Austin360 On The Record: Suzanna Choffel, Robyn Ludwick, Rocketboys and more

OUT THIS WEEK

Suzanna Choffel, “Hello Goodbye.” Austin360/American-Statesman writer Deborah Sengupta Stith observes: “Lead single ‘Go Forth’ maps out the central struggle at the heart of Choffel’s new album. Her fingers cascade over graceful, arpeggiated guitar patterns while her voice rises and falls, riding a heart-twisting wave of loss. Like many tracks on the album, it’s a song about feeling torn. It has the air of a breakup track, but more generally, it addresses the painful process of moving from one phase of life to another — becoming tangled up in your feelings and getting stuck, then mustering the strength within to move on. ‘You can’t be sure of what you don’t know/ Insecure of where you’re heart goes/ Lead it blindly, boldly, kindly/ Find your way,’ she sings on the track. Says Choffel: ‘One thing I’ve found is that it almost doesn’t matter the decision you make, but just the act of making the decision and picking it, it kind of sets forth a new energy.’” Read the full interview with Choffel on mystatesman.com. Release show May 12 at 3Ten. Here’s the video for the track “Go Forth”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u66_FM3Xp6A&w=492&h=307]

Robyn Ludwick, “This Tall to Ride.” On her fifth full-length release, the Wimberley resident builds upon a repertoire of originals that has gradually put her in the ranks of one of Central Texas’ finest songwriters over the past decade. The gorgeous “Insider” hints at the rootsy anthemic vein her brother Charlie Robison has mined so well, while “Lie to Me” swings with a gentler, sweeter country-pop twang. Ludwick’s recent work with Kacy Crowley in the side-project outfit Band of Babies appears to be evident here in two songs co-written by Crowley: the cinematic opener “Love You For It” and the seeking-redemption ballad “Junkies and Clowns.” Crowley also contributes backing vocals, part of an ace cast that includes guitarist David Grissom, keyboardist Bukka Allen and pedal steel guitarist Geoff Queen. Her husband, bassist John Ludwick, also serves as producer, helping Robyn paint with a compellingly broad brush of Americana sounds while always keeping the vocals front-and-center. Release show May 13 at Townsend. Here’s the video for “Wrong Turn Gone” (co-written by John Ludwick):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWcMrKGTF70&w=492&h=307]

Rocketboys, “Certain Circles.” Well-versed in tuneful, pop-leaning rock ’n’ roll for more than a decade since their Abilene origins, this local indie outfit returns with its first full-length release in five years. A well-received EP and a side-project album from band member Brandon Kinder (as the Wealthy West) bridged the gap between. Highlights of “Certain Circles” include the melodically sophisticated opening couplet “Go Ahead” and “Swing Low” (tied together by the pulse of a single piano note), a more acoustic detour on “I Will Call You Home,” and the rich vocal harmonies on the anthemic “Away We Go.” Playing June 3 at Mohawk. Here’s the video for “You and Everyone Else”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NnNohlefBo&w=492&h=307]

Carry Illinois, “Garage Sale” EP. Singer-songwriter Lizzie Lehman and her bandmates follow up 2015’s full-length “Alabaster” with six tunes that draw upon folk, pop and indie-rock, using keyboards to broaden the melodic range of the guitars/bass/drums foundation. The focus is mostly keeping the songs tight and to the point: Nothing here exceeds four minutes, and a couple tracks are under three. “Goodnight,” the closing number, gets political, but with a very personal touch. Release show May 12 at Mohawk. Here’s the track “Little Shell”:

COMING SOON

• MAY 15: Altin Sencalar, “Introducing Altin Sencalar,” release show May 18 at Elephant Room.
• MAY 19: Fastball, “Step Into Light.”
• MAY 19: Jimmie Vaughan Trio featuring Mike Flanigin, “Live at C-Boy’s” (Proper), release shows May 19-20 at C-Boy’s.
• MAY 19: Missio, “Loner” (RCA).
• MAY 19: Wendy Colonna, “No Moment But Now.”
• MAY 19: Wild Now, “Afterglow” EP, release show May 19 at 3Ten.
• MAY 19: Girling, “Side 1” EP, release show May 19 at Sidewinder.
• MAY 19: Born Again Virgins, EP, release show May 19 at Hole in the Wall.
• MAY 20: Ray Prim, “Live at Strange Brew Lounge Side,” release show May 20 at One-2-One Bar.
• MAY 26: Sour Bridges, “Live at Stubb’s,” release show May 28 at Oskar Blues Brewery.
• MAY 27: Garner Sloan, “Liquid Sales and Bobcat Tales,” release show May 27 at Stay Gold.
• JUNE 2: Pure Luck, “Silver or Lead” (Heavy Feather).
• JUNE 16: Abram Shook, “Love at Low Speed” (Western Vinyl).
• JUNE 16: Quin Galavis, “The Battery Line” (Super Secret).
• JUNE 23: Slaid Cleaves, “Ghost on the Car Radio.”
• JUNE 30: Shakey Graves, “Nobody’s Fool/Donor Blues EP” reissue (Dualtone).