WE’VE BEGUN TO DO AS WE WANT TO: Another new group straddling the Athens-Atlanta divide is Sunset Honor Unit. Composed of Drew Kirby (Mothers, New Wives), Jacob Chisenhall (Fake Flowers), Noah Estrella, Darisuh Mirsajedin and Jason Bronson (Syblline Lover), the band was kickstarted by Chisenhall and Kirby as an avenue to explore multiple influences and genres. To that end, the band has a brand new self-titled EP—recorded on Election Night in November 2020—and has released it courtesy of Kirby’s Marching Banana Records. The record itself is a really cool marriage of surf and Paisley Underground sounds. Melodies are in no short supply, and there are multiple high-water marks here. Among my favorites are opening track “Drift” and the Three O’Clock-flavored “Papaya.” Find this over at marchingbanana.bandcamp.com.
UP TO ELEVEN: Approximately 8 billion years ago circa 1993, the entire world was hearing ‘bout Athens all the time. R.E.M.’s smash 1992 LP Automatic For The People ensured this. At the same time, the sound of the town was turning heavier, and there was no shortage of local bands who eschewed pretty much all Athens music history for the seemingly fresh sounds of the Pacific Northwest. In retrospect, this phenomenon was relatively short-lived but produced some nice artifacts. Among those is the body of recorded work by Gamut. Three EPs are slated for re-release next year, but for now, you can snack on the single track “The Wheeler,” which could be best described as early ‘90s psych with a Black Flag fetish. It’s been so long since I heard this that it might as well be the first time, but it does bring back memories of a time when $2 beers seemed expensive and any show over $3 was a total ripoff. I’ll keep you posted when the EPs themselves are released, but grab a taste of this over at gamut-v1.bandcamp.com.
KINGS OF THE NIGHT TIME WORLD: Metal merchants Sacred Bull have returned with a new three-song EP named Wider Heavens which, as it turns out, is quite an apt title. Although I’ve previously described the band as “atmospheric post-metal,” this new record takes those stakes and places them, um, wider. Specifically, the atmospheric-ambient elements here are kicked into high gear and assist in making what was already a solitary listen even more inward looking. It’s difficult for me to make a one-to-one comparison with any other artists here, but I think it’s safe to say that fans of Wolves in the Throne Room and Drudkh would be pleased. This release comes courtesy of Super Carnival Recordings, and you can check it out at sacredbull.bandcamp.com.
’TIS THE SEASON: Multi-instrumental wizard Jeffrey Bützer will bring his annual performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas to the 40 Watt Club on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Bützer has hosted this performance for the past 14 years at a few different venues in the Atlanta and Marietta areas, and this year marks the second time he’s brought it to Athens. He reports they’ll also be playing selections from one of the best Christmas LPs of all time, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. Openers The Frigidaires are slated to play Christmas selections from The Ventures and Beach Boys. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. These are only available online, so head to 40watt.com to buy yours and leave some room on your card for processing fees. In other news for the unfamiliar, I heartily encourage you to do some diving in Bützer’s catalog. He’s never failed to leave me very deeply impressed with everything he does. Start your journey at jeffreybutzer.bandcamp.com.
BUILT TOUGH: It’s been 18 months since we’ve heard anything from Love My Truck, but now there’s at least one new track. The generally prolific duo just released the single-song EP titled Coors Lice. The song is named “Blue MTS (Live in Colorado),” and it was such a cool surprise to hear. The electronic elements of Love My Truck’s music are generally hidden behind a wall of deeply affective Americana. This new song, however, brings it all upfront, and it’s a deliciously enjoyable, slow-paced electropop track with a steady and catchy bass rhythm. That’s really all there is to say about this, so plug it in at lovemytruck.bandcamp.com.
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