Author: nathan.lankford

How I Have Not Heard of the Leisure Society

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lsI troll the Internet constantly, always trying to find something that most folks haven’t hit on yet.  So how did I miss the Leisure Society.  My ears hear them as purveyors of orchestral pop, with just a slight dash of twee in there.  They remind me of a land where Efterklang meets Belle & Sebastian, with really great production. The song below has some sweet horn work, so if this is to your liking, then you’ll probably enjoy The Fine Art of Hanging On, which was just released by Full Time Hobby.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/190407578″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Zuli Is Doing It Different

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zooliPop music got skewered by the major labels, forcing meaningless dribble down our throats for the last few decades.  But, there was a time when they were on board with glam rockers like Bowie and Bolan, so let’s fast forward to the present and visit Zuli.  He’s a New York songwriter, picking up where those greats left off, rocking a style that’s oft-overlooked in modern indie rock circles.  The guitar work takes the focus, but there’s a definite feeling of “boogie” lurking here for listeners who miss the glam of your stereo. His Supernatural Voodoo EP will be released on May 5th, and it should hopefully revitalize a lost genre, at least in my record collection.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/176559480″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Slowcore from O. Chapman

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10906312_10153013184579699_2869604486636749248_nThis new tune from O. Chapman drifted my way over the weekend, and it fit in completely with the dreary weather Austin encountered, including that ridiculous hail storm on Saturday night. Still, a great track succeeds despite the weather, and I think you’ll hear something you’ll love when listening to this tune. There’s a slow pace to the tune, allowing the band to really establish a vibe that sinks you into your chair, or your soul.  I like how there’s some little vocal samples hiding just beneath the track too…it’s a weird effect that definitely benefits the song. It’s part of the Art is Hard limited hand-cut 7″ series, so you’ve got to scramble to get one of the 25 available copies…otherwise just enjoy this tune.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/O.-Chapman-Best-Friend.mp3]

Download: O. Chapman – Best Friend [MP3]

Rock Away with Radioactivity

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dirtynapListening to Radioactivity is never bad for the soul.  It’s fast, filled with great guitar licks and a touch of the hooks.  You can blast it while your running, while you’re angry or just to get yourself in a great mood, so it’s great to hear all of that in the band’s latest single, the first for their sophomore LP.  Their new effort is titled Silent Kill, and it’ll be released by Dirtnap Records on June 30th, but for now, you’ll just have to turn your stereo up a little louder, blow out and rockaway with this impressive first blast of rock n’ roll from the Texas natives.

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Show Preview: Eternal Summers @ Holy Mountain (4.20)

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Eternal SummersIt’s not too often that you get a killer show on a Monday evening, but the line-up over at Holy Mountain tonight is something you absolutely can’t miss.  You’ve got Eternal Summers headlining the gig; they’re about to release Gold & Stone, their fourth album, showing their continuous improvement as purveyors of bombastic indiepop.  They’ll be joined by Turbo Fruits, a force to reckon on their own.  But, I beg you to get their really early? Why? Two of our favorite local acts Kay Odyssey and Rose Selavy will be opening the night, bringing their own pop music to the stage. There’s too few acts playing this sort of music in Austin, so come check out a couple of our best.  Doors are at 8 PM and it’ll only cost you $10 to check out four great bands.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Eternal_Summers_-_22Millions22.mp3]

Download: Eternal Summers – Millions [MP3]

Explore the New Web of Sunsets Single

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webs_sandLast year back Web of Sunsets released Room of Monsters, which we absolutely loved, though I felt like it was a vastly underrated album.  The band returns this year with a brand new EP, Steel New Days, and their first offering is the piece of beautifully drifting pop.  You’ll hear a gentle quality wrapped inside a light squall of guitar atmospherics, covering a faintly audible guitar strum. End of Time Records will be releasing the new EP on tape (and digital) on April 28th; I expect it’ll be something special for those who get their hands on it.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Steel-New-Days.mp3]

Download: Web of Sunsets – Steel New Days [MP3]

Little Bit of Indie Pop from Electric Pop Group

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10945865_10152717404482098_8307547663638596250_oThis song’s a few weeks old, but you can never skip out on posting a delightful bit of indiepop, especially on a Friday.  We all need a little pick-me-up, am I right? This is the perfect blend of cliche jangling and warm melody, which fits right in with the sounds we’ve heard from The Electric Pop Group.  The band are said to have a new record, Integration, ready for release via their home, Matinee Recordings, but a release date has not yet been set.  I’m anxious to hear the rest, as I have nothing but the highest expectations for this act.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/189628766″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Sweet Friday Tune from the Underground Railroad to Candyland

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undrgThe jury’s out for me on the name here, but not the song.  The song’s a rolling bit of rock n’ roll, always feeling like it’s a shaky train heading down the tracks. Energy is picked up near the 1:40 mark, and just like that the song grinds to a halt.  It’s clear to me that the music being crafted by Underground Railroad to Candyland is best enjoyed if turned up really loud and shared with a bunch of your friends. The band will be releasing The People Are Home on May 26th on Recess Records before hitting the road for an extensive summer tour, which includes a June Austin date at Scoot Inn.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/198466758″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

I Thought Crystal Castles Broke Up

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ccSeems like we lost a lot of great bands in the last few years (the Walkmen I miss the most), and Crystal Castles was one of them.  The band evolved from an electronic Nintendo influenced act to a powerful force in the music scene, crafting these dark dance tracks that are probably best enjoyed in a fog machine filled room.  So, now we hear that the band isn’t quite done, even with Alice Glass leaving.  I guess it’s not that hard to replace the vocal aspect, though the live performances might be something quite different.  Still, glad the project hasn’t been totally negated here.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/201041378″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

EZTV’s New Song is a Winner

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ezA bit back, I tossed out the a single from the EZTV 7″, naming Television as a possible touch-point for interested fans.  Now the band is back with a brand new single from their forthcoming full-length, and it’s really hard to place the sound, though there’s some obvious musical touchstones lurking in here: sharp guitars, fused harmonies, 60s nostalgia.  I’ve been hunting for something really striking to hit me, and this track definitely does the trick.  Their album, Calling Out, will be release by Captured Tracks on July 10th.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/197508382″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

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