Cory Graves
New Music From Kaela Sinclair, B. Anderson, Atlantis Aquarius, Two Knights, Little Beards, Saudade Sisters, Pueblo and Maren Morris & Thomas Rhett.
Welcome to Songs of the Week, where we hip you to all the new local releases you should be caring about. By putting them all together here in one place, our hope is that you can spend less time searching for relevant new releases and more time giving each one of these jams the proper shine they so deserve. OK? OK.
Kaela Sinclair – “Golden.”
RIYL: Surprise parties.
What else you should know: Last year, Sinclair was putting the finishing touches on her sophomore LP with Midlakes McKenzie Smith, when she found out her project would have to be temporarily put on hold due to some life changing news. For the past year, she’s been touring as M83’s newest member, playing big venues and festivals all over the globe. But now they’re on a little break, allowing her to shift focus back to her own material, some of which premiered on Gorilla vs Bear earlier this week.
B.Anderson & Kris Minor — 2 1/2 Mins Till Midnight.
RIYL: Those annual Country Burger parties.
What else you should know: Dallasites will do anything for Selena, from painting big murals to playing dress-up, throwing dance parties or, in the case of B.Anderson and Kris Minor, writing an album-anchoring single named after the Queen of Tejano.
Atlantis Aquarius – “Full Moon.”
RIYL: Modern electricity.
What else you should know: The players in the upstart Dallas band Atlantis Aquarius seem to understand this. Boasting members of some of Dallas’ more successful bands of a certain ilk in recent memory — Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, The Texas Gentlemen, Larry G(EE) & The Affections, Paul Cauthen, Rise & Shine, Buffalo Ruckus and Jack Ingram’s backing band, just to name a few — Atlantis Aquarius ain’t exactly running from its many, many ties to the North Texas music scene. Rather, it seems to be embracing it, incorporating elements from its many aesthetics into its twangy version of psych rock. Co-fronted by Jordan Cain and Taylor Lumby, Atlantis Aquarius also seems to be taking full advantage of its many connections. Over the past few months, playing on bills alongside many of its members other projects, the band has been able to establish itself as one of the more thrilling new live outfits around town. There’ll be an album release show held Saturday night at Three links. — Pete Freedman
Two Knights — 6 Covers By 2 Idiots.
RIYL: Knowing you’re not alright.
What else you should know: Recently, the Denton emo duo hit the studio to record a new EP called Effing. While they was there, they had some extra time, so they recorded this bonus EP of covers – where they take on acts like Hannah Diamond, Imogen Heap and Green Day — just for funsies.
Little Beards .
RIYL: Thick black frames with the glass so dark they won’t even know your name.
What else you should know: Once a month, Chicago label The PRF releases a free tribute comp via Bandcamp. This month, they asked artists to submit ZZ Top covers, all of which you can find here. For purposes of this post, we’re mainly interested in Dallas duo Little Beards’ slow and synthy rendition of Deguello track “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide.” It’ll take you on a whole different kind of desert trip.
Saudade Sisters – “Where You Are.”.
RIYL: Long distance relationships.
What else you should know: Also a big fan of covers, Claire Morales has previously teamed with Sundae Crush’s Jena Pyle to take on Patsy Cline’s “Strange.” Now those two have made that working relationship more permanent, starting up a duo called Saudade Sisters, which is recorded an album of originals. “It’s been kind of a long distance luv EP since [Jena] lives in Seattle now,” Morales tells us. Hence the band’s name, which describes a characteristic of longing – or this melancholy first single, for that matter.
Pueblo — Boring the Camera.
RIYL: Living life to the fullest.
What else you should know: What else can we say about these college freshmen? I think we’ve written about four of the former Azalea Project members’ six-track debut EP, which finally released in full today. To reiterate, these boys are wise beyond their years. The arrangements, harmonies, lyrics and guitar solos are all tasty as hell. Super impressed they’ve put so many elements together so expertly at such a young age. Super jealous, too.
Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris – “Craving You.”
RIYL: Crossing over.
What else you should know: Sounds like bro country boy Thomas Rhett is going full on dance pop on his upcoming record, a la Taylor Swift’s 1989. Helping giving him some cred in that department is Maren Morris, who knows a thing or two about making good pop country while retaining a sense of credibility/authenticity, to sing backups on the album’s first single.