Delta Spirit's Ode To Sunshine!!!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
All the moments in life need good soundtracks, know what I mean? That's why when you listen to old favorite Weezer albums or 80s, 90s hits you reminisce about what you were doing, who you had crushes on, and in my case, how immature you were based on the stupid things you did for fun! I've heard so much good stuff this summer but I really have to hand it to Delta Spirit's debut Ode To Sunshine as one of my top feel good favorites! I'd go on about San Diego's awesome 5some but I just really want you to hear it! When you're done with those tracks, hype up for the August 26th release, and when you're hooked go check a show here, and I'll totally see you there.
Trashcan
Parade
Labels: indie
The Pop Project's Not-so Concept Album!
Half a decade after their 2nd full-length release, Life is Life, The Pop Project has finally dropped their lastest, Stars of Stage & Screen! This Michigan pop 4tet has taken several elements like indiepop, jazz, broadway, and other can't-quite-put-your-finger-on-it piles of music into one sweet album. They've got lil pieces of everything and have the ability to make it really fun. It's sometimes sounds like 80s and 90s television showtunes! Bottom line this is the good kind of contagious music good for anytime. Pick up this album here! Get a taste below!
You've Won The Lottery
Stand In
Band Of Annuals Showin' You the Countryside!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Salt Lake's 6-piece, Band Of Annuals has all the heartfillers of country, unique blends of folk-pop, and enough story tellin' to keep you company. I begin to reminisce a compilation of bitter sweet moments when I listen to tracks like "If You're Looking for Love" and "Don't Let Me Die." This stuff is turning indie kids into country lovers. They've got a couple EPs out and their full-length release last year, Let Me Live is full steam ahead to your ears with an awesome tour going on and and and there's a Cinema Bar show tonight in Culver City!
Blood On My Shirt
If You're Looking For Love
A little B-side love
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Happy Tuesday to all of y'all. It's August and I can't believe that another Fall is approaching agh. Anyway I was hunting up some B-sides the other night and thought you might enjoy some of these. Some of these have been around for awhile but my favorites are Deathcab's best version of Cyndi Lauper and Sufjan's Jacob. Enjoy! Kevin Drew - One Night Man
Sufjan Stevens - Jacob
Metric - Parkdale
DeathCab for Cutie - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (live)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (acoustic)
M.I.A. - Paper Planes (DFA Remix)
Labels: indie
Bark Hide & Horn Embark On National Roads!
Friday, August 01, 2008
My brother is always talkin' about all the dope things Portland has to offer and though I totally believe him, these guys really push the case. Portland's quartet, Bark Hide & Horn, has been around since 2005 but they're finally debuting with their first full-length, National Road. It's filled with high horn content folk thrown in there are things like glocks, vibraphones, mandolins and trombones. The album was inspired by past issues of National Geographic and spefically tell a story of the magazine's editor, Melville Bell Grosvenor. Sounds dope to me! They also got some upcoming shows after their August 8th release.
Treasure of The Everglades
Grandfather
Jordan Geiger Goes Solo!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
I like the big fat tiger cat sitting on the piano bench haha, LOLz! Sitting next to fatty is Jordan Geiger who you might remember from such bands as the guitarist for Appleseed Cast (one of my huge favs), Minus Story and Shearwater. Come October you can pick up a copy of his debut Oh, Ramona which features his bedroom style recordings of sweet poppy, synthetic and lo-fi little darlings. Hospital Ships is the official moniker and oh lucky you, we've got the single! Pre-order via Graveface Recs.
Bitter Radio Single
Noah and the Whale
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
With their boyish good-looks and London charisma to add, the members of Noah and the Whale, are probably anticipating a good day for their September 16th release of their new album "Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down." Not to judge a record by its cover (or title), or an artist(s) by his looks, but this was probably one of the coolest packaged CDs we received, in its simple brown paper case, semi-abstract/semi-lego-like cover art and neatly printed type/font slightly reminiscent of a refined version of comic sans.But let's get to the meat of the matter, which is the music. Simply put, "Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down" is a "nice" collection of folk-pop songs. What I mean is that there are some songs that are stronger than others, and others that feel randomly out of character like "Second Lover." The crisp clear guitar picking, though simple in it's melodic character, makes it's motif-like appearance throughout the album and I enjoy it. It peeks it's head out to say howdy in "2 Atoms in a Molecule," subtly makes it's reappearance in "Death by Numbers" and serves as a beautiful, simple (though repetitious) accompaniment in "Mary" - one of my favorites of the albums which, along with other songs on the record, incorporate violin (trumpets, female vocals and such make their appearance on others).
