Category: News

Last Week’s Jams (7.21 – 7.25)

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My summer vacation is about to wrap up, so I’ve been trying to cram as much rock n’ roll into the site as I can, and I feel like nearing 30 new songs is a pretty solid outing. There was new stuff from ever-present acts like Gregor, Cate Le Bon, Giant Day and more. Plus, there were some brand newish acts popping up on the scene that I think are certainly worth everyone’s time: The Cords and the Cindys, both UK outfits oddly enough. Some ATX love for Stella and the Very Messed and the Wild Kindness both dropping new tunes. Plus, there are several slow burns that will space out the listen, so you’ve got almost two hours of last week’s jams to enjoy!

Stella and the Very Messed Release Lack of Secrets

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The last time we checked in on Stella and the Very Messed they were delivering one of the best pop punk tracks we’ve come across on our end this year. Today, as they continue to prep the masses for their next LP, they’re really showing the group’s range and growth, working the first minute with a predominantly electronic groove operating as the background, letting Stella Maxwell control the narrative. Near the minute mark, drums kick in, guitars start to ring, and the familiarity begins to open up; they finish out the song driving an anthemic chorus into your ear, fueled by this intermingling of the electronic groove and the band’s penchant for pop rock hooks…it’s the best of both worlds. They’ll drop their Big Familiar LP September 19th via Double Helix.

Creative Writing Announce Baby Did This

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After releasing their True 90s EP earlier this year, folks were already keeping an eye on Massachusetts band Creative Writing. Today, the group returns with this great guitar pop track, announcing their debut album, Baby Did This. I love how the band sits in the groove between jangling guitar pop and modern americana; they don’t really push the sound either way, which inevitably allows the group to work on their own foundation. For me, the balance between the vocal stylings throughout help cement the band’s presence in my music listening; the verses work on a soft spoken nature, then the chorus kind of erupts with a forceful punch, though it never shies from the melody. Such a great reminder of this act’s quality; they drop Baby Did This on October 3rd via Meritorio.

Alexei Shishkin Shares Tika Taka (2006)

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I really love the approach that Alexei Shishkin took on his latest track, and perhaps on the entirety of his new record, Good Times. He worked on the musical arrangement and structure with songwriting partner Brad Krieger, building the song entirely before adding lyrical content. When lyrics time came about, he worked on the spot, improvising the storytelling in its own fashion. For instance, those of you who are football fans will note the nod to the style of play for many a Barcelona team…and in 2006, I remember them deservedly beating Arsenal…something B.Gray and I always love to see. So dig in, marvel at the concept and prep for Alexei’s new album, which drops on September 5th.

The Wild Kindness Release New EP

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Earlier this year, Austin outfit The Wild Kindness unleashed their “Never Better” single, and with that promised us that there was a new EP on the horizon. Well, today is the day you can stream Featuring “Abandon Ship” in its entirety, as the EP kicks off with the appropriate “Abandon Ship.” The first few singles harken to a sort of early Decemberists style, taking elements of folk and indie rock and weaving them into these giant pieces that swell with movement and emotion; I’ll admit, the lyrical content is a little less abstract, and I’m actually quite appreciative of that aspect. Going through the EP this morning, I’m really enjoying “Change” as my personal favorite, working with a bit more of a headstrong indie rocker…straight and bold with nuanced arrangement giving the track the proper depth.

Giant Day Return with Alarm

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I was just cranking out Giant Day‘s last record, Glass Narcissus, this past weekend, and here they are, up and returning in less than a year! This new single illustrates the great range their last release had, and looks forward to another collection that blends their various histories into one unique defying sound. The guitar cuts on this are super-angular, chopping right at you as they come through the speakers; they’re bordering on dancy, but they stay just on the edge of the rock element. Emily’s voice is really heavenly here, kind of rising to high pitches then dropping in the mix, sort of like that one legendary band from Athens (not that one, the other one!). Really stoked to hear Alarm, dropping October 10th via Elephant 6.

Anna Tivel Drops White Goose

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After a powerhouse tune, you’ve got to follow that up with something more pensive, and what better way to enter that realm than offer you this wonderful Anna Tivel tune. The accompanying video alone is worth the watch, bringing the natural world into contact with Anna’s work. Her performance is slow and careful, relying upon the majesty of her voice to pull the listener into the track. At times, she seemingly whispers, an intimate moment between artist and listener. But, there are moments, albeit brief, where the volume in her voice raises, hitting you with a wave of emotion that allow the notes to resonate deep within your soul. The new album, Animal Poem, is out on August 29th via Fluff and Gravy.

White Reaper Share Blink Video

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At this point in their career, I’m sure that White Reaper most likely aren’t in need of our support, but as they continue to bring anthemic pop rock, we’re going to keep cranking it up real loud. There’s something cleaner and more pop friendly in their sounds, like they’re pulling from the late 90s/early 00s history of pop rock; it’s about musicianship balanced out by hooks, which makes for some of the best rock around. With all the changes and moves blowing through the band in the past few years, it appears as if they’ve come out on the other side with some of the best work to date. Look for Only Slightly Empty via Blue Grape Music on September 26th.

Tugboat Captain Drop Pest Control Video

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This past Spring, ATH faves Tugboat Captain dropped the excellent Dog Tale LP. They’ve just recently offered up this stunning live/lyric video, which captures the spirit of the album and the focus track, “Pest Control.” It’s a celebratory track, despite some of the thematic elements, lifting your spirits once you latch onto the chorus. Every time I run through this track (and I’ve done this a lot) there’s just something bigger than myself, and bigger than my speakers; it’s got this masterful bravado that just makes you feel like you’re alive. It’s hard to put that into words, so you don’t have to take my word, you can stream it below! And if you love it, circle back to Dog Tale!

Sister Ray Davies Announce Holy Island

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I’m sure that the lads in Sister Ray Davies are tired of hearing how they’re channeling their own sound way down in Muscle Shoals, something that’s a far cry from the expectations. Heck, we’re guilty of it too, but if shoegaze is the new sound in Alabama, I’m here for it. The group just announced their new LP, which is accompanied by this fresh single that completely embraces the genre’s style in the traditional sense. From the get-go, the track has this rolling backbone, rhythmically getting the track going while the buzzsaw guitars echo; there’s a heaviness, but its balanced out by this light little sonic touch that seems to be a sparkling bit of sunshine through the clouds. I love where the vocals sit in the mix, more textural than most current acts, sending you tumbling through the atmospheric caverns the group have mustered. Really excited for Holy Island, which drops November 14th via Sonic Cathedral.

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