Adam Franklin Announces New Bolt of Melody LP + Swervedriver Reissue

Everything old is new again, so it seems Adam Franklin and Swervedriver are going to reissue their heralded 99th Dream this January. But, for all intents and purposes, reissues are a dime a dozen these days, so I’m more excited that Adam has announced a new Bolts of Melody LP. This go round, he’s teamed up with the usual suspects, aimed at scoring a film, so to speak, and letting the tracks come to life on their own. The first single from Film Noir is this beautiful dreamland, creating this cavernous sound where atmosphere rains down from the speakers, the lyrics almost coming across like softly hummed mantra. This is a beautiful place to begin your day. Outer Battery Records will release both the new Bolts LP and the Swervedriver reissue on January 24th.

Gateway Drugs Are On My SXSW Radar

gatesI’ve been neglecting my SXSW homework as of late, but as the RSVPs roll in, I reckon it’s time to really dig into the goods, right? Lately I’ve been jamming to Gateway Drugs, the LA act who are set to tour with Swervedriver.  That alone would be enough to warrant my attention, but the group has grabbed my attention with their sludgy smooth style.  There’s a sultry element via the established mood; it lurks behind the darkness that’s embedded in the tune and enforced by Liv’s vocals.  This is their latest single, just released, which is prepping you for their visit, as well as their new album, Magick Spells via Cobraside on March 3rd.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/190669050″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Yesterday’s Hits

We here at ATH like to bring you tunes that you may not hear elsewhere, spending lots of time scouring the internet for the best jams so that you don’t have to. However, that doesn’t mean we still don’t like to report on some of those bigger name bands we already know and love. So in this new feature we’ll group together some of the tracks that blew up in internetland yesterday and give you the necessary details so you can stay hip and fresh. We also rated the tunes with our special scale so you know which is the best new shit. So listen up kids.

Read more

New Tunes from Adam Franklin and the Bolts of Melody

I”ve been a fan of Adam Franklin since early on in Swervedriver‘s career, and he just keeps coming up with new ideas and new albums that I always find myself fawning over. His latest endeavor is called Adam Franklin and the Bolts of Melody.   The group has a new album titled I Could Sleep For a Thousand Years, which comes out on June 29th. The first single “Yesterday Has Gone Forever” is coated in Franklins smooth vocals, and recalls the pristine power pop of the 90s.  If this song doesn’t get you in the mood for relaxing in the shade while you’re trying to avoid the heat, then I don’t know what will.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/01-Yesterday-Has-Gone-Forever-1.mp3]

Download: dAdam Franklin and the Bolts of Melody – Yesterday Has Gone Forever [MP3]

Adam Franklin @ Emos (1/13)

up-1adam

Date Wednesday, January 13th
Location Emos
Doors 900p
Tickets $10at the door

Lets face it, Adam Franklin is a very busy man.  Whether he’s playing with Interpol’s Fogarino in Magnetic Morning or he’s reuniting with Swervedriver, he’s got a pretty solid schedule.  Somehow he found time to get with his new project Adam Franklin and Bolts of Melody, to tour the states.  He’ll be joined Wednesday night by local buzzworthy bands Ringo Deathstarr and My Education. You won’t want to miss this legend!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/adamfranklin-seizetheday.mp3]

Download: Adam Franklin – Seize the Day [MP3]

Magnetic Morning – A.M.

Rating: ★★★★☆

When the rumor mill put Sam Fogarino of Interpol with Adam Franklin of Swervedriver together, no knew exactly what to expect from the duo.  Both men have achieved varying levels of success, but could they put it altogether?  Simply put, the answer is an absolute yes! Here it is ladies and gents, Magnetic Morning.

Immediately the band opens with “Spring Unseen,” a gentle number where vocal harmonies seem to burst into the song like flowers in the Spring.  Franklin’s trademark voice sounds incredibly familiar, yet he seems to have grown with it as time has passed.  Here the band sets up to the stage for the entire album, allowing all space to be filled sonically with ambient washes of guitar.  It’s a tactic that will remain prevalent throughout your listening experience to this album.

Oddly, the music seems both dated and refreshing.  There isn’t a lot out there right now in the realm of dramatic pop soundscapes, at least not a whole lot that will move you.  Despite the fact that it seems like a missing step-child in the world of indie-rock, it still comes out as remarkably fresh.  Every minute of the album is worth steeping yourself inside, as you wait carefully, quietly even, for the song to unfold before you.  This entire album will aimlessly float through your brain as the melodies become a part of you.

Looking at the song titles alone will show you precisely what the album is about, conceptually speaking.  It seems to be that Mr. Franklin is continuing to search for the answers, as we all inevitably are.  He approaches the subject matter with a perfect simplicity, one that will surely allow listeners to associate with his words.  Not to mention, a few songs seemingly deal with loss, of a friend or loved one you will have to find out.

Ultimately, this is an album that affects your mood, regardless of where you find yourself in the day.  It’s a somber affair, forcing, or asking rather, that listeners take a minute, or twenty, out of their day to let these songs invest themselves in your soul.  In the end, you’ll be glad you found the time to sink quietly into this wonderful album.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/05-no-direction.mp3]

Download: Magnetic Morning – No Direction [MP3]