Photo by Matt Tueten courtesy of MySpace

What’s the Deal: Frank Smith isn’t the name of a man, but the name of an alt. country/Indie band of six with some of the most compelling songwriting in Austin. Their recent move from Boston has brought the group to an ideal state for their layered Americana full of gruff and gravely vocals, pluck and twang. They were even nominated for “Outstanding Americana Act” for the 2007 Boston Music Awards. Most of the time their music is a slow-moving, meandering drive in the country or on the winding roads of Appalachia letting the banjo and steel guitar radiate outward in waves to bounce back and forth between the birch trees and pines.

Heavy Handed Peace and Love released earlier this year begins strong right out of the gate with tracks like “Throwin' Rocks.” The track starts as an Americana snowball picking up one instrument after another starting with banjo and ending in a familiar, inviting feeling of being in the American heartland.

Something Interesting: Frank Smith released an EP in 2007 called Sittin’ In A Tree with Juliana Hatfield.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Black and Blue” and “Blood and Time”

Frank Smith MySpace
Frank Smith Official

Image from MySpace

What’s the Deal: This Boston 3-piece fronted by singer/songwriter and former soloist Carter Tanton have a core grit that makes a mix of electric and acoustic indie/folk that’s not without it’s share of twang and echo. They've already received praise from Spin, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, among others, and their debut full-length doesn't even come out until later in 2008. Tanton’s dreamy reverb on his vocals has welcomed comparisons to My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses. The tracks on their latest EP, I Was Submerged, are ambient and gorgeous even though a fair degree of under-production is present and gives their sound a more organic feel.

“Mass” off the 7-song I Was Submerged is one of the stand-out tracks as it begins with guitar buzz and a slight twang and ends up with a astral reverb in the upper atmosphere. This effect gives many of the tracks a hazy, surreal feeling. Meanwhile, “Breath Thin” off the same EP is full of jangle and twinkle but also feeds off much of that same haunting echo effect.

Something Interesting: Tulsa’s lyrics and music are fueled by its members wanting to maintain their curiosity for life and the hunger they have for it, according to the Park the Van Records website. They even took their name from a book of Larry Clark photographs that focused on a group of people who had lost those feelings.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Shaker”

Tulsa MySpace