The Mallard have broken up. Blame it on the notorious trials and tribulations that come along with a sophomore album; blame it on the overbearing crush of SXSW; blame it on line-up changes; blame it on the wide swath of inter-personal dramas that rage in the heart of any great band; hell, blame it on anything and everything you want – just know, The Mallard have broken up, and, to be quite honest, I’m pretty sad. Out of the at times overwhelming wave of garage-influenced bands that flooded the San Francisco scene over the course of the last five years, The Mallard stood very close to the top, with front-woman Greer McGettrick handily able to craft a selection of songs that balanced the distorted needs of San Francisco garage with a distinct twinge of oddity and fun. Yes On Blood, the band’s inaugural album, I still believe is one of the highlights of San Francisco’s obsessive dalliance with fuzzed out rock and roll, an edgy, somehow entertaining blast of two and half minute tracks that found an almost permanent home on this writer’s record player.

Finding Meaning In Deference, the band’s second and final album, pulses with an teeth-grinding intensity. As an album it’s certainly more grown up, the good-natured fun of Yes On Blood replaced with the pained neurosis and a dark dip in to churning psychedelia, and you can almost feel the omens of band break-up lingering in the much more dangerous corners. Here McGettrick isn’t reigned in by the influences of her city, gone are the sonic references to Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall, their voids filled with allusions to Wire and the shadowy sound of British post-punk. What emerges is a scalding, almost emotionally draining collection of songs that marks the progress of McGettrick as a musician as well as the momentum change of the San Francisco scene. When it comes down to it, I prefer the melodic crunch of Yes On Blood, but blame nostalgia for that, Finding Meaning In Deference is the more mature, the more insightful album. In the end, it’s heavier, emotionally-wrought sound seems a fitting way to end the too short life a damn good band.

The post The Mallard (Noah) appeared first on Side One Track One.

Tomorrow singer/songwriter Jack Wilson is holding a record release party at The Mohawk.  His new album, Spare Key, was released last month on Fluff And Gravy Records. He writes raw, emotive songs that reflect on many of his personal experiences and journeys. His musical influences touch on folk and Americana, but you can also recognize more melodic pop influences ranging from The Beach Boys to Elliott Smith. His live performances are honed and fleshed out with a full band definitely worth seeing.  He’ll have CDs and LPs, and copies of the 7” 45 single Cigarette/Glow, featuring the Good Music Club performance of Rainbow/Tiger.  The bill is rounded out by The Preservation and Roger Sellers.

—

Tele Novella (ex-Agent Ribbons, JC & Co, Belaire) are back home in Austin from their West Coast tour. Give them a warm welcome at the 101X Homegrown Love show this Friday at Holy Mountain.  You’ll also find The Wolf, Daniel Francis Doyle, and Borrisokane on the lineup.

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The Black And White Years have completed a new album to be released later this fall. They’re playing their first headlining show of 2013 at Stubb’s this Friday. There are plenty of new tunes to hear, but I’m sure that they’ll be playing plenty of old favorites. One of their new songs, Just Like Old Times, features Adrienne Butler, wife of lead singer/guitarist Scott Butler, on lead vocals. The bill is rounded out by local bands Tiger Waves and Shrines.

—

As if there wasn’t already enough happening on Friday, Frank has Golden Bear with Sun Marquee and Pink Nasty. This show (aka Summer Sweat Jam 2013) should be as sexy and fun as the gig poster, which features a photo of Tom Selleck from his Magnum PI days. For a $6 cover (and all ages), you’re getting a bargain full of top notch local, pop underground talent.

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The Plastic Habit is holding a release party in celebration of their debut EP, Out Of The Airlock, this Saturday at Frank. Led by singer and guitarist Jonas Wilson, the band also features members of other notable Austin acts, including The White White Lights, Lomita, Okkervil River, Slowtrain, The Dialtones, and The Lovely Sparrows. Their sound alternates between power pop, glam rock, punk, and indie pop; it’s fun, loud, catchy, and maybe even a little bit sexy. Jonas Wilson is also an entertaining front man who is not afraid to let loose and have a good, sweaty fun onstage.  They’re joined by special guests The Gorgeous Hands and Chief White Lightning.

:The Plastic Habit – Out Of The Airlock:

The post Jack Wilson, Tele Novella, The Black And White Years, Golden Bear, The Plastic Habit (Jennifer) appeared first on Side One Track One.

I never really could figure out what to think of Will Sheff’s Lovestreams side project, so I’m kind of happy to see him getting back to business with Okkervil River.  The sort of Austin band will release a new album titled The Silver Gymnasium on September 3 via ATO Records.  Enjoy.

