This is fine.
It’s that time of year again, with the Austin City Limits Festival just around the corner. As one of our favorite festivals, and one of the many musical outlets in the city, we thought it was our job to keep you updated on the acts that are vital to a successful weekend out at Zilker Park. Our first act to take a look at is Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs. Read more
I love a smoky voice, especially when you drape it over solemn tunes. The latest tune from local Austin act My Jerusalem has that exact perfect vocal I look for, even including a nice little pop raise in the vocal during the chorus. Otherwise, the track treads the water with a careful guitar line, some light flourishes of instrumental accompaniment and a thoughtful drum beat. It’s great to see an Austin band crafting this sort of music, which definitely seems able to escape the confines of our local scene. You can hear this tune and others on the band’s upcoming record, Preachers, which is being released by The End Records on October 9th.
Download:My Jerusalem – Mono
When I think about the greater effects of the Internet I always look to the likes of Dylan Baldi of Cloud Nothings, creating incredible music that seems rooted in real musical knowledge. This is the exact sentiment I had when I listened to the track from teenage Oliver Catt, who’s gone on to form a new band with his friends titled Fantasy Rainbow. Their latest single shows great depth in the songwriting, not to mention the quality of the recording itself. It’s nice to know that with music now excessively abundant to the masses, a teenager lost in his own world can quietly listen to his idols and craft his own great sound. If you like what you hear, click on their name to check out other tracks from the band.
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One of my recent discoveries has been Cloudberry Records, who seem to be the perfect purveyors of fine indie-pop. I’ve highlighted some gems by them already, and here’s another release from Earth First that you can get your hands on now! The group is a Brooklyn based act, though they sound nothing like what the city is known for at the moment…and I mean that as a compliment. I love the warmth of the vocals, and the cascading jangling guitars that fill the background of the track. If you love indie pop, go grab the latest 7″ from the band.
Download:Earth First – To The Night [MP3]
Not too long ago I brought you a track from Gangi, but it was a slow, sprawling sort, unfolding gloriously over a short span. This new tune, “Gold,” is a little bit different, with what feels like a similar approach that one would find on Arcade Fire recordings, using backing vocals in gang form and piling on layers of instrumentation. Again, you can find this tune on the group’s upcoming record, Gesture Is, which will be coming out on October 2nd via Office of Analogue and Digital. If the group can maintain this sort of balance on the LP, it’s going to really win people over.
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| Date | Tuesday, September 25th |
|---|---|
| Location | Emos East |
| Doors | 800 PM |
| Tickets | $22-$30 from Ticketfly |
Really you don’t need much encouragement to go out and see Guided By Voices. The band’s output speaks for itself, and either you’re a fan, or you’re not, but if you are, you already made plans to be at the show. Since reforming the original line-up, the group hasn’t really missed a beat, releasing the enjoyable Class Clown Spots a UFO earlier this year. If you know nothing about the group, trust us when we say that this is one of those musical experiences you need to be a part of, so be sure to get your tickets! Detective will be opening the evening up.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Guided-By-Voices-Class-Clown-Spots-A-UFO-New-Version.mp3]Download:Guided By Voices – Class Clown Spots A UFO [MP3]
Last Thursday was a busy night for music. Poor Fiona.
After taking Dustin Wong, The Walkmen and Beach House, ATH hit two other shows including one we were presenting at Red7. White Arrows was back in town as a headliner after playing the opening slot for Beat Connection, a show where the headliner was bested. It was good to see these guys come back through and put forth another great set.
Read on for a few deets and pics.
It’s always nice to start off the week in a positive manner, providing you with a boost of energy level we all need heading back into work on Monday. I think this new tune from Harlan is going to be the tune that does just the trick. It’s definitely a tune with a hook involved, and I find it rather a chilled out hook, rather than an in-your-face approach. The 80s guitar solo near the end is a nice little touch as well. You can find this track on the upcoming 1984 EP, which is available this Tuesday to all listeners.
Download:Harlan – 1984 [MP3]
I’ve raved about the songstress Chelsea Wolfe in the past, having fallen in love with her haunting pop last year on Apokalypsis. Now she returns with a softer affair, one based mostly on her voice and acoustic instrumentation, though other bits are added. She seems much more confident this time around, having settled completely into her remarkable voice. Her new album, Unknown Rooms, comes out on October 16th, and it’s definitely going to be a must have as we move into the wintry months. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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You know, I feel like I beat the world over the head today with some rock n’ roll, so I figure we could close out the day with a little touch of perfect pop from our beloved AC Newman. The singer has teamed up with his New Pornos bandmate, Neko Case, combining for a mellow little pop ballad that’s sure to give you a spritual lift as you try to wrap up the world’s longest Friday. This track will be featured on Newman’s upcoming record for Matador Records, Shut Down the Streets, which will hit the stores on October 9th. Hope everyone has an awesome end to your Friday. Be safe out there folks.
Download: AC Newman – Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns [MP3]
