Category: News

New Music from People Get Ready

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peopleJust when I thought I was ready to give up on well-crafted pop music like the National, this tune from People Get Ready jammed itself into my inbox.  At first I was struck by the vocals, as that’s usually a huge draw for me as a listener.  Then the construction of the song took a hold of me, as I marveled at some of the careful guitar work and the backing vocals that fill in some gaps.  It’s a pretty interesting sound, and I think it’s worthy of your time on this Thursday.   The group will be releasing their new album, Physiques via Brassland on June 24th, so stay tuned for more great tracks.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145533279″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Fall In Love with Cold Beat

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ColdBeat_byRingoI’ll be the first to admit that I was pretty floored by the last Grass Widow effort, so since their departure, I’ve been keeping an eye on what Hannah Lew has been working on.  This track from Cold Beat fills in pretty nicely as her new project,  still kicking out those great guitar lines that serve as the background to her vocals.  Personally, I love how the vocals work atop each other here; it’s like one person is singing while the rest are working in juxtaposition, yet it all fits nicely.  If you’re going on this song alone, sounds like the band’s debut, Over Me, won’t be too far removed from what Lew’s done before (and I mean that in a good way); the record hits on July via Crime on the Moon.

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Show Review: The National @ ACL Live (4/22)

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The National

After last year’s RainCL debacle, many fans of these gentlemen from Brooklyn were disappointed to miss out on their set, which was scheduled for a brief slot on Sunday. To counter this missed show, The National came back in full force, booking two sold out nights and a third added in the aftermath of popular demand. Riding high off of their sixth full-length album, which has steepened their rise of popularity initiated by High Violet to a new level. They brought along the ladies of LA’s Warpaint to open, and the crowd was amped up to hear their new favorites off of 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me. 

Click through for more on the show and plenty of pics from the honorable B.Gray…

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Another Hit from 3108

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3108_pressphotoJust a few weeks ago I brought you the infinitely catchy “Go to Hell” from 3108, the next release from Trouble In Mind Records.  Today, I bring you another such track, offering you a song that dwells in the same vein, though this one isn’t as immediately catchy.  I don’t mean to diminish the tune, as good things come to those who wait, but it’s simply different; after all, you don’t want your records to all sound exactly the same!  The driving rhythm is similar, but the pop sensibility doesn’t unfold as quickly, lurking for you in the back of the vocals.  This self-titled record will be available for you to purchase at your favorite store next week!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/10-Ease-Up.mp3]

Download: 3108 – Ease Up [MP3]

Bouncy Tune from Astrid Swan

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astridswanUp until now, the music we’ve gotten from Astrid Swan has been pretty mellow, which is well and good, but today we’re finally able to share with you one of my favorite tracks from her album, Astrid 4. Of course, the song features the great vocals that have been present on everything we’ve shared with you.  To me, this illustrates the diversity that you’ll find on her new record, from ballads to upbeat numbers, all of which are well-produced.  You can order the Astrid 4 from our good friends at Soliti Music.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/06-Black-Bear-A-Hoofer-24bit-mastered.mp3]

Download: Astrid Swan – Black Bear & A Hoofer  [MP3]

Show Review: Odonis Odonis @ Mohawk (4.21)

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Odonis OdonisI know, I know. Everyone was at the National on night one! But, I’ve seen them, and I was going on Tuesday, so I penciled in a show that I was really excited about.  I’ve been raving about Odonis Odonis since their last EP, and their new record, Hard Boiled Soft Boiled, has been on constant rotation.  While the crowd might not have been what I hoped, the show definitely lived up to my expectations. Read more

Creative Pop from Dub Thompson

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DT.11183v2You click play, and there’s a bump and a groove. It’s slow and steady, moving beyond the 1 minute mark.  Then the throb subsides minimally for a nice vocal display.  But, it’s short and sweet, as Dub Thompson seems more intent upon having a little bit of fun with this track.  The duo take advantage of the song’s inherent melody, even as it hides beneath a noisy wash of pulsing organ grinding and explosive atmospherics.  The duo will release their album, 9 Songs, on June 10th via Dead Oceans.   Check out the tune below to get a feeling of what to expect from these guys.

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Fresh Tunes from Rat Columns

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ratcolumnsI haven’t written about Rat Columns in quite some time, but stalking the great Sydney label RIP Society proved fruitful last week when I found that they are soon to release the next record from the RC, Leaf.  This is the first single, and while the wash of keyboards might heavily influence your decision to love or hate this track, I suggest you digest the great guitar work going on within the tune.  There’s an urgency in the playing that’s really hard to ignore, and while it holds a certain sense of edginess, it’s wrapped in this sensible pop overcoat.  You can find a video for the track HERE.

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Nothing Covers Low

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nothingIt appears that my offerings on this Tuesday are going to be a bit up the sad bastard stream, or the slow core or whatever other genre we can toss at the downtrodden tunes.  This tune’s great; it was great the first time Low did it on Things We Lost in the Fire.  Now, however, it’s being retouched up by rising star, Nothing.  I love the fact that the song still captures the emotion of the original; it still sounds just as frail as it did originally, showing that the band is covering this for more than just kicks.  It clearly has meaning to the group, as it does for me, so perhaps you’re one of those folks too who’ve always been attached to the craftsmanship of Low.  Give this a listen and see how you feel.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Nothing-In-Metal-01-In-Metal.mp3]

Download: Nothing – In Metal [MP3]

New Music from Ides (Alanna of Joanna Gruesome)

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idesLast year’s Joanna Gruesome LP really put the band on everyone’s map, so when something related pops up, it only makes sense that we’d give it a look-see.  Ides is the project of Alanna, who really seems to have found her own voice away from the band, not that I’m encouraging her to leave; it’s just a nice outlet I’m hoping.  The song’s pretty heavy for the most part, spanning nearly five minutes of this haunting vocal beneath these deep guttural guitar chords.  It’s funny that even on her own Soundcloud page, she describes the sounds as #sadcore, which is definitely fitting, though possibly selling herself short.  If you’re looking for some introspective music today, go HERE and listen to more from Ides.

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

Download: Ides – Giant [MP3]

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