Look, we know we throw a lot of new music at you. We also know that not everyone who comes to this site has the time to be as involved with or informed about the local scene as maybe they’d like to be. So for those casual readers who either can’t or have no interest in keeping up with the parade of artists we try to cover, who may not know the difference between Bitter and Biters, we have created our TRIPLE THREAT feature. The premise is simple: Every Friday our writers will put their heads together and come up with three tracks that grabbed our attention over that week. Then we tell you why the songs are great and worth listening to. That’s it. Maybe some weeks we’ll have a guest commentator come in and share their favorites, but the format will always remain the same: three songs, some words, and we out. Enjoy.
Raury – “Odyssey”
From the standalone single
Stone Mountain-native Raury has has edged his way back onto the scene with the release of a new single, titled “Odyssey.” The three-minute freestyle is a layered, existential take on the throes of fame, success, and life changes, composed of folk-themed guitar riffs and a double-time, staccato flow. Speaking on relationships damaged by his new life, the superficial affirmations of fame, and the lack of authenticity in the people around him, Raury’s latest cut is a living, breathing meditation on the contradictions, lessons, and temptations that a young, precocious creative has been forced to face. Mashing folk, rock, and hip-hop, “Odyssey” has no hook and features a minimalist production style, likely so listeners can fully intake and comprehend Raury’s ranging points of interest. – Johnell Gipson
More Info
Facebook: @raury
Instagram: @raury
SoundCloud: @raury
Twitter: @Raury
Credit: Craig Carlson
Pony League – “Mile Marker Dance”
From the upcoming LP, A Picture of Your Family
The new single from Pony League is custom-made for road trip mixes. The steady thrumming beat channels Jackson Browne, and even the title invokes the driving nature of the track. The back porch twang that Pony League have exhibited in the past has been smoothed over, but “Mile Marker Dance” still portrays the complex relationship that lyric-driven Americana has always had with rock and roll. This is just our second taste of the band’s upcoming sophomore album, A Picture of Your Family, and it’s a lemonade chaser for the whiskey that was Pony League’s earlier material. – Russell Rockwell
A Picture of Your Family is out Mar. 23 via Bear Kids Recordings. Pre-orders are available here.
Pony League will celebrate the release of A Picture of Your Family on Thu., Mar. 22 at Aisle 5 alongside Blood on the Harp and Dear Blanca. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. All Ages.
More Info
Web: ponyleagueband.com
Bandcamp: ponyleague.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @PonyLeagueBand
Instagram: @ponyleagueband
SoundCloud: @PonyLeague
Tumblr: ponyleague.tumblr.com
Twitter: @ponyleagueband
Levi Watson – “Level Up”
From the upcoming EP, No Love Lost, Volume 2
Levi Watson first nabbed our attention when he sent us spiraling down the cosmic funk highways of his last EP, No Love Lost, Volume 1, and today the rapper, producer, and singer returns with the lead single from Volume 2 in the series. “Level Up” strikes with a more modern minimalist aesthetic as bright synths cozy up against staccato bass stabs. The groove is airy yet kinetic, providing Watson with a sleek vehicle for his sturdy and confident flow. In my previous assessment, I argued he was a more compelling rapper than a vocalist, but the more I listen to his music, the more I feel it’s his ear for melody that’s most impressive. Even in the tight confines of his internal rhyme schemes, Watson makes sure to leave room for small earworms, the kind that make listeners want to come back and dig for more. – Guillermo Castro
More Info
Bandcamp: levi.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @lonerizm
SoundCloud: @levixwatson
Twitter: @levixwatson