I'm not sure how people will feel about listening to an entire album of frontman Charlie's voice which is reminiscent of Emmanuel and the Fear meets Jens Lekman, which is up some people's alley. Whatever your preference, you will be sure to find your joy in corners and places of their album, whether you dig upbeat, feel good songs with a twinkle-like timbre (I mean this in a good way), or more mellow tunes. And for self-proclaimed "Serious Amateurs" I definitely give them applause.
2 Atoms in a Molecule
Mary
Shape of My Heart
Btw, they have a well put together/designed site which in itself is pretty cool to check out.
Labels: indie
Wintersleep Welcomes YOU to the Night Sky!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
After a successful 2005 self-titled sophomore fully, Wintersleep is back on the scene with their brand new album, Welcome to the Night Sky, set to drop in mid October. These guys have already received acclaim and a Much Music Award for their Weighty Ghost music video. Also these Halifaxians are touring in support of that album with Wolf Parade and others! Just some really good indie rock and my favorite is when other members of the band rock with their back-up vocals on choruses and echoes. Check out two tracks below and hit their tour here.
Weighty Ghost
Archaeologist
Labels: indie
Jay Brannan 'Can't Have it All'
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
So I really dig this new guy, Jay Brannan. He's got a really light smooth voice, that pairs awesomely with the light guitar picking on his tracks and simple melodies. In a way he kind of reminds me of a simpler, happier version of Jason Mraz meets Sondre Lerche. It's lighter fare that reminds me of happier times, but with lyrics that are straightforward in their storytelling narrative.My favorite is "Can't Have it All" below, and "At First Sight" which addresses issues like responding to craiglist ads and not loving the guy you're sleeping with. Interesting, haha.
He's got some tour dates too so check them out if you like what you hear.
Jul 18 2008 8:00P Vinyl Atlanta, Georgia
Jul 20 2008 8:30P The Loft Dallas, Texas
Jul 22 2008 8:00P El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, California
Jul 24 2008 8:30P Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, California
Jul 25 2008 6:00P Doug Fir Portland, Oregon
Jul 26 2008 7:30P Triple Door Seattle, Washington
Jul 28 2008 9:00P Lakeshore Theatre Chicago, Illinois
Aug 23 2008 7:00P Bodega Nottingham, UK
And so on and so forth.
Can't Have it All
At First Sight
Labels: indie
Courtney Marie Andrews brings some lovin' from Phoenix
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Thanks to one of our readers, we were introduced to Courtney Marie Andrews -a Phoenix native, songwriter, guitarist, banjo-ist and singer. This folk indie artist has brought back something that a lot of popular indie music has been lacking lately - depth and substance. I love the banjo, guitar picking, the accordian, vocals and harmonies.Here's one her videos, and of course, check out her myspace here.
Labels: indie
Gettin' Into The Mood's Synaesthesia!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Happy Tuesday! New York's The Mood has just rolled out their brand new 6-track record Synaesthesia via their own label Outright Rock Records! These guys bring a lot of dancing indie pop fun with sweet harmonies from cousins Argiro and Corinne. It's perfect for the summertime. With a couple EPs already released, The Mood is well on their way to some serious indie stardom not to mention their shows at CMJ, SXSW, and recently featured tracks on MTV's The Real World. Watch for a tour this fall...in the meant time you can grab their new album Synaesthesia here. Check out two tracks below!
Eskimo Scientist
Masquerade
The Zoos Of Berlin!
I'd have to say this self titled 3 track EP from Detroit's Zoos Of Berlin is very strong and makes for a good case to anticipate a full length! I first gave a listen to them after hearing that one of their band members also plays for Pas/Cal which has a new one out! The beginning of these three tracks really set the tone for the songs, slowly introducng the vocals with subtle instrumentation and electronics. Their mellow sway heavy experimental sound makes us look forward to a debut hopefully rollin' out soon! You can pick up that EP here. Check out the track below!
On Large Amusements
Labels: Experimental, indie
Takka Takka Introduces their Migration!
