What’s the Deal: One thing that Austin has plenty of is indie bands. There are multitudes of poppy, lo-fi folky or staggering, swaggering rock groups swelling with intrigue and buzzing around the local scene destined to either shoot straight and swift to national cult favorites standing or be just another weekend bar band. However, Til We’re Blue Or Destroy are one of the groups that stand out from the pack. Whether they’re charging in with guitar-driven rock and melody or their appealing to the sample-loving, electro-pop addicts, Til We’re Blue never do it half-assed. This group of nine layer on the sound until you’d think it couldn’t take any more, and then they add more. But, strangely it doesn’t sound bloated. Plus, they have a great knack for loosening ties and packing the dance floor. And their debut record, This Train, hasn’t even arrived yet.
“Giving Up On The High Side” is a prime example of a tune with an irresistible dance beat that thumps as the keys ring out but keeps just enough rock guitar sound to keep it from crossing over into electronica territory. Usually the robot vocal effect gets old after the first chorus, but they do well in the song not to overkill it. “All Shook Up” has all of the cuteness of a twinkly, indie-pop ditty but with a bright, potent punch care of the pleasantly surprising horn-and-guitar chorus.
Something Interesting: You might recognize some of the names of band members from such other acts as Youngmond Grand and Radar Radar.
Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Crazy Tigers”
What’s the Deal: The music alone is so moving within the first 20 seconds or so of each song that it grabs instantly. But when Bulat’s sweetly soulful vocals come in it’s almost too much to bear. This London, Ontario-based songstress shines when accompanied by the piano, ukelele and viola, but she could blow minds with her vocals alone. Her pop-folk songwriting is grand and dreamy, and her voice is elegant and emotional. This cohesive product is no doubt a result of the many years she has spent learning various musical instruments. Among the more commonplace rock band instruments like piano and guitar, Bulat has taken the time to explore the sax, flute, upright bass, banjo, ukelele and autoharp.
“Little Waltz” is one of the notable tracks off her debut, Oh, My Darling, for Rough Trade released only this past Spring in Europe and Japan (not yet released in the U.S.). It’s a gentle, refined number adorned by only guitar, strings and thick, stormy vocals with the capacity to get swept up inside of you and linger for days. The lofty tune “I Was A Daughter” began with the odd pairing of piano and hand claps. But it works, as do the affective arrangements to follow.
Something Interesting: Her MySpace features a very unexpected but decent cover of The Strokes’ “Someday.”
Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Snakes and Ladders”
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