Beck’s Giving His Grammy to…Hayden?

hayI said it. I’m stealing a nod from an old friend who always called Hayden the “Canadian Beck.” It seems with his new work, that the Grammy is going to have to be passed along to Canada.  Surprisingly, Hayden’s career has worked in a similar arc, hopping back and forth between genres, but always achieving huge accolades when he takes the folk-laden ballad approach.  It’s also a track that takes a careful ear; you can hear the static of a guitar being pulled from the amp (or something similar) in the middle…it matches well with the bending guitar too.  Look for Hey Love to appear via Arts & Crafts on March 24th.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/180906446″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

New EP From INVASIONS

9823_10151924493438869_364563501_nToronto based band INVASIONS is a group that I’ve posted about on multiple occasions here on this website.  Today I’m pleased to share with you news that the band have just recently released their new EP No Darkness on bandcamp.  You can get your hands on that for the low low price of only $3 or you can stream the whole thing below.  I think most will find that the psych themed pop music being created here is a real thing of beauty.  Each song can be dark at times, but then seem to transition seamlessly into some brighter, breezier moments that make this EP worthy of repeat listens.

New Atmospheric Pop From The Belle Game

bellegame-600-1365682226When scouring the internet for music, it’s rare that a song catches my ear like this new song “Blame Fiction” from Canadians The Belle Game.  It’s a gorgeous pop tune that could be likened to Beach House with a fuller sound and more belting style vocals.  I’d assume most readers of the site can get behind something like so have a listen below and tell us what you think.

The band have a debut full length entitled Ritual Tradition Habit due out May 14th on Boompa.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/08BlameFiction.mp3]

Download: The Belle Game – Blame Fiction [MP3]

New Bright Pop From The Almighty Rhombus

539670_484549354936650_143176253_nThe Almighty Rhombus are a new band to me who hail from the great white north in a sort of small town called Sudbury (raise your hand if you had to look that up).  Today I’m sharing with you a bright pop tune from the band called “She Didn’t Want Me” that’s the reason for my new found interest in the group.  When I listen to the song, I can’t help but think of old friends, and fellow Canadians, Ruby Coast with their light and airy pop music.  If you dig, check out more of their songs on bandcamp and say hello.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/The-Almighty-Rhombus-The-Almighty-Rhombus-EP-01-She-Didnt-Want-Me.mp3]

Download: The Almighty Rhombus – She Didn’t Want Me [MP3]

More New Music From Jason Collett

A few weeks ago, I was beside myself when I heard about a new album from long time singer songwriter Jason Collett.  At the time, we only had a taste of the album with new song “I Wanna Rob A Bank”, but now Mr. Collett has offered up yet another new tune for his fan’s pleasure.  This new slow burner, “Where Things Go Wrong”, is an interesting piece of songwriting that features a downtrodden tempo with simple lyrics that accurately convey the break up message.  You can pick up new album Essential Cuts on September 25th via Arts & Crafts.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/10-Where-Things-Go-Wrong.mp3]

Download: Jason Collett – Where Things Go Wrong [MP3]

Great New Folk from Evening Hymns

I’ve been really into quieted folk tunes this summer, and this new track from Evening Hymns is one of my favorite jams to cross my path thus far.  Early on, the song comes at you as if it was recorded in a room, or a cabin (it was!), giving it a deeply emotional quality. As the song builds, there’s more lush arrangements being added, moving the song along as it sort of gets lost in its own beautiful world. If you’re digging this track, you can grab it and the rest of the tunes from the band’s forthcoming album, Spectral Dusk, when it hits the streets on August 21st.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/02-Arrows.mp3]

 

Warm Pop Gem from Cinderpop

The single for Cinderpop’s newest album has been floating around for quite some time, but I hadn’t really given it too much of a listen until I started spinning Manic Sparkles repeatedly on my player.  It’s an album that’s chock-full of wonderful pop tunes that recall all sorts of influences, from the Lucksmiths to Sloan to Nada Surf.  These are the sorts of influences that make me swoon, so I’m happy to have re-discovered the band and their classic pop sound.  I feel like more people should be writing music like this, but if they’re not, I’ve always got great bands like this to enjoy.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/03-Florentine.mp3]

Download:Cinderpop – Florentine [MP3]

Quiet Listen from Banquet

You’ve gotta love sprawling pop tracks, especially when you find them by accident.  Such is the case when I came across this new tune from Banquet, off the Impasse EP.  For almost two minutes, the song quietly moves along, patiently waiting its own little explosion.  The careful construction of the opening moments soon makes way for the explosion that erupts in a brief bit of pop bliss. If you like what you hear, then you can get your hands on the EP pretty quickly by heading over to Banquet’s site, or you can just give the whole EP a nice listen. I likes.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/01-Impasse-1.mp3]

Download: Banquet – Impasse [MP3]

1 4 5 6 7