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Happy Sunday! It's agreed that New York's Takka Takka have definitely matured their sound, but not from bad to good but from good to even better! They definitely kept their experimental edge with mellow indie tracks full of catchy instrumentation. The new sophomore full-length effort Migration is rollin' out at the end of this month via Ernest Jenning. Also they've got residency at NY's Pianos so definitely go check them out. We got two tracks for you off that new album. ENJOYYY!
Everybody Say
The Takers
7-03 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
7-15 – New York, NY @ Pianos (Record Release Residency)
7-22 – New York, NY @ Pianos (Record Release Residency)
7-24 – Chicago, IL @ Daytrotter Session!
7-25 – Chicago, IL @ Shubas
7-26 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency - Madison
7-29 – New York, NY @ Pianos (Record Release Residency)
Labels: Experimental, indie
Takka Takka's Migration out July 29th
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Brooklyn's own Takka Takka are releasing their sophomore album Migration July 29th. It's got bits of world music, from cowbell to gamelan and little sonic bits here and there. It's this interesting amalgam of sounds that I would never have pegged to fit together, but somehow it does. The result is a sound that's semi-meditative and chill. A lot of critics have likened it to indie-music for "self-conscious loners."We've included Everybody Say, which I really like, that has a line which goes, "Who died?/ Who died?/You." a bit bleak but does challenge you to kind of meditate on what you've been tolerating in your life and letting get the best of you. And I like "She said: 'Take it easy'/ 'But it's hard'/Take it easy'" I really like that kind of encouragement.
Perhaps these kind of introspective lyrics are influenced by lead singer Gabe Levine's mother's spirtual awakening and the subsequent conversations between them that ensued.
Just check it out.
Everybody Say
The Takers
Labels: indie
Takin' It Back To VICIOUS VICIOUS
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Although the Minneapolis rock band Vicious Vicious hasn't had a near recent release, I have been listening to them non-stop, especially Here Come Tha Police, off their Don't Look So Surprised album. Their latest, Parade, dropped last September continued their progression of sound with what I thougt was a little bit more mellow but then I heard Charmed which rocks out. You get a good blend of the pop keys with touches of shoe-gazey electronics. And just for you, I have selected a song from each album.
Parade
We Don't Call It Love
Don't Look So Surprised
Here Come Tha Police
Blood & Cover
Shake That Ass On The Dance Floor
Labels: indie
Happy Monday! Boababs and a Playlist for you
Monday, June 30, 2008
Start Monday off fresh with some music! Though it ain't new music it will cure your Monday blues, unless mellow, Elliot Smith-type of music is more your thing...which this has none of.
That is a boabab. One of the songs I've included is Boababs by Regina Spektor. Whether or not it's a throwback to The Little Prince, the song immediately makes me envision that one illustration from the book. It's a picture of the boababs taking over an entire planet. Know which one I'm talking about? If not, check out the book, it's beautiful and insightful.
Enjoy!
Oversleeping - I'm From Barcelona
The Magic Position- Patrick Wolf
Chinese Translation - M. Ward
Maple Leaves (7" Version)- Jens Lekman
Tisbury Lane - Mae
Don't Stop - Brazilian Girls
Digital Love (Daft Punk cover) - Mobius Band
Boababs- Regina Spektor
That is a boabab. One of the songs I've included is Boababs by Regina Spektor. Whether or not it's a throwback to The Little Prince, the song immediately makes me envision that one illustration from the book. It's a picture of the boababs taking over an entire planet. Know which one I'm talking about? If not, check out the book, it's beautiful and insightful.
Enjoy!
Oversleeping - I'm From Barcelona
The Magic Position- Patrick Wolf
Chinese Translation - M. Ward
Maple Leaves (7" Version)- Jens Lekman
Tisbury Lane - Mae
Don't Stop - Brazilian Girls
Digital Love (Daft Punk cover) - Mobius Band
Boababs- Regina Spektor
Labels: indie
The Black Ghosts Release Debut Album in July
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Simon Lord and Theo King make up The Black Ghosts. Both from respective bands (Simian and The Wiseguys), the two have joined to make an electro-synth sound that's at once dark with goth influences, yet at the same time, inspires dance-floor moves. In a way they're lyrically intelligent songs with a beat, so you can shake your groove thang without being embarrassed that the songs are about your moneymaker.
