Austin Sound

So far, Frantic Clam has released two EPs that have grabbed our attention, especially this year’s Anatomica. Their brand of big guitar pop kicks with energy and verve, and they’re planning on finally unloading a full length this October. There’s also a piece in the new album for fans, though, as the Clam will be including a remix of their song “Korean Beauty Queen” on the disc. They’ve opened up a contest on their website to hear what folks can do with the song, and will be taking submissions until August 15. Think you’re the next Car Stereo (Wars)? Download the stems and get to work here. You can also check out the original version of the song on their myspace page.

Frantic Clam’s sophomore EP, Anatomica, has been garnishing a lot — I mean A LOT — of praise from critics, fans, and musical savants alike. And there’s a good reason for that. Anatomica is a collection of the catchiest and most refreshing songs I have heard in a long time. It seems that artists today are always trying to punctuate their sound and de-genre-fy themselves in order to get recognition (i.e. Ponytail), but Frantic Clam easily dodges labeling while still remaining relevant. Anatomica is an album composed in grandeur. The themes of the songs are all-encompassing and anthemic, the instrumentation is heavy, yet the album achieves a very accessible and grounded feel.

We get it! The country is a sinking boat being tossed around on the high apocalyptic seas! We have no idea really what this video has to do with Frantic Clam’s song “We Own the Night” (which is awesome, if oh so short), but it’s still a pretty cool video. The quartet put it together with the help of Austinite Andrew Lankes, and the song is off of their new sophomore EP Anatomica. You can catch Frantic Clam next at 101X’s Austin Homegrown on April 29 at the Mohawk, with Speak and Model UN! Video after the jump.

Though only officially forming last Spring, Frantic Clam’s roots go back to frontman Zack Hadley and bassist Joe Sparks meeting and beginning to collaborate musically while serving in the Iraq War. Once back safely in Austin, the two formed the quartet and have already released a surprisingly excellent EP, Celebrity, and have another set for early 2009 (which you can get a taste of below). Frantic Clam swagger with edgy guitars chiming behind the surging, high hitting vocals, delivering one part raucous punk energy and another part deft and often ironically twisted indie-pop gems. Catch them live this Thursday Friday, Oct. 24 at Trophy’s with Bombs Away Baby and the Black Keys Tribute band, The Black Squeeze, which inevitably begs the question – do there really need to be a Black Keys Tribute band? We’ll be there to find out!