Friday Top 5: Best ACL Headliners of All Time
Follow the jump for a list of my Top 5 ACL Headliners of all time.
New Music From Jonquil
I’ve really been enjoying this new track called “Fighting Smiles” from Oxford band Jonquil. The track will appear on the band’s first ever stateside EP entitled One Hundred Suns which is available November 16th on Dovecote Records. Have yourself a listen to their version of feel good pop music below and let us know what ya think.
Download: Jonquil – Fighting Smiles [MP3]
New Music from John Wesley Coleman
Austin’s full of great songwriters, so occasionally you pass by one that you wish you had spent more time with during their career. Sure, this guy is in the killer local outfit The Golden Boys, but I don’t have time to listen to every release put out in town (I’m Sorry!). Luckily for all of us here in Austin, John Wesley Coleman is alive and well. So well, in fact, that he’s going to release a new solo record later this November on Goner Records titled Bad Lady Goes to Jail. I’ve been jamming out to this release all day, and it’s got a bit of classic rock n’ roll sound, with little hints of garage-style recording throughout. One thing I won’t call it is lo-fi. The recording, while possibly on the low-end is brimming with solid work, so JWC should be proud of this recent effort. For all our readers, you can catch John traveling the country; go check his tour dates HERE.
Download: John Wesley Coleman – Bad Lady Goes to Jail [MP3]
ACL After Shows & Parties (10/7 – 10/9)
So tomorrow is the big day and we’re all real excited for ACL festival (duh). But what about those kids who like to go the alternate route and save a bit of money? If you fit that mindset, check out some shows below going on Thr.-Sat. night that could tickle your fancy. Some are official, some are not. Some are real cheap, some are not. That free show Friday night at Mohawk is lookin’ real good to me right now… just GET THERE EARLY. Door times and cost are listed. Sold out show? Check out the craigslist playah. Follow the jump for a full list. That thing was a bit long for the main page….
The Authors – Get Haunted
Rating: 
A few weeks into fall, cooler temperatures are surprisingly here and you feel lost in the jumble of work or school, missing those summer days that are not so far gone. What better way to fall back into the relaxing mood of summer than to listen to music that feels like sunshine and ocean waves? With only an EP released prior to this, The Authors look to establish themselves as experts of the beach-pop, summer feeling genre. With Get Haunted, they do just this.
“Timebomb” kicks off the album strong and fast right from the start. The guitars buzz away the background while slightly fuzzy lyrics float on top of all the other components of the song, swimming to the beat. Next comes “Never Know,” which is great in its vocals, almost a yelp, to the high pitched noise that blends in with the rest of the song, yet gives a “haunted” feeling, as does the raspy vocals at points.
But perhaps in all the jangly guitars and the hyper drum beats, Get Haunted would become banal, like some of the dog days of summer? False. “Feels Like Running,” an excellent song, starts with a hooking guitar rift that takes turns dominating with the vocals. The drums sit back in the spectrum of what the listener will notice, but they drive the whole of this song, as well as the album; simple, yet refined and precise enough to add en element of constant clarity. They then transition to slightly groovier tunes with “Battles” and “Lonely Ways.” The bass line is quite prominent in these songs, giving them the less washed out feel of previous songs and a more solid foundation, which is an enjoyable turn for this album to take as the band continues with their garage rhythms.
The Authors finish just as strong as they started with “The Night.” This brings the album full circle, from quick shadowy beats to a softer and less fuzzy end. They finally kind of slow down with the last few seconds of the song reserved to some ambient noises. Those melancholic ending notes the same as those final days before fall.
This album reminds me a lot of Surfer Blood’s album from earlier in the year. Like that album, it is a sharp and high speed chase from start to finish, but The Authors prove their distinctive sound with clearer vocals, all while staying inside the garage rock jangle that is Get Haunted; a true trip back to those blissful summer days.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/01-Timebomb.mp3]Download: The Authors – Timebomb [MP3]
New Music from Kisses
We premiered “Bermuda,” the debut single from Kisses earlier this year, but now we want to bring you another great track from the band. This jam is a little bit more of a mellow club banger, but it’s got this understated little bubbly bass popping in the background. Personally, the vocals are pretty groovy–sort of up my alley. All this is in preparation for their release, The Heart of the Nightlife, which comes out in stores on November 16th. We have a feeling that a lot of people will be slowly getting behind this as we get closer to the release date.
Download: Kisses – Kisses [MP3]
ACL Interviews: The Morning Benders
Well ACL Festival is finally upon us in just a couple short days and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s a busy time of year, but the fun and debauchery throughout the weekend always rewards us for all the hard work we put in. Leading up to the weekend we sent a few questions to The Morning Benders leading man Chris Chu. We discuss the current state of his band and his strong feelings about the internet age of music we’re currently living in. Follow the jump to read more from Chris.
New Music from Discodeine
Last week I raved about my man crush on former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, so I couldn’t resist running this track. Sure, its not exactly what one thinks of with relation to JC, but his voice is so perfectly fitting to the electro work of Discodeine. This is what all dance music should be like, if I made in my room on my laptop. I’m just tossing this out there because Jarvis is one of the Guys I’d Go Gay For, so check out this song, and just chalk up another sweet tune that proves the sexual prowess of one of my favorite musicians.
Download: Discodeine – Synchronize (feat. Jarvis Cocker) [MP3]
Show Preview: The Strokes @ Stubbs (10/6)
| Date | 10/6/10 |
|---|---|
| Location | Stubbs |
| Doors | 7pm |
| Tickets | Sold Out Duh. |
So the night has finally come and I’m sure a lot of you have already pissed your pants in anticipation for The Strokes show at Stubbs tonight. From what I’m hearing, the rock veterans don’t even have an opener so make sure you get there early. I personally didn’t feel like $60 was worth it on this one since I can see the band at ACL. Honestly, does anyone ever remember a show at Stubbs that cost this much? I know I know, C3 had to pay what I’m sure is the ridiculous fee to get the band… but come on!
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/08-Hard-To-Explain-1.mp3]Download: The Strokes – Hard To Explain [MP3]
New Music From La Sera
I think it’s time we all jump aboard that hype machine train with this relatively new Hardly Art band La Sera. The project is the brain child of current Vivian Girls bass player Katy Goodman who began working on new material under the La Sera name back in February. For now, the only material from the lovely ladies new band is a 7″ single featuring the track below “Never Come Around” and flip side “Behind Your Eyes”. Street date for that single is November 17th with a full album coming in 2011. You’ll notice a sound similar to Best Coast combined with some of the sweet bass/drum beats created by Vivian Girls (duh she’s the bass player).
Download: La Sera – Never Come Around [MP3]