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North Carolina band Annuals are returning with a bit of new material in 2010. Next month, the band is about to release new EP Sweet Sister and we have first single from that one, “Loxtep”, below. Sounds a lot like the pop goodness we’ve come to expect from these guys. (via the Gum)
Download: Annuals – Loxtep [MP3]
Everyone’s all over this album lately, especially with the release of the second web single for Ted Leo. As we prepare for his new album, The Brutalist Bricks, we’ve got a few thoughts to share. Writer RayRay says it’s his favorite album of the year so far. Personally, after years of adoring Ted, I think this is finally the album that combines his traditional pub rock leanings with his energetic stage presence. It’s everything you always wanted a Ted Leo record to be, and you, too, can get your hands on it March 9th via Matador Records. So here’s that new tune, the album’s opening track “The Mighty Sparrow.”
Download: Ted Leo – The Mighty Sparrow [MP3]
It’s been awhile since our last artist to watch feature, so we thought we’d press on this week with Austin band The Clouds Are Ghosts. The band has been building a lot of deserving positive press recently around town on sites like The Austinist who also dropped an interview with the band several months ago. Being a bit new to the Austin music scene having formed only in 2008, it’s surprising to see such a fresh band growing so quickly. The recent rise in popularity is of course attributed to the quality of the band’s sound which has been compared to their Radiohead & Massive Attack cited influences. This writer is ready to call them a more atmospheric and electronic version of European bands like Muse. You definitely won’t hear the wailing rock guitars like that band, but Clouds Are Ghosts certainly have that “epic” feeling to their music. The band, fronted by Jason Morris, recently came off an east coast tour and also just released their debut self-titled LP back in September. We’re jumping on the hype bandwagon with this band and we’re betting you will too. If you’d like to hear more, the band is currently offering up their new LP for free high-quality download on their website. Live shows coming up are February 27th at Mohawk and a few TBA shows during SXSW.
Download: The Clouds Are Ghosts – Fields [MP3]
| Date | 2/18/10 |
|---|---|
| Location | Stubbs |
| Doors | 9pm |
| Tickets | $5 from Frontgate |
As a part of the Austin 360 concert series, local buzz bands Zookeeper, The Boxing Lesson, and New Roman Times will be getting down at Stubbs on Thursday. We’re here to tell you that this is a really solid lineup of up and coming local talent. And it’s cheap too!
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MaryoftheMorning.mp3]Download: Zookeeper – Mary of the Morning [MP3]
California’s The Light Footwork first caught my eye a few years back when I stumbled upon them via a blog I no longer remember. They’re set to release their new album, National Historic Landmarks. This new tune features trade-offs between the male/female vocal parts, and the song definitely has an oddball sense of storytelling. It’s a nice little afternoon number.
Download: The Light Footwork – Rock Island Arsenal [MP3]
The Pipettes are returning in 2010 with a new album and a new image (as evidenced by that crazy new press photo). After the departure of all original members of the band and dropping down to a duo group, the girls will release Earth Vs. Pipettes sometime this summer. Here’s first single from the upcoming effort called “Our Love Was Saved by Spacemen”.
Download: The Pipettes – Our Love Was Saved By Spacemen [MP3]
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Years ago, Dev Hynes had it all as a member of Test Icicles. The English press fawned over him and his mates, and yet it didn’t last. Still, he has maintained his role in the spotlight by pushing forward with Lightspeed Champion. His second album under the moniker, Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You, carries him in a slightly different direction than his first outing, albeit one that exhibits Dev taking more musical risks.
The moment you realize Dev has grown up, at least in the musical sense of the word, is the moment you arrive at the album’s single “Marlene.” For one, the production here has been amped up quite a bit, which surpasses his earlier work on Falling of the Lavender Bridge. Aside from the production, the arrangements here are much larger, and a touch more significant. Just take the very British “The Big Guns of Highsmith,” which uses a chorus from what appears to be a troupe of actors who adore Sweeney Todd. Such touches have more emphasis this time around, rather than just acting as filler for the empty space left behind by his lone guitar.
What hasn’t changed a great deal is the subject matter of his songs. He still lives in a world where being left alone and pining for women seem to dominate his thoughts. One can’t blame him too much, as he’s still a young chap, but the future will show if his writing offers more for the listeners. Still, while his lyrics often seem somewhat adolescent, you can see hints of a young Jarvis Cocker lying in wait. His storytelling and his affection for large production bring that all to one’s mind.
Those looking for classic Dev, at least in the vein of his other album, will find “Madame Van Damme” a delight. It’s one of the few songs on Life is Sweet… that doesn’t seem to demonstrate his progression as a songwriter. It feels as if he has regressed in age on this song, which also alludes to the lyrical content. All that being said, it’s still a great song.
One of the great surprises for those familiar with Dev is that he offers a lot of variation throughout the album. “Middle of the Dark” wraps up the end of the album with a bit of soaring vocals atop a pounding piano. “Smooth Day (at the Library)” seems to find Dev living it up in that dessert bar, singing out his heart, leaving no emotion untouched. You can’t forget the Western-ish feel of “Sweetheart” either! Lightspeed Champion is interesting in this fact because you clearly see all the influences of the man behind the project; he never seems to leave a musical stone unturned.
At the end of the day, Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You is another good Lightspeed Champion record. You’ll find that there are several great songs for you to dwell upon, all depending upon your mood and desire for subject matter. Most listeners will relish the fact that the album is much more dynamic than Dev’s previous work, leading the masses to believe that there is only more great moments to come.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/02-Marlene.mp3]Download: Lightspeed Champion – Marlene [MP3]
When talking about L.A. band Happy Hollows, it’s all about lead singer and primary songwriter Sarah Negahdari. She’s been called many things like “one of the coolest women of rock” by Wired magazine and a “rock goddess” by The Huffington Post. All of these tags being fully deserved as evidenced by her intense and energy packed live shows. No slouches themselves, band-mates Charlie Mahoney and Chris Hernandez joined up in 2006 to form the 3 piece band after Negahdari had done mostly open mic nights for several years. Coming into 2010, The Happy Hollows just released their debut LP Spells to mostly positive reviews. I expect these guys to bring some rock n roll to our SXSW festival in these times with rock bands gettin’ more and more mellow. Stay tuned for details on shows during SXSW week featuring Happy Hollows.
Download: The Happy Hollows – Faces [MP3]
After six long years of a drought in new Get Up Kids material, the Lawrence, KA band is finally releasing a new EP entitled Simple Sciene come April. The only information right now is that 4 songs will be included, CDs and vinyl will be self-released in limited quantities, and a download will be set up on itunes. All this information comes by way of a new blog post on the GUK myspace page. Here again is that new song the guys played on Daytrotter awhile back which may or may not be on this new EP.
Download: The Get Up Kids – Your Petty Pretty Things [MP3]
Being from the Eastern side of Texas, I’ve followed Tyler, TX. band Eisley since they first got started many years ago. While the band has been relativley quiet in recent years, this new video/song covering the Stevie Nicks tune “Silver Springs” popped up on the internet last week. The song is more of a solo gig by primary Eisley songwriter Stacy Dupree along with Jeremy Larson, Brandon Goodwin, and Darren King (Mute Math) providing the music/recording. It’s a beautiful little diddy if I do say so myself. A video version of the tune can be found on the Eisley youtube site. Eisley will also be making their way to Austin for our SXSW festival in March.
Download: Stacy Dupree – Silver Springs [MP3]
