It’s not unusual to look back on a month of released music and notice a major impact on the local music scene. What is substantially rare, however, is to have a single week where so many potentially year-defining records are coming out all at once. Just take a look at what’s going on this week. It’s fucking bananas. On their own, new records from Powerkompany and MammaBear would be enough to get us worked up, but then you start running down the list of highly anticipated debuts and it’s like holy shit. Waking Astronomer, Book of Colors, Gláss, exwhy, Flower — it’s a veritable logjam of local up-and-comers. Add in the surprise single that Athens punks the Rodney Kings dropped this morning and the madness only gets better.
But the great thing is, there’s more. A shit ton more. You want that new EP from hardcore punks Bodyfather? It’s yours on February 16. You want to hear what former Cloudeater drummer Chris Hunt has been up to since the band called it quits? His debut EP, Tomb, drops on February 19. You want to finally get your hand on that Mothers LP, quite possibly the most hyped and anticipated record of this young year? February has you covered. Oh, did I mention there was a possibility of a Key! solo record hitting our ear holes this month? Jesus Christmas. Fuck it. I’m done here. Peep the list below.
The Rodney Kings – “Black Out”
Release Date: February 2
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Athens punks the Rodney Kings have just unveiled “Black Out,” the lead single from an upcoming release called Friday Night. No word yet when that will be out, but you can stream/download the single now via Bandcamp.
Tracklist
01. Black Out
More Info
Bandcamp: therodneykings.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @the-rodney-kings-10260861178
Waking Astronomer – Waking Astronomer
Release Date: February 5
Label: Psych Army Intergalactic
Release Info
Consisting of esteemed multi-instrumentalist Alexa Lima, vocalist Afua Richardson, and producer Brett Leggitt (a.k.a. Deku), Waking Astronomer’s much-anticipated self-titled debut is out February 5 via Psych Army Intergalactic.
Tracklist
01. Bottles
02. Graphite
03. Sea of Memories
04. Rubber
05. Pendulum
06. Ashes
07. Br’er Rabbit
08. Out Here
Waking Astronomer will celebrate the release of their self-titled debut on Friday, February 5 at the Earl. Supporting them will be RBTS Win, Ancestor, TheyungMathew, and Divine Interface. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8.
More Info
Web: wakingastronomer.com
Facebook: @WakingAstronomer
SoundCloud: @waking-astronomer
Twitter: @wakingastros
Powerkompany – Fever & Chills
Release Date: February 5
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Recorded at Chase Park Studio in collaboration with Andy LeMaster of Bright Eyes and Azure Ray fame, Powerkompany’s forthcoming new project, Fever & Chills, is an ambitious two-part album that will seek to highlight the synthpop duo’s wide range.
Tracklist
Disc 1
01. Pretty Girl Wrong
02. Can’t Cry
03. Even More Than This
04. Do I Have to Dance All Night
05. Learning to Love
06. Need a Break
Disc 2
01. Like
02. Pretty Girl
03. Holiday
04. Dreams
05. Fall
06. Bright Blue
Powerkompany will celebrate the release of Fever & Chills on Friday, February 5 at the Live Wire Athens. Show info TBA.
More Info
Web: powerkompany.com
Bandcamp: powerkompany.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @powerkompany
Instagram: @powerkompany
SoundCloud: @powerkompany
Tumblr: powerkompany.tumblr.com
Twitter: @powerkompany
Book of Colors – Book of Colors
Release Date: February 5
Label: Deer Bear Wolf
Release Info
Led by songwriter André Paraguassu and featuring contributions from fourteen local players, including members of Faun and a Pan Flute, Little Tybee, Adron, and others, Book of Colors’ self-titled debut will be available on CD and cassette.
Book of Colors will celebrate the release of their self-titled debut on Saturday, February 27 at Terminal West when they play in support of Little Tybee. Fellow locals Hello Ocho open the show. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $12 in advance or $15 DOS.
More Info:
Web: bookofcolors.com
Facebook: @Book-of-Colors-63389573566
Instagram: @bookofcolorsmusic
Twitter: @bookofcolors
MammaBear – Hell Cat EP
Release Date: February 5
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Kyle Gordon’s MammaBear project has hinted at a possible full length to be released later this year, but why worry about the unknown when you can deal in certainties. The group’s upcoming Hell Cat EP will be available February 5.