The two guys are currently touring and have apparently received positive reviews on their Australian shows and SXSW shows. I personally dig some of the remixes that others have done on their songs, which I've included below, and also The Black Ghosts remix of The Gossip song, "Listen Up." Look out for their album, coming out July 8th.
Any Way You Choose to Give It
Any Way You Choose to Give it (Fake Blood Mix)
Face
Listen Up (The Black Ghosts Remix)
Tour Dates
7/19 - Brooklyn, NY @ Studio B
7/22 - Toronto, ON @ Wrong Bar
7/24 - Chicago, IL @ Smart Bar
7/25 - San Francisco, CA @ Mighty
7/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
7/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Turntable Lab (Album Release Party) * Black Ghosts Will Not Be Playing *
Labels: indie
Mar Produces Atmospheric Indie Sound
Monday, June 23, 2008
Mar is one of those bands that I wish I had discovered earlier, so that I could have enjoyed them longer. Comparing bands to other bands can be somewhat disrespectful, however I have to say that there are traces of xylophonic Album Leaf influences, the kind of fragile vocals reminiscent of Magnet, and the kind of emotional draw capable of the likes of Sigur Ros. And it's no wonder when their debut album featured Jimmy LaValle of The Album Leaf and was recorded in the same studio in Iceland where Sigur Ros recorded.Despite the comparisons, Mar has it's own sound - one that's at once beautiful, emotional, and yet doesn't have that makes-you-want-to-cry effect. Which, in my opinion is great! Because crying is overrated anyway.
Here are some treats for ya, off Mar's latest album, The Sound, recorded in Arkansas where they're from.
Mother Star Sun
Icarus
Labels: indie
Francis International Airport's Debut!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Happy Friday! It's awesome to come into the office Friday morning and the first thing you jump into is an awesome new band. We've got Austrian 5-piece Francis International Airport coming to you with their full length debut, We Are Jealous, We Are Glass! These guys have an awesome electro-poppy sound with dancey hooks and sweet synthy beats. The album is out now on Siluh records and you can pick it up here.
Words On Logs
Neon Sign
Their new music video for Words On Logs is awesome. The instruments remind me Picasso's Guitar which I jumped up and touched at the MoMa in NY (Yea can you say you've touched it? especially when there is a sign that clearly says DO NOT TOUCH!)
PAS/CAL to release full length album in July
Thursday, June 19, 2008
If you haven't heard of indie poppers PAS/CAL you will when they release their full length album on July 22nd called I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura. This is the kind of music that's fun, rambling, filled with clever lyrics and quirky tidbits of organ, experimental guitar, and playful melody. We've included one of the tracks, "You Were Too Old For Me" below. It's a single song that's seems almost musically divided into separate acts. It strikes me as a somewhat organized stream of consciousness that comes back full circle to a familiar melody dotted with handclaps and oohs. It's thoroughly fun music that is far from mundane or mind numbing. What a joy. Search no more for your summer music. And listen to the track below,
You Were Too Old For Me
Labels: indie
AHHH!!! Matt Pryor & Chris Conley on TOUR!!!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids and New Amsterdams and Chris Conley of Saves The Day have announced a solo co-headlining tour! Two of my favorites from high school sharing a stage doing their acoustic solo stuff! Amazing! I can't wait! A limited number of tickets have been held for Matt Pryor fans and will be available through an exclusive Ducat King presale that begins today, June 11, 2008 at 1:00PM local time!
Click here to buy tickets
Tour Dates:
Aug 6 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock*
Aug 7 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room*
Aug 8 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater*
Aug 9 – Salt Lake City @ Burt's Tiki Lounge*
Aug 11 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club*
Aug 12 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon*
Aug 13 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre*
Aug 14 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill*
Aug 15 – Reno, NV @ Satellite Lounge*
Aug 16 – West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour*
Aug 17 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues – San Diego*
Aug 19 – Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction*
Aug 20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Modified*
Go to Vagrant and get a mess of free mp3s from both artists!
New Amsterdams - My Old Man Had A Pistol
The Get Up Kids - High As The Moon
Saves The Day - At Your Funeral
Sam Champion to release new album
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Garage-pop, garage-rock, whatever, there is something about that garage rock sound, the drone of heavy electric guitar, a really catchy (I know people hate the use of the word "catchy") bass line, and just ruggedness that I really enjoy.Anyway Sam Champion is one of these bands that has appeared and has now recently reappeared that capture some of these elements, though a little cleaner in sound compared to The Strokes counterparts. Their new album Heavenly Bender comes out September 2, 2008 and here's a little taste to come.
