Category: Tunes

Nerd Pop from Quarterbacks

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qbsThis song’s been all over the Internet the last few days, so why not let your week get wrapped up with this undeniably catchy little bit of pop from Quarterbacks.  At first listen, the vocals imply that the track prescribes to modern jangle-pop touches, but the guitars aren’t quite that clean and angular, allowing for the band to create their own little musical space.  Honestly, the tune reminds me of the music I listened to during my early college years when I was a young uber twee fan, though the band still has tricks up their sleeve with the slow drawn closing. Look for their debut LP on February 10th via Team Love Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/03-Center.mp3]

Download: Quarterbacks – Center [MP3]

New Split from Joyce Manor and Toys That Kill

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borsSome bands just get a bad rap, and you know what, shame on me.  I always lumped Joyce Manor, and Toys That Kill for that matter, in that late-wave emo punk genre.  I was a second wave emo kid, so I really just discarded it by and large, but I just got in their new split for Recess Records, and these are just some really good rocking tunes.  Honestly, I don’t even know if I’d got so far as to call them punk rock; the TTK tune almost sounds like a bar band approach to the garage stylings of Jay Reatard.  Enough about me and my half-ass assumptions; stream these two jams.

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Touch of the Gaze from The Black Ryder

blackieThere are a ton of artists that have been able to rehash the shoegaze efforts, and some have done it quite well, though my ear thinks that this tune from The Black Ryder is precisely what I think of when I recall the genre.  Guitars craft this huge wall of sound that wraps itself tightly around the dense haze of Aimee Nash’s vocals.  That wall of noise echoes and rings while a deep drum beat pounds in the far off world the band created.  Look for them to release their new effort, The Door Behind the Door, on The Anti Machine Machine on February 24th.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Santaria.mp3]

Download: The Black Ryder – Santaria [MP3]

The Delphines Now Named No/No + New EP

dragEarlier this year I wrote about a discovery that really excited me, the Delphines.  Sadly, that group is no more; they had some line-up changes, namely in the vocal/lyricist department. Now the group, with new member Cat Ries are going by No/No, but the music they’re crafting is every bit as exciting as the old act, if not more so.  You’ll still hear indiepop tropes, though it seems to be spun in a darker manner, which adds another layer that should quickly gain the group a nice following. Help the band out by donating some funds when you grab the Drag EP from them on HERE.

Colleen Green Returns with New Album

clogreenA few years, Colleen Green was a hot commodity; she created quite a buzz rocking things out at SXSW as I remember.  Since then, things have been quiet for her, though I have a feeling that will change, as her new single is already being played left and right.  It’s definitely got that same playfulness that made her so endearing, playing to some distorted guitars that pulse and throb throughout the track.  You know that her new album, I Want to Grow Up, will be filled with infectious singles just like the one below; it comes out on February 24th via Hardly Art.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/04_Pay-Attention.mp3]

Download: Colleen Green – Pay Attention [MP3]

Two Show Preview: Gotobeds and Alvvays on Friday Night (11.21)

alThe weather’s been cold, and it’s not likely to get any better on Friday, but you’ll find some solace knowing there are two different shows indoors worth attending.  Those of you in the need for rock n’ roll, make your way over to Beerland for the Gotobeds.  They come into town having released the excellent Poor People Are Revolting, which you should have gotten. They’ll be joined by Mystic Inane and local heavyweights Empty Markets.  But, some of you look for a little bit of pop in your life, and you’ll be lucky to know that Alvvays and Absolutely Free bringing some joyous sounds to Red 7; it’s a $12 and indoors as well, so you can keep warm while you enjoy your tunes.  Just be sure to enjoy yourself, wherever you find your fun.

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Introducing American Wrestlers

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amThe folks over at Fat Possum Records are notorious for putting out records from excellent artists, so it should come as no surprise that they’ve got yet another great band to introduce to us. American Wrestlers is the name behind a Glasglow born gentleman who finds himself transplanted to The Good Old US of A, and now making tunes. The debut 7″ from him is due out on January 27th and features the song below, “I Can Do No Wrong,” and its got the perfect balance of gritty garage production as well as sweet melodically jangly guitars. The vocals are light and breathy, floating above the groovy instrumentation. It’s a wonderful track that I can’t seem to get enough of, so have a listen and rejoice in finding a new band to jam to.

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Playful Pop from Seagulls

gullsThere’s a certain little genre that perfectly wraps hints of garage and surf rock, spins them in a washer with traditional pop structures, and spits out great tunes.  It’s the sort of music that made me love our boys Shivery Shakes, but now I’d like you to take a nice listen to Seagulls. The band have been hard at work in a remote cabin, trying to make sure their debut is perfect.  If you listen to this track, you’re bound to think, like me, that the group is onto something special,which should make for a great listen when Great Pine is released on February 3rd via Yellow K Records.

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Here’s Another MOURN Single

mornYoung Spanish act MOURN burst into our world of awareness a few weeks ago when it was announced that the youngsters had just signed onto Captured Tracks.  Now we get another glimpse at the hot commodity coming from our Iberian friends.  You’ll hear a little quiver in the vocals, which reminds me of Screaming Females, though I think there’s a bounce and twang to the rest of the group that allows the band to stand on their own two legs. It definitely amazes me how a group so young can make tunes so accessible and in the now at such a young age.  You can grab MOURN next year in February.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/05-Otitis.mp3]

 

Acoustic Goodness from Alasdair Roberts

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alas

Alasdair Roberts is a Scottish singer/songwriter who has been around for quite some time bringing you classically Scottish gentle tunes. He’s back with a new album on the near horizon, featuring his classic style stripped down to acoustic. This self-titled album feels like its going to be a return to a celebration of roots and self– minimal musical elements accompany Roberts’ voice on the track below, leaving the meat of the song to be found in the vocal tenderness. The song is gentle and the songwriting detailed, as Roberts pulls you into his little world and spins a soothing song to ease your mind musically. Have a listen to “Artless One” below and get ready for the new album expected to come out from Drag City in January of 2015.

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