Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Salim Nourallah

One of my favorite Texas songwriters recently completed his sixth solo recording titled Hit Parade. It was funded through PledgeMusic contributions, and even though it won't officially be released until early 2012, PledgeMusic contributors (including myself) were sent an advance download.  Salim is based in Dallas, but he recorded the new album at an Austin studio known as The Treefort with producer Jim Vollentine. Over the past 2 years he worked on Hit Parade while still running his Pleasantry Lane studio, working as a producer (credits include Rhett Miller and Old 97s), and raising a family.

I've been a fan of his since a friend tipped me onto his work almost a decade ago. Think Jeff Tweedy meets Neil Finn and Elliott Smith. Although Hit Parade hasn't been released yet he's also planning another EP, Friends For Life, and full length album, The Skeleton Closet.  Check out "Never Felt Better, " which is one of my favorite tracks from Hit Parade. It tells the tale of the back and forth struggle between pessimism and optimism : "I never felt better/I never felt worse" and "I've got everything that I need/I got nothing that I want."

:Salim Nourallah - Never Felt Better:
 

The Pons

The Pons are an Austin based trio that features lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Thomas Mazzi, drummer, Steve Sanders, and bassist, Ruby Painter. They've spent the past two years writing and recording the follow up to their 2008 debut, In The Belly of a Giant. The album was co-produced by the band and Erik Wofford at Cacophony Recorders. The Blackest Shine will be officially released on November 1, but you can also pick up a copy at their album release party at The Highball on Fri Oct 28th. It's a free show and they'll be joined by two of my Austin favorites, The Sour Notes and STEREO IS A LIE. The release of The Blackest Shine was partly due to a successful Kickstarter campaign. The back of the album artwork is filled with photos of Kickstarter contributors, friends, and family who all have one thing in common - a black eye as a nod to the album title. Some of the black eyes are real and others due to the talents of makeup artist, Lisa Donahoe. If you attend the release party, there will be make up on hand to create your own black eye at the Black Eye Photo Booth.

The title track sets the theme for the entire album. Although we cannot always avoid the dark times, we can only hope to come out stronger : "I'd gladly take it all away/To give us back another day/Be myself in my shoes all the time/See my reflection in the blackest shine."

:The Pons - The Blackest Shine:
 

Hollerado

I couldn't resist including the new video from the Canadian band, Hollerado. It's hilarious and a little bit ridiculous where the band has their own day at the races which in their case means racing ostriches. The song contains a nice nod to Queen in the song title and in the lyric of "I'm way down low /but I got somebody to love." This band never fails to make me smile. You can also download their latest single just below.

:Hollerado - Good Day At The Races:

- Jennifer Leduc -



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