Austin Sound

Jay Blazek Crossley is most likely best known for his multi-instrumental work in local punk band Woozyhelmet, the longstanding trio that also features the Octopus Project’s Toto Miranda. So quite a few people might be surprised to hear his screeching vocals be applied to his debut attempt in his realm of folk music. There’s a certain raw and almost uncertain element to Jay’s voice and the music created to frame it in his new album, Tiny Diamonds. Like the few other scattered releases from Soda Pop Sounds, it upholds the quirky, home-produced aesthetic of imprints like Natrix Natrix or SuperPop. The majority of the tracks are no more than 3 minutes long, with Jay cramming as much both lyrically and musically into each song before quickly moving onto the next. His lyrics range from insightful to downright narrative, set to a variation of meandering lo-fi melodies and beats.