The Proctors Release New LP, Summer Lane

Well, perhaps Summer Lane isn’t the brand new album from the Proctors, but it’s the long lost record that we deserved…we just never got the chance…until now. The majority of these tunes were written between 1993-1997, with Sunday Records being so kind as to finally bring these songs to light. I love the forlorn guitar sounds on “Distant Echoes,” matched with that longing in the vocals. “Moon Song” has a great performance from Christina Priest (and maybe some opening drum work familiar to Oasis fans). And don’t get stuck on the mellow pop you say? Then turn on the upbeat jangling rocker, “Shooting Star,” full of delightful dual vocals. Or maybe the dreamy guitars circling on “Not So Far Away” are more your style. All this to say that Summer Lane is needed in your life today, and thanks to Sunday Records, you can get your hands on it!

Smokescreens Announce A Strange Dream

Los Angeles’ outfit Smokescreens are definitely a group that we can get behind, especially after you consider how much I enjoyed Used to Yesterday. So, today, we get double the good news (and really triple)…first, the band have a new album coming out on Slumberland Records and second we have that new single below! But, the icing on the cake, aside from the excellent new music, is that it was produced by David Kilgour of the Clean; he also designed the album art work. There’s definitely a very Go-Betweens nod, particularly in the way the song opens with that guitar line. I love how the vocals sort of wash over you, much like the waves of the ocean repeatedly crashing upon you as the sun beats down upon your skin; its joyous and warm. We’ll keep you posted as the A Strange Dream‘s release date draws near.

New Stuff from The Reds Pinks and Purples

For some artists, this whole pandemic thing has been really great for songwriting, like for Glenn Donaldson and his project The Reds, Pinks and Purples. Over the weekend the project dropped two brand new songs, both delightful and required listening for you today. “Pictures of the World” opens with this big guitar strum and these shakers coming around while Donaldson carefully enters, almost frail; I keep imagining this song accompanying a video of a couple in various stages of goofing, probably shot on an outdated camera to give a little bit of a fuzz to the edges. In the end, Glenn has this slight Bob Pollard note…though not sure if he’d enjoy that note. I love the breathy vocal approach that comes out in the second tune, “Tell Me What’s Real” during the choruses; it gives off this timeless pop quality that makes me wish I could just sit around doodling in a notebook while my mind drifts off with the steady beat of the song. You can’t go wrong pressing play on either of these tunes.

New Jangling Pop Tune from Royal Target

You don’t have do too much to get my ears to perk up, and this new single from Royal Target just jumped right in from the get go, tossing out that j-angular little guitar noodle before the song settled into its melody. Gentle little pop hooks dig into your ears and hold tight with the slightly affected vocal warmth; I think a real highlight comes in right near the 2 minute mark when you get the slightest little tonal shift. That helps switch the song’s mood more towards one of longing, kind of that wistful dream of what’s next…which I’m sure we can all relate to these days.

Stream the Self-Titled LP from The Late Pioneers

It’s incredibly hard to keep track of all the great music being released nowadays, so hopefully you come here for a little guidance to narrow down your choices. One of the record I’ve been bopping to is the new self-titled LP from The Late Pioneers, which was just released by Subjangle. Ultimately, this is a brilliant pop record, culling influences from various periods of pop music, be that classic singles or the more recent jangling styles of indiepop. Many of the tracks offer this wondrous sense of promise in the world, like “Into the Mud,” but you will also encounter some more reflective pieces to keep the listen balanced. I think my favorite tune is “Leaving Today,” but start where you want and fall in love with this LP.

The Infinites Ready Debut LP

If I were to pick out an Austin artist that would break out into the world to win everyone’s hearts, the odds of that group being the Infinites are pretty high. What began as a looped guitar project between Dan Levine (Ghetto Ghouls) and Jared Zoltar (the Zoltars) has a evolved quickly into a well-oiled pop making machine. In their newest single, the guitar lines dance and flutter, jumping out sharply when emphasis is needed. Everyone else takes on a casual vibe, waiting for the the vocals to intoxicate; I love how Jared naturally has this hook in the way he’s delivering his lines, matched perfectly by those guitar parts. The band will be releasing their debut self-titled LP on First Human Records on April 26th.


Lost Tapes Return with The Bill

It’s been a few years since we last heard from Lost Tapes with their collection, We Thought It Was Okay at the Time. One thing’s for sure today, the band definitely are doing okay right now, hitting that musical sweet spot of my personal tastes. For starters, there’s a wash over the track, matched by some of the shadier attributes of the accompanying video; this haze hangs on to the vocals too, giving off this dream state. But, just beneath that fuzzy pop is this stuttering jangle pop; it’s sounds a great bit like “Rip It Up” by Orange Juice, which is a sure-fire dance number for me and my wife. Not every day you come across a number that hits the dream pop and the jangle at once; this tune appears on the group’s new EP, out on Shelflife on February 22nd.

Rip It Up DJ Night @ Cheer Up Charlies (6.25)

rip_it_upIf you follow this site, you know by now that I’m a huge indiepop/jangle pop/post-punk fan. It’s one of my favorite genres, and I’ve been hoping that somehow the rest of Austin catches on to it. So, with our friends that helped organize the ATX Popfest and Welcome to the Jangle, we’re organizing what we hope will be a monthly DJ residency (with shows to come in the future) to share our favorite genre. Tomorrow night at Cheer Up Charlies, at 7 PM, we’ll be kicking things off, with a few well-regarded DJs, including Nathaniel from Literature. Come by, sit with your friends and enjoy great tunes, then you can go out on the town. Event page HERE. We’ll probably play this song:

I Totally Missed This: New Milky Wimpshake LP

encore-un-effortI was browsing RSD, as is my yearly ritual.  I grab a few things, then just wonder around to see if there’s something special…and there it was: a new Milky Wimpshake LP! I had no idea it was coming, but many, it’s such a gem of a little LP.  For those of you that fall for endearing jangling indie pop, then this is going to be right up your alley.  The release is titled Encore, Un Effort…and Fortuna Pop put out this little video of one of the record’s standouts; I love the interplay between male/female vocalists, which is apparent throughout the LP.  Look around your local store, and maybe you’ll find one lurking in the leftovers bin.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/AUQe08FGgbg[/youtube]

Greatness Continued for The June Brides

julygroomsI’m really glad that Phil Wilson came back to music; I’ve enjoyed his solo work quite a bit since that triumphant return, but I’m really excited for his music with The June Brides too.  Seems like the old band is back together, and finding themselves on the only home that’s fitting, Slumberland Records.  This feels like listening to the guitar playing that spawned a revolution of wandering indiepop fans. They’ll be releasing their new She Seems Quite Free 7″ on September 1st; it’ll probably be the best thing you can get yourself as a post-Labor Day treat.  Feels too good to listen to this track. Must stop. Your turn.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/164651296″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

1 2 3 4 5
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com