SXSW 2012 Records

Buxton

The fourth largest city in the country, Houston is not exactly a natural hotbed of Americana. As the biggest city in Texas and former home of Townes Van Zandt, however, H-town deserves more respect. Young band Buxton caught a break when signed to New West, and on its full-length debut, the fivepiece manages to come across as wise and wide-eyed at the same time. Nothing's too flashy, decent hooks and solid No Depression fare like "Blown a Fuse," with a little help from friends such as labelmate Robert Ellis, and a secret weapon in multi-instrumentalist mandolin master Jason Wills. You can't go too wrong with the Uncle Tupelo-like jangle of "Riverbed" and an uptempo country rocker such as "Boy of Nine," concerning the evolving standards young men have for love with emphatic harmonies. (Wed., 11pm, Skinny's Ballroom)