Still on My So Many Wizards Kick

Friday So Many Wizards their latest album, as well as a new single, and since I’m super stoked on the release, I figured I’d give them a nod again. This track has a rumbling jangle working beneath the mix, kicking up the energy. Then midway through, they calm things down to bring about a little respite, offering a nice dreamy vocal that rides the tune all the way to the end. If this is your style, you’re in luck, as you can find this jam and more on their stellar new LP, Heavy Vision, which just dropped via Lolipop Records.

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Premiere: So Many Wizards Announce Heavy Vision

Tuesdays beg for energetic pop tunes, and what better way to get you on your way then by bringing out news of a new album from So Many Wizards. While the album’s opening track opens with an angelic vocal carefully echoing through your speakers, you can hear the energy building as the guitars slowly churn. Instantly, they’re jittering quickly, pushing the song’s pace, pushing you to shuffle your feet as you dance frivolously through your room. I like the sudden draw back in style that comes during the chorus, softly pulling in a moment of steadiness before blasting back towards jangling rock n’ roll heaven. Lolipop Records will be releasing the band’s new record, Heavy Vision, on April 14th, and it sounds like we’re in store for a banger of furious pop hits.

Top Albums of 2012: 100-51

It’s really hard to narrow down a list of Top Albums of 2012, especially when you have four contributors with different opinions.  We gave the reins to Nathan.Lankford and Nicole Baumann on this one, since they write the majority of the album reviews, but we all have a little representation within this.  Now, we do realize that our site has specialized tastes, so please realize that these are our OPINIONS.  You’re welcome to disagree, and, in fact, we encourage that process.  Also, we’re doing a Top 100 because so many records came out this year, it wouldn’t be fair to narrow it down.  Not to mention it might lead you to discover some hits you hadn’t heard about yet. Oh, and we don’t really like Frank Ocean or hip-hop…just a personal choice…here’s the first segment.

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Catchy Pop from The Monolators

I can’t help it, but I love tunes with a bit of twee, especially if the lyrics are love related in some way; I’m a sucker.  Why does that matter you ask? Well, we just got sent this great new record from The Monolators, which is mostly a compilation of the band’s favorite tunes they’ve recorded over the last ten years.  The collection is called Ten Years of Tears, and it’s coming out via cassette on the new label, Vanity Projects, which is run by Geoff from So Many Wizards (a group we totally dig).  Listening to the selection, it really reminds me of a more focused Comet Gain…and that’s really all you need to know in order to fall in love.  If you love it, then you can pre-order it HERE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/A-02-I_Was_A_Captain_In_The_Army.mp3]

Download: The Monolators – I Was a Captain in the Army [MP3]

 

New Electro-pop From Crown Plaza

It’s clear that ATH has been big fans of So Many Wizards since first posting some of their sweet shoegaze style tunes over a year ago.  Try searching the band’s name if you don’t believe this guy… Today we have a new song, not from Wizards, but rather a solo project called Crown Plaza from Wizards frontman Nima Kazerouni.  The song is a bit more of a simple electronic style, as it features an easy to get into beat with some heartfelt vocals fitting in nicely over top.  If you’re into it, you can stream a full new EP of material from Crown Plaza over on Soundcloud, or purchase a copy on September 8th from Vanity Projects.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/01.-Reactor-Chem-Waves-Volume-1.mp3]

Download: Crown Plaza – Reactor (Chem Waves Volume 1) [MP3]

Amazing New Track from So Many Wizards

We first discussed So Many Wizards back in 2011, when the project was just getting started, but I’m happy to report the band has grown and blossomed into something spectacular.  The LA acts is slated to have an album, Warm Nothing, arrive later this year, and if it’s filled with tracks like this, then it’s going to take over the whole Internet.  For me, there’s a resemblance of what you would expect the Shins to sound like if James Mercer still kicked it old school, draping careful melodies across light instrumentation.  Come on, you can’t tell me this track doesn’t make you happy.

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

Download: So Many Wizards – Lose Your Mind [MP3]

New Track from So Many Wizards

When So Many Wizards began, it was merely a bedroom pop project, which seems like the story of the last few years for many a musician.  Like those others, one can only do so much on their own in the bedroom, so the band expanded to a three-piece, and have since put out several recordings, all of which require your immediate attention.  Their latest work is going to be a 7″ for Seven Inch Project, slated to be out on June 28th.  Unlike many bedroom to full band releases, it’s hard to see their work as something of the bedroom sort; the sound is just too full.   That soaring melody of “I don’t care” that goes through the entire song, amidst the rolling drumbeat in the background just can’t be created solo, and if so, I doubt it has an incredible pull such as this track. You be the judge.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BestFriends.mp3]

Download: So Many Wizards – Best Friends [MP3]