:Okkervil River – It Was My Season:  This is easily my favorite Okkervil River song since 2008′s Lost Coastlines.  The playful piano work is great, and Will Sheff’s vocals are as inspired as ever.  I hope all of the new album sounds this good.

Bonus Video:

The post Okkervil River appeared first on Side One Track One.

Today’s music is not a fan of your significant other.  Enjoy.

:King Kahn And The Shrines – Born To Die:  This track has the psychedelic soul approach that I’ve come to expect from King Kahn And The Shrines, but I’m a bit surprised at how tame it is.  Maybe they rip things up more on the actual album?  Merge will put out Idle No More on September 3.

:Big Scary – Luck Now:  Melbourne, Australia’s Big Scary signed to the always stellar Barsuk last week, and this song is off of their upcoming full length.  I think it’s one of the more lush things I’ve heard in 2013.  Not Art is due out on September 17.

:Smith Westerns – Idol:  And with the arrival of this pretty little pop number, I’m now officially anxious to get my hands on the new Smith Westerns’ LP.  Here’s hoping it doesn’t disappoint.  Mom + Pop will put out Soft Will on June 25.

:Superhumanoids – Bad Weather:  A new full length from Superhumanoids was actually supposed to come out last week, but it got bumped at the last minute.  Oh well.  At least the band used the delay as an opportunity to provide this slow burning gem.  Exhibitionists is due out August 6 via Innovative Leisure.

:Dinosaur Bones – Spins In Circles:  I had almost forgotten how much I like Dinosaur Bones.  This Strokes-like single is off a new album titled Shaky Dream, which is due out August 6 via Dine Alone Records.  I think it could be a good one.

The post Quickdraw: King Kahn And The Shrines, Big Scary, Smith Westerns, Superhumanoids, Dinosaur Bones appeared first on Side One Track One.

Time for your weekly movie news update!  Below you’ll find a slew of sentences meant to provide a brief glimpse of what’s been going on over the past week in movieland.  If something leaves you desperate for more info, then my advice is to do a little extra research on one or all of the following fantastic sites:  Latino Review, Dark Horizons, Ain’t It Cool News, CHUD and/or JoBlo.  Read on!

John C. Reilly is now confirmed to be playing Nova Corps leader Rhomann Dey in Guardians Of The Galaxy.

Adam Sandler is set to star in the remake of the comedy Hello Ghost.  Chris Columbus will direct.

Idris Elba is in talks to join the cast of The Gunman.  Sean Penn is already set to play the lead.

Emma Watson is all set to star in Queen Of The Tearling.  The trilogy of movies will be based on a series of books written by Erika Johansen.

Melissa McCarthy and Seth Rogen will voice characters in the animated film B.O.O. (Bureau Of Otherworldly Operations).

Arnold Schwarzenegger recently noted that he expects to start shooting Terminator 5 in January.  He also confirmed that he will return for The Expendables 3.

Sandra Bullock may join the cast of the Annie remake as Miss Hannigan.

Jon M. Chu will return to direct the sequel to GI Joe: Retaliation.

Warner Bros. has decided to drop the planned sequel to Dumb And Dumber.

A sequel to Man Of Steel is reportedly being fast tracked by Warner Bros.  Zack Snyder will again direct, and David Goyer is expected to write the script.

The next Muppets movie has received a title change.  It will now be called Muppets Most Wanted.

Colin Feore will reportedly be the Vulture in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.  He will join a group of villains that already includes Paul Giamatti as Rhino, Jamie Foxx as Electro, and Chris Cooper as Green Goblin.  Many think this will setup a Sinister 6 storyline for the next Spider-Man film.

Fred Armisen will star in Justice For Al.  Directed by Terry Zwigoff (Bad Santa), the film will follow a guy who has to move in with his parents after he’s convicted for a bogus crime.

Liam Hemsworth will replace Arnie Hammer in Cut Bank.  The film is said to be about a mechanic who accidentally sets in motion a series of deadly events.

Christina Hendricks has landed a role in in Measure Of A Man, which will center around a bullied teen who receives guidance from the recluse he works for.

Tom Hanks will star in Tom Tykwer’s Hologram For The King.  The movie will reportedly deal with a man desperately trying to save himself from a dire financial situation.

20th Century Fox is said to be looking at trying to adapt the Choose Your Own Adventure book series.

Owen Wilson will star opposite Jim Carrey in Jared Hess’ Loomis Fargo.  The comedy will follow an armored car driver as he plots his revenge on those who double crossed him after a heist.

This Week’s Notable Trailers

The post Weekly Movie News Rundown appeared first on Side One Track One.