Tracklist
01. Hell Cat
02. Cruise Control
03. Wherever She’s There
MammaBear will celebrate the release of the Hell Cat EP on Friday, February 5 at Star Bar. Supporting them will be Weary Heads, Twin Criminal, and Heavy Eyes. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8.
More Info
Web: mammabearmusic.com
Bandcamp: mammabearmusic.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @mammabearsounds
Instagram: @mammabearmusic
YouTube: @MammaBearMusic
exwhy – The Feels
Release Date: February 5
Label: Other People Records
Release Info
Recorded by Kenny Muto at Tomuto Sounds and mixed by Beau Burchell of Saosin fame, exwhy’s 10-song debut, The Feels, is out February 5 via Los Angeles-based Other People Records.
Tracklist
01. Good Love
02. On Our Own
03. Tangerine
04. Jive
05. Salt
06. Letters of Love
07. Digital Darkness
08. American Noise
09. The Feels
10. Some Space Between
exwhy will perform on Monday, February 8 at the Masquerade. Supporting them will be Narrow/Arrow, Many Rooms, and Sleep Dance. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $10.
More Info
Web: exwhyband.com
Bandcamp: exwhy.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @exwhyband
Instagram: @exwhyband
SoundCloud: @exwhyband
Twitter: @exwhyband
Radiolucent – Electric City
Release Date: February 5
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Fans hungry for a follow-up to Radiolucent’s 2012 LP Turn Me On and Turn Me Loose, will finally have their appetites satiated. The dynamic Southern rockers will release Electric City on February 5.
Radiolucent will celebrate the release of Electric City on Friday, February 5 at the 40 Watt in Athens and on Saturday, February 6 at the Earl in Atlanta. Supporting them in Athens will be the Heap. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. Supporting them in Atlanta will be Reuben’s Bell and Goldwing. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 DOS.
More Info
Web: radiolucentmusic.com
Facebook: @radiolucent
Instagram: @radiolucent
SoundCloud: @radiolucent
Twitter: @the_lucent
Gláss – Accent
Release Date: February 5
Label: Post-Echo
Release Info
Recent Athens transplants Gláss’ frigid post-punk is already causing waves as the trio prepare for the release of their Post-Echo debut, Accent, on February 5.
Tracklist
01. Hometown
02. Pheasant of Furs
03. Consumer Remorse
04. Stifling Quarters
05. Glass(-accent)
06. Accent
07. Teraform
08. Hotel/Motel
09. My Way of Telling You
10. You’re Not Real
11. Jimmy Fountain
Gláss will celebrate the release of Accent on Friday, February 5 when they play in support of Vincas at the Caledonia Lounge. ET Mexico and Art Contest open the show. Doors open at $10 pm. Admission is $5-7.
More Info
Bandcamp: glasstheband.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @glassgvsc
Flower – Waste of Life
Release Date: February 5
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Led by exwhy frontman Jack Fowler, psych-tinged grunge revivalists Flower are prepping the release of their debut album, Waste of Life, on February 5.
Tracklist
01. O
02. Deadly Ill
03. Worker Bee
04. Bad Telepathy
05. Wannabe
06. Tennis
07. Waste of Life
08. Dreams
09. Envy
10. Let Me Down
11. Bandages
12. Stardust
13. Blush
14. X
15. Digits
Flower will perform on Saturday, February 13 at the Masquerade. Supporting them will be Rad-isaurus Rex, King Guru, Lea Lea, Sad Fish, and Swim Lessons. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $8.
More Info
Web: floweratl.com
Bandcamp: floweratl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @floweratl
Instagram: @floweratlanta
SoundCloud: @floweratl
Twitter: @floweratl
Lily Rose – Bones EP
Release Date: February 8
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Athens-based singer-songwriter is getting ready to unveil her pop-inflected acoustic songs with the release of her debut EP, Bones. The self-released four-song effort will be out February 8.
Tracklist
01. Forgetful Soul
02. When I’m With You
03. You Make Me (Acoustic) [Live in Studio]
04. Bones
05. Struggle
Lily Rose will celebrate the release of the Bones EP on Friday, February 26 at 40 Watt. Supporting her will be Trey Broussard. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $8-10.
More Info
Web: musiclilyrose.com
Facebook: @lilyrosemusic
Instagram: @lilyrosemusic
SoundCloud: @lily-rose-1
Twitter: @lilyrosewil
Bodyfather – Heavy Rest
Release Date: February 16
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Recorded at Echo Mountain in Asheville, NC, Heavy Rest marks a welcome return for a band that was on the verge of calling it quits in 2015.
