This is fine.
That’s right ladies and gentlemen, Jarvis Cocker is back again. His second solo album is set to be released by Rough Trade on May 18th, which will more than likely be a solid album, just like his last solo album, which was like his Pulp albums, and like his performance on Harry Potter. Now, this new album has uber-producer Steve Albini running the show, so we should expect an edgier Jarvis; I’m game.
Download: Jarvis Cocker – Angela [MP3]
This Saturday, April 18th, is Record Store Day all across these United States. Sure, that seems like just another Saturday to most buyers, but the true record geek in all of us is already waiting in line. You see, on Record Store Day, you get to do two things: you get to support your favorite local indpendent record store and you get loads of limited edition stuff. Me, personally, I can’t wait. I’ve already crafted a list so as to move through my favorite record store with ease in pursuit of such rarities that one can only dream. The following is the list of the great things one can find at their local indpendent store, and we encourage you to do so, as this is the day the stores give back to us, and we give back to them.
We all know and love Spoon here in Austin, and if you don’t, well you can just geeeet out! Our From the Closet song “Everything Hits at Once” appears on the band’s 2001 breakthrough release Girls Can Tell. If you don’t own that album, take your ass to the record store and buy it before someone finds out. This album is arguably the most important in Spoon’s career. It’s their first in a long series of releases with Merge. It’s the first time Mike McCarthy gets credit for producing. In my mind, it’s the first record that really sounded like a Spoon record. Damn I love this album.
Download: Spoon – Everything Hits at Once [MP3]
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It has been extremely difficult not to fall in love with Metric; the band has consistently put out enjoyable pop tunes throughout their evolution as a band. Their fourth album, Fantasies, is just another progressive step in whatever direction the band chooses to go. Yes, maybe it’s not the same band that you couldn’t get enough of on Old World Underground, but this album is stocked full of fantastic singles and even more ridiculously good moments than ever before.
The world caught wind of “Help, I’m Alive” a few months back, and the album couldn’t have a better opener than this. As the synthesizer and drums push the song forward, you are on the edge of the seat waiting for the song to crash down, but as always, the band remains coy, pulling back with just enough restraint to play innocent; that is until Emily hits the high notes, and warms your ears. “Sick Muse” follows immediately keeping the fast pace. It’s a lot more straightforward than previous songs in the Metric canon, but the chorus is where the band seems to excel this time around. In fact, the choruses throughout the album are one of the elements that differentiates this album from the past.
You’ll also find some moments on this album that seem like they were skeletons left in Emily Haines’ closet as she wrapped up her solo work to work on this album. “Twilight Galaxy” is just such a song, as it rests on “oohs” and what sounds like a programmed drum track. While one could complain about such a moment being on this record, it shows just how far Haines has come since her inception as rock-goddess extraordinaire. “Gimme Sympathy” is a similar song, though it’s fleshed out a bit more by the presence of the rest of the band. All in all, it’s a twist we hadn’t seen yet, and it’s one that works well for the band.
Unfortunately, a lot of the angular guitar work is gone from this album, or at least it has hidden itself behind the hills of electronic presence. On one hand, this makes this album ready for those who wish to take it to the dance floor, as the synths will definitely blast out of speakers around the world, but it also makes the album comes across as a lot more polished than before. The ferocity of the group here is subdued; Emily now is more than just the pretty face of the band. She seems to be the leader in every sense here, and for some, that might be a little disheartening.
Suffice it to say that most of those fans who fell in love with the band will still be happy with the most recent output, as there are gems all over this record. Who knows where the next step will lead the band, but as long as they can continuously pump out pop music this good, they are sure to have followers for years to come.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/06-gimme-sympathy.mp3]
Looks like Peaches has gone dance hall crazy. Not to say the earlier music wasn’t dancey, but this new single sounds like it’s made for the dance floor. “Talk to Me” will appear on upcoming album I Feel Cream due out May 5th. It’s by far the cleanest single (lyrics wise) I’ve ever heard from the band.
