This is fine.
Ariel Pink has a nice tour bus. Austin’s home base for Graffiti that will Haunt you is The Mohawk.
Mr. Round and Round brought along two acts to keep you guessing. Purple Pilgrims is a trippy psych duo still taking the edges off while Kirin J. Callinan takes a crap ton of effects pedals to craft layered and fairly aggressive tones.
Click through for pics, y’all…
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin just added a lovely new track to Polyvinyl’s Soundcloud and I decided it was share-worthy. I think you will, too.
The track is off of the pending release called Fly By Wire, which is available for pre-order here. The song, called “Nightwater Girlfriend”, features jangly verses giving way to a fuzzy-effected chorus and lovely bridge with the build back to the big break and a soft finish. Best thing I have heard from the band in a couple albums, IMHO.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/91168882″ params=”show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Here’s a nice little pop number called “Spins in Circles” coming your way from Toronto based outfit Dinosaur Bones. I’m digging the simplicity in the pop sound that can somehow still make the song catchy as hell even after several spins. You can pick up new album Shaky Dream on August 6th via Dine Alone Records.
Download: Dinosaur Bones – Spins in Circles [MP3]
Knifight is a band that I’m sure many of us have seen play on a bill or two around Austin at some point. They seem to be fairly active in the scene and have worked hard to stand out from the massive crowd. Our first official post on the band will be to share new song “In the Fire” which appears on the band’s new album Dark Voices that is streamable and for purchase on their bandcamp page. I’m sure many folks in the know here in Austin have already had a listen to this track, but it’s new to us. I’d recommend this to anyone into the Joy Division revitalization or fans or more current bands like Cold Cave.
Check out the new album on bandcamp when you get the chance. These guys are definitely worthy of being called a band to watch in Austin.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/07.-In-The-Fire.mp3]Download: Knifight – In The Fire [MP3]
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San Francisco and the Bay Area has been long time famous for their psychedelic pop and rock music, so it’s no surprise that The Mantles hail from the West Coast, and this area specifically. In 2009 they released their self-titled debut, which made for a running start for the band, and put their name out for fans to gather behind. That first album won people over with its tighter approach to jangly rock music, and Long Enough to Leave is set to do the same.
First up to start the jangly jams is “Marbled Birds,” which features some prominent precision riffs and gentle, far away percussion. The song itself feels very laid back and easy, but the lyrics, given to you swiftly by vocalist Michael Olivares, paint a picture a bit more complex than you’d imagine for a garage rock band like The Mantles. This imagery, evoked early on, hooks you on what this group is putting out, and lets you know from the start that this is not going to be one of those throwaway albums that you burn through a few times and then sits on your shelf. Though the album isn’t exactly filled with exceptionally long tracks and you do move from track to track fairly quickly, each number turns out to be more detailed in lyrics than you’d expect, and more tightened up within the loops of electric guitar buzzing in the background.
My one and only qualm with Long Enough to Leave is that some stretches of the album tend of blur together. Sometimes, the distant percussion leaves too much to the vocals and guitars to carry the music and lends itself to a lack of variety to separate out the songs. Alas, this is thankfully not the case for the whole album, as the band spices the music up with standout tracks at beginning, middle and end. One of these exceptional numbers, and contender for best song of the album is middle of the road; track five, “Raspberry Thighs.” Something about this song, perhaps the softer vocals from Olivares, or the more tender guitar parts gives it this beautifully nostalgic feel to it, though it isn’t any slower or radically different than the other numbers; the differences are subtle, yet effective in changing the pace of perception.
At the end of Long Enough to Leave, you finish strong with the penultimate track being yet another highlight in “More That I Pay.” This time it’s fast and high energy for the group—short and sweet leading into the slower burning last track to round things out. The album is all in an all interesting and encourages repeated listens, which is sometimes not the case for jangly garage rock. Have a listen or two.
Just a short bit ago I praised the debut album from New York’s Nude Beach; it ended up making our list of top albums for 2012. Luckily for us all, we didn’t have to wait long before new tunes came our way; they have a brand new 7″ coming out for Other Music Recording. Again, the group is channeling the history of American rock n’ roll, but doing it with even more grit and balls than some of their predecessors. This tune definitely has the hooks to keep you interested, and the songwriting to show these boys are a force to be reckoned with going forth.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/89194005″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Bands have a hard time making it all the way overseas, but I’ll gladly share with you this recent tune from TRAAMS. The Chichester group drops in influences from bands like Mclusky, with pummeling drum lines and jagged guitar licks. The vocals are a little bit muddy, but they step in line with the guitars and drums, adding an extra bit of force to the energetic number. The group has just unleashed their Ladders EP via Fat Cat Records, and it’s chock-full of songs that are going to get you out of your chair. Happy Tuesday folks.
Download: Traams – Mexico [MP3]
I’ve been working really hard to bring this tune to you, and thanks to Tripping the Light Fantastic, I’m now able to share this incredible slice of pop music with you. The group has recently put together a new split 7″ with Honeyheads; it’s available now courtesy of Dufflecoat Records. I could pick a plethora of things about this song that make it stick in my head, be it the group harmonies or the random shouts of exuberance or the organ grinding in the background; I think I just am attracted to a great tune. If you want to indulge yourself in well crafted songwriting, then let yourself get carried away in this joyous track.
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Murray Lightburn from The Dears has always been a guy, and most ATH members would agree, is highly underrated in the indie scene. He has a huge discography with his Canadian band and has always understood charisma and what it takes to be an engaging frontman. Let’s also not forget about his ability to craft unique and rather incredible pop tunes. With that out-of-the-way, you can understand our excitement to hear about Murray taking a leap into his first ever solo venture. The project is credited to his own name, but the concept/album is labeled as MASS:LIGHT. Below you can find the first taste of this new solo material with tasty track “Motherfuckers”. To me, it seems like a song in which you can hear Murray wanting to give the middle finger to anyone who has ever doubted his musical prowess. Or it could just be about a girl…
This great new track also has an accompanying video available on youtube that was directed by Murray himself. Stay tuned for more details on his new solo project as we receive them.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/01_Motherfuckers.mp3]Download: Murray A. Lightburn – Motherfuckers [MP3]
I feel like I waited my entire blogging career to see Mystery Jets. Yes, I skipped out on them opening for Mumford due to my disdain for the headliner, but I also knew that they’d be playing their own set with locals, Hello Caller. Read on for my thoughts on the evening, and photos from Brian.
