Last Week’s Jams, Today (6.20 – 6.24)

I don’t even want to look back at last week. But, we had songs, there were some really good songs coming out of a really awful week. Our friend Ram Vela and his band had a new single, plus it never hurts to get a Voxtrot tune in your inbox. Think I kept coming back to these Bastien Keb, Flowertown and Tan Cologne tunes the most, well, and that Tony Molina track. There’s about 20 jams to sort through, so find a favorite. Or don’t.

Slow Rosary Share First Letter to Halstead

When I first started listening to Slow Rosary on last year’s Refinery, I was drawn to their broad folk ballads; it reminded me of the early 00s, where it was dripping with emotion and power (it still does). On their new album, it seems like we’re getting an experience strikingly to the left, as you hear in the latest track they’ve released. This one feels like an adventure into the spiritual realm, whose themes run through Free Wifi in the Vatican (note: not Vatican City!); it also has this haunting beauty, as the vocals sort of faintly warble in and out of focus, with instrumentation eerily fighting for your attention. This is the sort of track where you lose yourself, forgetting where you are, maybe even who you are, only to come out and grab a copy of their new album. Free Wifi in the Vatican drops on Friday!

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.

Slow Rosary Prepare Free Wifi in the Vatican

I fell in love with Slow Rosary last year when they dropped their album Refinery, and they’re already back with a brand new collection of songs for Free Wifi in the Vatican. You can tell on the first of these two tracks that things feel different; the tune almost has this sort of cacophonous, early Arcade Fire vibe to it, albeit one spun through the band’s unique discussion on the underbelly of Catholicism. It’s exciting to hear the band return to the fold so quickly, and this one’s shaping up to really stretch their sound into something spectacular. Free Wifi in the Vaticandrops on June 24th.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (August 23 -27)

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you’re doing alright, physically and emotionally. We’re here to wrap up last week’s hits, or at least what we loved. This collection has a bunch of songs included from some albums that dropped on Friday, as well as new tunes from Gustaf, Dinner and the new collaboration from Living Hour + Peel Dream Magazine. Start your week off right by reviewing what we loved last week. Have a good day!

Some Album Streams for Friday

I know you all came here hoping to hear the new Kanye, but nah, fuck that guy. So here we are, perhaps wanting you to stream a few left of the dial album releases that otherwise might not make it onto your radar. Most of these are just things I’ve been jamming and talking about, but today is release day, so wanted to be sure they’re on your radar!

Cry BabyEverything I Didn’t Say (Solidarity Club Records)

This South Carolina outfit is here to give you the slow jams, throw it back to that groovy stuff that got replaced by the beeps and the boops of the current climate. But, if you like your R&B styles with a little nostalgia, a little like those late night MTV jams of the 80s, then you need to be all over this as fast as possible!

Snowy BandAlternate Endings

I’ve always been a huge Snowy fan, but I had no idea what he had up his sleeve for Alternate Endings. This might be one of the sneaky picks for album of the year; its perfect in almost every spot, and my recommendation is that you spend time with “Living with Myself” and try to tell me you don’t love it!

Slow RosaryRefinery

There’s so much going on in the world, that it has been increasingly difficult to escape from the world…that is unless you put this Slow Rosary record on. This is musical escapism at its finest; it’s hand-crafted folk opus after opus, built to transport you somewhere entirely magical. Just hang out with this record for a few minutes, you can thank me later.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (August 2 – 6)

Here we are amigos, welcoming you back to what is shaping up to be a really fun week. RayRay and I have to go back to our real jobs, officially, so there’s that. But, we wanted to reflect on last week, bringing you the hits of last week, only bringing them to you today. Most of the stuff we covered, or have covered, since we’re not apt to get to tons of reviews for individual albums, so I threw in a jam. Definitely got some good Austin coverage with new Half Dream, as well as a part Austin participation with Daphne Tunes on that new Central Heat Exchange track. You know, its not tough. Just press play, let the algorithm guide you.

Slow Rosary Share Evangeline

As I listen to the latest single from Slow Rosary, I’m struck by the textural layers the band put into this track, letting it build and swell before you, blossoming like this striking pop flower. It opens with a heavy strum mixed with solemn vocals, beginning with a dark vibe, though the tones begin to lift as backing vocals swell, quickly joined by an oppositional guitar line and a jangling tambourine. But, that’s barely even scratching the surface, with horns furthering the textural vibe of this tune. And all this before you even get to the song’s latter half where a surprise lays in wait for you. Trust me, this is your jam of the day, though you might not know it. Look for the band to release Refinery on August 27th.

Bops of the Week: June 21 – 25

Pardon me for slow-rolling out of bed today, but this is the first official day of summer for this teacher here, so I figured I’d amble about with a little less speed today. So, here we are friends, the review of last week’s hits. We’ve got new tunes from Always You and Damon & Naomi, as well as a little local love for our friend Abram Shook, plus you get new Massage and Flowertown records offering up some hits in there too! Personally, I’m going to encourage yo to partake in the slow burn of Sungaze and Slow Rosary. If you’re looking to ease into your day, no better way than this bunch of bops!

Slow Rosary Shares Montserrat

Please. Put aside six minutes of your time today. Sit somewhere quiet and listen to this new single from Slow Rosary. At first, you get this slow strum and dramatic vocals, stark in their presentation, with powerful lyrics from Rene Duplantier; the lyrical storytelling recalls the works of other literary songwriters like Meloy, Darnielle or Oberst. Progressing, the song seems to carry this undercurrent, this loneliness that swells with emotion as we all fine common ground with the tune, falling deep into the song as little flourishes begin to seep through the speakers. Just before the song hits the 4 minute mark, the tune erupts, drums roll over you and cymbals crash as the twang of the guitar wanders about your room; it feels like an album’s worth of music accomplished in just under 7 minutes. Refinery, the debut album from the project, will be out August 27th.