New Music from Burnt Ones

BurntOnes2013_1You looking for a bit of glam pop to brighten your day? Well, that’s precisely what you’ll get when listen to this new tune from San Fran’s Burnt Ones.  The band just announced they’ll be releasing their second LP on Burger Records on April 30th; it’s titled You’ll Never Walk Alone (I hope these guys don’t like Liverpool!). There’s a fuzzy guitar that rings in the opening of this tune, just before the clapping and stomping begins.  It’s immediately catchy, but it’s not sugary, using a little grit to make the song sound just a bit dirtier.  Nice little ditty for a Monday.

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Catchy New Power Pop from Cocktails

The last few years have seen bands reignite our love for pure honest rock n’ roll, so we’re glad to add another excellent act of that ilk to the mix: Cocktails.  They call San Francisco home, but the way that these hooks  dig their nails into you, I wouldn’t be surprised if they find themselves with a huge audience outside of their home city.  While the power-pop element survives in the track, I’m enjoying the gentle quality of the vocal delivery.  They’ll have a new 7″ EP coming your way on February 12th via Father Daughter Records, giving you all the more reason to get your hands on a very limited run!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/02-Hey-Winnie.mp3]

Download:Cocktails – Hey Winnie [MP3]

New Offbeat Pop From CHURCHES

CHURCHES released a self-titled debut EP earlier this year that created a lot of buzz in the music blogging world.  All that buzz has created a small following for the band, so many are getting excited for this new song “Lovelife” that’s been spreading on the internet as of late.  It’s sort of an offbeat pop number that has some nice rising action when it breaks into the anthemic chorus.  We sure hope you enjoy it too.

This song is the A-side to a 7″ single coming out on December 11th.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/01-LOVELIFE.mp3]

Download: CHURCHES – Lovelife [MP3]

The Fresh & Onlys – Long Slow Dance

Rating: ★★★★☆

I listened to this record 8 or 9 times, all along thinking it was on the verge of either a 3.5, but not quite.  I figured my love and adoration might just push it over the edge, so I gave it a few more spins. Then it hit me, Long Slow Dance is perhaps the most focused and complete the Fresh & Onlys have completed up to this point in their short career.  Given, they’ve stripped away a little bit of the reverb, but it makes way for a clarity that is really appreciated by those following Tim Cohen and company.

“20 Days and 20 nights” opens with a bit of a catchy jangle, holding back on the pace just a bit.  It allows for the perfect introduction to a more polished-sounding Tim Cohen. His voice sounds steady, rather than wavering in the hazy distance as you’ve come to find on Fresh & Onlys records. If you listen closely this time around, you might even catch a bit more emotion in his voice–it’s barely audible, but listen closely.  For me, an avid fan, it all indicates a more confident singer, and group for that matter.  Years ago I couldn’t have imagine them creating tunes like “Long Slow Dance,” which closely resembles a folk ballad.  Percussion is turned down low, giving the strum of the guitar and the dancing tambourine a little bit more emphasis.  While they hold back in spots, they do unleash a little bit more power in various spots.

My first notice was “Yes or No?”  Once that guitar enters accompanied by the drum, you know exactly that these guys mean business.  Like most tunes on Long Slow Dance, it’s clearly linked to the annals of the band’s previous works, just with more punch. Or, you can listen to “Euphoria,” which again utilizes more pronounced drum work, not to mention some cascading guitar-lines. Honestly, the first ten second almost gave me a punk rock feel–that’s until Tim came into haunt the track with his heavy vocals. And, such emphatic songs are great in the scheme of things, but I really like the extra touches outside of the group’s normalcy that they’ve chosen to include.

Have you listened to “Fire Alarm?” It’s got a strong electronic bent to begin, and while that remains slightly in the back, there’s a definite groove that doesn’t sound too familiar on most Fresh & Onlys albums, being one of the reasons I really like it.  Take the group’s psychedelic touch, mix it in with hints of the 80s swatch, and you have one of the most intriguing songs on the record. Or you might want to take a look at “Foolish Person,” where you’ll find the band flirting with touches of modern pop construction, using Tim’s vocal to captivate listeners while the rest of the posse work their magic…and then it just blasts off into experimental noise to wrap out the 6 minute track.  There’s not much else like it in the band’s catalogue.

