More New Music From Crushed Stars

As previously reported, Crushed Stars has a new LP entitled The Bright Rain due out March 6th on Simulacra Records.  I’ve already received an advance copy of the album and have been thoroughly enjoying the superb songwriting and simple yet still mesmerizing vocals.  Prior to that release date next month, here’s another new song to tide you over “Window”.  I hope you see where I’m coming from.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/07-Window-1.mp3]

Download: Crushed Stars – Window [MP3]

Show Preview: Islands @ St. David’s Church (2/17)

Date 2/17/12
Location St. David’s Church
Doors 8pm
Tickets $13 @ Frontgate

Man Friday is really shaping up as one of those nights in Austin with so many live music choices that your head just might explode.  One can’t miss choice would be getting some tickets to see now legendary indie band Islands at St. David’s Church downtown.  Not only is the venue a once in a lifetime type deal, Nick has always been one of the best front men in the game.  Opening support is provided by Idiot Glee.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Islands_-_This_Is_Not_a_Song.mp3]

Download: Islands – This Is Not a Song [MP3]

New Music From Cribs

English rockers The Cribs just shared this new jammin’ tune “Chi-Town” with the internet world yesterday.  It’s a fairly no nonsense old school rock and roll song that doesn’t mess about.  Fans of the band should looks toward May 8th when Cribs will release their new album Bull on Wichita Records.  Ya dig?

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

Download: The Cribs – Chi-Town [MP3]

The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever Know

Rating: ★★★☆☆

A brief synopsis of the Twilight Sad has some ups and downs.  They burst onto the scene with the explosive Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters, filled with squalling guitars and blissful pop.  But, then they took an odd side-step with Forget the Night Ahead, which was a more straightforward approach.  Now, officially three albums into their career with No One Can Ever Know, the band is still treading the darker side of humanity, just with much more polished edges and electronic flourishes.

James Graham’s vocals have always been a vital part of the Twilight Sad, and it takes the lead on opener “Alphabet.”  More important, however, is that the guitars work that made the band such a bombastic group is now being replaced by shades of electronics, at least in the foreground of this track.  You can’t claim that this is a poor track, but the absence of the dynamics that flourished early in the band’s career really aren’t present on No One Can Ever Know. Still, with Graham’s prowess, it’s hard to dislike anything the band puts together.  “Sick” almost feels like it’s utilizing some of the electronic playfulness we found on Kid A or Amnesiac, combining grooves, beats and strengthened vocals. Just one listen to the chorus and you’ll surely find yourself fawning over this number.

Even though it’s easy to see the differences from album one to album three, the band’s not completely lacking energy on this effort.  In “Another Bed” you’ll find a pulsating rhythm brooding beneath the number, and melded with further electronic swaths that cut through the track.  Similarly, “Don’t Move” uses the same stylistic accompaniment, although the pounding of the drums definitely provides hints of a darker force just waiting to explode on No One Can Ever Know.  Yet, there’s something amiss, even as you see the band is aided by their craftsmanship. The whole of the record feels really sterile, and lacking a bit of passion, which drew me to the band long ago.  “Kill It in the Morning” is perhaps the only track of the collection that really sees Graham pushing himself, and it doesn’t arrive until the end.  But, you should definitely give it a listen as there’s hints of Trent Reznor in the production of the song; the ending where it drops off and you get Graham again is also a special moment.  You just get the feeling that the band is capable of so much more.

For what it’s worth, No One Can Ever Know is an enjoyable listen, and one that brand new fans will surely appreciate.  But, followers of The Twilight Sad might be a bit disheartened by the listen, as the group still seems like they’re trying to find their footing in the current musical landscape.  I appreciate the dark quality musically and lyrically, but it’s placed too simply, lacking much of the force you know the band is capable of producing.  Perhaps this is just a stepping stone to greater ambitions, and only time will tell. For now, we can be pleased, just not blown away.

