Nessa Readies New EP, Shares Latest Singles

Those of you who frequent our wee site might recognize Nessa Grasing‘s name in the notes of much-championed ATH faves, Scarves. This time however, we’re focusing on Nessa‘s solo work, offering you a bit more of a personal approach, predominantly working with the strength of vocals and heavy-strumming. On “Forest Fires” there’s a bit of a pop tinge to the tune, especially as the vocals swell to meet up with a light arrangement of strings behind. “The Desert and Your Demons” seems to be a bit more of a traditional ballad, with Nessa’s voice bringing a bit more fragility to both the tones and the storytelling; you can almost hear a breaking point for the narrator as its matched by the voice during the climax. The Palouse EP is on the horizon; we’ll keep you posted as we near the release!

Last Week’s Jams (8.7 – 8.11)

Admittedly, we might have outdone ourselves last week; I’m fairly certain I’m the one to blame. Somehow, we tossed up 40 songs, though a few are unavailable in the streaming sites, so you’ve only got 38 tracks on this week’s playlist. There’s a ton of Austin stuff, with new music from Daiistar, Semihelix, Half Dream and more…obligatory A Giant Dog is in there and such. Plus, still continuously impressed by the magic that is Prewn. Oh, and Australia’s buzzing at the moment, and their music isn’t half-bad either, with new tracks from the Small Intestines and Soft Covers being considered as must listens. So, if you’ve got an hour or two to kill…go on and stream!

Scarves Share Candy Bar Single

Long ago, in a blogosphere far away, I wrote extensively about Scarves and their record, Delicate Creatures. Fast forward to last Friday, and the band dropped a fresh track, emailing us to let us know that the songwriting just clicked, and they were having fun just writing again, so they pressed record, and here we are. Musically, the group still feel like they’re a few degrees away from Death Cab, though having spent a lot of time with the band’s music, Niko’s vocals feel more natural and honest…so maybe Gibbard circa We Have the Facts. The tune unfolds casually, almost stream of consciousness in a sense, and with a strum, its over, leaving you with just an inkling of extra joy in your day.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (7.11 – 7.15)

Was a bit of a hectic week, as I was out of town for a good part of last week, so RayRay helmed things solo, keeping you up to date with new jams from The Berries and Sorry. I crept in towards the end of the week with recent favorites like Key Out and Scarves, but I was most excited to hear new music from Bubblegum Lemonade hitting the airwaves! Oh! And a brand new album out of the blue from Neil Brogan! I mean, it was a short week coverage-wise, but some surefire jams to listen to in here.

Scarves Share Title Track, Delicate Creatures

Scarves are still spitting out catchy indie rock numbers as we head towards the release of Delicate Creatures, and today, we get the band’s title track from that new LP. Lyrically, the song hits on how our lives can change instantaneously in this fragile world, facing our mortality and our constant struggles, with Niko hoping “you make an impact” on the world around you. It’s a bit of hope thrown into the world, but the way the band balance the gentle nature and fragility in both lyrical content and musical vibes is perfect; they erupt when you least expect it, bursting forth with emotion in a split instant, then settle. Walking the tightrope between lyrics and sound is a true gift, so untie the bow and enjoy this new single from their Delicate Creatures record, out August 26th.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (6.13 – 6.17)

Well, we wrote up at least 25 fresh tracks last week, many of which we purposefully tried to make sure weren’t on all the other cool kid sites. That also might be why we missed a few that you’d expect us to cover. It was great to hear Cool Sounds taking some new risks for their new LP, plus we made sure we had that new Mary Onettes tune right up there. And, our old friends Big Bill dropped a new record, so we wanted to remind you of their gifts…and then, there were loads of other songs, meant to get you through those early Monday morning blues without having to think too much about what you’re listening to all day…just know it’ll be good.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (6.6 – 6.10)

Pretty busy week over at ATH, jammed out to bunches of bunches of tunes, plus did a nice little quick wrap-up of what’s going on in the Austin scene. Our friends Dummy continued their world domination with their great new single from Sub Pop, plus we got some new tracks from forever faves Slow Rosary, Alex Dupree and Scarves…not to mention a bunch of newer acts we’re starting to fall in love with, like Blue Cove and Cusp. Check out the jams and enjoy your Monday my friends.

Scarves Announce New LP

I always forget how much I enjoy listening to Scarves. There’s something in the band that just screams Pacific Northwest, in its heyday. They’ve just announced their new album, their first since 2018’s Dinner Dates for the End of Days, and with it, they’re reminding us of their sound with “Heavy Eyes.” Something about Niko’s voice always reminds me of the earlier years of Built to Spill, when things weren’t quite so clean and the beauty was in the details that seemed misplaced. There’s also some similarities to early Death Cab, which I’m pretty sure is still okay to admit you liked (I did; I still do!), so if you’re feeling like you miss that PNW sound, then why not just listen to Scarves; their new album Delicate Creatures is out August 26th via Good Eye Records.

Another Day Another Scarves Tune

I feel like the best way to start out my week is to have the latest single from Scarves turned up really loud. For me, the guitar work is one of the main winners here; it has these little notes that turn over and over in math-y rock fashion; it matches Niko’s voice with this frantic pace that builds this natural tension within the song’s confines. There’s so much space working behind the vocals too, adding to that build-up…and its important to note the group never fully give in to that trap. The band will release Dinner Dates for the End of Days on September 28th, with a scheduled Austin date on October 1st at Cheer Ups.

Still Bopping Along to Scarves

Seattle’s Scarves have just recently popped onto my radar, but I’ve been enjoying a pretty steady stream of the group’s new jams. The group seem to have that perfect balance between angular emo stylings and really great pop music; I think this track even takes on an almost Dismemberment Plan, seemingly working with different time signatures between music and voice. Niko has one of those insanely unique voices that seem fashionable up in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s one I’m hoping you won’t forget. Look for the group’s Dinner Dates for the End of Days via Good Eye Records on September 28th.

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