While I may have been on the fence a bit, that’s just my own idiocy. Long Slow Dance finds the San Francisco group mixing in newer influences and stronger studio production to knock this one out of the park.  You know Fresh & Onlys can write great songs, but this time they’ve written twelve, using every bit of their influences to create a refreshing record that only gets better the more you listen.

Dream Pop from The Belinda Butchers

The last several years have left me with a pretty solid impression of what to expect with San Francisco bands, so I was surprised when I started checking out the latest EP from The Bilinda Butchers, Goodbyes.  If you can catch the allusion in the band’s name, then surely you’ll think you’ve got them locked-down, but they’re not out to blaze the trails of their namesake…though you could possibly throw the haze/gaze word around a bit.  I like the rhythmic electronic of this track, with it’s vocals immersed beneath the song a bit.  This definitely gives me a different idea of what San Fran is all about.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/the-bilinda-butchers-goodbyes-02-hai-bby.mp3]

Download:The Bilinda Butchers – Hai Bby [MP3]

New Jam from New Faultlines

I’ve heard a few rumors about this band, and since they’re from San Francisco, I figured I could trust the sources.  While it’s not entirely like the usual fare coming from the city, I’m really digging what I’m hearing from New Faultlines.  You’ll hear a nice little jangling guitar being strummed throughout, which goes along with the feel of the vocals; yes, I know they sound a bit unhinged.  It gives me that fuzzy feeling the first time I heard Twerps, so hopefully that’s gotta be worth something in your book.  As of now, that’s all the info I can find on the band, but I’ll keep you posted when I hear more.

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Introducing Youth of the Beast

I got an email the other day about this Southern California based duo Youth of the Beast and I almost wrote them off without giving them much of a chance.  Not sure what possessed me not to give them a chance, but I’m glad that I gave them a listen as I’m enjoying the tunes more and more with each listen.  The song I have for you below “Shotgun Army” is easily the most catchy and poppy tune on the band’s recent LP release Seventy Seven.  A lot of the songs have this sort of folk-pop feel about them with the strong Nick Cave like vocals from Adrian Symcox really carrying each and every song.  If you’re feeling this one, the band’s entire album is streaming over on bandcamp.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/07-Shotgun-Army.mp3]

Download: Youth of the Beast – Shotgun Army [MP3]

New Music from Seatraffic

Lately I’ve begun to think of San Francisco as the mecca of psychedelic tunes and new age punk rock sounds, but that’s not all the city has to offer.  One listen to Seatraffic and you’ll see that even dreamy bedroom pop has it’s place on the West Coast, and we’re grateful you can craft music like this anywhere.  The duo has kindly let us share the B-Side to their upcoming 7″, and we’re pretty sure you’ll dig the stripped down emotional effect that remains central to the song.  You’ll be able to order your own copy of the recording on August 1st if you know what’s good for ya.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/02-Put-Away.mp3]

New Electro Jam From Exray’s

I’m recovering from a Fourth of July hangover so overly loud music just isn’t doing it for me today.  This new song “Yellow Light” from San Francisco based Exray’s is hitting the spot this morning.  It’s a tune that falls into the chillwave genre with it’s easy beats and relaxed feel throughout the mix.  Almost reminds me of Gorillaz at times.

A brand new album from Exray’s, Trust a Robot, is currently streaming for free over on bandcamp.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Exrays-yellow-light.mp3]

Download: Exray’s – Yellow Light [MP3]

New Music From Future Twin

This new single “Lockits” from San Francisco based Future Twin popped up on RCRD LBL yesterday and I’m deeming it worthy to share with the ATH readers.  It’s a fast paced punk rock tune with some in your face female vocals that compliment that track nicely.  A new LP will be coming from the group entitled Future Twin Delux Edition on July 31st.  The album combines several prior releases from the band all in one handy dandy place.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Lockits-1.mp3]

Download: Future Twin – Lockits [MP3]

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