Slow Jam from Secret Boyfriend

secretboyfriendredoI’m not sure what all the monikers in the musical world really mean, aside from things like psych rock, but if I were to label something as “dark wave,” I’d hope that it sounds exactly like this new single from Secret Boyfriend.  It’s the one-man project of Ryan Martin, and while the music definitely has this dark electronic touch to it, there’s this really gentle undertone that’s delivered by way of the vocals.  It’s not a full on juxtaposed composition, but it illustrates the varied sound you can come to expect when This Is Always Where You’ve Lived comes out on December 9th via Blackest Ever Black.

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Austin Spotlight: Jess Williamson

jessJust so the world of Austin musicians doesn’t hate us, we’re not just into the rock n’ roll stylings of our fair city.  Personally, I love all sorts of different stuff, but right now I’m really enjoying the music of Austin’s own Jess Williamson.  I love her ornate style of finger-picking the banjo, and her unique control of her pipes.  It’s a bit odd, but in that endearing sort of way that makes the boys (and girls) swoon.  She’s set to release her new record, Native State, on January 28th via Brutal Honest, and if it’s all this carefully orchestrated, then it’ll definitely catch the ears of those in Austin, and hopefully beyond.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/02-Native-State.mp3]

Download: Jess WIlliamson – Native State [MP3]

Dance & Drift with Gardens & Villa

dunesThe California based Gardens & Villa have always had this underlying electronic influence in their music, even though they’re often labeled as a band with folk influences (see flute solo below), and that aspect is pushed even further on the latest single released from the band.  There’s a natural groove to the song, fitting perfectly with the high pitch of the vocals on the tune.  Their new record is titled Dunes, and it’s going to see a February 4th release from Secretly Canadian.  This is like a less-pretentious version of what Arcade Fire seems to be doing…which in the end makes it pretty enjoyable.  I’m going to enjoy this jam for the rest of the day.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/120303281″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Student Teachers Get Re-Release!

ST_PubPhoto-660x439Man, everyone is getting re-released these days, which is actually quite alright with me, as this latest re-release is sort of dear to my heart.  My favorite time period is probably the late 70s NYC, or Lawrence in the late 90, but will stick with the former for now.  The Student Teachers were one of those underground acts that I only heard about; I knew I’d probably like them considering all the bands they’d played with, and that one of Blondie’s members helped record their stuff.  While I’m harping on this whole NYC punk bent, you’ve got to hear the single they’ve re-released to get you acquainted with their music.  It’s definitely not punk, though there’s still that outsider affinity.  Seems like a natural bridge between Bowie and NY…to me anyways.  So, if you like what you hear, you can grab the Invitation to The Student Teachers from Nacional Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/04-Looks.mp3]

Download: The Student Teachers – Looks [MP3]

 

Show Preview: The Besnard Lakes @ Red 7 (11.22)

besnardlakes

Date Friday, November 22nd
Location Red 7
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets $14 from Transmission


You’ll find a ton of shows in town on Friday, including the hipster-approved Miley Cyrus, I mean CHVRCHES, but here’s a show for those who are looking for something a little far left of the dial.  Canada’s Besnard Lakes are the headliners on the night, offering up their blend of indie meets psych meets folk meets jam.  Then you’ll have the band that I think cold steal the show, Elephant Stone.  They’re another Canadian act that have been on my list of reliable group’s for some time now; you should check out their most recent self-titled album.  And, as an added bonus, you get local opener, The Boxing Lesson.  So, if you’re not going to Cass McCombs, and you don’t like Miley Cyrus, then this is definitely going to be a good place to find yourself Friday night.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/The-Besnard-Lakes-People-of-the-Sticks.mp3]

Download: The Besnard Lakes – People of the Sticks [MP3]

Heavy Tune From The Casket Girls

SONY DSCMan I’ve really been feeling this new track “Same Side” from Savannah based outfit The Casket Girls.  It’s been on my short “for my eyes only” playlist over the last day or so and I can’t seem to get enough.  I dig the heaviness of the song mixed in the almost angelic like vocals coming from leading vocalists, and sisters, Phaedra and Elsa Greene.  Check it out and tell me you’re not enjoying it as much as me.

