Author: nathan.lankford

Blood Release WWT55WMNEBA EP

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Austin’s a fairly insulated city when it comes to the music scene. Sure, you’ve got your Spoon and The Black Pumas…and they deserve their due, but there are acts that might not ever make it out of the city, at least as far as the “media” is concerned. One act that we’ve all had our eyes on, hoping for larger exposure, is Blood, who just released their Why Wait Till ’55 We Might Not Even Be Alive EP; it’s a four song collection of undefinable shapeshifting rock n’ roll that sprawls over 20 minutes. In the confines of these four tunes you’ll find little droplets of hardcore and post rock, from Shellac to Cursive, yet done with enough pop panache that it’ll draw in fans of Shame, Black Midi and Fontaines DC. What a way to introduce yourselves to the world.

Devon Williams Share Circus World

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It took all of 7 seconds for me to fall in love with the latest single from Devon Williams; he enters carefully, a few lines before a sparkling burst of euphoria. It’s a subtle uptick in the song’s energy, but that was one of the moments that stuck with me. The rest of the tune has this really pleasant style, taking those angular guitar riffs and spinning them into a drawn out dream world; Williams quieted croon seems to match the emotional pull there as well. The video closes with some kaleidoscope visuals that match the song’s natural psychedelic jam, drawing the tune to a finite end. I’m hoping more people catch on to this record; A Tear in the Fabric is out on May 1st via Slumberland Records.

Pure X Returns with Album Announcement

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Heralded Austin outfit Pure X have been away for awhile now…but no more! Six years on from Angel, the band announce today that they’ll be releasing their self-titled LP. These 12 songs operate much along the lines of where the band left off, somewhere between the dreamy slowcore of the late 90s/early 00s and the ghost of Galaxie 500. You thought the band had reached acclaim before…wait until everyone hear’s these new tunes! Pure X will be out on May 1st via Fire Talk Records.

Kevin Hairs Share More Magic More Magic

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Like all of you, it’s been a struggle, just trying to wrap my head around this whole world we’re in at the moment. Luckily, Kevin Hairs tossed over his More Magic, More Magic EP a few days early, and honestly, it totally changed my attitude; this has been the best week for me. “Strange Jangle” has been out for a few weeks now, but it still has that fuzzy fun feeling, along with a message that seems to be about just letting it all go. “Fire the Choir” kind of reminds me of Hunx and His Punx, only spun through the lens of a fan of pop music; it’s charming and kind of gritty in its presentation. One of my favorite’s on this EP comes in next; I just loved the way the guitars were recorded on top of each other in “More Comforting,” matched by this seemingly discordant melody that is reminiscent of Sarah Records. But, it does have to battle with “The Day I Became a Dick,” which oddly enough seems to have a certain sense of swagger about its jangling riffs and cool vocal delivery…but another favorite. It all comes to an end with “Subdued at the VCU,” bringing in a little bit more rambunctiousness to Hairs’ insatiable pop blend. And just like that, More Magic, More Magic is over, leaving you with a super impressionable EP of joyous indiepop that allow you to celebrate life’s littlest moments…like a 15 minute pop record!

Zachman Share Outsiders Video

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Earlier on in the year, Zachman released their latest EP, Patterns; it was a collection of four songs that showed the band pushing themselves to expand into their various musical tastes. For me, I love Johnny Zachman’s voice; it has this faint Ben Gibbard vibe that makes it constantly feel like home when you’re listening…as is the case in this tune “Outsiders.” Still, their music isn’t exactly an homage, there’s a harshness and exploration within the confines of the tune, like what occurs at the 50 (and 1:56) second mark. They’ve also outdone themselves with the video treatment here, building a storyline to match the music made entirely of ads from drive-in movies. Be sure to check out the whole EP HERE.

Wares Share Living Proof

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When you get your copy of Wares new LP, the first three tracks fit seamlessly together, reaching its apex with “Living Proof.” This song almost feels like a state of dreamy consciousness, which fits with the writing experience of Cassia Hardy, who describes the tune as a moment of euphoria after having gender affirming surgery; its one of those rare moments when you can almost trade places with the narrator…perhaps a great thing considering the difficulties the trans community faces. Still, there’s a feeling of hope, a feeling of escaping into the world on your own terms and never looking back. This is just one of the various brilliant moments that fills Survival; you’ll be sure to grab it from Mint Records before its release on April 24th.

Proto Idiot Release Mountain Single

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We’ve been covering Proto Idiot, as well as their offshoots, for some years, though due to life we probably didn’t cover their 2019 LP, Find Out for Themselves as well as I might have liked. For me, it took their garage rock antics and sort of ushered it through secondary school, leaving the band with bits of their youth while illustrating huge growth in their songwriting. Why does that matter now with the new single, “Mountain?” Well, one listen, and you will hear a completely different band, still bold in their attitude, but brandishing this maturity that’s really impressive. Squalls of guitars and crashing cymbals fill your speakers, with the vocals sort of stomping their way through the noisy fog. It all opens up in this brilliant chorus that’s filled with pop sensibility and hooks; back and forth they go between entrancing noise prog and circular pop antics…this is the band at their very best.

Love Sport Share New Single

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Finnish act Love Sport have been away for a few years, but they’re back with a new tune that’s worthy of a good Thursday morning listen (it’s Thursday, right?). The tune starts out with a definite purpose, hitting hard with discordant notes ringing out furiously so as to set the scene for the voice. Those vocals have this faint hint of psychedelia in them, sort of curling the notes and softening them with a faint wizardly attitude. There’s a nice little cleanser at the song’s close, as the energy recedes mildly and draws the song to a close. Let’s hope the band has more to offer us in 2020.

Sunday Records Offers Free Album

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The aptly titled Shelter album is being released for free by Sunday Records, in hopes of keeping your love for the purity of pop move strong while we all shelter in place. The Sugar World tune that opens it up is a flat out stunner of indiepop songwriting; it has this spritely bounce and this words like the wind vocals drifting through your speakers. Tracks from the likes of Day & Dream and Fawns of Love definitely up the dream pop ante, in case you were wanting to listen and let the day drift away from you. Plus, nice to hear The Memory Fades do an acoustic version of “Listening to the Marychain.” It’s streaming below, but remember, just because its free doesn’t mean you can’t throw a buck or two to the label!

Gum Country Announce Debut LP

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Why on Earth can’t more bands sound like this? I mean, I reckon I’d get bored after a long time, but I’ll be damned if this Gum Country tune isn’t the right jam for me. It’s got the fuzzy bits that make my ears perk up near the stereo, but still carries on that pop sensibility that makes a song worthy of repeated listens. The band set out to make ‘harsh twee,’ and while I can hear that applying, I do think they take this beyond twee pastiche; it almost seems to have a little psychedelic noodle coursing through the core of the song. Their debut LP Somewhere will be out via Kingfisher Bluez and Burger Records.

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