Download: Peaches – Talk To Me [MP3]
Many moons ago, we told you about the covers EP(get it on itunes) put out recently by NYC band French Kicks. Well now the guys are making a much anticipated stop in town at Mohawk on Saturday night. Tickets are on sale now for $10 or you can pay $12 at the door. Young Mammals out of Houston and locals Low Line Caller will be opening things up around 9pm.
Download: French Kicks – Abandon [MP3]
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The Decemberists will never sound totally current. Colin Meloy’s antiquated poetry, coupled with the Portland, Ore. five-piece’s intricate story-song structures, grandiose arrangements, and maudlin, medieval subject matter place the band’s poppy, orchestrated folk-rock in a bygone era. To listen to a Decemberists album is to submit to the past, to a period in history as much as a series of songs.
The band’s fifth LP, The Hazards of Love, with a loose concept following its protagonist Margaret through various travails-“Won’t Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga),” “The Abduction Of Margaret”-is, as expected, not a straightforward rock record. Its intricacies and shifting narratives demand attention and patience, as do most concept albums. And Hazards’ faults are the same ones that afflict most concept albums: the listener wants the song, not necessarily the story.
To that end, “The Hazards of Love (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone), and “Isn’t It A Lovely Night,” and, of course “Prelude” and “An Interlude” function more as set pieces than stand-alone songs. That Meloy had planned The Hazards of Love as a musical is not a surprise; often, the songs feel as if they are supporting a set change, preparing for a grand entrance.
But when those entrances occur, as on “The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid,” “The Rake’s Song,” “A Bower Scene,” the band shows a refreshing and previously unheard muscle and conviction. “The Wanting” is the album’s cornerstone, a blues stomp with a huge De Stijl-era White Stripes riff. The indignation and force of the lyrics, sung by My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden, is explosive. “Won’t Want For Love” again squares Worden’s vocals over a simple and effective heavy-blues riff. The simplicity pays off.
“Bower Scene” and “The Abduction Of Margaret” highlight the successes of The Hazards of Love. The songs share the exact same melody-a concept-cohesion tactic employed throughout the album. Yet it’s the simple, unaffected propulsion of the music, and not the tale being told or the witty lyrical wordplay that has the greatest impact. The band is still stuck in the past, but by flexing its muscles and eschewing its grandiose tendencies, it has kept itself a present musical presence.
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/thedecemberists_therakessong.mp3]Download: The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song [MP3]
When a band’s equipment gets jacked everyone wants to kick the culprit’s ass. If you can’t find the guy, a benefit to raise a little money can’t hurt. That’s just what local band When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth have planned for Friday night at Beerland. Several other local artists like Dikes of Holland, Strange Boys, Red X Red M, and Ralph White are joining in to help out. Show starts at 10pm.
Download: When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth – It’s Casual [MP3]
Seeing as how we haven’t run one of our Austin Artist to Watch features in quite a while, we thought we’d kick things off again with obvious A2W choice Wooden Birds. This new Austin band has been getting a ton of local and national press coverage as of late, mostly for their mellow take on indie folk rock, and partly because the band is fronted by local music legend Andrew Kinney (American Analog Set). After 6 long years in Brooklyn, Mr. Kinney moved back to Austin recently and decided it was just about time for a new music project. We had the good fortune to speak to the man behind Wooden Birds and ask him some of those burning questions about his relocation and his music. Follow the jump for full interview with Andrew Kinney.
Looks like local buzz band White Denim are going to start playing regularly around town again after taking a little break from the Austin scene. The Parish is one of the few places I can’t remember the band playing and the venue should provide a unique experience to see the band. Fellow locals Corto Maltese and Ume will be opening things up. Doors are at 9:30 with music at 10:30. Tickets are on sale now for $9 if you’re of age and $12 if you’re still illegal.