Like it or not, summer is coming, and there’s little we can do about it. So instead of lamenting the heat from the confines of an air conditioned cavern, why not get out and enjoy the last few days we have left that are at least somewhat bearable? And if you, like me, are having a hard time getting into the summer spirit, I’ve tracked down some of my sun-soaked faves to get in the swing of things. There’s an old family staple (Van Morrison), an indie mainstay (Pavement), and inarguably the best surf song of all time (Pet Sounds). And everything wraps with what’s been my recent vote for the song of the summer (you try not singing along…). So unwrap a popsicle and listen up, because you’ll be putting on sunblock and hitting the lake in no time. The days may be longer, but that just means you have more time to listen.

:Little Joy – The Next Time Around:
:The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds:
:Van Morrison – Caravan:
:Beck – Tropicalia:
:The Kinks – Sunny Afternoon:
:David Byrne And Brian Eno – Life Is Long:
:She And Him – In The Sun:
:Animal Collective – My Girls:
:Pavement – Summer Babe (Winter Version):
:LCD Soundsystem – Dance Yrself Clean:
:The Smith Westerns – Weekend:
:Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness:
:Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar (How to Make It In America):
:Os Mutantes – A Minha Menina:
:Vampire Weekend – Diane Young:

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The SOTO inbox is always full of cool stuff that never gets to see the light of day on the actual site, and I’d like to change that.  So, every Friday I’ll be posting the best album streams and videos that were sent my way during the week.  Take a scroll and find something worth remembering.

FULL ALBUM STREAMS

The Mantles – Long Enough To Leave
Hospital Ships – Destruction In Yr Soul
High On Fire – Spitting Fire
Quasimoto – Yessir Whatever
Melt Yourself Down – Self Titled
Sigur Ros – Kveikur
Empire Of The Sun – Ice On The Dune
Action Bronson And Harry Fraud – Saaab Stories
Lemuria – The Distance Is So Big
Austra – Olympia
Vacation – Candy Waves
Beach Day – Trip Trap Attack
Heliotropes – A Constant Sea

VIDEOS

Polica will put out Shulamith out later this year on Mom + Pop Records.

Hebronix will release Unreal on July 9 via ATP Recordings.

Pure X recently put out Crawling Up The Stairs on Acephale.

Boyfrndz will release Natures on July 16.

Young Galaxy’s Ultramarine is out now.

Hooded Fang’s Gravez is available now.

Mum will release Smilewound on September 17 via Morr Music.

The Uncluded recently released Hokey Fright on Rhymesayers.

Blue Hawaii’s Untogether is out now on Airbus Records.

Water Liars’ Wyoming is out now.

Sombear will put out Love You In The Dark on July 23 via Trans-Records.

Quilt have a 10″ split with MMOSS titled New Hampshire Freaks that’s out now.

Dungeonesse’s self titled album is out now.

Kisses’ Kids In LA is out now.

Black Sabbath recently released 13.  They play the Frank Erwin Center on July 27.

Angel Haze recently put out the No Bueno single.

Maps And Atlases’ Beware And Be Grateful is available now.

The post Stream This appeared first on Side One Track One.

People are doing traditional-style reviews all over the web, so we decided to try something different.  In each “breakdown” we’ll take a look at what a film’s marketing lead us to believe, how the movie actually played, and then what we learned from it all.  Read on!

The Impression:

The famed Superman finally gets a proper big screen reboot.  The film is directed by THE Zack Snyder and produced by THE Christopher Nolan.  One would assume it’s a pairing destined to excel.

The Reality:

Man Of Steel is a good, but not great movie.  The entire cast turn in nice work, the story is more than solid, the villains actually come off as a real threat to Superman, and the action is some of the most wild and massive stuff that I’ve ever seen.  So what’s the problem?  Zack Snyder.  I actually think he’s a good director, but Man Of Steel is rather disjointed and manic.  Granted, he keeps things from being an outright mess, but I did feel like I was watching a kid struggle to breathe as they excitedly ramble off the greatest story they know.  “And then, and then, and then … ”

This movie is too big of a spectacle to not see in a theater, but be sure to keep your expectations in check.

The Lesson:

Bigger, darker, and uncut is not always better.

The post Movie Breakdown: Man Of Steel appeared first on Side One Track One.

Looks like Austin’s Black Joe Lewis is ready to get back into the swing of things – he’s signed to Vagrant, readied a new album, and lined up a bunch of tour dates.  Awesome.  The new LP is titled Electric Slave, and it’ll be available for you to own on August 27.  If you’re local, you can catch him (and his Honeybears) for free at KGSR’s Blues On The Green on June 26.  Enjoy.

:Black Joe Lewis – Skulldiggin:  I really dig this track, but it’s definitely a different approach for him.  There’s no infectious hook to be found, and in place of his usual soul-inspired sound is some sort of garage rock sledgehammer.  To get what he’s going for, just be sure to crank the volume.

Bonus Video:

The post Black Joe Lewis appeared first on Side One Track One.

