You know what? Junior Boys are a very geeky entity. Dampened, city-slicker Canadian electro-soul from a city called Hamilton, mostly about being bummed out or the jarring complexities of adulthood relationships? It could be a side-gag in a Rogan flick - the Ontarian duo was so directly not-joking in their synth-flavored ballads, that they forced the world to regard them as a concern, not pastiche. Especially considering 2002’s Last Exit came when there was still a major schism between dance nerds and indie-rock dorks. It remains one of the most unlikely of rises in the modern era. more ›

Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart's miraculous-and meticulous-1949 film Begone Dull Care/Caprice En Couleurs was a groundbreaking detour from conventional modes of animated expression: an eight minute visual interpretation of a boogie woogie, painted directly on the celluloid. Piano lines traipse across the frame, pulled perfectly to the rhythms; when the rolling bass of the main theme hit, colors explode to the beat. Yet, even dulled to innovation in the age of Pixar and Dreamworks' CG blockbusters, instead of appearing dated, one is impressed with the extraordinary resiliency of McLaren's work. By eschewing more tractable mediums, he had created something immortal, something worthy of eternal respect and fascination. more ›

Montreal based outfit Stars has managed to capture our heart every time we take in their pop melodies and poignant lyricism. Amy Millan and Torquil Compbell are true stars, countering each other perfectly with crisp vocal delivery, while crystal clear production on the band’s recordings complemented by immaculate instrumentation make for a mighty fine final product. The band has two releases to be proud of this year -- Stars released In Our Bedroom After The... more ›

Fridge The Sun (Temporary Residence) Kieran Hebden, Adem and Sam Jeffers have been working hard since 2001's Happiness, though perhaps not with each other. Hebden's Four Tet is almost as prolific as Prefuse spin-offs, and Adem has released one of the greatest folk-pop albums of the decade with Love & Other Planets (2006). Jeffers is no slouch, working hard in the graphic design and web industry, as well as continuing his musical aspirations. As... more ›

15. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador) As ever, Mogwai manage to blend unadulterated post-rock weight to their shoegazer tendencies with tracks like "Glasgow Mega Snake" and "Folk Death 95," showcasing their ability to create anthems with no words. This is where Mr. Beast really shines, in between blistering chord progressions and gradual swings into corybantic climaxes. In some ways a throwback to earlier (and heavier) Mogwai material, Mr. Beast isn't merely a rock album.... more ›

FRIDAY [15] music • Ghostland Observatory and Thee Emergency at The Mohawk (912 Red River) ® party • Earthdance at NiaSpace (7:30pm-10pm, $15) party • Eastside City Limits party with Pink Nasty, Tnlons Fort, I Kill Cars, Missing Tapes, Brothesr and Sisters, Til We're Blue or Destroy, The Black at Red Scoot Inn and Old Austin Daze Compound (9pm-4am, FREE) ® party • Teleport Door presents the Pop Yo Colla' party with DJs Daniel... more ›

Junior Boys have been buzzing through the tubes for several months now, as their highly anticipated album, was a favorite with the critics, and their new release (available last Tuesday officially) is no disappointment. Sexy beats, 80's influenced rhythms, and ground-breaking electronic compositions fill the album from beginning to end, drawing you in and leaving you panting for more. more ›

Hang on to your wristbands, people, there's a lot going on this week in the world of legitimately released music! The Rapture Pieces of the People We Love (UMVD) The Rapture have finally caught up with their own hype following 2003's Echoes, working with producers Danger Mouse (Gorillaz/Gnarls Barkley), Paul Epworth (Bloc Party) and Ewan Pearson (UK DJ/Remixer) and delivering a disco, funk, punk and pop-influenced album worthy of all your parties, speedy drives... more ›

As Elvis Costello might say, we just don't know where to begin. Even if you are skipping ACL, the fall is turning into a music wonderland. Acts of every genre and size are booking Austin's clubs up like there's no tomorrow, leaving music lovers with many questions on how to spend both time and cash this fall. Trust us, you can't see it all, so pick your favorites and buy tickets in advance to... more ›

- Despite some rumors that Wilco would headline Shiner's annual Bocktoberfest, the event's main act is...Godsmack. Well, yeah, that's pretty much the same as Wilco. We just feel sorry for the Old 97's, who seem to be the only good act on the bill. Ask for a keg in your rider, guys. By the way, the 97's will warm up for Shiner with a 10/13 gig at Stubb's. - Speaking of drinking, Kinky Friedman... more ›

We'll get the bad news out of the way first: Junior Boys, Hot Chip, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have all slighted Austin on their fall tour schedules. So if you were hoping for one of these shows, start saving for a JetBlue flight. Thankfully, almost every other indie-Pitchfork-college rock band known to man will touch down in our town between now and Thanksgiving. There were a flurry of new show announcements over... more ›

Hot Chip destroyed the room that night not with their looks (they don't have them) or a huge production (the instruments broke repeatedly), but with simple, unsuppressable enthusiasm. They looked dorky, they dressed horribly, yet there they were, playing this crazy electronic-pop-soul-r&b hybrid that made the crowd explode in admiration and bouncy dancing. more ›