Commander Keen – Cowboy Killer

Posted Wed July 19, 2017

I’ll admit it, I don’t keep up with much of the music coming out of Cookeville but that’s an oversight that stops now. The latest EP from Commander Keen is a big rock record with big rock party vibes. The energy is fast paced from the get-go and only gets more intense the further down the rabbit hole you go. The EP wraps with a 7-minute epic entitled “Nashville Pts I-III” that manages to squeeze in dueling squelching solos and a culmination into big, dank, dark riffs.

I imagine seeing this live would only intensify the experience even more. Just another reason to keep your eye on Cookeville.

Λ°C – Lambda Celsius

Posted Tue July 18, 2017

There’s something undeniably appealing about the dark vibes that permeate throughout the self-titled album from Anne Catherine Carter aka AC Carter aka AC aka Λ°C. For fans of the production style of late 70′s, early 80′s post-punk undertakings, this should feel right at home. It’s a wall of sound broadcast from a dark room, easily inspired by the likes of New Order bass tones and proto goth vocals. The lead track, “At Least You Make Me Feel”, features R. Stevie Moore (presumably on guitar) and certainly sets the template for the rest of the record.

Blank Range – “Opening Band”

Posted Mon July 17, 2017

Blank Range “Opening Band”

It’s hard to believe that Blank Range has never release a full-length album given that they’ve been releasing quality music since as far back as 2013. Fortunately, that will all change in August with the release of Marooned with the Treasure. The album was recorded over “a whirlwind 4 day session” in Durham, NC with producer Brad Cook and engineers Chris Boerner and James Wallace. 

The first track, “Opening Band”, is streaming everywhere and continues the band’s trend of exploring Americana vibes with just the right dose of guitar magic sprinkled in there. You can pre-order the full album now and rest assured we’ll be hearing more from the Blank Range camp in the coming months.

GAY VIBES “Two Wrongs (Make Us Right)”

Posted Mon July 17, 2017

New track from GAY VIBES featuring Arlene Sparacia of HR LEXY finds that nice balance between dance floor electronic banger and 80′s new wave goth. The guitar outro is especially perfect for the mixture. 

Look for the Summerwave Mixtape: Volume One on July 19th, 2017 featuring further collaborations with Leticia Wolf (The Dead Deads), Kyle Andrews, Hot Tub Club and more.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Sun Seeker “Won’t Keep Me Up At Night”

Posted Mon July 17, 2017

In order to keep your obsession with Sun Seeker’s debut EP, Biddeford, rolling right along I suggest you dive into the official video for “Won’t Keep Me Up At Night” in which a group of party goers demolish a house that’s on deck for a 32 unit condo. The subtle nod to the questionable growing pains of East Nashville is well balanced with the antics of the destruction crew.

Fun fact, this video concept isn’t really a stretch from reality. A group of friends of mine did this exact same thing to a home being demolished on 12th Ave S, even down to driving a scooter inside the home. What I’m saying is, if you want to live this video as a reality, you CAN do it.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Sun Seeker, Biddeford 

Posted Fri July 14, 2017

The beautiful debut from Third Man Record’s Sun Seeker is available everywhere today. Biddeford is six songs of melancholy pop perfection, awash in familiar 60′s influences but still maintaining a unique and fresh perspective. Everything from Alex Benick’s sorrow soaked vocals to the Buddy Hughen production to the mesmerizing artwork is a goddamn treat. 

Hammock “Mysterium”

Posted Fri July 14, 2017

The official video for the title track off of Hammock’s forthcoming album, Mysterium, was recently released and it’s a slow burning piece of ambient landscape. The black-and-white video is a blurred and textured affair; best experienced with your immersive attention.

Watch it here and pre-order the album here.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Welles “Life Like Mine”

Posted Thu July 13, 2017

Very very into this acid-trip / mindfuck of a video from Arkansas transport Welles. The underlying song, “Life Like Mine”, is a pop gem inspired by the likes of the druggiest era of the Beatles and their ilk. That’s to say, there’s a lot of unexpected instrumentation supporting a wonderfully memorable chorus.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

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Posted Wed July 12, 2017

Save the Internet

Today, July 12th, is a day of solidarity for companies and users across the Internet to raise their voices to our political leaders to maintain Net Neutrality. The basic gist is that the FCC ruled that the Internet is governed by a set of rules that maintain a level playing field in terms of bandwidth and delivery of content – visiting Netflix shouldn’t be any faster than visiting another site. Any Internet Service Provider violating that idea can be chastised. Corporations want to change that. 

This is not a new undertaking by any means. This conversation has been an ongoing on and will likely continue to be. In order to have your voice heard on maintaining Net Neutrality you need to leave a comment with the FCC about the benefits of a neutral playing field. Go to gofccyourself.com, click on Add Comment and let them know you support maintaining Title II classification, be sure to include a personal insight on how the Internet has benefited you or your business.

Why am I posting this instead of local music reviews? Because We Own This Town is a PRIME example of a site that could not exist without strong net neutrality rules. Shining a light on local music and events is not exactly something that Comcast has a vested interest in and this site (and many like it) would not exist if they had to pay for preferential bandwidth. 

That’s just a tiny example of how Net Neutrality is important to myself and to our community. You owe it to yourself to leave a thoughtful comment with the FCC for their review on July 17th. Please do so now.

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Posted Tue July 11, 2017

The Southern Shame – Orion EP

The newest release from The Southern Shame, the 7-track Orion EP,  is a ramshacklin’, country infused romp. While certain songs like “Woke Up This Morning” tell macabre tales of murder hangovers, the real treat comes with “The Ballad of Jimmy Ellis”, an ode to the Elvis Impersonator of the same name who ran his record label off Belmont Blvd for many many years. If you’re curious to learn more about the EP’s namesake, just watch this movie.

On the whole, the EP is a refreshing dose of alt-country / near-country tales well worth a listen or three of your time.

Buy It

All Them Witches – Live on KEXP

Posted Tue July 11, 2017

Take some time to watch the full KEXP studio performance from All Them Witches in which the band plays a number of selections off their latest album, Sleeping Through the War (and a few from previous releases). They even chit chat a little with host Cheryl Waters about being considered a Nashville band, despite only one member actively living here.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)