Author: nathan.lankford

Autocamper Drop Proper Single

Leave a comment

One of the highlights of the Summer season, musically speaking, has to be this fresh Autocamper record scheduled for early July. This particular tune has both the directness and the brightness that we’re guaranteed to find in the confines of the album. For those who’ve been following the band, the immediacy is really special, especially when the throaty vocals come into play, channeling a more upbeat version of Beat Happening. I like where the vocals combine, too, as that brings in the ray of sunshine, sprinkling melody all over the listener as the energy rushes forward. Little bit of indie rock, whole lot of hooks; you need to grab the group’s What Do You Do All Day LP, out on July 11th via Slumberland Records/Safe Suburban Home.

Constellation Myths Offer A Consolation

Leave a comment

As Constellation Myths prepare for the Cost of Living they remind us that this record is more of a conversation surrounding the world at large, rather than the introspective first LP. On their newest single, vocalist Molly Seamans weaves a story influenced by a comment from her father about a “boatyard of broken dreams;” its a piece reflecting on social anxieties and class warfare, spun in this beautifully crafted brand of pop. At times, the tune works its way into almost jazz pop, with sensational drumming playing upon the cymbals to create this huge atmosphere. The movement from the quiet moments into forceful pop, only to recede and pull back to its quiet as the song fades out. Keep an eye out for the whole LP, dropping right around the corner.

Missed Albums: Tan Cologne, Little Mazarn and Black Watch

Leave a comment

Last week had some solid record released, all of which have made it onto our site in some single or another, but, I was wrapped up in paid employment options on Friday, so I missed out on these. But, there’s never a bad time to check in on great music.

Tan Cologne – Unknown Beyond (Labrador)

This is definitely a record to sit with. The New Mexico duo create these cavernous pop songs, playing with the negative space between ringing notes and offering shadowy excursions into, well, the unknown beyond. Everything on the album feels like its own life force, its own vibration. Here’s the album closer.

Little Mazarn – Mustang Island (Dear Life Records)

While the Austin bunch is known for their traditional folk leanings, this new album illustrates a new lightness, accompanied by the slightest step into modernity. Little electronic flourishes come to life, such as on “Dark Pleasure of Endless Doing,” which might be one of my favorite tunes of the year.

The Black Watch – For All the World (Atom Records)

If you treasure a prolific songwriter, let me introduce you to John Andrew Fredrick. As the lead songwriter of the Black Watch, he’s been pushing out records at an astonishing pace, though he chose to double down by crafting a double LP this go round. I love the approach, as you get heavier punches on tunes like “Surely You Rally,” but you also get some deeper arrangements in the pop realm like “Achilles Past.” If my days were filled with time, I’d do a track by track breakdown, but by then, John would likely already have another LP ready.

Emily Hines Offer UFO

Leave a comment

I was completely unaware of Emily Hines until she signed up with Austin label Keeled Scales, but I’ll own up to falling under her spell as she readies the release of These Days. This song alone has so much of the delicate moments that make Hines work intoxicating; it opens up for nearly a minute on what honestly felt like a field recording, lost in history. Around the 54 second mark, the recording seems to change, with a metronomic beat and a little recording fuzz blanketing Emily’s voice, all the while little brushstrokes continue to add more layers of enchantment to the piece. She seems to have mastered this fragility that seems potent and personal all at once. Really looking forward to These Days, out on August 1st.

Check Out Shaggo

Leave a comment

It is nearly impossible to catch up with all the great music dropping in the world, so I missed this Shaggo record that dropped, but I’ve been totally in love with the song below so I’m going to share it in hopes you’ll fall for it too. When it begins, it sort of works in that playful bedroom pop fashion, akin to Moldy Peaches or Diet Cig; I loved how it was both silly and endearing there, but relished the eruption of rock n’ roll that awaited. The group clearly sell the rock side, taking a more modern spin by putting it all on blast, though they still get to keep “whoo-oohs” in there to amplify the joy they seem to have in their songwriting process. Do yourself a favor and check out their LP, Chores.

Whalers Drop Cross My Eyes

Leave a comment

Austin outfit Whalers are not strangers to these pages, and as their singer Gus is currently living outside of the country, the group have opted to sprinkle in some of their recently recorded tunes to fill in the gaps until his return. Speaking of the vocals, they’ve got this grab that borders on a psychedelic romp and a more soulfully weighted pop feel; it’s the rise and fall of each note that allows the group to work in and out of the gaps, filling it with these really incredible moments of lush pop. Honestly, its the last twenty seconds or so that sold me, with this sort of euphoric push to a close, raining melodies and hooks upon me. Always love to hear from this lot!

That New Mac DeMarco Tune

Leave a comment

I will openly admit that I have probably spent an inordinate amount of time complaining about how Mac DeMarco was the new Dave Matthews; he was responsible for many a copycat, and many a cover at house shows/coffee shops! Still, I did appreciate a good portion of his work, but I feel like yesterday’s single is actually one of his best pieces, reveling in its simplicity and charm. It almost sounds like something Bolan or Johnston would have pulled up, with this intimacy being worn on the sleeve, with little less needed as the attraction is just masterclass. Didn’t expect to find myself loving this as much as I do, so now I have a feeling that I’ll definitely be spending time with Mac’s new LP, Guitar, which comes out on August 22nd.

Slow Crush Share While You Dream Vividly

Leave a comment

Do not be seduced by the twinkling piano notes of this new Slow Crush track, for as their band name would imply, they’re going to slowly crush your ears with this huge wall of ambient noise; you’ll get to meet those riffs at the 35 second mark, as they crash into you. Despite the thundering sound and huge billowing waves of guitar shrieking, the song feels more like a slowcore adventure, or something of the bedroom pop nature. Sure, the vocals are slightly coated in the echoes of the sonic destruction, but they operate like this gravitational force, pulling the song into this central melody. There’s a slight little mix up in the middle, which I totally applaud; too many folks in this genre get stuck in the monotony of formula. Their album Thirst will hit on August 29th via Pure Noise.

Pleased to Meet You: Commercial Breaks

Leave a comment

The perks of running this old site for as long as we’ve been at it are that the world, particularly in the Austin scene, comes full circle. For instance, Commercial Breaks, a brand new band with a handful of kick ass demos to share features a couple of brothers, one who I taught…and who I later put out on vinyl when he played drums in Tres Oui. His little brother is part of Austin’s super rad Gus Baldwin and the Sketch, so you can kind of hear a recent history of Austin’s garage tendencies peeking through from behind the curtains, particularly in some of the great guitar wiggles. Obviously, there are some production touches, like the real drums Doran promised, but a song like “The Cloud” has the fuzziness and the pop gifts to whet my whistle! They’re playing their debut show on July 12th with Guiding Light here in Austin at Hotel Vegas! See you there!

Way Dynamic Announce Massive Shoe

Leave a comment

As per usual, the water in Melbourne at this time of year is sending us over lots of fresh tunes, and Way Dynamic is just another voice catching my ear. Dylan Young’s songwriting has a somewhat nostalgic vibe, sort of taking on soul and funk in its own fashion; this new single is filled with this wash of whimsy, willingly whisking you away on its hooks…like that snappy groove that gets locked in by the percussion. Backing vocals continue with the joyousness, as Young warms around the edges with this little tonal change. The new record comes on the heels of the 2024’s well-received Duck, so if you’re looking for more, check that out…or just wait until Massive Shoe drops via Spoilsport this August.

1 … 54 55 56 57 58 … 1,497
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com