Tracklist
01. Pining
02. Palter
03. White Beams
Bodyfather will perform on Saturday, February 27 at 529. Supporting them will be MTN ISL, Paralyzer, and DiCaprio. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $5.
More Info
Facebook: @Bodyfather
Tumblr: bodyfather.tumblr.com
Fairlane – WIRIS
Release Date: February 16
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Although technically the latest EP from post-hardcore quintet Fairlane has been streaming on Bandcamp since December, physical copies have not been made available, so we’re going to let it slide. The WIRIS 7″ is out February 16.
Tracklist
01. Yew
02. My Moral Compass
03. Manatee
04. Sediment
Fairlane will celebrate the release of the WIRIS 7″ on Tuesday, February 16 at WonderRoot. Supporting them will be Blis., Word Travels Fast, Ringfinger, Dog Years, and Femignome. Doors open at 7 p.m. $5 gets you in.
More Info
Bandcamp: fairlaneatl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @fairlaneatl
Twitter: @fairlanesucks
Chris Hunt – Tomb
Release Date: February 19
Label: Psych Army Intergalactic
Release Info
Produced in collaboration with vocalist Marshall Ruffin, guitarist Emil Werstler, and bassist/engineer John Davis, Tomb is the first of two upcoming EPs from Atlanta producer Chris Hunt, formerly of Cloudeater.
Tracklist
01. Dog
02. Plaster
03. Ghosting
04. Unification
05. Ultimatum
Chris Hunt will celebrate the release of Tomb on Friday, February 19 at 529. Performing in support will be Deku w/ Saude, Palm Lines, and Transcend All Identities. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $7.
More Info
Facebook: @chrishunt0
SoundCloud: @chris_hunt
Wrenn – Apathy & Good Books
Release Date: February 19
Label: Self-released
Release Info
The new EP from pop songstress Wrenn is another record that’s been technically been available for quite some time now (January 1 to be exact), but, hey, we missed it and she has a record release show coming up, so there you are.
Tracklist
01. Summer Girls
02. Apathy & Good Books
03. Poison
04. Lie to Me
Wrenn will celebrate the release of on Friday, February 19 at Smith’s Olde Bar. Supporting here will be Zale and Kara Cloudy. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $12 in advance or $15 DOS.
More Info
Web: wrennpop.com
Facebook: @wrennpop
Instagram: @wrennpop
SoundCloud: @wrennpop
Twitter: @wrennpop
Mothers – When You Walk a Long Distance You are Tired
Release Date: February 26
Label: Grand Jury/Wichita Recordings
Release Info
Of the many records on this list, few come with as much promise and anticipation as the debut full length from the rising Athens group Mothers. Produced by Drew Vandenberg (Deerhunter, Of Montreal, Drive-By Truckers, Futurebirds), the eight-song LP is out February 26.
Tracklist
01. Too Small for Eyes
02. It Hurts Until It Doesn’t
03. Copper Mines
04. Nesting Behavior
05. Lockjaw
06. Blood-letting
07. Burden of Proof
08. Hold Your Own Hand
Mothers will celebrate the release of When You Walk a Long Distance You are Tired on Friday, March 4 at the Caledonia Lounge. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8 in advance or $10-12 DOS.
More Info
Web: nestingbehavior.com
Bandcamp: mothersathens.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @nestingbehavior
SoundCloud: @mothers-1
Culture Culture – JX-3Please
Release Date: TBD
Label: Self-released
Release Info
With an expanded lineup and a new five-song EP ready to drop any day now, synthpop outfit Culture Culture are poised to enter the new year with plenty of momentum.
Tracklist
01. Got2F33l
02. Ashton Kutcher, Come Back
03. 1138
04. RGB
05. Stranger
More Info
Bandcamp: cultureculture.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @culturecultureband
SoundCloud: @cultureculture
Twitter: @_cultureculture
Credit: Key! Facebook
Key! – Screaming Diaries
Release Date: TBD
Label: TBD
Release Info
Named as one of Creative Loafing’s 20 People to Watch for 2016, the rapper and co-founder of hip-hop collective Two-9 will continue to wade out into the solo waters with the release of his new full length, Screaming Diaries, due out in February.
More Info
Web: fatmankey.com
Facebook: @FATMANKEY
Instagram: @fatmankey
SoundCloud: @fatmankey
Twitter: fatmankey