manor, at least for this writer, I couldn’t shy away from thinking of Fleet Foxes, which is entirely due to the multiple-pat vocal harmonies the band uses. But the more that I let it unfold, the more that I began to see there are so many little touches across the album that it’s clear the group is doing their own thing entirely.
You come across those touches in the first song, “Wide Eyes.” It seems as if the drummer barely hits the drums, other for the snare fills, as you can clearly hear the banging of the sticks atop the rim of the drum. It’s something the band utilizes throughout the whole affair, giving a sort of tribal feel to their California-tinged summery pop. In fact, it distracts listeners from some tight-knit guitar work, that rarely seems to nod towards a folk sound, which is what one would think the band would imitate, if you only listened to the vocals.
“Airplanes,” the second song, begins with some piano noodling, before the vocals soar atop the steady percussive drum beat. Everything about the chorus here is perfect; each time I hear “I want you back,” I just get this chill; it’s the execution of the perfect song. You could say the same thing for the following track, “Sun Hands,” the band’s first single off the album, but I’m sticking with “Airplanes.” Still, people will love the usage of gang vocals at the 3 minute mark of “Sun Hands,” which provides a different dynamic before the band lashes into a little post-punk jam session.
One of the best things about Gorilla Manor, aside from the music itself, is that the majority of the songs are well-over the three minute mark. Cleverly, Local Natives are able to sustain your interest throughout, leaving you with an album you can really go inside, immersing yourself entirely. Each song has enough movement to keep it interesting, as the band doesn’t remain static for long, if ever. That says a lot about the group, who can go in multiple directions in a song like “Warning Signs,” and hold onto a sense of cohesiveness within the song itself. It really is hard to find a song not worthy of listening to multiple times. Well done.
In the end, you can say that Local Natives have spent a great deal of time honing their craftsmanship, and Gorilla Manor is the ultimate reward for listeners and the band alike. You’ll find that the differentiation and light changes will keep you interested all the way until the end, allowing you to finally spend time with a solid record you’ll want to listen to time and time again.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/02-Airplanes-1.mp3]Download: Local Natives – Airplanes [MP3]
So as you’re gearing up to head out to SXSW this year, you probably want to know about what’s hot or what’s cool. We’d love to help you out, and we will, but now SXSW has set up a radio station where you can stream all the artists that are showcasing at this year’s event. Keep a note pad handy, and start making that schedule for yourself. The radio is HERE.
This Friday over at Emo’s you can get into see the legendary The English Beat. Even more legendary is the fact that they’re known as a different band on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, as our British compatriots refer to them simply as The Beat. But, what stands the test of time is their music. They combined a lot of the two-tone ska elements and they combined them with really catchy pop hooks. Sure, this was over-done by many people in that last wave of ska (we’re looking at you Sublime and Reel Big Fish), but The English Beat did it with a whole lot more sensibility than the rest; they did it a whole lot earlier too! My first introduction to the group was through “Mirror in the Bathroom,” though I found the rendition from SLC Punk by Fifi a bit more my pace. The song that sticks for me though is perfect for all your dance party mixes, so throw this tune on the mix, and revisit The English Beat, or The Beat. Whatever.
So I was just listening to the Matinee Grand Prix, the stellar compilation from one of my favorite labels, Matinee Records, when I noticed something I didn’t notice on first listen. A new Cats on Fire tune! Their last record, Our Temperance Movement, was one of my favorites in 09′, so obviously stoked there is a new tune. Take a listen, and you’ll see why I love this little band from Finland.
Download: Cats on Fire – The Hague [MP3]
In an effort to become the only member of ATH with a serious twee addiction, I bring you new tunes from the Brazilian group, Pale Sunday. This is the first new music we’ve gotten from the group since 2005’s Summertime. The warmth of the vocals in this tune, “Shooting Star,” make it perfect for this chilly winter day.
Download: Pale Sunday – Shooting Star [MP3]
If you’ve been following the life of John Davis, then chances are you’ve enjoyed a great deal of music. He made waves with his role as the drummer in Q and Not U, then jumped into the pop world with Georgie James. Now, he’s playing under the name Title Tracks, which brings in some new sensibilities on It Was Easy. You’ll find traces of his work in both previous bands on the album, but you’ll also see a new direction coming through.
As it all begins, you get “Every Little Bit Hurts,” which definitely has one foot in Georgie James, yet you can feel the ghost of Ted Leo (or his spirit, since he’s not dead, thank God) making his presence known. The guitar sounds are similar, and the drumming is spectacular (done by John himself). Why we know that Ted uses The Jam and Nick Lowe as reference points, you can see John go straight to Ted; just look at the way he tries to hit that falsetto note near the end of the track.
And so he slows it down to a little dub-step number with “No, Girl.” Here yo see the pop sensibility of Georgie James coming through. If it weren’t for the reggae-ish guitar, then it might very well be one of the leftover demos from his old group. This isn’t a knock on the man, as GJ surely had some great elements across Cake Parade.
This is one of the most important notes from It Was Easy. A lot of these songs wear the mark of Georgie James, and to be honest, a lot of the sonic exploration Q and Not U did with their last album Power. John clearly isn’t staying in once place, which might be one of the reasons that this album just doesn’t blow you out of the water; you can see his next release being something ridiculously good.
One of the treats for me was listening to “Tougher Than the Rest,” a number which features my favorite Tracyanne Campbell. Her voice is simply to wonderful to be ignored completely, yet it once again brings about the idea that John hasn’t fully left the ideas behind from the whole Georgie James affair. Still, they lyrics are really heartfelt, and it’s precisely the thing you expect Tracyanne to be singing.
You’ll want to listen to “It Was Easy” and “At Fifteen” as these are two of the songs which really show you that John is trying to step out of the shadow of his past. “At Fifteen” is one of those sleeper tracks that I can see being one of my favorites. It’s nothing more than guitar and whispering vocals; it’s just the sort of think I adore.
Closing out It Was Easy is a cover of The Byrds “She Don’t Care About Time,” just one more signal to the abundance of influences for John Davis. Title Tracks have made a good start, but the one thing lacking is just a bit more cohesiveness all over. Sure, the record is full of great songs and great influences (I’m looking at you Ted), but you can see a bright future in store for John Davis once he tightens the reins and kicks into gear.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/04-Piles-Of-Paper.mp3]Download: Title Tracks – Piles Of Paper [MP3]
Sweden’s Labrador Records have a stranglehold on all things Swedish pop, and I’m grateful for it. Just recently they released a new Radio Dept EP, which features several of the songs off the bands upcoming album Clinging to a Scheme. Not much is really known about the record at this point, other than it should hit during the Spring. This track, “David,” has a sort of shoegaze-synth-pop-croon to it, and everything just sort of moves along from there. You’ll be digging this track all day long.
Download: Radio Dept – David [MP3]
