New Rocker From The Orwells

What happens when you get 5 high school aged kids from Chicago together to form a band that doesn’t seem to care if you like their music or not?  Well that my friends is what you get in The Orwells.  It’s funny because their story reads like a modern day version of The Strokes, not to mention that they are often compared to the band and they cite them as an influence.  This song below “Mallrats (La La La La)” will give you a brief taste of that “don’t give a shit” attitude that’s sure to make them great in the long run.  The band seems passionate and driven much like any young band should be and have seemingly created their very own version of gritty rock n roll tunes.  A debut album from the teens will be available on August 7th and is called Remember When.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/02-Mallrats-La-La-La.mp3]

Download: The Orwells – Mallrats (La La La) [MP3]

Deep Time – Deep Time

Rating: ★★★½☆

Working to cover the music scene in a town like Austin can sometimes be a bit much, and the sad truth is, you sometimes don’t give much attention to deserving bands.  Personally, I feel like all of Austin has largely ignored the continuous rise of Deep Time (the artists formerly known as Yellow Fever). Based on the music alone, their self-titled debut for Hardly Art Records, that should definitely change.

Immediately the duo of Jennifer Moore and Adam “not Pacman” Jones make their presence felt.  “Bermuda Triangle” features an opening angular guitar knife, before the rolling rhythm moves into the track.  Moore’s vocals loom large here, especially with her coy delivery of “oooohs.”  It’s a minimal sound for sure, with the band keeping things to the basics, but they add slight finishing touches here and there that bring the songs to life, such as on “Sgt. Sierra” where light keyboard/bell sounds come in and out of the track.

For the most part, this is the group’s formula, and while it’s not necessarily the most inventive out there, it’s a formula that functions well throughout the duration of Deep Time. Listening to a track like “Homebody” you can’t help but to fall for the way Jones rolls in with his drums, perfectly accenting Moore’s vocal delivery.  While her sharp vocal jabs are often more prominent, I really enjoy the warmth of her voice when it’s steady, as fans of her old band The Carrots can attest to I’m sure. One listen to the chorus here of “who cares if you never go home” and you’ll have as much appreciation for Deep Time as I do. There’s always this underlaying steadiness to the group’s songs that might go unnoticed, but maintaing a constant level of cool is difficult to do throughout an entire record, but they definitely accomplish that feat marvelously.

You can listen to “Gilligan,” which has sort of an abstract reference to the television show, and really appreciate the songwriting capabilities, particularly if you’re listening to the guitar work and the chorus.  These might be my favorite moments on the whole record itself, but that’s one man’s opinion.  And through it all, the band is still pushing themselves sonically; you’ll notice this when you listen to the album’s bookend track, “Horse.”  This is perhaps the most diverse track on the whole record, with changing paces, switching directions, and even a hint of a galloping horse…let’s hope the the band keeps pushing themselves like this.

At times, the duo walks the line of tedium, but they’re able to get beyond that on this self-titled effort by sheer talent alone.  Moore and Jones have always played well together, and changing their name to Deep Time isn’t going to change that.  All in all, it’s a pretty artful record, filled with ambition and creativity that any listener should be able to enjoy.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/05-Homebody.mp3]

Download:Deep Time – Homebody [MP3]

New Jam from Cult of Youth

I get it, I get it, the day is almost over.  But, as I’m slowly making my way back to the rest of the world after hours away from the Net, I caught this wonderful Cult of Youth track.  I loved the group’s self-titled debut, especially considering the vocals of leader Sean Ragon have a definite punk leaning. Still, one of the things I appreciate the band, and it’s apparent on the following track is that the group’s not really a punk band.  In fact, they’re almost more of a folk band with dabblings in psych rock and punk.  At times you can find energetic tunes in their recording, but you also find solemn gems like this tune.  Look for more great songs on the bands up-coming record, Love Will Prevail, on September 4th via Sacred Bones.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/01-Man-and-Mans-Ruin-1.mp3]

Download:Cult of Youth – Man and Man’s Ruin [MP3]

Show Review: King Tuff @ Red7 (7/9)

I had back to back nights this week of the louder beer-throwing types. The first show was at Red7 featuring King Tuff as the headliner of a four band blast of in your face southern rock tinged punk. The King brought along Natural Child, who killed as an opener for Hunx, and asked locals The Vomettes and The Best to open.

There was a little crowd surfing towards the end of the night, everyone departing sweaty and satisfied.

Thoughts and pics if you click the Read More. Do it.

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New Jam From Taken By Trees

Wow, this new song “Dreams” by lovely lady Victoria Bergsman, a.k.a. Taken By Trees, is one mighty fine piece of work.  The song somehow manages to get better each time I listen to it with its building reggae-esque rhythm section and breezy guitar parts.  You also have to mention the always lovely voice of Bersgman and her simple yet still perfect approach to delivery.  This song appears on a 12″ EP of same name that will feature some extended instrumentals and remixes along with this fancy new track.  That 12″ will be out August 7th on Secretly Canadian.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Taken-By-Trees-Dreams.mp3]

Taken By Trees – Dreams

Stream Voyeur Album from Saint Motel Here!

