Austin Sound

In the words of David Allan Coe: “What the hell’s happenin’, Jesus Christ?, Ain’t there nothin’ sacred no more?” For the Beaumonts, “no more” doesn’t even register, because it’s pretty clear from the Lubbock quintet’s third studio LP that there was nothing sacred to begin with. Over the thirteen songs that the country mockers offer up, there are moments of bestiality, domestic violence, incest and sex in every lewdly possible configuration and situation, church burning, and, of course, drinkin’, drinkin’, and more drinkin’ (with a healthy dose of weed and speed thrown in). Yet as opener “Say What You Want” declares: “You can say what you want to about me, but I never gave my husband Chlamydia.” Fair enough. .

A band with a history of getting pigeonholed by names, Amplified Heat began its days under a very different moniker: the Blues Connection. After seeing that many showgoers expected a more traditional blues act, and predicting the rock and roll direction of the band, the three brothers agreed a name change was in order. With How Do You Like the Sound of That?, the third release by Austin’s booze-n’-blues powerhouse, the band once again changes up the mix. One can’t help but expect more of the fast, hard energy envisioned by the Brothers Ortiz those many years ago, but instead the 11 track album ambles along to a more traditional - and more personal - blues sound.

Some music lends itself to be listened to after imbibing exotic substances. Some music demands it. Then, there is music that aurally inserts pills and potions into the listener’s body with such subtlety that one is trapped under its influence before he can even realize what is happening. Tia Carrera’s latest effort, Heaven/Hell, falls into this latter category. Carrying the listener on a three track spiritual journey, Carrera’s new EP is wonderfully unrelenting, even if at times tedious.

While other bands often take the time to build to an impressive climax, Austin’s own Amplified Heat cuts out the middleman, inducing a coronary upon the listener from the get-go. Within seconds of hitting play on the aptly named “Heart Attack,” the first track of their reissued self-titled debut, one thing is made very clear—if you can’t take the Heat, get out of the kitchen.

Taking standard fare blues-influenced classic rock and kicking it up so many notches that Emeril Lagasse himself would scoff, this seven track release sets the baseline from which this band’s future career should be measured. A freshman album that sounds more like a senior thesis, the EP quickly advances from the grindfest of “Heart Attack” to the more swinging and bluesy “I Don’t Care.” Jim Ortiz’ gruff vocals relate a story of (somewhat happily) lost love in general blues/rock fashion, but with an intensity that makes even the most teetotaling listener want to grab a drink to take the edge off. Gian’s colorful bass fills add complexity and subtlety to the otherwise simplistic song design, but still work to hold down the low end modestly enough. The frenetic “Bi-Polar” allows Chris’ drumwork to shine, and illustrates his impressive stamina and energy that lends much to the band’s signature style.