Author: nathan.lankford

Rae Fitzgerald Announce Say I Look Happy

Leave a comment

You can almost always place your bets on an act that works with Keeled Scales; they’ve broken some great Austin acts, and continue to branch out with their tastes, like Missouri’s Rae Fitzgerald. This tune beings subtly, switching in a little more pace within a few seconds to open the track to the poetic lines from Fitzgerald. Personally, I love the line “there’s nowhere I can go where ghosts won’t laugh me out of town;” it’s a sentiment of many a person, whether those ghosts are lost friends/family or just lives we once lived, we’ve all left something. I think that speaks to the sentiment of Rae’s song too, discussing the “collapse of so many foundational American myths.” All of that poetry gets swept up in the solid strum and really powerful vocals that are likely to pull you even further inside. Look for Say I Look Happy on September 1st.

Bennett Shares Glass Ball Single

Leave a comment

After time away from the local scene, Bennett has returned to the Memphis musical world, this time on their own, fleshing out a collection of songs that’s likely to charm as well as offend. Admittedly, I felt a blast of emotion here. I loved the stuttering drum opening, met by twinkling guitars and synths. But, then there was this warble that threw me off; I wasn’t sure where to go, but the groove kept me tethered, dragging me along for the ride. As the track unfolded, those vocal forays fleshed out into more traditional crooning, kind of reminding me of playful artists like Jarvis Cocker. That playfulness pushes into the song too, especially in the latter half, with the song moving into a more theatrical pop realm. It’s one of those tunes where at first I was completely bamboozled. Like, WTF?! But, I went back again…and again…and again. This debut single here comes courtesy of Goner Records.

Checking In on New Screensaver

Leave a comment

This Screensaver track has been around for a few days, but I’ve been busy okay! Still, I love the rawness of the tune, so I had to be sure that someone over here gave it a look-see. It’s a really challenging vibe, in terms of my ability to pigeonhole things and put them into little boxes, but I’ll give it a go. The track has these varying textures; it feels very much like an early 00s synth band in one channel; the other ear gets to hear this industrial toying, like machines gone awry. All of it gets paired up with this exasperated punk howl that dominates the band’s performance while also fusing all the pieces into one concise musical throttling. the group will release Decent Shapes on October 20th via Poison City and Upset the Rhythm.

Sundozer Share Double Single

Leave a comment

Sundozer quickly amassing a collection of great songs, not to mention great musicians in their line-up; the newest singles feature Danny Reisch on percussion. Speaking of those new tracks, they’re taking their gloomy post-punk tones and spinning them in this glittery pop fashion. On “Charmed,” the bass bubbles as these little shimmering crystals fall into your ears; I love the way there’s these little syllabic punches delivered in the vocals on this tune too during the verses. There’s this great little turn before the 2 minute mark that opens up the song to this more vast vibe that stretches into a stabbing guitar piece atop the bass line. “100 Lives” has a different pulse to it, something that feels naturally frantic and energized. I love how the project keeps the mood circling about here, whilst still capable of kicking in some energy around those quick little jangles. One of my favorite ATX acts, so keep an ear out.

Quien Es Geronimo Shares Levedad

Leave a comment

If ever there was a song that felt like rubbing the sleep out of your eyes on a Monday, it’s this new track from Quien es Geronimo. The project is the moniker for Chilean songwriter Tomas Mendizabal, who is currently spending time in Mexico City, though the roots of this song stem from the artist’s time spent in Berlin. There’s a really light strum, almost like the melodic nature of the vocals was meant to be the dominating factor. Bits of electronic orchestration build and swirl around the strum and voice, peaking, then fading into obscurity as the track quietly leaves you, sated and calmed, ready for the rest of your day. This track is made available courtesy of Western Vinyl.

 

Charming Pop from The Slow Summits

Leave a comment

There’s definitely been a whole in my heart since Cats on Fire called it quits a few years ago (or went dormant). But, it looks like The Slow Summits are here to pick up the fallen torch of charming-man indiepop. Anders voice definitely harkens back to Mattias’ vocals in the aforementioned Cats act; they do a great job here too filling in some of the empty space with really light backing tracks, allowing the melody to blossom. Steady drumming and a wash of synths definitely build that swoon that accompanies many an orchestral pop act; I particularly like the little nuanced shuffle in the distance at the 3:11 mark, which close ears will catch. What a splendid day to start the week!

 

Last Week’s Jams (8.21 – 8.25)

Leave a comment

There continues to be an unreasonable amount of great music coming out nowadays, and I’m absolutely baffled at how it just never ceases; there’s been nothing but week after week of tunes for me to fawn over. This week’s a little all over the place, with a little bit of rock, a little bit of pop, a little bit of songwriter and back again. Wanted to begin with the great cover of “Rock n’ Roll” by the Feelies, then jump right into some of my favorite tracks of the week. I mean, new Tony Jay and Red Pants make all of us winners. Plus, there’s a new Lewsberg tune floating about, which I definitely have included in other playlists. And, I got back on that review game with a track by track breakdown of Holy Wave’s latest. So spend some time looking back at last week!

Album Stream: Adrian Marner’s The College Years

Leave a comment

Adrian Marner first popped into my eras when we covered his single “Cracks of Time;” it had the sort of innocence of Elliott Smith, albeit with a bit of a more of a pop sparkle to it. This approach sticks around for the College Years, bringing you bedside as Marner works with heavy strums and a voice that wears a bit of production magic. While standout singles like “The Unsaid Goodbye” and previously mentioned “Cracks of Time” are surefire hits; I’ve found myself gravitating towards “Rock Star Fatigue” and “My Best Friend” as other stopping points for those just popping in for a quick listen. Each song has its own little charms if you dig in, and in the grand scheme, it feels like Marner is setting the scene for what could be a very promising catalog. The College Years is out today courtesy of Zerowell Records.

Sagittaire Share Two Lovers Video

Leave a comment

Patience is a skill oft overlooked in the rock n’ roll scene, but when done well, it allows the music to marinate, to really soak the listener in its emotional power…like this new track from Sagittaire. To me, it feels like the an electronic pulse, sent to the surface from some underwater research center, at least for the first fifteen seconds or so. Then, vocals walk into the show, again, keeping their distance in the presentation, almost like a ghostly echo hanging in the ether. You’re here for a minute or so, meditating, waiting as a percussive element move into the song, pushing into a more organic, beat-driven world. The Surraul directed video builds upon the layering of sound, with a stationary figure seemingly unaware of the world behind him, then moving into a blurring of the lines as the song gradually unfolds. Lucian and Caroline is the new LP; it will be out on October 13th.

Fortunato Durutti Marinetti Announces New LP

Leave a comment

For some reason, ever since I devoured Memory’s Fool, Fortunato Durutti Marinetti felt like the natural heir to Jens Lekman; the songwriting had the same joyousness, even in serious tracks; it also had layers of depth, sonically speaking, which is clearly a gift in the songwriting. Today, we’ve got the news I’ve been waiting for, there’s a new LP headed our way real soon. This go round, we hear the project was meant to be a melting pot of synths, saxophones and violins; it’s like a chillwave playlist at the local club. As always, the songwriting craft is the perfect cocoon for the vocals, often spoken, then wrapped in the melodic texture. The saxophone work feels omnipresent, like its going to play in your head all night long, or, as I prefer to hear it, like the perfect musical accompaniment to a poetry reading. If you’re into Destoyer or the aforementioned Lekman, press play, slide back into your chair, and let the song dance inside you. Eight Waves in Search of an Ocean is out in November via Quindi and Soft Abuse.

1 … 252 253 254 255 256 … 1,501
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com