People are doing traditional-style reviews all over the web, so we decided to try something different.  In each “breakdown” we’ll take a look at what a film’s marketing lead us to believe, how the movie actually played, and then what we learned from it all.  Read on!

The Impression:

I’m pretty burnt out on the gee-wilikers world of the Marvel Universe flicks. Iron Man 3 just about did me in with its de-balling of one of the great comic book villains of all time in favor of, er, Guy Pierce with a sunburn. Zack Snyder hasn’t always made perfect films (I’m still that guy that thinks 300 is puh-retty boring) but his adaptation of Watchmen is as strong a bit of comic-book filmmaking as any out there, and the fact that he’s helming the perpetually troubled Son of Krypton gives me hope. Also, Captain Serious himself, Christopher Nolan is back-seat driving this motherfucker. We’ve got nothing to worry about! Right?

The Reality:

Man Of Steel is, quite frankly, an amazing superhero film. Zack Snyder has managed to take the most iconic aspects of Superman (the flying, the world of Krypton, hell, even the Fortress of Solitude) and blended them together to tell a real thematic stack of pancakes. There was worry that Snyder would just tell another Superman origin story and though this is, at its core, the story of Superman, Snyder edits the film as three story-lines at once, bouncing back and forth in time, so the origin doesn’t become the focus, it becomes a part of the character of Superman. This is less about Clark Kent and how he learned to fly, and more about Superman and how he became a hero to the world of man. Henry Cavill, as British as a this man is, is perhaps the most perfect looking Superman of all time, somehow managing to look like all of America squished through a juicer and poured in to a hugely-muscled man mold. Is he a great actor? At times (in particular the moment with him below the underpass was a strong out-pouring of emotion) and at others, who cares, he’s a big, strapping superhero who just needs to look intimidating and beat the hell out of some rogue Kryptons. Oh, the Kryptons in this film led by angry-faced Michael Shannon are absolute treats as villains. This is evil defined by purpose and then escalated to an immense new scale. These aren’t Iron Man v. Sunburn Guy Pierce, these are forces of nature that will destroy and kill to get what they want. The battles in this film are epic. From the streets of Smallville to the center of Metropolis these are game-changing battles that leave cities and towns in ruin. So much so that at one point at the end of the film as Zod and Superman are leveling buildings by punching each other through them I said to myself, “Yeah right Metropolis is going to accept Superman after all this, he just destroyed their city in a punching match.” But hell, it’s a superhero movie and the first of its kind (though Joss Whedon’s Avengers tried so hard) to really showcase the power and danger of god-like strength opened up in the middle of a public place. These are weapons of mass destruction and Snyder uses them as such. This is the best superhero flick that’s hit the screens since Nolan’s The Dark Knight. You need to see it, and you need to see it on the big screen.

The Lesson:

Superman is actually Clark Kent! Someone call scrappy news-hound Lois Lane and break the story! C’mon!

The post Movie Breakdown: Man Of Steel (Noah) appeared first on Side One Track One.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Austin’s The Rite Flyers.  Led by singers/songwriters/guitarists John Clayton and Steve Collier (music trivia moment – John wrote Me And The Bean, which was covered by Spoon on the Girls Can Tell). After taking a break for a few years, they’ve been writing new songs such as Tune To You, which is filled with jangly yet crunchy guitar riffs and soaring harmonies. If you’re in town, you can catch them twice this month at Hole in the Wall - tonight and June 29.

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I last saw The Carrots a few years ago, and I enjoyed their 60s Motown girl group inspired sound.  It was a nice surprise to find out that this Austin sextet is still around. They’ve recently released their debut album, New Romance, on Elefant Records and they’re holding their record release show this Friday at Red 7 with Gal Pals and Hidden Ritual. Check out the video below for Crystal Lake – a suitable addition to your summer soundtrack with its sunny “sha-la-la” harmonies, handclaps, and twangy surf guitar solo.

The post The Rite Flyers, The Carrots (Jennifer) appeared first on Side One Track One.

I saw Hundred Visions twice at SXSW, and they ended up being my favorite act at the festival. At each show I was asked, “Who are these guys again? They’re really good.” Damn straight. They totally rocked out, but the tunes were still catchy and even danceable. You can’t help but want to jump up and down and sing along.

Last year the group put out their first LP, Permanent Basement. The record dabbles in psychedelic rock with songs like Walk Right Up and post-rock on The Light that Starts The Day, but it’s basically a straight up rock album. It actually reminds me a lot of Marquee Moon by Television, one of the greatest rock albums of all-time. Such comparisons are high praise but Permanent Basement is deserving of acclaim. From start to finish it’s full of jams and is a very impressive debut record.

