NEW RELEASE: The Black and White Years - A Stellar album!

AUSTIN, TX: home field advantage

A Can't Miss Artist for this Year's SxSW Music Festival

The Black and White Years release an amazing album

HOT NEW RELEASE: Austin's Black and White Years play the role of hometown hero this week, taking the stage at South-by-Southwest Music Festival. It's a time of triumph - the band has grown so much over the last year - having taken last year's South-by-Southwest (2007) festival by storm they then played two of world's largest and most prestigious music events going - in NYC (CMJ) and in Europe (MIDEM). They recorded a new album, added a drummer and are ready to, again, take SxSW by force!

March signals the release of The Black and White Years self-titled debut LP. The record was produced by the Talking Heads' Jerry Harrison who took the promising band under his wing and helped them create and release a stellar record here in 2008. Here's my 2007 interview with the band (I knew then that they were headed for good things....) Included in the Q&A is the story of Jerry's involvement in the album and a lot of important information - like how they came up with their band name.

The new album embraces the two sides of the tortured B&WY beast; ragged indie rock and smooth dance beat hooks used to punctuate the tracks. The record triumphs for these reasons on "A Wetter Sea", great reworked versions of "Power to Change" and "Everyone," as well as incredible new songs: just listen to "My Broken Hand!" The trend to mix beats and drums has punctuated independent rock recently (it's a good throwback) on releases from Ghostland Observatory and Of Montreal. And, it definitely works for B&WY on this release.

One of my favorite things? Listen for the changes in "My Broken Hand" - most impressive.

The Black and White Years - Everyone

All of the songs are highly recommended, but not all of the tracks are frontal assaults. Some of the tracks are more paced and layered. "Lighten up the Letters" and "A Dense History" - for instance, are a thinking man's songs. The quick-beat guitar and bass single,"Write in a Book" sounds like a Cowboy song recorded on a Norwegian Roller Coaster.

All of this should serve to underscore the fact that this is truly one of the premiere independent rock bands (a fun-loving live band) during a period of great creativity. If you are Austin this week for the festival, do not miss them!

BUY THE ALBUM: There are currently limited numbers of the record available before SxSW. According to this webpage, they only have 15 copies right now. Buy one!

MARCH DATES
Mar 11 - Austin
Art Disaster at Beauty Bar

Mar 12 - Austin
Mayor’s SXSW Welcoming Party

Mar 12 - Austin
The Red Bull Party at the Moon Tower

Mar 13 - Austin
SXSW - Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room

Mar 18 - Chicago
The Rockit Bar

Mar 20 - Washington, D.C.
The Tattoo Bar

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