Le Diamant Brut: The Unfortunate Heads, The Pierces & Maritime

Once in a while, we like to take some time to introduce you to bands -- both local otherwise -- that we think you'd enjoy. Le Diamont Brut aims to showcase those MySpace gems we hope to see shine. Recommend your local suggestions by emailing music@austinist.com.

THE UNFORTUNATE HEADS

What’s the Deal: The Austin indie folk fivesome has just released their sophomore disc, Come Be Light. Featuring multi-instrumentation by the likes of banjo, keyboards, upright bass and theremin all layered over reliable acoustic chords, the group manages a sound that’s familiar with flare. Their last album was darker, more downtrodden, but this one has so many styles and themes swirling that dizziness should be more of a pressing concern than melancholy. The Heads blend slight psychedelia and pop with instrumentals and alt-country, and they throw in the occasional experimentation for table dressing. But, once again there’s that sturdy acoustic guitar like a foot on the floor when you’ve got the ‘spins’.

“92nd Floor,” off the new album, is a driving number about being caught up and carried away. And likewise, it’s easy to picture guitarist/vocalist Lance Sollock strumming away with his eyes shut tight, paying no attention to the layered keyboard ‘pings’ going off all around him.

Something Interesting: It’s by pure coincidence alone that their debut album is called Maritime.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Nervous, Sorry”

The Unfortunate Heads Myspace
The Unfortunate Heads Official

THE PIERCES

What’s the Deal: Two beautiful-but-dangerous sister songstresses, Allison and Catherine Pierce, command the attention of ears and eyes toward their third release, Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge. In case you missed blurbs on them in Blender, People, Rolling Stone, Jane and others, this New York by-way-of Alabama duo have pulled together an album steeped in intrigue that straddles the fence quite nicely between Stygian folk tunes and perfectly harmonized electro-pop. Did I mention they also have a sense of humor?

“Boring” is like an old Madonna-meets-Bond theme song, but it lands several successful, sarcastic jabs at the thrill-seeking, aloofness of designer-wearing, extravagant drug-using, chic scenesters. Then, they change course and embark on eerie carnival ride “Secret,” singing, “Why when we do our darkest deeds, do we tell? / They burn in our brains, become a living hell.” with a deranged calliope player in the corner. Whereas their last record was love songs front-to-back, this latest seems more like the sisters are having fun, and it’s catching.

Something Interesting: Catherine’s ex-fiancé is Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. The girls were home-schooled in the arts and were ballet dancers back in Birmingham. Also, their bio talks about kidnappings and one of the girls being able to control her body temperature by sheer will. But, seeing how the two have a very sarcastic wit, it’s hard to tell fact from fiction.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Go to Heaven”

The Pierces Myspace
The Pierces Official

MARITIME

What’s the Deal: Legendary emo/indie rock band The Promise Ring may be resigned to live only in our heads and CD collections, but vocalist Davey von Bohlen (also from Cap’n Jazz and Vermont) and drummer Dan Didier along with Justin Klug and Dan Hinz are gearing up for the release of their third full-length for Maritime, Heresy and the Hotel Choir. Due out October 16th, the songs seem to be born of the same catchy and fun take on indie rock of the previous. Von Bohlen’s voice is still full of childhood wonder and emotion, but with a grey wash of light raspiness, blending astutely with the warm guitar chords and jangly ones. There’s definitely traces of The Promise Ring in there, but trust me, it’s a different animal. Maritime has successfully extracted all the vitality left from emo and picked up none of the baggage.
“Guns of Navarone,” (after the Gregory Peck film) off the upcoming album, is a charming, twinkly and peppy indie rock tune that pops with an insightful beat, and it’s simultaneously both a guilty and proud pleasure. It’s something you want to share with friends, but at the same time, it’s got to be shameful to listen to something this catchy. In that respect, it’s just like “Tearing Up the Oxygen” off their last record, We, the Vehicles. Oh, they also have really great song titles.

Something Interesting: Davey von Bohlen has weathered disastrous tour van crashes, a brain tumor and a few surgeries, and he’s still coming strong with the indie rock. Cheers to you, man. The Arcade Fire’s drummer Jeremy Gara played keyboards for them for a short period.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Parade of Punk Rock T-Shirts!”

Maritime Myspace
Maritime Official

Image of Maritime courtesy of Wikipedia
Image of The Pierces courtesy of their Myspace
Image of The Unfortunate Heads courtesy of their Myspace