Be Mine Everyone
Right smack in the middle of the track is a nimble little guitar solo to listen to (yes, i said nimble).
Labels: indie
Portland’s System and Station
Monday, June 16, 2008
Yay I love bands from the Northwest and I'm surprised we never heard of these guys, what with their 4th album, A Nation of Actors, rolling out in August. They've got a handful of venues on their map for their tour, good amount in the Northwest alone. If you're into pop, indie pop is what they got and they've been doing it for a good long time. The catchy melodies of System and Station started in Boise, Idaho my city of origin! Anyways we got a new single for you from that up and coming album!
The Magnetic North
Labels: indie
Sufjan Stevens Lends Helping Hand to Cryptacize
Just a quick snippet: For those of you who are Sufjan Stevens fans, the guy has finally peered his head out a little from his shell to write up a review on band, Cryptacize, which is on his label's roster of artists.The band itself is a little quirky, a bit simplistic and take-me-as-I-am ish. Or, you could just read Stevens' review on them and enjoy his metaphors and quirky similes and comparisons (oh wait, metaphors, similes, comparisons, they're all the same thing!). Anyway nice to say, the guy has cut down on his usage of run-on-sentences, and that whole writer thing he intended to do is starting to shine through.
Read it here.
Cosmic Sing Along
Labels: indie, randomness
Case Of The Mondays w/ The King Blues!
Happy Monday everyone! I know a lot of you are at work waiting for music, but that secrets cool with us. We got a new single from the upcoming 2nd album from London's The King Blues! Let's Hang The Landlord is actually a true story about a 13 year old Itch, the vocalist for King Blues, getting kicked out of his home. You can see the lyrics here! It's going to be released in early August the UK as a split single with Flobots, and of course we got it here for you. Check it out...more here.
Let's Hang The LandLord
Labels: indie
Bon Iver Brings Something Beautiful to the Table
There's something about secluding yourself for months in a cabin, or isolating yourself from people in the midst of nature to either find yourself, or make some darn good music. Fans of such methods, or so I've been told seem to be Sufjan Stevens, and Bon Iver. The story goes that Bon Iver, aka Justin Vernon (the guy on the right) secluded himself in a cabin in Wisconsin for four months to record the album, For Emma Forever Ago. Locking yourself away for a few months always seems to do people some good surprisingly, because what was produced is an album that is hauntingly beautiful and melodic. The kind of album you sit quietly and listen to and maybe meditate or just think to. It's definitely not car music because the beauty of the melodies would almost be wasted through thoughtless hearing. It's better carefully listened to.
Anyway, here are some excerpts from the album, released in 2007. It's just really beautiful reflective music, which almost takes you away to the deep quiet of the forests which he may have been surrounded. In some ways his voice reminds me of TV on the Radio meets Album Leaf meets something else I have yet to put my finger on. But mostly to me, it's plain and simple, Bon Iver (which means, in bastardized french, Good Winter).
Enjoy.
Creature Fear
The Wolves (Act I And II)
Upcoming Tour dates
06/21/08
Minneapolis, MN - Walker Art Center w/ The New Pornographers (SOLD OUT)
07/20/08
Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival
07/21/08
Detroit, MI - Crofoot Ballroom w/ Bowerbirds
07/22/08
Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace w/ Bowerbirds
* check out more tour dates in the fall click on link*
Labels: indie
Banshees Kicks It Up!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Happy Friday! We got new music from The Banshee, one awesome example of electro continually destroying clubs all over Europe. But you already knew that. These guys have an album droppin' in September, and hopefully in the U.S. release shortly after. Your Nice Habits is definitely going to be a promising full-length!
Wait how do I know that? Well to tease everyone, they pushed out a special digital only released EP, Kicks Up, which is the first single from what is to come. You can get that EP right now for 1 Euro here! The Kicks Up EP contains The album and radio edit version including some remixes. Check them below and watch out for that highly danceable release!
Kicks Up
Kicks Up (Cool Kids Can't Die Remix)
Priscilla Ahn CD Release Party at The Hotel Cafe!
The first thing I notice about Priscilla Ahn is her four-year-old-girl laugh. It's the kind of laugh that's girlish, happy and totally unaware at the same time.
