Swinging Bit of Pop from James Leonard Hewitson

jamesWhile James Leonard Hewiston admires the anti-pop of Adam Green and the likes, his newest single seems to lay more in the vein of maybe an Albert Hammond Jr.It’s got these huge distorted pop guitars swelling to meet the turn of the vocal notes in the chorus. The lyrics themselves are a touch redundant, but they serve a purpose in driving home the message of hope that seems to hang in Lewiston’s song here. This is the first in a slew of singles James has planned for you to enjoy as the year draws to a close (we’re halfway there!).

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Brand New Cosines Tune!

Cosines press copyWhile we’re all eagerly awaiting the next brilliant LP from Cosines, the band have been kind enough to record a stop-gap EP to hold fans over for the time being. Walking the line between jangle and pristine guitar ring, this first sample is five minutes of charming indiepop; the lyrics are clever, telling the story of a couple who never seem to have quite committed to one another, despite being madly in love. Honestly, I didn’t even notice this song ran on for so long because I was so wrapped up in it…that’s the best thing you can say about a song in my opinion. Take a listen below, and go grab the Transitions EP from the Fika Recordings Shop, home to many more delightful releases.

Spend Some Time with New King Creosote Video

KingCreosote460I’m a sucker for all things King Creosote, be it his work in conjunction with other artists like Jon Hopkins, scoring soundtracks or his own work, he’s an artist I won’t hesitate to indulge. Today he released this beautiful video for the newest single on his forthcoming album, Astronaut Meets Appleman. Everything about this track, from the video to the recording has me completely sucked in; I love the slight little bit of buzz from the guitar strings as they’re strummed. His continued expansion with string arrangements broadens the song, and although I wished for a one more vocal verse, I still found myself lost within the confines of the tune. The new LP will be out via Domino in September!

Did Someone Say Peaness?

peanessThere are some really reliable record labels that probably don’t get the adoration or attention they deserve, but with labels like Kingfisher Bluez, I always go back to see what they’re working on. The label recently put up some great tunes on their bandcamp…one of which comes from Peaness. The label is releasing a 7″, and the tunes they’ve got up are catchy as anything you’ll likely hear today…it sort of reminds me of Standard Fare, using sharp guitar cuts and a great female frontiedvocal. You’ll be able to grab your own before the 7″ is released at the end of July.

Mark Sultan Has a New 7″ Coming

marksultanMark Sultan probably gets a lot of cred for his work as BBQ, the counterpoint to King Khan, but he’s a pretty solid songwriter in his own write, and rather prolific too. For my two cents, I like the soulful swagger his tunes always carry; this song has a really catchy call-and-response aspect too. Starting off with a bluesy-funk, it smoothes out into a more R&B feel, touched up with a distorted bit of garage feel fleshed out by a little late-track jam. He’s set to embark on a US tour here in a few weeks, including an August Austin date (August 16th @ Barracuda), so be on the look out to see if he’s coming to your city; this track is the B-Side to a forthcoming 7″ from Chompazoid Records.

Stream Basketball Shorts Hot and Ready LP

basketballIf you’re in Austin, you surely were in attendance at the ridiculously rowdy (and fun) Basketball Shorts album release last week at Cheer Ups. But, unfortunately, not everyone lives in Austin, so we wanted to make sure that everyone got to hear the entirety of the bands new album, Hot and Ready, which we’re releasing with our friends at Fleeting Youth Records. It’s a pop-punk album, fueled with energy, hooks and pop culture references…so infectious you’ll play it again and again. You can buy it HERE, or grab it/stream it on iTunes and Spotify. You buy it from me, I’ll throw in a free copy of the 7″ by Big Bill, the arch enemy of Basketball Shorts. It’s super limited on clear vinyl with blue streaks.

Plus if you’re in Austin, the band plays a free show tonight at Vegan Nom, with free booze and good times promised.

Exciting New Music from Oh Well Goodbye

ohwellSometimes I get bored; it seems a lot of the music just blends together, repeating patterns and whatnot. But, that’s not the case with this new tune from Oh Well Goodbye. Opening with light guitar and a sort of spoken word repeated, it almost seems like a Scandinavian bit of post-punk. But, as the guitars evolve, the tones brighten and the vocal performance has a sense of longing that really pulls at your emotional earstrings. It’s part post punk, part great pop…and all worthy of your repeated listens. Cleanse your palate by turning this one up loud, and look for the Swoon 7″ very soon from Bleeding Gold Records.

 

ATX Spotlight: Strange Mother Releases EP

strangemomAustin’s Strange Mother has been on our radar since agreeing to be part of our Slack Capital Compilation, and we’ve now got another reason to celebrate the band, as they’ve just released the Young Buck EP. Honestly, there aren’t quite enough bands like this, claiming to call upon Selena, jazz and Marvin Gaye as their influences; it sounds like Zappa spun through modern textures with a hint of pop sensibility. None of the four songs spends too much time staying in one place, filling the tunes with varying textures. Songs take twists and turns, and with each move, your ears are pulled back listening for what’s next. Take a chance on something a little different, and stream this EP below.

Space Out To This New Suuns Video

In this day and age, it’s sort of a rarity that a music video will fully engage me for its complete duration. With this new video for “Instrument”from Canada’s Suuns, I find that this is not the case, as I’ve watched this a few times over. The electronic pulses and drones of Suuns music is perfectly accompanied by the black and white repetition of the simple video, and you will find yourself engrossed in the whole aesthetic of the clip. Sometimes, all you need is a brief reprieve into some other world, and this video for “Instrument” is sure to give you that. Also be sure to check out their albumHold/Stillwhich came out earlier this year on Secretly Canadian.

 

Keep It Local: New Video From Wildfires

I’ve been posting a lot about these folks from Wildfires, but when a band is on a roll, it’s pertinent that they get the attention they deserve. Wildfires have released a new video for a track off their upcoming EP, Aguas Frescas Pt. II and it’s a great way to fit a jam into your day. The video below, for “Undead Fun,” has fine green-screen technology, and…puppets, which will undoubtedly give you a laugh. Meanwhile, the song itself is a great shoe-gaze hit, with infectious jangly guitar riffs andgarage-rock vocals. Personally, I really love the way this song starts on the mild-side and then ramps up to close with a bit of a bite. Take a listen and thenget excited for that EP release, which is happening August 26th.

 

 

 

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