Brand New Jam from FIDLAR

I first wrote about LA’s FIDLAR back in May of last year, so I was really excited to find a new track in ye olde inbox today.  Apparently, the band’s got another 7″ planned for March 13th, and we’ve got the one of the tracks for your listening pleasure.  This jam definitely finds them treading the same water as their bretheren in bands liks Jeff the Brotherhood, but you can definitely here a bit of the Cali touch in the way the vocals come across.  If you need a track to blast on a nice sunny day, then you better get this song and turn it up loud, as that’s the only way to rock!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/01_No_Waves.mp3]

Download: FIDLAR – No Waves [MP3]

Coutnry-Fied Jam from Juston Stens

Juston Stens used to spend his time playing drums for Dr. Dog, but he’s since parted ways with the band.  As all musicians tend to do, he’s found his voice, and is going to release his own solo album, titled Trash or Treasure on Mach 6th.  I like his approach here, at least on the single we just got, as it’s not necessarily that barroom off-kilter folk jangle of his ex-project–that’s grown a bit old, sadly.  This tune’s got a more true country vibe, though not free of that pop element by any means.  It’ll be interesting to see how it all unfolds as Juston walks that new road.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/10_10._Edge_of_the_Moon.mp3]

Download: Juston Stens – Edge of the Moon [MP3]

New Music from the Wave Pictures

One of the acts I’ve really grown to love as of late is The Wave Pictures, who released the excellent Beer in the Breakers LP last year. Already the group has another album ready to turn around and release, again coming your way via the folks over at Moshi Moshi.  Said album, Little Black Cars, will be hitting the streets on April 2nd, but for now, they’ve also just released the single for Eskimo Kiss, which is a pretty sweet jam in itself.  There’s a little bit more of a punk swagger to the jagged high-stepping of this song–all good things in our book. Give this song a little try, and keep an eye out as the band makes its way stateside in the Spring.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/eskimo-kiss-mp3.mp3]

New Music From The Sour Notes

Man it seems like it’s been a hot minute since we posted a new tune from local ATH favorite band The Sour Notes.  We were big fans of their recent record Last Looks, as it appeared on our year end Texas albums list, so we try to make a point to post their music when it’s sent our way.  This new song “Two Hands Wait” appears on a new split 7″ the band just put out with fellow local band Marmalakes.  Enjoy.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/01_The_Sour_Notes_Two_Hands_Wait_9.13.11.mp3]

Download: The Sour Notes – Two Hands Wait [MP3]

Ethereal New Song from Tiger Waves

It’s been almost a whole month since I’ve been able to post about Tiger Waves, so I’ll happily spend today giving them some more praise.  Soon, their new album, Don’t Be Yourself will be hitting the streets, and it’s shaping up to be a diverse piece of incredible pop.  Early views have the band with a little more step, but then this track simply floors you.  There’s a careful bit of restraint in the song’s tempo, and it casually unfolds along the lines of this mellow, but sublime melody.  Whether it’s just me or not, these dudes are simply doing great things right now. You can get a six song sampler of the album free by going HERE, and the album should be out before SXSW.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/14_Underground.mp3]

Download: Tiger Waves – Underground [MP3]

Fun Number from Lovely Bad Things

The press release for Lovely Bad Things starts out with “if the Pixies and Black Lips got drunk at a party…”  For me, the first thing I thought was “Man, wish I was cool enough to be there.”  Then, I figured the next best thing would be to hear the combination of those two acts, and thus we have LBT.  They’ve got a an EP, New Ghost/Old Waves, that was released on cassette, but should be back on vinyl on March 13th of this year. I see a bit more sunshine in their brand of pop then perhaps the press release mentions, but that’s definitely an added bonus; pretty sure most people will enjoy this simple little jam.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/lovely-bad-things_i-just-want-you-to-go-away.mp3]

Download: Lovely Bad Things – I Just Want You to Go Away

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