And that is how she opens the set for her CD release party, A Good Day, just released June 10, with few words and that little kid laugh. Now, those of you who've heard her EP, and the one we posted, Dream, you will know that Priscilla has one of the most beautiful, transcendent voices you'll ever hear. Now imagine hearing that in real life.
In the small space of the Hotel Cafe, I did just that. I listened to one of the most beautiful voices, backed up by cellists, a pianist, bassists and drummer, sing songs about lullabies, childhood dreams, getting lost in Hawaii, and her friends' dog getting shot.
Being there and listening was like being in a musical dreamland, where troubles no longer exist and lush harmonies envelop and surround you, making you damn glad you came. I really can't say that much about the show because to describe it to a T would simply destroy the beauty and sanctity of that gorgeous set played that night. Just know that seeing her is worth it.
A Good Day Day (Morning Song)
Dream
Due to my heinous neglect and sickness, I failed to get this post up in time to announce that she already appeared on Jay Leno last night June 11, 2008. Check out the rest of her tour dates
Jun 16 2008 7:30P Joe's Pub New York, New York
Jun 22 2008 8:00P Lobero Theatre Santa Barbara, California
Jun 23 2008 8:00P Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, California
Jun 29 2008 8:00P Mountain Stage Festival Charleston, West Virginia
Her new album, A Good Day is available online now and on itunes!
And here's a tidbit from the release party. The "Kazoo song" from the encore.
apologies for the camera tilt
Labels: indie
The Very Most Will Write You A Song!
When I first listened to the few tracks off of The Very Most's newest album, Congratulations Forever!, I couldn't help but smile. Maybe it's the awesome use of xylophone in some tracks, videogame like sounds, or playful melodic lines, whatever it is, it's catchy and it's fun.
The Very Most at best brings back a homegrown organic kind of indie pop that's infectious and simple, which is the best kind of pop! (none of this pretentious stuff). And to back that up, they're from the beautiful city of Boise ('The City of Trees!') in Idaho - our buddy Bbqchickenrobot's hometown! Check out Congratulations Forever and the tracks below.
Sod Off
Good Fight Fighting
Lastly, from now until August 31st, the band is offering to write a personalized song for each person that buys their new album! crazy! check out the deets here.
Brooklyn's Jupiter One!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Jupiter One has a new self titled debut coming out in August via Cordless Recordings! Brooklyn's Jupiter One was named after the failed starship in Lost In Space which just shows a hint of their musical influence. They'ev got an interesting cominbation of dancey indie pop and 80s synthy new wave rock with lots of spacey themes. Check out their site here for more info and upcoming tour dates. Also you can check their song Platform Moon on popular video games like EA Sports Madden NFL 2008 and EA Sports FIFA 2008. I know crazy huh?
Unglued
Fire Away
Case of The Monday w/ The Uglysuit
Monday, June 09, 2008
Oklahoma City's The Uglysuit have landed some great opening gigs for Iron & Wine but it's no surprise due to their heartfelt and sweet melodies on their forthcoming self titled album. This young 20 something group of 6 friends continues to remind me of a younger more instrumental Travis. Chicago is the new single and contains a beautiful organ melody bringing it back down below a too poppy sound. It's just right. Pre-order the album here. Preview other songs and check out tour dates here.
Chicago
Labels: indie
Big Phony from Coast to Coast!!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Recently we've had the pleasure of checkin' out a performance from singer-songwriter Robert Choy aka Big Phony. I'd say his stage presence was rather. At first he gave off this really funny feeling of depression and emo-ness, yes I said funny. It was sad and hopeful, but soon as a song would begin he justified it all with pure skillful guitar talent. Not to mention great story telling in his songwriting. Big Phony has an all around great acoustic sound with that little tiche of folk that often reminds me of one of our favorites, The New Amsterdams, during Matt Pryor's prime. Robert travels to and fro NY and LA which means if you're at either, you can catch a show! BP's got two albums out: Straight to Boot Leg and Smoking Kills. Get those here. We've got some tracks we picked below!