Long have we praised the work of Saint Motel, so we’re pleased to offer the album stream for the band’s newest record, Voyeur (the album is out now!).  They’ve been generous enough to let us share it with you, but if you’re generous, you’ll pick up the physical copy, which features moving eyes in the sleeve! It’s pretty much a clever pop record that begs to be played again and again, and we’re also happy to announce we’ll be sponsoring the group’s show when they come to Austin on August 4th at Stubbs!  You can listen to the album stream HERE, and don’t forget to support the bands we love–and you love too! In case you forgot how much fun you could have jamming to this band, here’s a sample tune that’s also on the album stream.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Puzzle-Pieces.mp3]

Download:Saint Motel – Puzzle Pieces [MP3]

New Soul Track from Cody Chesnutt

So we don’t always branch too far out with our musical tastes, but we probably listen to far more than we let on…RayRay is really into the Killers this week.  Personally, I’m just really excited by this new Cody Chesnutt track that popped up.  I’ve been a fan of Cody’s since he first released “Look Good in Leather,” which still makes its way onto my playlists; he’s got hooks and an old school feel I can’t get out of my head.  He’s working on a new album titled Landing on a Hundred, and you can help him put it out by donating HERE. It might not be for everybody, but it’s definitely for me; I already donated!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/codychesnutt_-_thatsstillmama.mp3]

Download: Cody Chesnutt – Thats Still Mama [MP3]

 

Twin Shadow – Confess

Rating: ★★★★☆

Big hair, high-waist jeans and new wave pop are all things that belong to the eighties, right? Wrong. These are all things that aren’t hard to find at present, but unlike the first two on that list, George Lewis Jr. brings his take on eighties new wave to the present with a sleek soulfulness that makes for a plain sexy record in Confess.

From the album title, it’s apparent that this is going to be somewhat of an intimate work, and Lewis does not disappoint on this aspect through his prominently poetic songwriting about his trials of love, or lack thereof. On “Golden Light,” the opening track, this front man seems to be modeling his music after other pop giants of the eighties and so the focus rests on his vocals. Waves of synthesizer back him up, interchanging with other electronic elements that build the drama of the music up to the chorus, where it jumps to Lewis belting. It’s an interesting start, as it definitely introduces listeners to his style, but it doesn’t make a lot of bold steps, which all seem to fall later on the album.

Things begin to really pick up from the third track, “Five Seconds,” and from here, Confess flies by in a frenzy of dance-inducing dramatic synthesizer saturated music. “Five Seconds” bursts into action with its memorable electric guitar sound dueling with Lewis’ clear tones, which confess “I don’t believe in you/you don’t believe in me,” and while we are introduced to the idea that love hasn’t come easy for the protagonist of these songs, (“I can’t get to your heart”) we are treated to a delightful track birthed from these woes. Up next is a sinister number in “Run My Heart” which features another explosive chorus from Lewis. He starts out low, and then bellows “This isn’t love,” laden with plenty of emotion and self-assurance and once again, he’ll have you trying to keep up with him through his denunciation of a love and love in general.

But, like a true confession, this album isn’t entirely devoted to bashing love; there seems to be some conflicting feelings about the subject, which can be found on “The One.” This track offers another side in which the protagonist’s love is real and devoted to one person with “something special” about them. In addition to this new dimension, the song has a groovy bass line and faster rhythm that provides for another hit. Such is the rest of the songs; they battle back and forth with how they approach the subject of love, turning into a dramatic pop toss up, but you won’t find a number that is less than interesting.

At ten tracks in length, Confess may seem like a small record at first perception, but after your first listen, it’s apparent that this is a bigger work than it seems to be. So give it a spin and soak up some new-new wave, you may just find yourself dancing right along.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/fiveseconds.mp3]

Download: Twin Shadow – Five Seconds [MP3]

Announcing Bloody Knives Beerland Residency

We’ve got to get out and support local Austin bands people.  I know, we all live here and love the music, and go to our fair amount of shows, but I feel like the attendees for great Austin acts have dwindled in recent years–unfortunately. Well, now’s your chance to rectify that, and get out to Beerland this Thursday to support the July residency of Bloody Knives.  They may not be the most well known band…yet, but their live shows are phenomenal, and the music just as good (if not better).  It’s time for us to back up our talk and get out to more local shows, so you know we’ll be here.  If you can’t make it this Thursday, it’s sort of okay, because you can plan ahead and make it to next weeks show, again, at Beerland.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/09-Bleed-Out.mp3]

Download:Bloody Knives – Bleed Out [MP3]

New Pop Number from Pale Sunday

It’s already been a great year for our friends over at Matinee Recordings, having released the new Cats on Fire and several great EPs.  And they’re at it again with a new EP from Brazil’s Pale Sunday.  The title for the release is The Fake Stories About You and Me, and you can grab it from the label right now.  Gentle pop music seems to be the group’s specialty, and you can see similarities to the great Teenage Fanclub, but personally I think that things on this listen are a lot softer–in an endearing way of course.  Find yourself falling in love with this new track…it’s easy to do.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Happy.mp3]

Download:Pale Sunday – Happy (When You Lived Here)  [MP3]

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