SA artists to deliver blizzard of tunes in the first quarter of 2012

OBX
Middle Class Dreams, Blue Collar Schemes
March
“If you’re in the negative with your bank, this EP’s for you,” said OBX (aka Jason Avalos) on the first of his two 2012 releases. Middle Class features no guest emcees, but includes new producers QB (Joe Budden), Nascent (50 Cent), Illmind (Skyzoo). Local beatsmith Kuse is also on deck.

The Rosedale Highs
The Rosedale Highs Go Down (Tentative)
Spring
Formerly called Keep Rosedale Highs Lame, RDH’s new record promises power-pop filtered through “self-destructiveness and unhealthy obsession,” according to guitarist/vocalist Jason Christopher Trevino. RDH is also exploring yacht rock, dream pop, and all genres between. Watch their Facebook for a forthcoming kickstarter.com project.

Merykid
Lullwood
Spring
The latest from Merykid (Nick Mery of the defunct The Great ‘85) explores dreams, which Mery describes as “both full of opportunity and unobtainable.” Lullwood sees the return of producer Edwin Stephens and promises Mery’s most spare folk to date. Search “See Me Through” on YouTube to preview.

The Texas Weather
Pluck
Spring
Nick Mery’s other project with Polysynth Fusion’s Michael Randolph delayed the release of Lullwood. Where Lullwood rolls back years of Mery incorporating electronic textures, The Texas Weather takes Mery’s cosmic folk to its final destination. They’re working with Mery’s spacey bluegrass cover of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” in mind (also on YouTube).

Bad Breaks
Bad Breaks (Tentative)
Spring
If the KRTU Plugged in Session is black and white, then the LP is Technicolor, said drummer Chuck Kerr (Art Director at the Current). Featuring two new tracks and recorded by Morris Orchids’ Jaime Rader, Kerr described the album as being about “thoughtful pop songwriting.” Check Bad Breaks on Facebook for video previews.

April
Pop Pistol
Untitled (Tentative)
April (Tentative)
Last year’s Disappearing Edges indicated Pop could tighten their song craft while broadening their composition. Fittingly, bassist George Garza said their next album will feature their most ambitious songwriting and “a culmination of everything we’ve ever done or wanted to try.” Plus they’re exploring surround sound.

Ledaswan
Untitled (Tentative)
April (Tentative)
Ledaswan scrapped the spiritual sequel to NUM83R5 last fall, a change partly credited by singer/guitarist Erica Monzon to their updated rhythm section (partner Jaime Monzon is the Current's web editor): Nick Ochoa (drums) and Lalo Rodriguez (bass). Expect “darker tones,” “more keyboards,” and “different time signatures.” Check ledaswan.net for video diaries on the album’s progress.

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