Straight to Bootleg Vol. 1
I Love Lucy
Words That Define
Smoking Kills
Everything, Always
My Education's Bad Vibrations!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Austin, Texas rockers My Education have gone without vocals since 1999 and it's still awesome. With a history of a few line-up changes, remixes, EPs and a few full lengths, June 10th, will mark the release of their latest, Bad Vibrations! This release is filled with the beautiful cinematic instrumentations that they are known for. I'm here at the office with headphones on relaxing to to track after track of heavy arrangements of the vibraphone, viola, guitars and percussions. It's just beautiful, get lost in it! This is great stuff to day dream with in the background haha. Luckily for us you can hear it live! Check out their tour dates here. Check the tracks below!
Bad Vibrations
Arch
Labels: indie, Instrumental
Albert Hammond Jr. presents new album "Como Te Llama?"
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
When I was in highschool, The Strokes came out with their first album "Is This It?" and I loved it. Perusing the liner notes, I poured over lyrics and the nonchalant coolness of those band member pictures. And yet, years ago as it was, I still remember the huge fro Albert Hammond Jr. was sporting (not to mention Fabrizio Moretti).
Years pass and now looks like the kid (well, er, man) has his own thing going on along to still being with The Strokes, under his own name, Albert Hammond Jr. Hate to say it, but a lot of his stuff is a little reminiscent of The Strokes sound, but that's a sound that I've come to love. And what I mean is a steady driving beat, and a prominent electric guitar melody line - if you listen to "In Transit" you'll know what I mean. Still though, the man has created a sound that still differs slightly from the aforementioned band, it's definitely more tone-downed and palatable and I like it like that.
Check out the myspace here.
And here's a song for you, off his forthcoming, new album "Como te llama?" which arrives July 8th.
GFC
It's got a pretty guitar hook.
Labels: indie
Calico Horse Debuts Mirror!
From the remnants of A Clock Work Army, comes San Diego's Calico Horse, fronted by Emily Neveu and Pall Jenkins from The Black Heart Procession. They've got a brand new full length debut called Mirror coming out at the end of this month via Banter Records. Piano driven songs like "Father Feed Me" are easy and delightful to the ears and Emily's vocals brings her songwriting to a new maturity. It's poppy but a little darker and moody. Also check out Emily's cover of Radiohead's Idioteque, part of a compilation of covers, look out for that in the future!
Father Feed Me
Idioteque
Check out their new tour dates including their CD Release show at the Casbah in SD!
Labels: Experimental, indie
Jukebox The Ghost is On Tour!
Monday, June 02, 2008
I've always been a huge fan of Ben Folds 5, and I still think that it could work in today's ultra indie, million bands a day world. But alas that's long over and my 90s run around only exists on special occasions. It's now time to make room for everyone else, however I want to mention an awesome band that's got lots of the pianos I love! D.C. trio Jukebox The Ghost has just released their new full length, Let Live and Let Ghosts. It's full of high energy piano rockin' indie fun! One of my favorite parts of the album is the fact that all 3 members contribute vocals, it's rather uplifting. This just get's better; In support of the new release they are touring with Via Audio, one of my new favs. Check those dates here. More on their space.
Good Day
Good Day (Andrew Maury Remix)
Victoria
Labels: indie
It's Happy Anarchy Time!
Staten Island's 5 piece, Happy Anarchy, has just dropped a brand new album called Reset via HighLark Records and all I can say is that their band name is also their genre of sound. If you've heard the track At The Bottom of the Sea, you'd know exactly what I'm talkin' about. Their songs have a great range of sound, with utilization of guitars, keyboard and Trombone?! These guys are going to rock you hard, with lots of indie fun of course. My guess is that they'll be touring very soon all over the U.S. so be sure to check them out! Get that Reset album here and catch them at these dates below!
Is That Right
In Reverse
06/07 Staten Island, NY @ SINY Film Festival at The College Of Staten Island0
6/14 Staten Island, NY @ Staten Island Music Festival
6/28 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
Labels: indie
Thrice @ House Of Blues!
With the fresh release of Air and Earth, the last two installments of their self-produced four part concept album The Alchemy Index, Thrice has been on tour awing crowds with their insane artistic diversity. The project began to materialize around a year ago with the idea of creating songs that capture earth’s four elements. Their ability to effortlessly transition from the wide open, soothing sounds Air, and the dark electronic sounds of Water, to the heart scorching sounds of Fire, to the folkie, raw feel of Earth was enough to reshape my thoughts about this four piece band from Orange County in about one hour. Their recent tour ended with 4 southern California shows, one of which they recorded for a live dvd for release sometime in the near future. Check out the new album as well as studio/tour blogs here!
