Girl Pop from Big Wave

a1599649102_2In the wake up Rilo Kiley and Standard Fare passing into the abyss of great bands, I’ve been looking for something to perfectly fill my need for girl-fronted pop rock.  This latest single from Big Wave has me excited for what positive things are sure to come in the future from the group.  While there may be some dark subject matter, you wouldn’t be able to tell by the emotional pull of the music, giving off a powerful boost of energy.  This new single is, as usual, brought to you by the great folks over at Art is Hard Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Art-Is-Hard-Records-Goldmine-GW-Bridge-AA-single-02-GW-Bridge.mp3]

Download: Big Wave – GW Bridge [MP3]

Top Albums of 2012: 50-1

Here it is.  I know you’ll hate it; I know you’ll disagree, but that’s not the point in making an arbitrary list.  We here at ATH worked really hard to fit in the tastes of the four of us, and when we decided upon our Top 50, it really boied down to simple math.  What albums did we love when they came out?  Do we still enjoy spinning those records months later? If they’re in the Top 50, then the asnwer is probably yes.  I mean, our Top 2 records came out in January, and still play a vital part in my weekly listening.  There’s no disclaimer here.  We are who we are, we like what we like, and we hope that’s okay with you. If not, drop us a line and let us know where we went wrong.

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New Single from Standard Fare

Did you see me rave about the excellent Out of Sight, Out of Town LP from Standard Fare at the beginning of the year? You definitely should have, but if you didn’t, this song’s going to remind you just what I was talking about.  The group’s signed up to release a single with WIAIWYA, and you can grab that single for nice decent price.  More importantly, the band’s been generous to provide us with a stream of their energetic jam, “Girlfriend.”  This song encompasses everything the group’s about, and I’m always excited when one of my favorite bands has new music to make it through this rainy weather. You can also stream/buy the track HERE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Girlfriend-Mx3.mp3]

 

Standard Fare – Out of Sight, Out of Town

Rating: ★★★★☆

Recent years have seen a reemergence of power-pop, which really just adds up to kicking out hard-rocking tunes with a whole lot of sheen.  Sheffield’s Standard Fare definitely have an affinity for the purity of pop, and their newest album Out of Sight, Out of Town, will have you applauding for both its simplicity and quality.

Trickling guitar lines introduce you to Out of Sight, Out of Town by way of “The Look of Lust,” just as you meet the attractive vocals of Emma Cooper.  For a few moments, the band shows some restraint, softly approaching the main part of the song, which features a certain sharpness in song composition.  Little flares, such as changes in the vocal delivery and the addition of strings make this a track you’ll listen to years from now. As they move into “05 11 07” the pace is picked up, but the plot’s still the same, using the charming lyrics of Cooper to unite splendid guitar play.

But, just as you start to fall for the pattern, Standard Fare throw in a little bit more of a jangle your step, and theirs.  Clearly Emma is the star of the show on “Suitcase,” with an underlying bit of sexuality lurking beneath her vocals, reminiscent of Victoria Bergsman in a much more playful manner. However, the band isn’t content to just give you bubblegum pop from the female sort, as Danny How takes over on “Kicking Puddles.” This track has a real familiar feel to it, just with a heavier dose of guitars; it’s like Beach Fossils crashed into the UK pop museum. How also takes a lead role on “Bad Temper,” a song that definitely hits furious and fast.

While there’s a nice straight-forward pop theme on Out of Sight, Out of Town, it’s the band’s playfulness that really gives them the extra step above many of their peers.  The reggae rifts that permeate “Half Sister” demonstrate that the band’s still working on fleshing out their sound as a whole, especially with a small dose of catchy hand-claps.  And while they’re willing to push the envelope a bit with their music, Standard Fare can also kick out traditional ballads like on “Early That Night.” It’s the slowest track on the whole album, but one you all the hip kids should definitely play while their hosting the next hip dance party…you know, just so you can actually get to touch the opposite sex.

One of the best thing about writing record reviews is finding a record you can repeatedly go through from start to finish, wanting to write about every single song, and that’s precisely what Standard Fare have accomplished here. Out of Sight, Out of Town is an effort that’s sharp, clever and ultimately enjoyable for all fans of pop music.  It’s the best type of record there is, so have fun enjoying this wondrous gem for some time to come.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/03-Suitcase.mp3]

Download:Standard Fare – Suitcase [MP3]

Bouncy Pop Ditty from Standard Fare

Ready for your new favorite band? It’ll only take you a few seconds to listen to the jangly line from this track from Standard Fare before you fall in love.  The Sheffield trio is set to release their Out of Sight, Out of Town for Melodic on January 24th, and the minute I played this song, I got hooked.  Emma Cooper takes the lead role on this number, and it’s her performance that lends a steadying hand to the catchy tune.  If you’re in the market for bright, infectious indie pop today, then you came to precisely the right spot; you’re not going to hear anything better today.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/03-Suitcase.mp3]

Download: Standard Fare – Suitcase [MP3]

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