On the brink of Judgment Day, Zeale dropped what he’s calling a micro-mixtape, The Mashup Smashup. Taking cues from his local breakout, the Pink Floyd-ripping “Dull Dayz,” the seven-track album boasts samples of Ghostland Observatory, Ratatat, and Grizzly Bear. Grab it here and new releases from Leatherbag and Centro-matic after the jump.
Austin’s Monster of Folk, Will Johnson has a catalog that stretches further than I-35 highway from Denton to downtown. With help from his bandmates and former manager, OTR culled this version of a greatest hits collection as part of this 2010 Austin City Limits Music Festival profile. Johnson’s countered with a mix of his own, a free 24-song sampler.
Wild America’s Lew Houston has resurfaced with a four-track solo venture, Breatherholes, and a new cassette at Trailer Space, Give It To U, that sounds like Paul Westerberg basement tape confessionals with more echo and xylophone. Free.
Facing delays on a new album, imposed by the upheaval at Hot Tracks!!! studio, neo-sincerity champions Leatherbag just released a great free LP, Live at the Parish, recorded last September. Download it here.
Former Eskimo Kisses bassist Kevin Hauser and fellow Post Parlo act Shar McLeod have a new project called Chainbow that just released its digital debut, Free Rain, a nine-song collection of no wave-slowcore. The full-length will also be pressed to two 7-inch singles and a cassette. Stream along at http://chainbow.bandcamp.com
Emo’s booker Ross Bennett introduced his PR collective, Manateam Group, featuring Zlam Dunk, Markov, and Paper Mache, among others, via a free client sampler, Welcome to Manateam, Mixtape Vol. 1.
Austin-bred mixtape bandit Car Stereo (Wars) recently had all of his DJ gear jacked, along with two suitcases. The local label Artifact Workshop is helping him out, offering CSW’s two digital albums with an optional donation feature.
This article appears in May 20 • 2011.