New Music from Mikal Cronin

It’s easy to know you’ll love something when the press release tosses the names of Ty Segall, The Ramones, and Trouble in Mind Records all into one email.  Mikal Cronin will be releasing his self-titled debut on TiM on September 20th, and based on this track alone, I know I’m going to be playing it on repeat over and over.  If you toss in a little more melody on Segall’s formula for psych-rock, perhaps remove a bit of hazy tones, and this is pretty much what you’re going to get.  I know, right! Sounds pretty awesome, so jump on the wagon now, and prepare for Cronin to come to Austin in September (17th) with Ty.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Apathy.mp3]

Download: Mikal Cronin -Apathy [MP3]

Show Preview: Mission of Burma @ Mohawk (7/22)

Date Friday, July 22nd
Location Mohawk
Doors 800pm
Tickets $15 @ Frontgate

One of the great acts that made a musical resurgence during the 00s is Mission of Burma, and since returning to the fold, they’ve kept it going.  Their musical catalog is extremely song, and they’ve written perhaps one of the greatest songs ever in “(That’s When I Reach for My) Revolver.”  I could play that song again and again, and it’s still brilliant.  If you dig the song, and aren’t familiar with the band, a great place to start is A Gun to the Head, which is sort of a compilation. Also on the bill at Mohawk are Austinites Ume and Daniel Francis Doyle.  Should be a great place to start your evening.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/02-Thats-When-I-Reach-For-My-Revolver.mp3]

Download: Mission of Burma – (That’s When I Reach For My) Revolver [MP3]


New Music (and album) from Fungi Girls

Earlier this year I caught Fungi Girls as an opening act, and I remember thinking to myself how young they were, in looks, not musical sound.  The Cleburne, TX trio definitely do seem young in person, but their music seems like it was washed in the glory days of San Francisco.  It’s sort of jangly, but it’s also got this mysterious coat of fog that drifts atop of it.  You can hear the whole new record from these Texans by visiting their BANDCAMP page, so get there fast.  That album is called Some Easy Magic, and it will be in your record store next Tuesday thanks to the good folks over at Hozac Records. Also, if you dig the song below, P4k ran a sweet video for it HERE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Fungi-Girls-Velvet-Days.mp3]

Download: Fungi Girls – Velvet Days [MP3]

Show Preview: Country Mice @ Stubbs (7/22)

Date Friday, July 22nd
Location Stubbs
Doors 1100p
Tickets $10 from Frontgate

One of the groups who’ve really grown on me since I first got their album, Twister, is Country Mice.  They’re a Brooklyn band, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’ll sound like the majority of the stuff coming out of NYC.  They blend tiny elements of pop with pure Americana sounds, giving you some warmth to your listening experience.  They’ll be accompanied by Boy this Friday night over at Stubbs, and you can’t really go wrong with two great bands for $10.  Hopefully we see you there!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/countrymice_morningson.mp3]

Download: Country Mice – Morning Son [MP3]


New Music From Son Of The Sun

Here’s a new song called “10,000” that was just sent our way from Buffalo, NY band Son of the Sun.  It’s a simple pop tune that makes me think of fellow indie rock bands that I’m currently drawing a blank on for names right now (little help?). Regardless of who you can compare the guys to, the song is a fun listen and I hope you enjoy.  A new EP Almost Not There is said to be available from the band July 26th.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/02-10000.mp3]

Download: Son of the Sun – 10,000 [MP3]

Obligatory Girls Post

I say this is obligatory, as I’m sure that everyone in the world has this track on play right now, or at least gave it a listen today at some point. We’d be remiss if we didn’t post it, as Girls were one of our favorite bands, or are rather.  The last time they offered up a 6 minute song (Hellhole Ratrace) it played non-stop.  Here, on “Vomit” they’ve clearly slowed things down, but the delivery of the vocal sounds remarkably similar to early works.  When the song bursts, you get a glimpse at the hard work the band’s done, crafting a much fuller sound, even with a bit of a sharp edge.  Surely we can expect great things when their new album, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, hits on September 13th via True Panther.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Girls-Vomit.mp3]

Download: Girls – Vomit [MP3]

Pursesnatchers – A Pattern Language

Rating: ★★★☆☆

When Dirty on Purpose broke up, I was a bit saddened, thinking I’d never get to hear their blend of sharp-edged indie pop again. Luckily, Doug Marvin and his wife, Annie of Au Revoir Simone, had other thoughts in mind, forming Pursesnatchers at home in their bedroom.  They’ve since fleshed out a full band and completed A Pattern Language, giving all the old DoP fans something to hold onto.

