Pop Rock from Clean Spill

cleanspillI’m a sucker for really well crafted pop rock, and I’m pretty sure that Cali’s Clean Spill fit that bill with this brand new single. It reminds me an awful lot of local Austin act Shivery Shakes, bordering the line between surf and indie, but always bringing hooks. There’s even solo that breaks down the track in the middle before the group comes in with some more swagger. If you’re looking for a track that makes you feel good just by listening, then I think you should hop on this one right away.

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SXSW Interviews: Adult Books

adultsAs usual, SXSW has slowly inched ever closer without me feeling like I’m fully prepared just yet. I of course have time and will be working to get myself game ready. We here at ATH also want to get you ready with some exposure to bands coming to town who we feel are worth your time. Today I continue that preparation process with an interview from Cali based Adult Books. Nathan and I both have been loving the band’s new album Running from the Blows (out March 4th on Lolipop Records), so we were both excited for this one. Follow the jump for more.

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Bluesy Folk From Melaena Cadiz

12471502_10153174386566290_6735933083237599141_o-2You can’t really knock slow burning folk tunes, especially when they feature exceptional vocals of a leading front woman. The slow burning folk tune of the day comes from Melaena Cadiz, and it’s a mellow track that will wind its way into your heart. The vocals are just the perfect amount of smoky and sweet, accompanied by simple acoustic guitar, but you’ll find the track is anything but simple. Cadiz, out of LA, will be releasing herlatest album, Sunfair on March 4th via Misra Records.

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Playing Catch-Up: Socorro!

flavorsFinally feel like we’re getting our feet underneath us here, so checking in on some of my favorite labels that I’ve not looked in on in a bit…Lolipop Records being one of those. Just recently they released Flavor of the Day, the newest effort from Socorro!. As the description hints, there are hints of jangling but you can also feel a more classic rock inflection in these songs. The whole cassette is out now, but if that’s not your thing, you can go grab the songs directly from the band themselves right HERE. Enjoy.

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One More From GEMS

untitled (2)ATH approved band GEMS will be releasing their new album Kill the One You Love later this month on Carpark Records and the entire crew over here already loves the release.  Prior to the release date on October 30th the band is offering one more new single called “w/o u” shared below.  This one is for fans of synth heavy, chilled out, dream pop vibes.  Really I have nothing else to say about this band as the wealth of quality tunes now say everything I cannot.  Enjoy.

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Water, sugar, lemon, squeeze

Los Angeles indie rapper Dom Kennedy is the closest thing to an easy listening rapper in hip-hop. Dom is currently promoting his third studio album, including a leading appearance at Trillectro this weekend. By Dom Kennedy is 11 tracks of Dom’s smooth voice over perfectly slow, soft, melodic, and deliberate beats. Three songs include production credit from frequent Rhymesayers Entertainment collaborator Jake One. It’s a quality, relaxing album and deserves a listen. A common complaint about rap music is that it’s too angry or aggressive. I don’t know if Dom Kennedy has an angry or aggressive bone in his body, and that’s reflected in his music. There is also very little cussing in his music but even when Dom does cuss, it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. By Dom Kennedy can be streamed here or purchased here. The highlight of the album is “Lemonade“, an ode to Dom’s son, relaxing, reminiscing, and thinking about the future. “Lemonade” can be streamed below.

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Fashawn’s long-awaited sophomore effort

Fresno, CA rapper Fashawn’s 2009 independently released debut album, Boy Meets World, received almost universal critical acclaim with heavy focus on his age at the time–21–and the fact that someone so young could articulate the struggle so well. Many drew comparisons to hip-hop royalty Nas and the fact that Nas was 21 when he released his near perfect hip-hop classic Illmatic. Over the past six years Fashawn has released a handful of mixtapes, a couple collaborative albums, and an EP, but his latest release, The Ecology, shows that Fashawn’s debut was not just a flash in the pan. Nas himself has taken a liking to Fashawn as Nas both appears on the album and was instrumental in signing Fashawn to independent record label Mass Appeal Records. Highlights from The Ecology include “Guess Who’s Back”, “Letter F”, “Man of the House”, and “F.T.W.” but the entire album is worth checking out. Other guest appearances on the album include Dom Kennedy, Aloe Blacc, and BJ The Chicago Kid. The Ecology can be streamed or downloaded for free via DJBooth or it can be purchased from iTunes. The video for “Guess Who’s Back is below.

Dreamy Track from Weeknight

weekIf you’re looking for escapism via your musical listening, then you’re in luck if you turn on this new single from Weeknight.  The tune has this dark haunting quality, using jagged guitar chords to burst through the dense shadow of the track.  Sure, it falls in line with the nostalgic movement towards recreating the JAMC sound, but I’m impressed by the fact that it’s done with only two hands at the helm. This New York duo will release this new single on April 21st via Dead Stare Records, but you can stream the track below right now; I suggest you do!

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Criminal Hygiene Wow Us Again

Criminal HygieneCome on now, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’re aware of our love affair with all things Criminal Hygiene.  These guys have been pleasing our ears since we first heard their music and we try to do all we can to spread the good word about quality sounds.  With all that out of the way, the boys just sent us this lovely new track called “Turpentine”.  What starts as a poppy sort of rock tune yields its way to yet another raucous and guitar laden track from a rowdy rock band.  It just keeps getting better and better.  If you don’t know, get wise fool.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/turpentine-FINAL.mp3]

Download: Criminal Hygiene – Turpentine [MP3]

Quirky Pop from Green Gerry

greenjellyThere’s been a rise in oddball pop bands coming out in the last year or so, or at least being brought further into the foray.  I’ve grown quite obsessed, as I deem most of these acts as rather important, especially after listening to this new tune from Green Gerry.  There’s a quality of California nostalgia here, which makes sense as that’s the current residence of the group, but I love the way the guitar seems to work against the grain of the track, though clearly it also works in unison; it gives the song a swagger that definitely endears itself to me. Who knows what’s coming next for the act, but for now, I’m enjoying what’s coming my way.

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