Check out the group’s new album, True Love Kills the Fairy Tale, due out February 11th on Graveface Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/01-Same-Side.mp3]

Download: The Casket Girls – Same Side [MP3]

Moonface – Julia With Blue Jeans On

MOONFACE-JULIARating: ★★★½☆

Spencer Krug, known for his other group efforts, Sunset Rubdown and Wolf Parade among the many, also does solo work on his own under the moniker, Moonface. For a few years now, Krug has used this project for home-recorded experimentation, somehow creating even more tunes that don’t fit into any of his other works. On Julia With Blue Jeans On, Krug is stripped and simple, consisting of piano and vocals, and he lets his songwriting do the talking in this facet of his musical talent.

Opening the album is dark and sinister, “Barbarian,” if you are no stranger to Krug’s brilliant writing, then you’ll find yourself right at home in this slightly self deprecating opener. The piano is even, at first, and juxtaposes nicely with Krug’s deepset yelp of a voice that offers you the deepest of confessions. Though cryptic, the vocalist sings about being not only a “barbarian, but sometimes a lamb upon your altar,” bringing together these two contradicting ideas in the same line of the song. This song starts the record with a swirling wind of darkness with breaks of meandering piano that keep it from getting too dark too quickly, though I doubt that would be an entirely bad thing for Moonface.

Soon you’ll find that Julia With Blue Jeans On is simultaneously delicate and violent work: one moment in a song you’ll think you have found a reserved Krug, and the next he is banging away at the piano in angst. Take title track for example—sixth in the lineup, it hits you a little more than halfway through the whole album. Soft piano and half falsetto’ed vocals lead you through the number, slowly breaking to a whispered repeat of “Julia as beautiful and simple as the sun.” Though the track doesn’t end here and Krug brings things back in with almost manic sounding pressure on the keys, twisting to a sinister note, with the vocals rising to meet the intensity of the piano. The result is beautiful and tragic—possibly my favorite moment of the album.

In the end, you must take Julia With Blue Jeans On with a bit of a grain of salt. By that I don’t mean to discredit Mr. Krug in the slightest, by this mean to say that this album is very much just a man and his piano. There is nothing wrong with this, on the contrary it is enjoyable and emotive, but it’s only at certain moments that it means a lot more—the culmination of songwriter and his instrument combine to create something special and magical.

FFF8 in Pictures – Sunday Edition

King KhanSlow rolling is now done, though I think we may put up a PYAITK version of FFF8 coverage. FFF9 info is pending and you can recommend artists to the festival honchos.

But for now, you get to peep a ton of bad ass festival pics from a couple Sundays back. This edition features Cayucas, The Men, XXYYXX, Dennis McCoy, PLG, Matt Hoffman, Washed Out, Dismemberment Plan, Deltron 3030, MGMT, Bonobo, Slayer and King Khan with just enough crowd shots that you could be a star!

Click past the break people…

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Great New Tune From Angel Olsen

511I hope you’ll enjoy this great new tune  called “Forgiven/Forgotten” coming your way from female rocker Angel Olsen.  Now at times, some might try to say that the ladies can’t rock with their male counterparts, but I’d say that this tune begs to differ.  It’s a great, washed out, rock n rollin’ number that’s worthy of repeat listens.

New album, Burn Your Fire For No Witness, is due out February 18th on JagJaguWar Records.

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Noisy Jam from Thunders

thundersI feel like I’ve been taking it easy with my listening lately, pushing lots of softer jams your way.  But, I figured I’d change that up and give you guys a listen to Thunders. The band is offering up this crunchy bit of noisy pop rock as the first single to their record Weird Spines White Trash Whatever, which will be release in January via Maximum Pelt.  I dig the fact that the band is operating around this truly pop-centric musical form, but they’ve just opted to turn up the noise all around the track, making things more fun for us all.  You like your rock noisy? Come no further.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/01-Noasis.mp3]

Download: Thunders – Noasis [MP3]

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