Category: News

Alec Andre Shares Dreams of You

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While the summer typically evokes sunshine and a bit of a pop bounce, I’m certainly not averse to falling into the depths of seasonal melancholy. That sentiment is precisely how Alec Andre‘s latest ballad swept me away. Andre has a sullen voice, at least in this presentation, though you can hear how he takes those heavy tones and churns them into something that stretches towards promise. I think this is where the song’s sentiment aligns magically, as he sweeps you away with hopes hanging from a solemn vocal; this is another tune that feels like it’s Richard Hawley adjacent, and I’m not mad at it. Look for the Dreams of You EP to hit later this year.

Last Week’s Jams (5.27 – 5.31)

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In one of those weeks that magically felt longer than it was, we managed to cover a fair amount of ground, cranking out coverage of at least 20 new tunes for you. Add to that B. Gray’s excellent Kilby Block Party footage and the Levitation Announcement, and, well, we seem like we have our shit together! I loved that there was new stuff from Ryli and Autocamper, both giving me little doses of my pop fix. There was a lot of new stuff, too, that scratched a different itch, with Fortunato Durutti Marinetti announcing a new LP, coinciding with a fresh track from the new Tropical Fuck Storm LP. A bit all over the map, but in the best way. Let us know what you loved the most.

TG Shand Releases The Deadpan Break

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When I clicked go on the new tune from New Zealand artist TG Shand, I found this solemnity in the opening moments; there’s this motorik beat, but it seems to be pushing full force into this mellow wash of atmosphere, like its struggling to gather pace. As Annemarie Duff’s voice enters the fray, the textures begin to take color, with light brushes of guitar and synthetics brushing against one another in the background. Duff’s voice, too, feels like a texture, light and capable of maneuvering between the beat and the coating of noise. And, as the song fades, it settles into this club groove, with a slightly more bold bass line and snappier drum rhythms, pushing the tune to its close.

Premiere: MK Naomi Revive the Emo Vibes

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Our past emo selves continue to emerge here in the ATH offices as many new bands keep hitting us with those past life vibes. For many of us, myself included, those mid-west days never truly left and I am loving the emergence of new groups like Boston’s MK Naomi who not only carry the torch, yet evolve and grow the sound. New single “Wasserland,” as example, certainly has a Rainer Maria, pop emo feeling, but also adds in these lovely vocal harmonies and tight drum fills to create something fresh. Keep these coming!

Say hi to MK Naomi on IG or pre-order their new EP Dream Hiss on bandcamp. It’s out on June 20th and comes in a fancy purple cassette version!

Sea Dramas Release Every Problem Created for Us

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Here were are on a Friday with another single from a San Francisco band, although Sea Dramas are taking the whole “fog pop” sound into their own hands, channeling a mix of baroque crooners into their sound. At times, you can grab wisps of acts like the Clientele, especially if you jump into “Brooding Teenagers;” it reminds me of something Richard Hawley would write, backed by these sweeping arrangements that elevate the bedroom croon. There’s this cool heaviness throughout the record too, at least in mood, as each tune has a bit of a shadow hanging over it, challenging the pop constructs, and in that, the juxtaposition only adds to the charm. Every Problem Created for Us is out today via Royal Oakie Records.

Slackin Beats Shares Full Mind

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After a week of torrential storms and end of school activities on my end, I felt like I needed something to get me grounded this Friday, so luckily had this new Slackin Beats track to kind of kick into the weekend (and my official summer break!). It jumps in with this almost march, using the percussive element to set the beat before allowing the vocals to do their work atop the march and added percussive grooves. Just as you hit the 1 minute mark, the tune drops into magnificence, spinning with a more celebratory mood and a different vocal texture that seduces the listener. A little downtempo electro never hurt nobody, and if you’re digging it, keep your ears out for a the debut LP from the Swedish producer.

Will Johnson Joins Magnolia Electric Co for New 7″

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Will Johnson looks to be keeping himself fairly busy this year, having just released the excellent Diamond City, and now he’s teaming up with members of Magnolia Electric Co. for a Magnolia & Johnson 7″ and Tour. As the two team up, they’ll release a 7″ version of a Jason Molina track, then flip over to find a Will penned tune; both artists played/wrote together before Molina’s passing, so this seems an apt project. But, today (and yesterday for those on their game), the new team released a version of “The Big Beast” from the 2005 Trials and Errors LP. With Johnson on the vocals, there’s a bit more of a growl to it, encouraging the band to fire up some of those guitars and let things burn behind him. The 7″ comes out this September courtesy of Keeled Scales, with a brief bit of dates confirmed for Texas around the same time!

KBP6: Saturday in Photos

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OK, I may have lied about Friday being the biggest gallery from Kilby Block Party. Saturday was another super busy day for the me at the fairgrounds.

On the agenda and in order of appearance in the giant gallery to follow are Sloppy Jane, Friko, Jelani Aryeh, George Clanton, Sasami, Panda Bear, IDKHOW, Toro Y Moi, (a cameo by) OVLOV, Gang of Four (featuring Ted Leo on guitar), Wallows, (another cameo by) The Black Angels and finally, WEEZER. As usual, I’ll be sharing a few thoughts on the day after the break. Let’s just say there was some chaos, some calm, some vibes and some nostalgia.

Please join me for some fake virtual reality by clicking through…

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Levitation 2025 Is Here

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If I’m being honest, Levitation might have outdone themselves this year, and with that, you better get your hands on tickets, as this one might be selling out. I mean, Pavement, Mastodon and TV on the Radio are the headliners…and that’s just getting the bill started. There are acts like Built to Spill and Brian Jonestown Massacre and UMO next on the poster. But, there is some new things rolling out; they’re changing their downtown home and returning a proper festival to Palmer Events Center…right near the grounds of the legendary Fun Fun Fun Fest, so we’ll be interested to see how it all lines up. Check out information and tickets HERE.

 

New Modern Nature LP On the Way

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Jack Cooper has been rather omnipresent in the music scene of the last decade or so, being a key component in Ultimate Painting before pulling away to focus on Modern Nature. Their last LP was in 2023, and now there is news that we’ll get The Heat Warps at the end of this summer. Our first listen has the band repositioning their approach, taking grooves and riding them out into expressions of emotion, then staying stationary in hopes of letting that feeling sink into the soul of the listener. In a way, it reminds me of a sort of combination of Low and Fugazi, sort of taking music as meditation, then splicing in album themes through little clips of lyrics. Should be a definite staple of your listening this week; The Heat Warps hits August 29th via Bella Union.

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