Let’s Dance With Pale Blue

mikesThe music of Mike Simonetti most likely has followers due to his work with Johnny Jewel and the duo’s After Dark project, but he’s since stepped away from Italians Do It Better to being a new project under the moniker Pale Blue.  The tune below still draws from the dance floor, and it’s exuberance during the latter half definitely draws me into the song.  His new project will release the album, The Past We Leave Behind, via his new label 2MR and Captured Tracks, so be on the lookout for it in April…for now, just dance.

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Austin Weekend Show Spotlight

Austin-skyline-_9359-copyWith all the year end list hoopla, we’ve been slacking a little bit on our show previews, so I wanted to make sure you knew about he goings-on this weekend in our fair city.  The weather’s just nice enough to entice you to get out of your house, and who knows, you might even find yourself a new favorite band to love. So, without further ado…here’s your Austin Weekend Show Spotlight. Read more

Dreamy Pop from Del Sur

delsurYou thought dreamy bedroom pop music was in the past? Nope, and thank goodness for that, as this song from Del Sur is surely an enjoyable way to wrap up our week with you.  There’s a soft approach to the track, though the guitars kick in and give you that casual sway where you’re not quite sure if your mind’s ready to drift off or get you in dancing mode.  The Philly act will be releasing their HAGS EP on January 27th of next year, so enjoy this gem while you wait for more great hits.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/04-Melted-Down.mp3]

Download: Del Sur – Melted Down [MP3]

RIP Nick Talbot

GravenhurstTypically, I just get bummed on my own when a musician passes.  It’s never easy when someone you felt connected with passes, but for some reason I’m really finding the loss of Nick Talbot, aka Gravenhurst, an extra bummer.  I first fell in love with his music via Flashlight Seasons.  It was a record that accompanied me through my own personal adventures into what, at the time, was a great unknown.  I remember listening to the song below on repeat for several weeks, and it still pulls at me even now.  It’s a sad day, indeed.  That being said, I’ll forever be grateful for this song.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/02-Fog-Round-The-Figurehead.mp3]

Download: Greavenhurst – Fog Round The Figurehead [MP3]

Playful Pop from Anthonie Tonnon

antonieDon’t you miss bouncing bits of pop music that was perfect by the likes of Jens Lekman? Well, meet Anthonie Tonnon, a New Zealand songwriter who seems to have traded in the country’s beloved guitar pop for catchy piano ballads instead.  I love the careful little changes in inflection that appear in and out of this featured track.  It doesn’t hurt either that the song builds towards the inclusion of a chorus to provide backing vocals while Tonnon’s own voice pleasantly yelps in the foreground.  Look for his album Successor to appear on March 3rd via Wild Kindness.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/04_The-Songs-Of-Your-Youth.mp3]

Download: Anthonie Tonnon – The Songs Of Your Youth [MP3]

Soft Side of Seagulls

Post-video picWe’ve gotta offer up two sides of our site, balancing out our love for rocking hits with our love for a great pop song.  Thus, we bring you the latest single from Seagulls, who’ve graced these pages previously.  There’s a consistent rising and falling throughout the entirety of the song, with the rise meeting up with a more pronounced sound, as opposed to the soft underbelly that holds the song in place.  Those of you searching for something of this sort will find a nice dosage of pop that keeps you coming back for more when you pick up their album, Great Pine, on February 3rd.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/02-Swimmin.mp3]

 

Moon Duo Return with New Album

moonsAs we continue our look towards 2015, there’s one thing that’s for sure, this Moon Duo LP is going to be a hot commodity.  The song has a brooding tone, though it’s driven by a more forceful approach to songwriting than what we’ve heard from the group before.  Perhaps the only thing holding the track back is its brevity; I felt like there was at least 30 more seconds of rock to go.  This tune will appear on Side A of a 7″ that’s being slid into every copy of Shadow of the Sun, which will be in stores on March 3rd courtesy of Sacred Bones Records.

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Soft Number from Edwyn Collins

Edwyn CollinsI think I’d probably put Edwyn Collins in my Top 5 of all time songwriters.  His work with Orange Juice impacted a lot of my listening habits, past and present. So, his 2005 struggles with multiple strokes was quite sad, but listening to his road back has really been something quite special.  This year, a documentary came to light called The Possibilities are Endless, concerning Edwyn’s road back.  He’s been fortunate enough to be able to write music again, thus his ability to craft this tune, which is part of the soundtrack to the documentary; it’s available via AED.

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Top 100 Songs of the Year

Top Song 14The more lists we run, the more the numbers seem made up, especially considering we run about 30 songs a week. So, we just organized a list of our favorite 100 songs, all being equal, no numbers involved. But, for those of you who want a listening experience, we created a playlist with all the available tracks Also, we each picked two songs to highlight for you, so you know where we’re coming from. If you’re looking to find out which release a particular song comes from, we put those in bold following each song.  Just jam this list today.  Read more

Checking In with The Ocean Party

oceansEarlier in the fall, news of a new album from The Ocean Party trickled in, getting me excited, as I love the band and their work.  But, for some reason or another, I completely forgot about it, and didn’t even remember it was coming out until last week.  Since then I’ve been spending a lot of time listening to their latest LP, Soft Focus, which got a US release from the hardworking Jigsaw Records. So, since I completely forgot the album, I figured you needed to listen to it…also because it’s kind of a slow music week.  So, no need to hear myself talk, I’d rather hear your thoughts on this LP.

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