You can catch the band tomorrow night at Beerland when they headline a show with Slam Dunk, The Commons, and Lochness Mobsters.

:Hundred Visions – Last Cab From Tunis:
:Hundred Visions – Where Do I Sign?:

The post Hundred Visions (Dan) appeared first on Side One Track One.

Bosnian Rainbows are suddenly all up in my face.  I very recently saw them play (with Zorch), and now here I am sharing the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Teri Gender Bender collaboration’s new single.  I suppose worse things have happened.  Jump below for the track.  The band will put out their self titled debut on June 25 via Sargent House.  Enjoy.

:Bosnian Rainbows – Morning Sickness:  There’s not a lot bands out there right now that sound like Bosnian Rainbows.  They’re experimental, dancy, pop, and just all around fantastic.  Hit play on this song for proof.

Bonus Video:

The post Bosnian Rainbows appeared first on Side One Track One.

Today’s music didn’t mean what it said.  Enjoy.

:Action Bronson – The Rockers (Featuring Wiz Khalifa):  The collaboration between Action Bronson and producer Harry Fraud is one that totally approve of.  Strictly 4 My Jeeps is a fun song, and now there’s this “slow-burning” gem to go along with it.  The duo’s Saab Stories EP is due out tomorrow.

:Lightning Dust – Loaded Gun:  Some of you probably don’t agree, but I love that Lightning Dust decided to go synth-heavy on the new album.  I mean, just listen to this track!  It’s a straight up anthem, which they never could have pulled off before.  Fantasy is due out June 25 via Jagjaguwar.

:Jonathan Rado – Faces:  Foxygen has really just started getting things going, so it’s interesting to me that their frontman is already strolling out with a solo project.  Guess we’ll see how it goes.  I think this song is pretty solid.  Law And Order is expected in September via Woodsist.

:La Luz – Brainwash:  I’ve long been a sucker for lady-lead retro pop, so me instantly falling in love with this song shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.  Seattle’s La Luz is all set to release the Brainwash 7″ on July 16 through Suicide Squeeze.  If you’re in Austin, they play Hotel Vegas on July 5.

:Poolside – If We Make It:  This is such a fantastic track.  It features a big, refreshing sound, and I really dig it.  Poolside are set to put out a new full length later this year, but for now you can find this song on the Scion 10 Music Series Release compilation.

The post Quickdraw: Action Bronson, Lightning Dust, Jonathan Rado, La Luz, Poolside appeared first on Side One Track One.

Time for your weekly movie news update!  Below you’ll find a slew of sentences meant to provide a brief glimpse of what’s been going on over the past week in movieland.  If something leaves you desperate for more info, then my advice is to do a little extra research on one or all of the following fantastic sites:  Latino Review, Dark Horizons, Ain’t It Cool News, CHUD and/or JoBlo.  Read on!

Aaron Johnson (Kick Ass) is said to be the top contender for the role of Quicksilver in The Avengers 2.

Mel Gibson may be the villain in The Expendables 3.

Denzel Washington may star in Shovel Ready, which is said to be about a man who decides to protect the girl he was hired to kill.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game Of Thrones) is in talks to star in Gods Of Egypt for director Alex Proyas.  The film will apparently follow a common thief who teams up with Gods for a magical quest.

Javier Bardem has signed on for roles in The Gunman and A Most Violent Year.  Not much is known about the latter, but the former will center around a hitman who is trying to get out of the game.

Mia Wasikowska (Stoker) may replace Emma Stone in Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak.  Stone left due to scheduling conflicts.

Benicio Del Toro has landed a role in Guardians Of The Galaxy.  It’s rumored that he’ll be playing Taneleer Tivan, The Collector.

Penelop Cruz is said to be close to signing on for a role in the next Bond film.

Christoph Waltz may star in True Crimes for director Roman Polanski.

Tom Hardy will star in The Outsider, which is the English language debut of director Takashi Miike.  The film will center around an American soldier who joins the Yakuza post-WWII.

John Cusack won’t be returning for Hot Tub Time Machine 2, but Chevy Chase, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Clark Duke have signed on.

Warner Bros. recently struck a deal to make an Archie movie.  Rumor has it that it’ll be based on the upcoming Afterlife With Archie comic, which deals with Archie trying to survive a zombie epidemic.

Roland Emmerich is said to be looking at directing an alien invasion film titled Emergence.

Steven Spielberg may direct Daniel Day-Lewis in Thank You For Your Service.  It will reportedly deal with PTSD for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

This Week’s Notable Trailers

The post Weekly Movie News Rundown appeared first on Side One Track One.

This month, I started thinking about Summer, not only due to the triple digit heat outside, but this time of year has always held a lot of great times, especially in this part of the country. Texas is all about outdoors, even in the heat of the season blasting you from above, rivers, lakes, boats and beers all bring back some incredible memories and the music I jammed during some of the great times of my life.

