This is fine.
We are a mere matter of days away from the annual party time festival known as SXSW. With only a few more work days in site, I think the ATH crew is mentally prepared for whats about to go down. Im continuing the SXSW interview fun with some answers from our Corpus Christi neighbors in The Blind Owls. Hit the jump for their thoughts.
I’ve been reinvigorated by the pop music bug (I owe this to catching the Ocean Party last night), so it’s great that this new Delay Trees tune came into the old inbox. For me, this song is all about execution; you’ve got to take a simple formula and make it meaningful, which the band clearly does. It opens with vocals and a light guitar behind, then there’s a movement of elevation as the drums and keys join in to uplift the song, and listener. The chorus has this brilliant melody that’s intoxicating; it reminds me of early Travis (and that’s a compliment). This tune opens the band’s new album Let Go, which hits worldwide via Soliti on April 23rd.
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There’s a breed of frivolous pop out there that always gets you going, and I think Her’s are crafting precisely that. I can’t help but to recall bits of Junior Senior in their craftsmanship, maybe even mixed in with a little bit of J. Casablancas solo work. I mean, listen to the bass and tell me you don’t want to get up and shake it with the nearest person! Oh, and hand claps! Bring back hand claps! This tune will appear on their new collection, Songs of Her’s,which hits on March 12th via Heist or Hit Records.
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Michael Seal cuts his chops in one of our favorites, Proto Idiot, but his solo offering wears a slightly different pair of pants. To me, this reminds me of the Kinks, especially back in the old days. It’s got these careful little plotted notes and emphatic little “ooh la la las” lurking in the back, making it a catchy ditty. It seems it’s easy to go on and rehash old sounds, but to execute it with such a classic vibe is something quite special. Give a listen, and stay tuned for more, I hope!
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I have a feeling todays’ going to be a mellow one, so I wanted to set the mood with this delicate piece of electronic pop from Henry Green. This is perfect for the feels; it’s playful yet at the same time has this quiet strength to it. Perhaps that comes from Green’s androgynous vocal approach, whichallows you to give more attention to the concept of realness that he’s bringing on his Real EP. It’s a collection of songs just about living in the moment, absorbing all the world has to offer emotionally, good or bad. It’s being released on February 10th via Akira Records.
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It’s been almost five years since we’ve heard from Sun Airway, but it seems that the passage of time has perhaps yielded the best collection of songs to date. It seems Jon Barthmus spent countless hours compiling the samples that would create the sonic soundscape of his latest opus, Heraldic Black Cherry. A few songs have leaked previously, but you’ll find so much to discover within the confines of these 15 tracks, including little musical interludes to complete the album’s running. If you’re making bedroom pop, it sounds like its best to toil over these tracks for years…if only they all came out this good. Look for the new album on a limited run from Sly Vinyl just before summer hits. Until then, stream it all below.
This week Mons Vi gives us two new singles, one a redux edition of “Tangerine,” but I’m really stoked on the track “Away.” It’s got this really casual vibe, using a light, beach-leaning guitar chord that swirls about in your speakers. There’s a really nice touch about midway through, when another vocal balances out singer Matthew Hershoff’s voice, even countering it as the moment progresses. It’s playful, yet there’s a purpose to it that sounds confident in the song’s quality. Give a listen to the song, and check out the band for more joyous pop to wile away your day.
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BOYO have graced these pages before, and with this great new single, I’m giving him some more love today. This track is our first listen to the music he’s preparing for his next album (Summer 2017), all recorded after personal battles with addiction and anxiety. It’s interesting to see someone come out on the other side of such issues crafting this bright pop music…perhaps there is solace lurking in every corner, and songwriter Robert Tilden has found that. You can watch the song’s accompanying video HERE, or just enjoy the beautiful stream below.
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This song from Louie Louie came to me with the promise of maturity and brattiness all wrapped around a tight ball of pop yard. It’s precisely that, which is why it’s so lovable. I mean, for one, it opens with what I can only describe as a barely audible dinosaur roar before belting into a bubbling bit of classic female doo-wop stylings. I love the way the guitar bends and glides behind the melodies at various parts of the song. This group of ladies will hit the road for a huge East Coast tour starting here in a few days, so stay tuned to see if they’ll be coming your way. You’ll find this tune on Friend of a Stranger, which hits on February 8th.
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Admittedly, I’ve got a bit of a man crush on Corey Cunningham (musically speaking); I’ll swear by anything he does…Terry Malts, Business of Dreams…and now Smokescreens. Even better, is he’s teamed up on this project with Chris Rosi of Plateaus (they’ve been quiet lately, amiright?). The end result is something you’d expect if you knew the history of these bands: huge pop with sound with enough grit for you to still act like you’re tough. While the bouncy verses are great, I’m stuck on trying to hit the same perfect notes that come in the glorious chorus. Their new tape hitson February 2nd via Parked in Hell.
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