DayBowBow

Track-by-track: Quiet Company–Songs For Staying In EP

28 May

by Nina Chantanapumma

Maybe it’s due to the circles I run in around Denton, but has anyone noticed how serious the music seems to be here? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing that can be compared to a band that has mastered their craft of honest, heart-jerking lyrics and careful instrumentation so well that it leaves me breathless and in awe. But music doesn’t always have to break your heart, folks. It doesn’t have to drag your soul through the darkness at 60 bpm. It can remind you that love is a beautiful thing, something worth celebrating, and a great reason to sing. Enter the newest release from Austin-based Quiet Company, Songs For Staying In. Described as “a 27-minute celebration of love and … sex,” this should be a quick and fun track-by-track review.

1. “How Do You Do It?”
I listened to this track as I was walking to work one early morning, dragging and moping. This song managed to put a kick in my step within a few minutes. The fanfare chorus will remain joyfully stuck in your head for a good while. And how can you not smile at the line, “Oh, you never leave my head, so let’s never leave the bed”?

2. “Things You Already Know”
Another upbeat pop gem, a promise to a lover. Or, rather, the lover. I think what I love about this song is that it seems like a perfectly good wedding vow, a song you’d sing in front of all your loved ones as you say your “I do”s until the last verse: So when the sun goes down and the lights go off, well, you and I will frame up the scene to be completely pornographic because life is always better when you’re fairly obscene, and I’m gonna love you ’til I die.

3. “Hold My Head Above the Water”
In case you do need a bit of seriousness, this track should deliver. A duet between lead singer, Taylor Muse, and his wife, Leah, this tune consists of a few simple lines, simple instrumentation and, in turn, reflects the idea that love can be simple and intimate.

4. “Jezebel”
It was a questionable choice to include this breakup song amidst a collection of sugary sweet love songs, but I think it works. Although he proclaims his dismay throughout the song, the break of “come back to me” is an interesting twist. Also interesting? The second name of this song: “A Song About My Friend And That Whore He Dated”. You can’t say this band doesn’t have a sense of humor.

5. “If You Want” – Not as catchy as the others but hey, slow dance time!

6. “The Biblical Sense of the Word” – The album ends with one last slow dance, one last fanfare. “We make our lives worth living when we love each other” could not be more truthful and once the last piano chord fades out, you really can’t help but smile and feel loved yourself.

Ironically, Songs For Staying In is an album worthy for going out, popping in your car stereo and blasting as summer rolls into town. It might even make you want to hug someone.

Be sure to catch Quiet Company for their CD release, at Hailey’s this Saturday, with Holy Fiction, Goldilocks and the Rock and Curvette. Doors are at 9 p.m. and tickets are $6 for those over 21 or $9 for those under 21.

Chess Sets

Review: Sundress–Fever EP

26 May

Editor’s note: This review is the first of what we hope will be many by Judson Valdez (whom you may know as frontman for Baruch the Scribe).
By Judson Valdez

I must admit that I haven’t always been a fan of This Old house/ Odyssey/Sundress. During early listens, I thought the band’s songs were all too similar and a little melodramatic at times. But since I’ve attended their shows over the past couple of months, they have won me over (understatement). I’ve found myself awaiting recordings from this band more than any other local act in recent months, yet also a little worried about what they would sound like.

To be honest, I have been very disappointed in the material that has come out of Denton’s thriving music scene over the past year or so and lately I’ve been a little nervous about listening to most of the new records coming out around town in fear of lessening my interest in so many great live acts. But this is not the place to go into that, so I’ll continue with a review of an album that I can confidently say satisfied my urge for good local music.

The Fever EP plays well throughout and kept my attention from beginning to end. “Dream Curl” is a strong opener and a good display of what’s to come. Ryan McAdams’ catchy yet intricate picking patterns mixed with Kennan Talley’s light, sweeping lead parts keep the song moving for the whole four-and-a-half minutes and showcase the relaxed yet strong feel of the album to come.

“Stellas”, track five, brings a different sound to the mix, with a more upbeat and, dare I say, grunge feel. The final track, “Fever”, only takes the whole EP up one more notch for me. The driving thuds of both the kick drum and bass are the perfect set-up for McAdams’ clear vocals. The track ends up being led by Talley’s piercing guitar line toward the end of the song in a gripping and epic finale to the EP.

The Sundress boys have definitely changed my earlier opinion of their sound as I found myself completely absorbed and re-absorbed in every track on the album. My only criticism of this album is that I would have loved to hear a mastered version of it. There are several moments on the album when the bass and drums are a bit lost in the mix and decent mastering could have taken care of that. Drew McCary’s bass lines are, personally, my favorite part of listening to these songs and I hate to hear them improperly mixed on such a good EP.

Ultimately, though, I can easily say that the Fever EP has restored my faith in local music recordings and given me hope for the long string of music to come.

Track of the Day: DJ Car Stereo (Wars)- Whoa Dude

12 May
(Note: Due to the sheer number of submissions we receive, there is no way we can give each and every album the attention (and word count) they deserve, but we can devote time to at least one song from each. So we started this feature to give worthy bands, and their music a spot to shine. We hope this helps you discover new and exciting acts, and as always if you enjoy the music please make an attempt to support the artists by either attending a show, or buying a record.)

DJ Car Stereo (Wars) first came to national prominence when he was tapped to make a mix of the bands playing 2008?s ACL festival. He followed up with the release of the excellent The Bandit, an album we’ve talked about before, and one of the better mash-up pieces done in the wake of the Girl Talk revolution. After appearing at Lollapalooza, SXSW and Fun Fun Fun Fest (a rain-soaked set that featured CSW igniting a soaked crowd of concert goers, and performing one of the better parts of the fest) CSW is back with a new (free) album, Explains It All, that’s made up of most of his set material from the past year, and full of Nickelodeon titles.
DJ Car Stereo (Wars)- Whoa Dude

Verdict: I’m not going to try to name all the samples used. I honestly don’t think anyone could. I do however think the samples and songs used flow seamlessly with each other, and the track/album is going to make its way onto the speakers at more than a few parties this spring. Really. you can’t give a DJ a bigger compliment.

Download the album here.