When I really think about what kind of metal represents the summertime I go back and start pulling some of the best stoner metal and sludge metal. Top down, Fu Manchu blasting on the stereo, ladies in bikinis and the sweet leaf wafting from every pore, that my friends is June. School’s out, kick back and enjoy some tasty grooves …

:Acid Bath – Bleed Me An Ocean:
:Weedeater – God Luck And Good Speed:
:Acid King – Electric Machine:
:Torche – In Pieces:
:Black Sabbath – Sweet Leaf:
:Sleep – The Druid:
:Clutch – Unto The Breach:
:Melvins – Queen:
:Corrosion Of Conformity – Born Again For The Last Time:
:Kyuss – Green Machine:
:Crowbar – High Rate Extinction:
:Kylesa – Unspoken:
:Fu Manchu – King Of The Road:

The post Happy Metal Fun Time (Chuck) appeared first on Side One Track One.

The SOTO inbox is always full of cool stuff that never gets to see the light of day on the actual site, and I’d like to change that.  So, every Friday I’ll be posting the best album streams and videos that were sent my way during the week.  Take a scroll and find something worth remembering.

FULL ALBUM STREAMS

Deafheaven – Sunbather
Black Sabbath – 13
Surfer Blood – Pythons
Disclosure – Settle
Hyetal – Modern Worship
Close – Getting Closer
Sonny And The Sunsets – Antenna To The Afterworld
CSS – Planta
Rodan – 15 Quiet Years
Gold Panda – Half Of Where You Live
Airhead – For Years

VIDEOS

Vampire Weekend recently released Modern Vampires Of The City.

Sigur Ros will put out Kveikur on June 18 via XL Recordings.

Gauntlet Hair will set free Stills on July 16 via Dead Oceans.

The Gorgeous Hands released their debut, Tender, last month.

Royal Forest will release Spillway on July 9 via

Cold War Kids’ Dear Miss Lonelyhearts is out now.  They play Stubb’s on August 22.

The XX’s Coexist is out now.

Rathborne will release Soft on July 15 via Dilettante Records.

The Purrs will put out The Boy With Astronaut Eyes on June 18 via Fin Records.

The Boy Least Likely To released The Great Perhaps earlier this year.

Small Multiples released a self titled album last month.

Major Major Major are expected to put out a new EP (with this song on it) sometime later this year.

Morningbell put out Boa Noite last month.

Matthew Squires And The Learning Disorders’ How to Combust Your Life is available now.

Typhoon will put out White Lighter on August 20 via Roll Call Records.

The post Stream This appeared first on Side One Track One.

People are doing traditional-style reviews all over the web, so we decided to try something different.  In each “breakdown” we’ll take a look at what a film’s marketing lead us to believe, how the movie actually played, and then what we learned from it all.  Read on!

The Impression:

Set inside a “reborn” United States where murder is legal one night a year, Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey try to keep their family alive.

The Reality:

The Purge pretty much plays out as you’d expect, which is a bit unfortunate.  Its concept – an annual “free for all” that allows citizens to “release the beast” – should be the perfect vehicle to unleash some real social commentary alongside a frightening level of violence, but instead director James DeMonaco strolls straight down the middle and offers up only brief moments of substance.  The film is far from bad, but don’t we all want more than okay?  Matinee it if you must.

The Lesson:

Pulling punches rarely does a movie any good.

The post Movie Breakdown: The Purge appeared first on Side One Track One.

I’ve liked Austin’s Zorch for a while now, but it wasn’t until their recent show with Bosnian Rainbows (Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s new band) that I actually got to see them play.  What a fun time.  The duo are crazy energetic, and they made me want to run around and high five people.  On July 23 they’ll release a new album through Sargent House titled Zzoorrcchh.  Enjoy.

:Zorch – This Is The Way It Goes:  The best thing about Zorch is that you’ll either hear a gloriously raw pop song or nothing but a big wall of noise.  Let me know which side you fall on.  By the way, a high volume is recommended here.

Bonus Video:

The post Zorch appeared first on Side One Track One.

Past Prayers is the musical outlet of songwriter and guitarist Alex Livingstone (also a member of Grand Champeen, Excited States, and Bremen Riot). A number of years back he realized he had a backlog of his own material, and it was this that led to him record an album as Past Prayers. The follow up to the 2010 self titled debut album was officially released yesterday, and it’s appropriately named Seconds.

The new LP is available for a “name your price” download on Bandcamp (bonus track included with the digital download).  These are solid, catchy tunes worthy of a fair monetary contribution. If you’ve ever been to a Grand Champeen or Excited States show, you know you’ve witnessed some top notch musicianship. The release show is tonight at the best listening room in town, Cactus Cafe. With Past Prayers, Alex also stands out perfectly well on his own. Highly recommended.

