Show Review: MJ Lenderman @ Emos (2.6)

Breaking up is hard to do, but it sure does make for good music.

MJ Lenderman’s lyrics aren’t sprawling, poetic pleas for understanding. Instead, they arrive as snapshots intimate, personal, and timeless observations of everyday life. Wrap that up nice and tight with music that echoes the highlights of a sound delivered within a newly appointed label aptly titled No Depression in the 90s, which found itself a successful hybrid of Americana and Rock, spawning the genre Alt-Country. Breathing life into its faded wake comes Lenderman.

 

“Coward cutting Joker lips into a rubber mask
Please don’t ask how I’m doing
Draining cum from hotel showers
Hoping for the hours to pass a little faster.”

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Semihelix Share Two New Singles + Antones Release Show (2.9)

One of our favorite Austin acts is channeling the great radio alternative, so tune in below to the latest hits from Semihelix! You can hear the riotgrrl spirit coursing through these tunes, as Geannie consistently just rips right through these licks and vocal lines with the perfect amount of indifferent cool. Both of these new jams will appear on a fresh 7″ from Bleached Records, and to celebrate this, the band will be hosting a Release Party over at Antones on Sunday evening, and they ask that you join them! That 7″ will hit the masses on Monday, but you can get a sneak preview by playing the tunes below. If you can’t make it, don’t forget to grab the 7″ while supplies are limited!

Lola Tried Drop Degrader

We’ve always been big fans of Austin’s Lola Tried; they’ve played our annual SXSW party before…and they only just seem to be taking hold of their powers. This fresh single that dropped the other afternoon illustrates just how much singe Lauren has grown; she manages to deliver this harsh vocal curl that fits in naturally alongside the powerful burst of the band. But, growth doesn’t mean moving away from your bread-and-butter, as the chorus has the perfect soaring melodic hook. Despite the hook, the lyrical content has Burton taking emotional ownership back for those that she felt like didn’t have a voice at the time of the writing. Just imagine the joyousness of Cherry Glazer with less fucks to give and you’ve got this new Lola Tried single.

Gus Baldwin and the Sketch Tell Us What the Freaks Say

Up until now, we’ve been presented with Gus Baldwin and the Sketch terrorizing your speakers; they’ve brought frantic pop to the masses, hyperactively rushing through quick bursts of punk. But, on their brand new single, the band open the door to reveal the chewy pop middle of their punk lollipop. It’s a bold statement amidst a rocking run of tunes, and while they do touch into some power ballad moments, there’s still that bit of tenacity lurking through the song’s end. This will give us all a chance to take a breath when we crank the Sketch all the way to 10 (11 is too cliche); they’ll also be touring the Eastern US throughout April!

Edith Frost Offers Nothing Comes Around

Since we’re all indoors down here in Austin, with pseudo-snow coating the ground, feels like we should rep this new Edith Frost tune, since the artist is currently one of our own. Her first album in nearly 20 years reveals a songwriter who doesn’t seem to have lost a bit of the magic, still playing in between the lines of sharp guitar stabs, rolling drums and nuanced strokes. There are certain elements of her voice that recall the Breeders, though there’s this child-like exuberance in it, coyly turning notes into little treasures for the listener to open up. This new record, In Space, sounds magnificent, and in that, you should get your hands on it before its February 28th release via Drag City.

Midcard Share Sick Single

Austin outfit Midcard definitely caught my attention with their latest single, “Sick;” it has this sort of ramshackle brand of punk, though tinged with a bit more of a kind of Westerberg-ian influence. There’s a slight bit of a vocal curl working beneath everything, and that captures the balance between the energetic push and the sharp punk ethos they’re trying hard to hold onto. The group are working hard on prepping a new EP for this March, and it should be a riotous good time if the songs turn out as good as this one!

Gus Baldwin and the Sketch Drop Luxury Television

It’d been a minute since I caught a Gus Baldwin show, and while he was technically playing as a member of Bubba Lucky, his performance reminded me of the incredible guitar work that courses through his own band’s new LP. Clicking play below, there’s an immediacy in the songwriting that’s reminiscent of acts like Jay Reatard; I love the frantic nature that’s emphasized by the screeching guitar licks that bounce across the speakers. The whole band gets in on the action here too, taking almost a full minute of instrumental breakdowns to flex their musical skillset before they rip right towards the close. Gus Baldwin and the Sketch drop their self-titled LP on January 31st.

Matador Sphere Drop Image in Place

It’s a new year, and with that, here’s the first bit of new music coming out of Austin…that I’ve been sent, anyways. Matador Sphere is an up-and-coming act, with a goal of blending stellar electronic atmosphere with a more modern pop core. In this tune, the vocals keep the track calmed, righting the ship as it sways back in forth in the seas of punctuating electronics; there’s a carnival-esque nature, especially as electronic notes seem to rain upon the chorus. Adding in some sampled strings builds in the texture too, thickening the track as it twists and turns into pop madness as it fades to a close.

Stream the Fantastic Purple Spots EP

Whoohoo! It’s Bandcamp Friday! Your last chance to grab ATH Records stuff; we’ve got tons of 2 for $5 deals on both vinyl and cassettes; you can pick up stuff right HERE, so I can buy stuff from presents for my children. Most importantly, we’ve got a brand new EP for you to stream from the Fantastic Purple Spots. They’ve dropped their Spotsylvania Lullabies EP today, the second EP they’ve dropped this year as they continue to craft excellent pastoral psychedelia; I think you’re going to love cozying up to the fire today, putting this on repeat. Have a great Friday!

Lunar Gold Share Brooklyn

Our friend Jason Morris helms Austin outfit Lunar Gold, and his kindness has always had a gravitational pull in our local scene, so today we get to celebrate a new track from the group! Morris and company are drawn to expansive sound, creating these cavernous soundscapes that allow for his angelic vocal tones to slide into the mixture; I love the way he seems to breathe as the piano climbs up and down the track, perfectly encapsulating the quieted movement that makes the group’s work so fascinating. If you’re in the area, they play an early show tonight at Cheer Up Charlies with Kady Rain to celebrate the single!

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