Cory Graves
Three Massive Local Release Shows Are Coming Up, And A New Cassette Label Rises in Fort Worth.
Today, Sarah Jaffe's much-anticipated third LP, Don't Disconnect, earned its release via Kirtland Records.
Jaffe, of course, will celebrate the release with a much-buzzed-about show this Saturday, August 23, at the Majestic Theatre, a venue in which week she's admittedly never even seen a show.
But, see, here's the thing about this show: When you add in the fact that Dallas alt-country favorites Somebody's Darling will also celebrate the release of its own third LP, Adult Roommates on that same night, just down the street at Trees and the fact that A.Dd+ will play a release show for its latest EP at Trees just one night prior, it seems clear that this weekend is shaping up to be one of the most stacked weekends for local releases in recent memory.
Still, those notes are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There are lots of local releases worth mentioning this week — and, interestingly enough, more than a few of them involve cassettes.
On September 2, for instance, Pour le Corps will release both vinyl and cassette versions of The Ride, the sophomore effort from low-key electro-pop artist Lily Taylor. This week, Taylor released the album's first single, “Across the Hills,” in which visual artist Sean P. Miller provides an array of abstract visuals to accompany the pleasant little pop jam.
Also out on September 2 is the new EP from Low Dark Hills. Look for that one on BandCamp, which is where you can also currently get a taste of the ambient Americana outfit's upcoming release.
And yet another September 2 release will be the debut LP from newcomers Northern National. The Dallas-based alterna-pop trio will also release a music video this Friday. Until then, acquaint yourself with the band's first single, “You're the One.”
Meanwhile, later in September, when indie record shops all over the country are celebrating International Cassette Store Day on the 27th, Fort Worth musician and producer Britt Robisheaux will launch his new Most Efficient Recordings Singles Club, a monthly, subscription-based service that'll see cassingles and cassette EPs mailed directly to subscribers. In the first three months, subscribers can expect new material from Daniel Francis Doyle, Bosque Brown and Spookie (read: Eric Johnson from Archers of Loaf) that were recorded in the most efficient means available to the artists — i.e. “4-track tape recorders, cell phones, laptops.”
Further down the road, Bludded Head — which counts Pinkish Black drummer Jon Teague among its ranks these days — will release its second album of the year, Reign in Bludd on October 6. The group recorded that effort with Matthew Barnhart at Chicago's famed Electrical Audio recording studio. Stream the eight-minute chunk called “Shitsucker Blues” from that one below.
And even though Picnictyme's long-in-the-works solo LP isn't coming out until spring 2015 now, the Booty Fade member released a new single featuring The Outfit, TX via Vice's Noisey's blog.
Other recent releases include a new EP from Denton hardcore outfit Collick, which was recorded at Civil Recordings. Check it out:
Meanwhile, Lord Byron's new “0 Grams Fat” just might be the best single the rapper's released since last summer's DarK Arts Vol. 2.
Not to be slept on, either, is the debut single and video from brand new band Natural Anthem, an outfit we look forward to inevitably latching onto when it releases its debut album in the coming weeks. For now, watch the “Paranoid” video below, and jump on the band's wagon before it really gets barreling down the track.
And, over the weekend, Unconscious Collective held a release showcase for its new double LP, Pleistocene Moon, at a taco shop. In case you missed that one, the experimental jazz trio released a video for the track “Kotsoteka” this morning via the Burning Ambulence blog. It's little more than a three-camera shot at the guys performing live in a dark room for 12 minutes — although, to be fair, watching what is probably the three most talented musicians in town is as good a premise for a video as any. Grab physical copies of the band's 2xLP vinyl here and check out the video below.
Moving on, The Phuss drummer Trey Alfaro, who was recently injured in a hit-and-run accident is, at the time of this writing, only $1,400 short of his fundraising goal to help pay for his upcoming medical bills. To help push Alfaro close the gap, gritty southern rockers Dead Flowers are donating two sets tomorrow night at So & So's. Starting at 10 p.m., a portion of the money raised at the bar will go towards Alfaro's campaign, with the bar's owners also committing to donate some extra cash from their own pockets as well.
Also tomorrow, Black Milk will perform a live beat set for underground internet network, Boiler Room, which you can find here at 2 p.m. our time.
And, finally St. Vincent's “Cruel”, Erykah Badu's “Window Seat” and Parquet Courts' “Stoned and Starving” ranked 69th, 137th and 184th, respectively, in Pitchfork's list of the 200 best tracks of the decade so far.
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