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Five Minutes To Air is a new web series created by Randall LaRue and comedian/writer Andrew Ramirez. It’s described as “a comedy series about a music show plagued by incompetence, egos, and time travel.”  It is offically making its online debut on June 10, and they’re celebrating with a premiere party in Austin this Friday at Brave New Books (near the intersection of MLK and Guadalupe).

The creators are also members of the cast, which includes both local actors and musicians (Danny Blanchard from Wiretree and MEGABIG, and Tiffanie Lanmon from Mirror Travel and Boy Friend). A few of my favorite local bands (Burgess Meredith, Linen Closet, Bobby Jealousy) also make cameos and perform some of their songs. I first met Randall a couple of years ago when he started the Dual Tape Deck podcast where local bands were interviewed and give a chance to performe. I’m curious to see the full episodes.  As of now there are just a few teasers and trailers to get a glimpse of the show.

The post Past Prayers, Five Minutes To Air (Jennifer) appeared first on Side One Track One.

The Mantles confuse me. This isn’t surprising, I’m easily confused, but in terms of San Francisco musical talents, The Mantles probably confuse me the most. I blame this almost entirely on a lengthy period in both my musical adoration and the San Francisco scene’s evolution where everything (at least everything I was getting pumped in to my ears) was loosely defined as “garage rock”. Everything was a little fuzzy, everything was a little jangly and for a moment The Mantles fit right in. They had jangle, they had fuzz, and I lumped their sound in to the broad swath of every other musical act that helped to paint that sonic picture.

Now, only a few years, later, The Mantles sound, well, different. Instead of the grimy garage I’d grown used to, they’ve stripped away the grit, and what remains is a cleaner, poppier remainder. Some bastard child of the band I remember and a melodic bit of downer-pop that just strutted in to the studio and took right over, leaving the band that I admittedly remember incorrectly, on the curb. That said, I’m glad the band The Mantles has become is so different from the band I badly remember. Where I couldn’t pull a single track name out of the blur of garage I originally was so sure The Mantles were part of, Shadow Of Your Step is a beautiful, bit of drifter-rock, and both Brown Balloon and Hello are mature bits of pop with just the slightest hint of garage’s crunchy guitar clinging to their side. The Mantles I wrongly remembered might be gone, but if this is the band that fills that void, then, well, change is all for the better.

:The Mantles – Shadow Of Your Step:
:The Mantles – Brown Balloon:
:The Mantles – Hello:

The post The Mantles (Noah) appeared first on Side One Track One.

Austin’s The Sour Notes have long been a favorite of mine.  So much so in fact that they were the first band I reached out to when I decided to put together a 30th birthday show for myself.  They said yes, and this Thursday at Holy Mountain they’ll be playing at 11pm.

The progressive pop act won’t just be celebrating some blogger getting another year older, though, they’ll also be releasing a cassingle.  The effort features a brand new song (which is premiering here at SOTO today), a Wire cover, and a few of their fan favorites just for good measure.  Make a note to snatch one up!  It’ll be just $3, and you’ll get a download code with it.  Enjoy.

:The Sour Notes – In The Meanwhile:  Ethereal is not a word I would ever think to use while describing The Sour Notes, but that’s what’s at play here, and the band really makes it work.  This is easily one of their better crafted efforts, and I think the inclusion of guest vocalist Sara Houser (from The Couch) was a smart move.  She gives the track an almost Beach House-like quality.  More please.

Cassingle Track Listing:
1) In The Meanwhile
2) Mannequin (Wire Cover)
3) Two Hands Wait
4) Last Looks
5) One Fell Swoop
6) Do-Ers & Say-Ers

By the way, for those of you outside of Austin who would like to experience The Sour Notes live, they’re heading out on tour!  Here are their upcoming shows:

The post The Sour Notes (Single Premiere) appeared first on Side One Track One.

Today’s music is brought to you by me.  Enjoy.

:Bass Drum Of Death – Crawling:  This fuzzy track is loud and catchy, and I really like it.  If you’re feeling like you may soon need a new rock record to soundtrack your summer, I think Bass Drum Of Death may be able to deliver.   The band will release their self titled album on June 25 via Innovative Leisure.

:Lemuria – Chihuly:  I want to grab Lemuria, return to the 90s, and then watch as they just totally rule the world for a while.  Who has a time machine?  Get The Distance Is So Big when it’s released on June 18 via Bridge Nine.  The band will play the Mohawk on June 15.

:Braids – In Kind:  As was the case with Braids’ last single, this is six minutes plus of superbly crafted art rock.  Hopefully that’s your thing, or this might be the song that drives you insane.  The In Kind // Amends 12″ is due out June 11, and the Flourish // Perish full length is expected on August 20 via Arbutus/Full Time Hobby/Flemish Eye.