“Forever Ahead” opens with this angular stuttering guitar, just before Marvin enters with his whispering vocal, barely floating atop the rest of the band.  It’s a powerful song, built on the backbone of those noisy guitars and steady drum beats. You’ll find a similar pattern with “Mechanical Rabbits” as the song again opens slowly before bursting into the meat and potatoes, those discordant guitars crossing from ear to ear, balanced out by Marvin’s voice.  The dichotomy between Doug’s vocals and and the music is precisely what one would hope for from A Pattern Language.

While the quiet loud quiet dynamic made poplar by the Pixies is used excessively, there’s some differentiation between the songs.  “A Partying Prayer” applies the same construction, relying more on a forceful guitar sound, but it’s Marvin’s vocals that have a different tone to them (not as wispy).  There’s also an intricate closing to the song, built around carefully picked guitar lines.  Then there’s “Kissena Park,” possibly one of the best songs on the A Pattern Language. It’s the closest that Pursesnatchers come to creating a ballad, with cleaner guitar sounds, and Marvin going all soft. You’re likely to find this song sweeping you away for some time to come; it has such a pristine melody that you just can’t escape its magic.

What’s interesting about  Pursesnatchers is that they have this ace up their sleeve that they don’t seem to utilize enough; that ace being Annie Hart. Her first real audible performance comes as backing vocalist on “Baseball on the Radio,” and she really seems to balance out her pop inflections perfectly with Doug’s voice.  You can hear the cascading guitar chords chiming in and those powerful drums fills, but you can’t escape that her presence gives it the perfect essence of pop. She follows that up with her first lead performance on “Third Body Problem.”   It’s a wonder that she doesn’t make more of an appearance, vocally speaking, on A Pattern Language.  You can still have a dynamic song with her, but she brings a different balance altogether to the group’s sound. I’d be interested to see what the group can do using her more, as they seem to do on the latter half of this record.

Listening over and over to A Pattern Language you’re going to hear the ghost of Dirty on Purpose, and by no means is this a knock, as that band was vastly under-appreciated in their time.  But, it’s clear that Pursesnatchers have some tools in their arsenal that they haven’t quite brought to the forefront, so in the future we can only hope they grow, just a bit, making them something incredible.  For now, they’ll have to just settle for being really really good.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/pursesnatchers_baseballontheradio.mp3]

Download: Pursesnatchers – Baseball on the Radio [MP3]

New Song from Carter Tanton

You might have seen this tracking floating around last week, but I wanted to give it some more attention, as it’s such a deserving track.  Carter Tanton spends a lot of his time playing with Lower Dens, but you wouldn’t be able to tell after listening to this lead single from his upcoming record, Freeclouds; the record will be in stores on November 1st via Austin’s own Western Vinyl. From the get go, there’s this brightness to the song filtering beneath the vocal.  There’s something really familiar about it, though I can’t place it precisely, greatness perhaps?  Regardless of what it reminds you of, this song will surely be playing around you for the rest of the week.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/MurderousJoy.mp3]

Download: Carter Tanton – Murderous Joy [MP3]

More New Music from Boston Spaceships

Just last week we gave you an opportunity to give a listen to “Christmas Girl,” the first release from the upcoming Boston Spaceships album, Let It Beard.  In true Pollard fashion, he already has another song for you folks to enjoy, and again, it’s just a great track.  Over the years he’s been able to win us over, though most will admit he’s tossed out a few misses here and there.  After listening to Let It Beard all week, I can tell you that this is not going to be the case this go round; it’s a solid record through and through, full of gem after gem. You can get yourself a copy on August 2nd.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/11-Tabby-and-Lucy.mp3]

Download: Boston Spaceships – Tabby and Lucy [MP3]

New Music from Loney Dear

There’s always something special about listening to Loney Dear.  On the last effort, Dear John, I found myself drawn into some really spectacularly quiet songs that fit right into where I was emotionally.  Emil’s voice has this memorable pitch to it, and the construction of the songs has always done wonders to give it the most power.  This new track comes from the group’s upcoming record on Polyvinyl Records, Hall Music.  You can hear the song building slowly in your ear, melodies rising all the while, waiting for Emil to unleash his vocals.  There’s definitely a more orchestrated approach to the record based on what we’ve heard so far, and that’s got me looking forward to see what the rest of Hall Music will sound like.  Give this track a good once or twice over.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Loney-Dear-My-Heart.mp3]

Download: Loney Dear – My Heart

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