Literature – Chorus

litRating: ★★★★☆

Back in 2012, Literature should have made your radar with Arab Spring, their debut LP that ATH Records helped put out. If somehow you managed to miss that gem of a first record, not to worry, the four gents are back to give you another opportunity to fall in love with their jangly guitar centric rock music. One listen and you’ll be devoid of excuses not to be smitten with Chorus and this band.

At the risk of sounding cheesy, I’m going to liken this album to those instances in your life, or in the movies when everything around slows for a second in a moment of golden enlightenment. For the twenty-nine minutes that Chorus lasts you are swept away in a fury of glittering and shimmering tunes. Each song has a pearlescent quality to it—the guitar licks ripple and glide with each other in endless loops while the percussion is like the foam on the edge of the waves of synth as they crash in. The album on a whole has the golden vibe, but there are also some extra special standouts that will have you instantly wanting to replay them over again.

A few of these songs that have got me especially hooked are back-to-back middle of the album stunners “Court/Date” and “New Jacket.” The first of these two songs starts with an infectious guitar riff that peels right through the center stage, then you have Nathan Cardaci’s voice that comes in deep and rich, but gets pushed to its peak as his voice weaves in and out of the instrumentation. The drums never stop, constantly simmering and then breaking into this epic deep rolling builds during the choral hook. Before you know it you’re on to “New Jacket,” which is less power from the start and more of a tune that builds at its end. There are still the glitter guitars from the start and Cardaci’s breathy hazed vocals, but the guitars feel passive until the song grows and grows to the last minute of the track. Really, I had a hard time critiquing and describing these two tracks as they are so infectious that I would start to play them and have the phenomenon of getting lost jamming.

Thirty minutes comes and goes, but like the movie montages, it’s somehow the apt amount of time for everything to happen; Literature don’t overstay their golden moment. Despite the vast majority of the tracks bordering on spastically fast, the speed of this record works perfectly with the music they have created. Yes, the record is brief, catchy and straightforward, but frankly I feel like the music scene these days could use more records like this to get lost in.

Alvvays – s/t

LPjacket-finalRating: ★★★★☆

The kids these days seem intent on putting v’s in place of other letters that aren’t v’s. While I don’t really understand this phenomenon, I can get behind the jangly indie pop tunes that Toronto band Alvvays have collected and put together on this release. A nice blend of sunny summer sounding songs coupled with Molly Rankin’s sugary and youthful vocals are sure to get you on board with this bound to be buzz band.

This album starts with the two singles that the group has already presented to the public, but these are just the beginning. “Adult Diversion” gets things rolling with dueling guitar parts that interact with each other, bouncing off the different riffs. The drums are choppy and concise, though fuzzy in their recorded quality, almost as if recorded in a different room. At first it gives out this surf rock vibe, and then Rankin’s voice joins the mix and gives it that vaguely 1950’s girl band sound. Her voice mimics the guitar patterns for the choral hook, and is joined by other members of the band for the build to the chorus; it’s a playful vocal part, but not quite as playful as observed on the next track. “Archie, Marry Me,” is one of the catchiest songs you’ll find on the album, immediately pulling you into the Alvvays light if the first track didn’t. Rankin pushes her voice all over the place through the song, giving the sound that will have it stuck on repeat in your head all day.

Later on you get deeper into the album, with tunes like “Party Police,” and “Atop a Cake,” that keep it groovy, but also have viable narratives to follow and interest you in addition to the instrumentation. Personally, I can’t help but notice the similarities in between this band and groups like La Sera and Best Coast though with a twist of garage rock that gives it a heavier sound than either of these groups presents. “Party Police” has this melancholic vibe to it, the pleading in the vocals give it a sound of sincerity and also a deep sadness that permeates the whole song and steps the album down to a personal level.

At only nine songs in length, this self-titled album is short and sweet, albeit not too much of either of these traits. Often, it seems hard for bands like this one to strike a balance between their genre of golden indie pop and detailed songwriting, but Alvvays have blended these two qualities quite well. These nine tracks make for great company while you’re trying to shake it in the summer heat, but the softer and more delicate numbers and the refined lyrics have all the makings of longevity.

 

Thus Far….Albums of 2014.5

docIt’s still rather early in the year to start talking about best records of the year and what not, but as we’re midway through 2014, every one is doing it…so why not join in the fun.  But, with this in mind, remember that these lists are arbitrary, and if anything, pretty meaningless in the long run; you never know if your thoughts will change in six months…and really, they’re just like, our opinions man.  We’ll have two sections…one for national albums and another section of Austin albums released up to this point in 2014.   Read more

