Cory Graves
New Music From The West Windows, Frank Moka, Un Chien, Afu and More.
Welcome to Songs of the Week, where we hip you to all the new local releases you should be caring about. By putting them all together here in one place, our hope is that you can spend less time searching for relevant new releases and more time giving each one of these jams the proper shine they so deserve. OK? OK.
The West Windows — Talk Dark.
RIYL: When it’s so cold in the D.
What else you should know: Almost three years ago to the date exactly, The West Windows were supposed to play an album release show at Three Links for its last EP, before that show was foiled by the Snowpocalypse. Well, today, they’re playing an album release show at Three Links and, wouldn’t you know it, it’s fucking snowing for the first time in forever! Cross your fingers the show’s still on, and just know you can stream it above regardless.
Frank Moka – “Nation Time.”
RIYL: Baduizm.
What else you should know: Erykah Badu/Funky Knuckles percussionist Frank Moka is ready for a little spotlight of his own. This is the first solo release we’ve heard from him, and it’s got some promise, to be sure. Badu herself tells us, “He next.” The queen hath spoken.
Un Chien – “Never Coming Back.”
RIYL: Super psych-folk.
What else you should know: Since Un Chien’s debut album, its individual members — most notably Rachel Gollay and Taylor Craig Mills — put out well-received solo projects. But the Fort Worth favorites is back to doing the group thing again, having recently recorded a new LP, live to analog tape, at the same Dallas studio Dak Prescott pretends to hang out when hocking Adidas. There’s a listening party for it tomorrow at Dreamy Life Records, and then a full-on release party at Lola’s on the 14th.
The Crystal Furs — s/t.
RIYL: Studio projects.
What else you should know: Boasting pretty much the exact lineup of The Diabolical Machines is a decent new Fort Worth outfit with an organ-heavy new rock record. But don’t get too attached, because they told Fort Worth Weekly this week that they don’t plan on playing live too often, saying, “everyone else in the band has already been down that road, and they have a hard time getting excited to play local clubs to hit-or-miss crowds.” Touché.
Androppolis — Exhibit A.
RIYL: Representing.
What else you should know: Androppolis tells us he really puts on for the city, using only Dallas-based producers and videographers, and allowing only fellow Dallas-based artists feature on his records. To that end, Exhibit A even boasts a Badu sample. And while that’s probably par for the course for most any up-and-coming artist, one gets the feeling he’s serious about it, to the extent he’ll probably stay loyal to the D should he make it big. He also tells us he pretty much only wears clothes from Dallas-based designers. Like I said, pretty serious about it.
Afu – “MJ” and “Radar.”
RIYL: Sudie, Rat Rios, etc.
What else you should know: In the same vein of Sudie and Rat Rios is another newcomer to the local pop scene, Afu. Like those two well-loved artists, she’s not afraid to mine ’90s aesthetics while pushing them forward with (sometimes lo-fi) effects and production values once again making them fresh. And like Rat Rios, you’ll notice she collaborates with Honor System on one of the tracks above. Anyway, she’s been popping up on some King Camel bills lately, and has another one coming up at Crown and Harp later this month on the 21st.
The Broadsiders — All Things Must End.
RIYL: Quitting quitters.
What else you should know: Tomorrow night at Double Wide, these hard rockers will celebrate both their 10-year anniversary as a band, and also the release of their final album, the appropriately titled All Things Must End. Then, they’ll never play another show. Says the Facebook event page, there will be no on-offs or reunions thereafter.