The deep-bargain bin: free tracks from Snowsera, The Insecurities, Jeffrey Altergott, A Lull
Snowsera
Snowsera "Chase The Rabbit" / "Stop, Listen"
Snowsera proves it's not afraid to flex its guitar muscles on “Chase The Rabbit,” one of two tracks the group has made newly available. Barely clocking in at two and a half minutes, “Rabbit” establishes a cool swagger with plenty of raw rock to back it up. By comparison, “Stop, Listen” initially sounds more mellow, opening with just an organ and an airy effect on Bill Arteaga's voice. The track kicks in quickly with showy riffs and wah-wah guitars, leading up to a light but distinctly funky stomp. The band fully embraces the giveaway, with multiple EPs available at its site for no cost, even including in this bundle a flyer for a free Snowsera shirt at any of the group’s shows. Download here.
The Insecurities “Bleeding Heart” / “Run Run Baby"
The Insecurities is the latest project from Kaustubh “Stubhy” Pandav, best known as frontman for local pop-punk institution Lucky Boys Confusion. Though poppy, “Bleeding Heart” is lyrically a pointed condemnation of the perils and false allure of fame, with callbacks to LBC’s “Hey Driver.” “Run Run Baby,” meanwhile, is lighter and breezier, with a more infectious and driving rhythm. Lucky Boys enthusiasts will find a suitable fix in The Insecurities' latest offerings, both from the just-released Show Your Teeth, as Pandov's vocals are clearly front and center here, as well. Download here and here.
Jeffrey Altergott “Don’t Prove Me Right”
“Don’t Prove Me Right” could easily lapse into all-too-typical, saccharine singer-songwriter territory, but fortunately, Altergott’s skillful use of soft-spoken verse, smooth chorus, drops of piano, and electric guitar elevate this soft-rock venture. The version made available here off Altergott’s latest effort, Balloons, is a lively version of the track; a far more fragile and acoustic-based recording of the song surfaced on the singer's 2007 record, Don’t Be A Stranger. Download here.
A Lull “Weapons For War”
This is the first sample of A Lull's in-the-works LP, Confetti. The track runs with the same promising tribal beats and glitchy foundations from "Our Age" on this past spring's Ice Cream Bones EP, but with greater energy and urgency. Everything here buzzes, from the underlying tones to the fuzzed, almost humming chorus and occasionally electronic-sounding vocals. If the rest of Confetti follows this track, A Lull will have crafted a brave, ambitious, and unconventional production that stands to surprise and impress. Download here; see the band live at Schuba’s Nov. 23 and Empty Bottle Dec. 21.
