Monday, May 5, 2025
The Cosmic Clash

new music

Willie Nelson Oh What a Beautiful World landscape
AlbumReviewScott Rollins

Album review: new Willie Nelson record Oh What a Beautiful World covers Rodney Crowell

Scott Rollins 187 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

I first heard “The Banks of the Old Bandera” when Rodney Crowell’s album The Houston Kid debuted in 2001. I love that record and still feel it’s Crowell’s most artistic and intellectually stimulating recording, which is no small observation. I felt “Bandera” sounded like a Willie Nelson song. It only took twenty-four years, but Willie covered this song, and eleven other songs penned by Rodney Crowell on his newest release Oh What A Beautiful World, which dropped April 25, 2025. If you clicked the link, you saw a limited edition white vinyl only available from Willie’s website.

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Kruangbin Moody Amp Drew Doggett
Drew DoggettLive MusicReview

Live music review: Khruangbin Spins a World of Their Own at Moody Amphitheater

Drew Doggett 333 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Tuesday, April 22 at Austin’s Moody Amphitheater felt like it would never dry out. A curtain of rain blanketed the city in the early evening, forcing fans to huddle under trees and the few dry patches the venue had to offer. I, running from improv class on the other side of town, took respite under a bridge for 15 minutes before the rain subsided. By the time Khruangbin finally took the stage after a brief delay, the air was so heavy with humidity that it clung to your skin, like you could reach out and grab it. But the moment the band walked out, framed by three glowing window panels inspired by their newest album, A La Sala, the crowd roared like the sun had risen through the parted clouds, 9 p.m. in the evening.

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Geordie Greep APF 2025 Troy Gonzales
Brian HillsmanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Geordie Greep delivered memorable set at Austin Psych Fest

Brian Hillsman 279 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Accompanied with an ensemble band of instrumentalists, London’s Geordie Greep delivered a memorable set orbiting his solo LP debut The New Sound —released in October 2024— at South Austin’s Far Out Lounge on April 26 as part of Levitation and Resound’s Austin Psych Fest 2025. 

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Lauren Mayberry 6 Scoot Inn Drew Doggett
Drew DoggettLive MusicReview

Live music review: Lauren Mayberry begins captivating new chapter after CHVRCHES

Drew Doggett 722 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Lauren Mayberry has spent over a decade commanding festival stages as the charismatic front woman of CHVRCHES. I remember seeing her at Pitchfork Fest 2015, right after Mac Demarco, playfully pointing out the scattered cigarette butts left on the floor. The sound of CHVRCHES is filled with shoegaze-y synths, shimmering reverb and pulsating beats. But on February 26 at the Historic Scoot Inn in Austin, she stepped out in a new role as a solo artist.

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New music
AlbumReviewRobert Dean

New music: Teddy Long, Dim Light and Hugo Monster albums are fresh finds

Robert Dean 575 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

I wanted to give you a few new things to listen to if you’re in the market for new ear candy. When the world is a constant depression machine, the power of music is unmatched, a salve that can make us feel human again when there’s just too much punishment on our hearts and souls and by the grace of god, some caveman, somewhere, figured out that if you beat a few rocks together with sticks over a cowhide, the beautiful noise happened.

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Death Palmz Casey Chumbley
Case CockrellMusic VideoPremiere

Video premiere: synth punk act Death Palmz introduce Clear In My Mind

Case Cockrell 384 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

French has duly chosen to have his own solo project, taking on a new synth-punk venture entitled Death Palmz. After the release of a debut EP produced by Xavier Juarez of Wall Of Fog Studios and released on Mr. Pink Records, the French solo outfit has released and premiered a new video for the brand-new single “Clear In My Mind.” The new single was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jonas Wilson

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Hard Proof
AlbumBrian HillsmanReview

Album review: Hard Proof dropped third LP Code Noir last month

Brian Hillsman 540 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Austin’s hometown jazz-funk collective, Hard Proof, released their latest album, Code Noir, in early February. The all-star Afrobeat collective released their third studio record followed by a Continental Club album release party. The recording is a listen that is bound to get you up and dancing in living room. It may be their best effort yet. 

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Killer Kaya press photo
AlbumCase CockrellReview

Album review: New Killer Kaya record Live at Wall of Fog a revelation

Case Cockrell 601 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

With powerhouses in the realm of Osees, Ty Segall, The Warlocks, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre all still in prolific, touring machine form, Santa Barbara-tested, Austin-approved Killer Kaya has been a worthy entry into the vortex of whirling, reverberated uproar that continues a 60s legacy that is irreversibly alive and well. With the release of new LP Live At Wall Of Fog yesterday, the now-Austin residents have crafted an effort that further proves trippy expertise as well as genre-clashing, tasteful retro emulation.

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Mike CosmicPremiereSong

Song premiere: Veteran Austin act The Living Pins released new track Gold today

Mike Cosmic Cota 723 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The Living Pins featuring veteran Austin musicians have released their new song, “Gold” today. The track shows the band’s deft songwriting skills and talent at making a great rock n roll tune. The well-crafted song was produced, engineered and mixed by longtime Austin music producer, Chris “Frenchie” Smith at his The Bubble Studios. The song exemplifies how experienced musical hands can create great new music.

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Chat Pile 2 Troy Gonzales
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Sludge metal act Chat Pile pummeled Mohawk fans Sunday

Case Cockrell 899 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

A lot of Austin residents consider Interstate 35 to be an existential crisis. If you drive far enough north, you might eventually hit the cursed town of Oklahoma City. Even though most of us would never make such a wretched trek, the Oklahoma noise rock quartet Chat Pile emerges from the depths, delivering their socially aware brand of sludge metal for fans that have been indoctrinated into the music blogosphere from their spotty at best college dorm WiFi. On yet another frigid Sunday night in Austin, fans of the outspoken loud rock act packed out the Red River Cultural District stronghold Mohawk for a thought-provoking excursion that pummeled attendees’ eardrums as well as giving a powerful message of social reform

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AlbumMike CosmicReview

Album Review: Austin post punks The Stayres new record Duplex drops tomorrow

Mike Cosmic Cota 850 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Austin post-punk power-pop trio The Stayres will release their new LP, Duplex, on February 14 via Flak Records. The new record builds upon the pop hooks and driving guitars of their 2023 self-titled debut, adding a brighter, janglier sound and more narrative-driven lyrics.

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