Last Week’s Jams (11.18 – 11.22)

There were a lot of jams, and there wasn’t a lot of time, and all that to say, I still got an excuse to write about the new Cistern EP, with it’s banging opening track included below. Prism Shores continued to shell out hits, while Austin act SKLOSS return with news of their signing to Fuzz Club Records. The Rishis dropped in some delightful psychedelic pop, if that’s your bag, and if not, well maybe you get a little folk on your feet and crank up new Will Johnson for our ears. We also brought out some slow jams from Clara Ziegler and Disarme, among others, so all your feels are here below. Just press play.

Kim Deal Share Nobody Loves You More

I know Kim Deal‘s been at the songwriting game for decades, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to love her new solo effort quite as much as I do, at least based upon the singles we’ve heard. This go round, there’s more of a switch to a ballad format, eventually erupting into a full swing arrangement that buoys the overall vibe. It begins with Deal working atop a snappy percussive element and elegant string work, using her voice to create the emotional pull; it’s a quiet performance, but one that feels like it’s the sort of glue that will tie the whole LP together. There’s a burst of horns and strings, and you feel like she’s in the Copa, but it settles, closing with the more pensive performance where the tune began. Nobody Loves You More is out this Friday via 4AD.

Last Week’s Jams (10.7 – 10.11)

We crushed the coverage last week; we had some ACL coverage as well as some Sigur Ros notes from their Austin show. But, we also covered a solid 28 tracks, 26 of which made the cut on our Last Week’s Jams (the new Boyracer and Rocky Lorelei can only be found on the site). A new track from the Serfs is still living rent-free in my brain, while I discovered just how much I’m enjoying Kim Deal‘s new solo stuff. That doesn’t even scratch the surface, as there were several Texas’ acts like Pets and Trauma Ray getting some new jams out. I will admit, perhaps I overdid it, but eh, you love the new stuff right? Cool. Stream it then.

Kim Deal Dazzles in A Good Time Pushed

Admittedly, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Kim Deal‘s new stuff. Sure, she’s an absolute legend, and to be fair, I’ve got few reasons to doubt her craft…still, we’ve seen some folks drop the ball on their return. This is absolutely not the case for Kim, however, as she’s dropped another remarkable single that feels as vitally important to the current industry as her work was back when that one band she was in was huge (and then that other one too). I love the build in this song, the guitars growl beneath her voice, perfectly setting up the rising action to climax at “we are having a good time.” It balances with the really special rhythmic bubbling beneath, which comes as no surprise considering her bass-playing bad-assery. Nobody Loves You More is out on November 22nd via 4AD.

Envelopes – Here Comes the Wind

Rating: ★★★★☆

Envelopes is a little known band from France, so little known that no one wants to release their record in the United States besides iTunes. However, their second full length, Here Comes the Wind, is definitely one of the more complete releases of 2008.

If one was to label the band’s sound, you would be pretty close if you threw it under the genre of jangle pop. The melodies are bubbling full of brightness, making the joy of the songs immediately accessible for listeners. Throughout the album, the band presents you with hook after hook, encouraging you to bob your head in shear ecstasy.

Vocally, they combine male and female vocals, as if they were trading roles. At times, the vocals recall Frank Black’s Pixies yelp, but at other moments it’s the croon of David Byrne they seem to be evoking. Despite reference points, they seem to mix it up enough to keep you interested, as no song sounds exactly the same, which is what most of us seem to enjoy.

Lyrically, the band has never been one to provide the deepest meaning in their songs, which we could blame on the fact that the band is working with a second language. Still, the lyrics are easily distinguishable, which allows listeners to hold onto certain songs, and sing them loud for all of your friends.

Most noticeably, you can feel a true influence of the Pixies. The bass lines sound as if the band jumped Kim Deal and stole her stylings. Angular guitars crash into each other, creating waves of beauty. But, at the core of it all is a true pop sensibility, free of the darker elements that went with their immediate influences.

This album is wonderful through and through. It won’t wear you out after hundreds of spins, and each time you put it on, you seem to get more out of it. A complete album is a rarity nowadays, so head on over to iTunes and pick this one up before your friends get hip.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/10-03-heaven.mp3]

Download:  Envelopes-Heaven [MP3]

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