:The Mantles – Shadow Of Your Step:  I was already excited to check out the Mantles’ upcoming album, but this garage pop gem has officially pushed me into can’t wait territory.  Guess we’ll see how it turns out when Long Enough To Leave gets released on June 18 through Slumberland.

:Elle Goulding – Tessellate (Alt-J Cover):  If you haven’t noticed by now, no one covers a song like Elle Goulding does.  She should just do an entire album of covers.  I’d buy it.  Twice.  This is a one-off effort, so grab it while you can.

The post Quickdraw: Bass Drum Of Death, Lemuria, Braids, The Mantles, Elle Goulding appeared first on Side One Track One.

Time for your weekly movie news update!  Below you’ll find a slew of sentences meant to provide a brief glimpse of what’s been going on over the past week in movieland.  If something leaves you desperate for more info, then my advice is to do a little extra research on one or all of the following fantastic sites:  Latino Review, Dark Horizons, Ain’t It Cool News, CHUD and/or JoBlo.  Read on!

Michael Green (Green Lantern) has been hired to pen the script for Blade Runner 2.

Chris Columbus (Home Alone) may direct Pixels, which is said to be about video game characters that escape into the real world.

Tom Hardy may play Elton John in the biopic Rocketman.

Lots of Guardians Of The Galaxy casting going on.  John C. Reilly will play Rhomann Dey (a sort of Agent Coulson for the Guardians), Karen Gillian (Doctor Who) has been cast as one of film’s villains, and Glenn Close has been chosen as the leader of Nova Corps.

Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain and Amanda Seyfried are said to be in the running to play Hilary Clinton in the biopic Rodham.

Despite rumors that included names like Christoper Nolan and Nicolas Winding Refn, it looks as though Sam Mendes will return as the director of Bond 24 and 25.

Milla Jovovich is said to be in talks to join the cast of The Expendables 3.  Wesley Snipes, Jackie Chan, and Nicolas Cage are also expected to appear in the film.

James Bobin (The Muppets) is being looked at to direct Alice In Wonderland 2.

Whoopi Goldberg is all set to play April O’Neil’s boss in the Michael Bay-produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Duncan Jones (Source Code) says he expects to start shooting his World Of Warcraft movie at the beginning of 2014.

Paul Thomas Anderson has selected newcomer Katherine Watson as the female lead in Inherent Vice.  The cast already includes Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Reese Witherspoon, Sean Penn, Jena Malone, and Martin Short.

Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight) has landed a role in Tom Six’s The Human Centipede III (Final Sequence).

Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg (Kon-Tiki) are set to direct Pirates Of The Caribbean 5.

Johnny Depp has reportedly dropped out of the Whitey Bulger biopic Black Mass due to salary issues.

Broken Road has optioned the likeness of Grumpy Cat, and it’s expected that it will be used in a movie of some sort.

Henry Cavill (Man Of Steel) is in talks to replace Tom Cruise as the lead in Man From U.N.C.L.E.

This Week’s Notable Trailers

The post Weekly Movie News Rundown appeared first on Side One Track One.

As you all may know, John’s birthday is coming up soon and he’ll be celebrating with an awesome party at Holy Mountain on Thursday, June 6, and putting on some great local bands (see the poster on the sidebar if you need details.) I’ll also be DJing between bands and after the live music is over, so get that Friday off, or plan to call in sick, because (I’ll only say this once), I’d like to get you drunk and make you stay up late. Dancing.

The mix this month is stuff I’ve been enjoying lately, as usual, with one special addition for the blog-running birthday-boy, which you’ll see at the top of the track list, and of course he gets the dedication of the whole mix. See you all on the 6th!

:2 Chainz – Birthday Song (Featuring Kanye West):
:Washed Out – Feel It All Around:
:Dizzee Rascal – H-Town (Featuring Bun B):
:Mystikal – Hit Me:
:Pigeon Hole – Ice Dicks:
:Matt Shadetek – Battery Charge:
:Nocando – You Got Me Fucked UP (Produced by Mexicans With Guns):
:Fat Tony – Hood Party (Featuring Kool A.D.):
:DJ Numark – Dumpin’ Em All (Featuring Bumpy Knuckles):
:Goodie Mob – Special Education (Featuring Janelle Monae):
:Clipse – Kinda Like A Big Deal (Featuring Kanye West):
:Joey Bada$$ – World Domination (Produced by MF DOOM):
:CookBook – Musica Grande (Featuring ChinoXL):
:Dessa – Warsaw:
:Big K.R.I.T – Cool 2 Be Southern:
:Dirty Art Club – Sun Burn:

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