Have Fun With Team Spirit

team-spirit-killing-time-flatWhen your Monday just got you down, why not introduce a little pop punk music into your life to brighten what could be a dreary Tuesday?  Brooklyn based band Team Spirit can provide the perfect music for this mood with their new track “Surrender”.  It’s a an easy to like track with it’s rockin’ power chords and fun vocals to boot.  I’m already enjoying the day twice as much as I was before.

Pick up new album, Killing Time, via Vice on September 30th.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/166037812″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Terry Malts – Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere

terryRating: ★★★★½

The last time out Terry Malts ruled my world with Killing Time, so I was curious to see where they could go from that point.  Would Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere top the previous effort? Would it fall off?  Well, after spending the last few weeks listening to the record on repeat, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s much the same, in a good way, though I feel like there’s a heavier punch this go round.

“Disconnect” begins the album off in much the same way that Killing Time left off, blasting off with guitar explosive guitar riffs and darkly tinged melody in the vocals.  It’s not breakneck speed until it pounds out near the 1.19 mark, yet it reverts into this interesting melody that works alongside, including a light backing vocal. And with such a post-pop hit, it’s interesting how the band moves right into the furiously punk “Life’s a Dream.”  Envision circle pits with smiles, and then the track ends.

It’s hard to find out standout moments on Nobody Realizes This is Nowhere, as the group are so consistent in their songwriting that it’s hard to pick out a favorite. Can I take them all?  Of course, “I Was Not There” should be on everyone’s year-end list.  The crunchy distorted guitar operates in such a forceful manner that it completely works against the seemingly spoken-word lyrical delivery.  That being said, Terry Malts always manage to unite such things, which is why I can’t help but tap my feet and bounce around the room when this song is on full blast.  It fits perfectly in the mix, going into the poppier “No Tomorrow.”  While the pounding drums stand out on this tune, I really like the way the vocals are delivered on this song.  The notes are held long longer than usual, and they make way for this electric soloing guitar that pointedly knifes its way through the track.

One of the differences that I have noticed here is that Terry Malts seem to have gone to the darker corner of punk on this release.  Their last record sounded like a beautifully modern Ramones LP, but this time songs like “Walking Without You” and “So Serious” take on the heavier area, at least in regards to how the music comes across.  They’re not nearly as pummeling in speed, though you’ll hear a noisier element to these tunes.  Luckily, even with that approach, they don’t lose their pop sensibility.  One spin of “So Serious” and you’ll see exactly what I mean.  Heavy meets pop and it equals perfect tune.

It’s possible that I’m predisposed to love this album, seeing how much I enjoyed their first release, but I can say, assuredly, that this isn’t some fanboy letter.  Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere takes on the noise in a different manner than its predecessor, though still wraps you up in melodious hooks that invade your soul.  With such an array of great songs, it’s hard not to enjoy this record, so be sure to pick it up as soon as you can.

 

Fuzzy New Single from Terry Malts

There’s been lots of great records this year, but one that’s going to be in my top five for sure come the end of the year is Killing Time from Terry Malts.  But, not a band to rest on their laurels, the group already has a new single ready to go on Log Lady Records.  It’s going to be a split affair with Dead Angle, and it demonstrates the continuous power of a Malts release. If you jam to the stream below you’ll find those fuzzy guitars and solid percussive moments that have come to define the group’s sound.  You can pick up this jam on June 12th, so keep your eyes open!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Disconnect.mp3]

 

An Interview w/ Terry Malts + Show Preview

For the last year, I’ve absolutely devoured everything this band has released.  Their debut full length, Killing Time, is currently holding its own as my top record pick of the year (Out now on Slumberland Records). They’re heading to Austin on Thursday night (Buy tickets HERE) at Mohawk, so we caught up with the group before their trip into town to chat about various things.  Thanks to Anton for hooking the interview up. Read more

Terry Malts – Killing Time

Rating: ★★★★★

My first introduction to the music of Terry Malts stemmed from my love of the members’ former band, The Magic Bullets.  Unfortunately, the group was unable to find a full-time drummer, so opted to regroup as Terry Malts.  A few 7 inched piqued my interest, but when Killing Time arrived in my inbox, I had no idea just how much longevity this record would have.  From start to finish, it’s a polished bit of scuzzy guitars, pop hooks, pounding drums and hooks galore. So far, it’s the best record I’ve gotten my hands on this year.

“Something About You” lets the album explode from the get-go, offering listeners a bit of their traditional gaze-pop in the realm of Pains of Being Pure at Heart, only on speed (not that we condone drug usage).  The drums clatter, the guitars have a ferocious tenacity that propels the song for the entirety of just over two minutes. But, that’s about the last you’ll hear of your typical fare, as the group has more of a raucous punk sound, albeit one infused with elements of power-pop and post-punk atmospherics.

The most brilliant things about Killing Time is it’s ability to never grow stale sonically, whilst still holding onto album cohesiveness. “Tumble Down” has that affected guitar sound echoing in the background, but it’s the monosyllabic vocals touches that provide the song’s main hook.  This is the music you wish you had with you during those times when you need to display sheer exuberance.  If you’re not bouncing around, you’re not listening closely. You can group this song with “Waiting Room,” another song that really relies upon the stellar drumming to really give you a good kick in the ass. Corey Cunningham’s vocals have a deep quality, yet he’s got these tiny little changes in pitch that really add an extra element to every single track.

Terry Malts aren’t just sold on giving you one sound for the whole of the Killing Time; “I’m Neurotic” is one such testament.  For one, it’s the longest track here, but the band’s content to really let the guitars do the work, as they ring in and out of the foreground, battling Cunningham for control of the song.  Then, as a testament that the group’s got a definite affinity for classic punk rock, you find “No Good For You.”  Remember when the Ramones would bang out a nice power ballad, just to mix it up? Well, that encompasses everything great about this song; it’s not just mimicry, however, as there’s definitely a different bit of brashness in the way the group handles themselves–but you’ll definitely notice the homage around the 2 minute mark.

For me, this is perhaps the perfect culmination of everything about my favorite records.  Killing Time definitely has everything modern in its sound, but it harkens back to a purity in the annals of rock n’ roll, tossing out punishing drums lines, excellent hooks and enough creativity that every song sounds fresh.  At just under 35 minutes, you’re going to have a hard time finding an album that begs to be played time and time again without every growing old.  Who loves the Terry Malts? “I do I do I do I do I do I do.”

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Terry_Malts_-_Tumble_Down.mp3]

Download:Terry Malts – Tumble Down [MP3]

New Rocker from Terry Malts

If you checked out our Top Songs, you probably saw Terry Malts, and hopefully you were all over that jam.  But now, as the band promised when we caught up with them at 29th Street Ballroom, they’ve finally got their album, Killing Time, ready for release on Slumberland on February 21st.  This track’s a mix of the group’s former project, Magic Bullets, and their own fuzzy pop sensibility that they’ve portrayed in TM.  It’s definitely not as quick as “Something About You,” but in its brevity, it almost begs you to play it again, rather than lay it all on the line quick as can be. Still, it’s going to be awesome.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Terry_Malts_-_Tumble_Down.mp3]

Download: Terry Malts – Tumble Down [MP3]

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