The Gorgeous Hands

• Texas Platters Finale

  Last local music round-up of 2012

  BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ

• > The Gorgeous Hands

• Shortwave Party

  BY GREG BEETS

• The Well

  BY GREG BEETS

• Bitter Birds

  BY GREG BEETS

• Full Service

  BY GREG BEETS

• The League of Extraordinary G'z

  BY CHASE HOFFBERGER

• Nazi Gold

  BY KEVIN CURTIN

• Beto & the Fairlanes

  BY JAY TRACHTENBERG

• The Couch

  BY CHASE HOFFBERGER

• Residual Kid

  BY DOUG FREEMAN

• Hello Caller

  BY ABBY JOHNSTON

• Madisons

  BY JIM CALIGIURI

• The South Austin Moonlighters

  BY JIM CALIGIURI

• Tump

  BY LUKE WINKIE

• deEP end 1

  EPs from Junior Brown, Mice & Rifles, Ben Livingston, and MaryAnn & the Revival Band

  BY DOUG FREEMAN

• Feral Future

  BY ABBY JOHNSTON

• The Sideshow Tragedy

  BY ABBY JOHNSTON

• The Sour Notes

  BY ABBY JOHNSTON

• Borrisokane

  BY GREG BEETS

• Opposite Day

  BY GREG BEETS

• Lower Class Brats

  BY GREG BEETS

• Texas Platters 2012

  Every single local record we reviewed this year

The Gorgeous Hands

Formerly the Magnificent Snails, this clever pop quartet finds all the right parts on "Swear to Me." Building a wistful indie-folk backbone with gum-smacking hooks and strategic falsettos, the Hands' instinctive songwriting reinvigorates an overripe paradigm with pure transistor power. "Generator" boasts warm harmonies and an atmospheric build that's only slightly less compelling than the A-side. Expect an auspicious full-length debut in early 2013.