Gum Country Announce Debut LP

Why on Earth can’t more bands sound like this? I mean, I reckon I’d get bored after a long time, but I’ll be damned if this Gum Country tune isn’t the right jam for me. It’s got the fuzzy bits that make my ears perk up near the stereo, but still carries on that pop sensibility that makes a song worthy of repeated listens. The band set out to make ‘harsh twee,’ and while I can hear that applying, I do think they take this beyond twee pastiche; it almost seems to have a little psychedelic noodle coursing through the core of the song. Their debut LP Somewhere will be out via Kingfisher Bluez and Burger Records.

Top Albums of 2017

Lists are arbitrary and burdensome, but why not join the fun everyone else is having? We gathered our lists, separate lists for all of us, then combined them into one that had 50 albums. What you get here are the four writers/contributors of ATH, giving you their meaningless opinions on what we thought was the jam in 2017. It’s alphabetical, and we put the initials next to it so you could track down your enemy!

 

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Fazerdaze Signs with Flying Nun Records

Flying Nun Records continues their run of really great female-fronted guitar pop this year by signing Fazerdaze for the release of her debut Morningside. Honestly, this might be the best thing they’ve got on the books this year (that includes new music from The Bats and The Courtneys). This single coming with the announcement has a rather dreamy quality to it, especially in the way that there’s a coat on the vocals. But, in the music, you can hear the guitar being strummed way up in the mix, which adds a great balance to the track. This definitely sounds like something we’ll all agree is great…look for it on May 5th, just in time to help craft a great summer playlist.

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Jay Som Is Back with New Music

Ran the Courtneys latest track this morning, so seems only appropriate that we’d rock this new tune from their tourmate, Jay Som. The release of her new album, Everybody Works, is just about a month away, and I love the heavy-handed guitar on this new tune. Melina Duarte has a softness to her voice that provides the perfect musical juxtaposition, especially when she gets playful with the “up up up” line. There’s some discordant noise too at the end, when the chords are changed just a bit to offer up a slight bit of noise that gives the tune an extra bit of oompf to close things out. Polyvinyl Records will release the album on March 10th.

More New Music from The Courtneys

Looks like Flying Nun is going to be on a run this year, bringing new music from The Bats…and this much anticipated album from The Courtneys. From the sound of it, The Courtneys II is going to be filled with dreamy harmonies and classic guitar pop sounds; I haven’t heard a song on the album I don’t like yet. This one stays in one place for most of the track, using ringing guitars to create a bit of distorted melody, while the anthemic style of vocals gives hope to us all that we, too, can be huge rock stars! Look for the record on February 17th.

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Austin Weekend Spotlight: The Non-X Games Exclusive

austinMan.  The festivals and large events in this town never cease, and while I appreciate that, I’m a bit sick and tired of it all.  Are you in the same boat? Perhaps you want to carefully venture downtown and catch some live music?  You’re lucky, as the local bands are bringing you some great line-ups all over the map this weekend.  Here’s  a quick look at where you can go. Read more

Missed Jams: The Courtneys + Fear of Men

courtneysIt’s been a crazy couple of weeks, and with SXSW a week away, things don’t look to be slowing down.  In all that nonsense I’ve missed a few tracks I wanted to share with you today, both which feature incredible female singers.  The first is a jam from The Courtneys, who’ve just put this Cassingle out via Burger Records, as well as signing up for a tour with Tegan and Sara.

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The second track comes from the much-anticipated debut from Fear of Men record, Loom. It’s another sign of good things to come, and is actually being release as a limited single via Art Is Hard Records.  The official LP comes out on April 22 via Kanine.

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