The Earth Will Shake
The Whaler
Digital Sea
Post contribute by Matt Anderson
Edison Glass Rocks Cali 5/30 @ The Knitting Factory
Sunday, June 01, 2008
On a hot Friday night in Hollywood, our freinds from Edison Glass opened up an awesome show at the Knitting Factory. These Long Island, New Yorker natives brought the house down with a bunch of old favorites, and a generous helping of tunes from their new album, "Time Is Fiction." The boys brought some serious energy, and an amazing diversity of sound coming from just four performers. Add to that some very well timed video visuals, and some great music, and you have yourself wondering why more people haven't heard of these guys!? Check them out for yourself! Either catch them on The Bang Tour (Playing tonight at the Soma in San Diego!) with Nightmare of You, The Graduate, and Paper Rival, or pick up their new album via Credential Records. See their space for more.
All Our Memories
Let Go
This article contributed by Lonely Bear.
Labels: indie
The Jealous Girlfriends and Sea Wolf Perform At The Mercury Lounge
Friday, May 30, 2008
With her raspy, gravelly voice, Holly Miranda of The Jealous Girlfriends announces, "My microphone smells like ass" to which her fellow bandmate Josh Abbott replies, "My microphone smells like a urinal."
Together they launch into song. This is the random, silly stage banter that occurs in a Jealous Girlfriends' show. But more important than these inane conversations onstage, is the fact that, The Jealous Girlfriends know how to put on one rockin'
show.
Between the beer and the-just-barely-audible-because-I'm-losing-my-voice sound quality of Miranda's voice, it's a surprise that the lady can belt it out. But she does, well, and amazingly in songs like Organs On The Kitchen Floor, partnering up with Alex Lipsen on the keys, and on Something In the Water.
Their heavily guitar-based sound, plus the fact that I was standing by the speakers, makes for one loud show but a fun one and one that made me develop a girl-crush on Holly Miranda.
Something In the Water
Organs On the Kitchen Floor
Part II: Sea Wolf
If I could think of a non-cheesy metaphor of ideal pairings like wine and cheese, or whatever, I'd think of one now but I can't. Simply put, Sea Wolf was a great complement to The Jealous Girlfriends, just because, well, they were more chill.
From the beatific, bhudda-like peaceful-look on Alex Church's face, I knew the set was going to be solid. And it was. From the keys, to the cello, to the twelve-year-old looking bassist, the pieces of Sea Wolf were a combination of random parts that made for beautiful sound.
The highlight of the set was a semi-newish song called Song of the Magpie - part of Augusten Burroughs' new audiobook, A Wolf At The Table: A Memoir of My Father. There's something stultifyingly beautiful about this song. It's the lilting violin intro, the plucked bits, the melancholic strains of the violin scattered here and there that really convey the deep, emotional damage, perhaps turned to beauty, that Burroughs endured with his abusive, alcoholic father that Alex Church may have imagined while penning this song.
I don't know why, but this song gets me every time, especially the refrain of "I forgive you." It gets into my bones, it gets into my hair. Pun intended. The live version was a thousand times better and more emotionally impacting as you would imagine, than the produced recording we have here. But that experience can of course, only be captured by going to a live show.
Song of the Magpie
Black Dirt
Show date: May 28th, 2008
NEW Bess Rogers!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
New York based singer songwriter Bess Roger's is a busy lady; she's been playing with Jenny Owens Young, Ingrid Michaelson and Age of Rockets. Now she's got her solo stuff to play and it's no surprise that she's got a hold on a great pop, easy on your ears, but more importantly I love See Me? See You! off her new album Decisions Based On Information. I wish I was one of the people at the end singing the chorus! You can get that here or here. Check out the tracks below!
I Would Never
See Me? See You!
Labels: indie
Locust Avenue's Three O'Clock Target!
In the small town of Norman, OK, we've got a former Kinks tribute band, which would later amount to a 3rd full length release called 3 O'clock Target, a reference to the victims of after-school bullies. Haha I'm lovin' that. Locust Avenue brings you some rad American Rock. I hear the older sounds of the Who and the Kinks heavily influencing this band. Definitely check them out with some free tracks below from their new album via Martime Fist Glee Club. Also catch them playing with the Ethereals at the Red Room in Norman.
Skeletons
Curtains