Fresh Music from Space Heat

coverNow that summer heat and summer showers have made their way into Austin, I’m always looking for something that’s going to pique my interest beyond the average fare.  That’s precisely what happened when I got this new track from Space Heat, who’ve just released the brand new Happy Birthday EP via the reliable Bleeding Gold Records.  There’s a jangling aspect to the guitar work and a certain affectation of swinging about when you put this tune on your stereo.  The EP only has three tracks, and all offer something a bit different, though I think this is the tune that’s probably the most accessible for larger audiences.  Take a listen.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Space-Heat-BG078-Happy-Birthday-02-Starsign.mp3]

Download: Space Heat – Starsign [MP3]

On the Road: Shivery Shakes Tour Diary (Part 3 & 4)

Campfire_Chapel HillWe’re continuing our series with our friends in Shivery Shakes, wrapping up their stories from the road.  Since the end of their tour hit the weekend, we held on to both of their later entries to combine them into two.  We’ve got words from William, and Andrew, so check out how the road has treated these lads.  They’re back in town now, so hopefully we’ll have a nice little wrap-up of their experiences, but for now, check their latest entries.   Read more

Contemplative Track From Roman Ruins

IMG_3424.JPGWhile scouring the interwebs for new tunes, I just came across this interesting and beautiful track from Roman Ruins called “Loved One”.  It’s a song that starts out slow, but keep on listening, a nice and steady beat drops in to create some special moments throughout the tune.  Somehow, it keeps getting better and better with each and every listen.  Maybe you’ll find something to like as well.

Get your hands on new album Prime on July 15th via Gold Robot Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/01-Loved-One.mp3]

Download: Roman Ruins – Loved One [MP3]

Web of Sunsets – Room of Monsters

webofsunRating: ★★★★☆

This three piece from Minneapolis are fairly new to Web of Sunsets, but each member is not new to being in a band. The culmination of members from three different bands, this group originated in 2012 and began to create their take on ‘acid country,’ or what you might consider psychedelic soft folk rock. Room of Monsters, their debut full-length release, will have you swooning over dreamy soundscapes and delicate arrangements.

What’s special about the sound that is presented to you on Room of Monsters is the cohesive and smooth nature of all the nine songs on the record. There’s a general golden haze that coats the whole thing in a bath of twilight. Starting from “Wildflowers,” the opening track, you get the twang of the guitars coated in reverb and a ton of ambient noise generated by a synth and perhaps the soft twinkle of a keyboard. There’s a nice balance of acoustic folk sound that is mediated by electric guitar riffs echoing in the background. The vocals themselves, raspy to match the haze of the instrumentation, are also sugary on this first number; the feminine sweetness as well as their ghostly warbles simultaneously juxtapose and compliment the twang of the guitars. The result is an immediate hook to the music, enchanting you to keep listening.

This isn’t the only dynamic offered to you—on the contrary, each of the three members seem to trade the role of lead from song to song, sometimes grouping together for harmonies to grace the chorus of a song. Take the title track for example, “Room of Monsters, ”which comes to you in the middle of the album—we get Chris Rose’s vocals leading the way, but the ladies of the band join him for the group vocals. Though the sound is beautiful and delicate, there’s an interesting aspect of eerie that seems to haunt the album. It’s the odd sensation of being on the whole comfortable with a cool breeze, though it still gives you goosebumps; the haunting resonance of this group is sure not to leave you.

Oddly enough, despite the lack of percussion as well as variety on this album, I don’t find myself bored or sick of the sound when it comes to a close. The constantly rotating lead vocals and precision harmonies keep it from getting stale or uninteresting. Instead you have Room of Monsters, a stunning debut from this three piece that will have you lost in its elegant simplicity, akin to a radiant sunset.

SXSW 2014 Interview: John Wesley Coleman

John Wesley Coleman IIIFor those of you living outside of Austin, please pay attention.  For those of you already here, you’re hopefully familiar with Austin’s John Wesley Coleman.  His solo work and his work with The Golden Boys remain a constant in this city, and we briefly caught up with him to get a few words before he starts playing all over town.  Check out what he had to say in response to our questions. Read more

The Austin Music Blogger Awards: My Prerogative

musicThe Austin Music Blogger Awards is this Thursday, and it’s arriving with a little controversy via This Post by music icon, Gerard Cosloy.  Reflecting upon my options, I wasn’t sure what to do.  I was even advised to leave it alone because he’s the guy that put out the Pavement records.  But, I’m from Austin, and I’ve been part of this music scene far longer than Gerard has lived here, so I feel its best if I take a few moments of my day to explain my perspective on the events…and perhaps even respond to a bunch of Mr. Cosloy’s points.  Read more

SXSW 2014 Interview: The Rich Hands

richhands“Have never checked that out but seems like it would be pretty cool!” Yo, this is what I’m talking about! SXSW Interviews.  This is one of the great things about SXSW; you get to discover brand new bands to love and adore. Perhaps one of those bands will be the Rich Hands, the Texas trio who seem to be working as hard as they can to get as many dates lined up for you as possible during the week. They have at least seven shows, so check out what they had to say, and try to hunt them down during the festival (their tour dates are at the bottom). Read more

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