Straight out of the Athens, Georgia indie rock scene, Twin Tigers mix pop, rock and shoegaze overtones to create a signature sound that is some of the best new music to come out of the southeast in years.

And, there's an interesting back story; Twin Tigers was formed by co-workers at Athens' Grit restaurant, which is owned by REM founder, and local celebrity, Michael Stipe. Guitarist and vocalist Matthew Rain and bassist Aimee Morris founded Twin Tigers in the ashes of their previously dissolved bands. In February of 2008, the band released their debut EP, Curious Faces/Violet Future, to rave reviews. Soon the Twin Tigers were building a loyal fan base and opening shows for artists like Deerhunter, Dead Confederate, Jay Reatard (RIP), Black Lips, Woods, Snowden and A Place to Bury Strangers.
Following a number of lineup changes, the band brought on drummer Doug Crump and guitarist Forrest Hall, opening for Les Savy Fav at the Earl in Atlanta just weeks before their SXSW 2009 apperance. In no time the band began recording their debut LP with Athens producer Joel Hatstat, and where picked for a national tour with Minus the Bear and the Antlers last fall. The album, Gray Waves, was released yesterday via Old Flame Records. IRC is happy to announce three winners of the new album in a recent giveaway contest via our Facebook page. There will be more contests throughout the year, so make sure to check back.

There are limited editions of blue and black vinyl copies (includes digital download) of Gray Waves available via the Old Flame store. You can also get an EP download for free.

"Passive Idol" - Twin Tigers from Gray Waves

"Automatic" (WOXY Studios) - Twin Tigers from Gray Waves

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We are big fans of Man/Miracle, a Santa Cruz (and now Oakland), California indie rock band that have really broken through in the past year or so. In addition to performing with Rogue Wave and Princeton at last week's Noise Pop festival in San Francisco, the band are heading out soon for SXSW in Austin. Fans will be thoroughly entertained thanks in large part to the release of the band's debut LP, The Shape of Things, that officially dropped yesterday.

The first track featured here, "Hot Sprawl," is one of the LP's most memorial songs, as is the follow-up track, "Pushing and Shoving." To call these among the album's top tracks is saying a lot because there are a lot of "keeper" tunes on The Shape of Things. In a time when indie rock is arguably over-saturated with bands that rely heavily on synthesizers and computerized sound effects, Man/Miracle deliver refreshingly straight up rock, and are easily one of our top Bands to Watch in 2010.

"Hot Sprawl" - Man/Miracle from The Shape of Things

"Pushing and Shoving" - Man/Miracle from The Shape of Things

Following Man/Miracle, the rock keeps rolling with the blazing guitars, raspy vocals and thumping percussions of Bridges & Blinking Lights' "Undercover," followed by the energetic, chorus-heavy punk pop song, "Acid Blues," by The Megaphonic Thrift.


"Undercover" - Bridges & Blinking Lights from Heroes, Guns & Snakes

"Acid Blues" - The Megaphonic Thrift from Decoy, Decoy

Former Trail of Dead bassist Danny Wood's new fuzz folk rock band project, Borrowed Eyes, released their debut LP, Some Demons You Can Share With Others, yesterdayWhat do you guys think of the title track featured below?

Also check out new tracks from The Paparazzi, plus a mix of songs from new releases by talented female singer and songwriters Emma Pollock, Kate Miller-Heidke and Jen Wood.

"Some Demons You Can Share with Others" - Borrowed Eyes from Some Demons You Can Share with Others

"The Rococo Tape" - The Paparazzi from Rococo

"Hug The Harbour" - Emma Pollock from The Law of Large Numbers

"Politics In Space" - Kate Miller-Heidke from Curiouser

"Pills" - Jen Wood from Finds You in Love

Don't miss Part One of Best New Releases of the Week, featuring Rogue Wave, Portugal. The Man, The Whigs, These New Puritans, Peasant, A Weather and more.

Labels: Man/Miracle, Twin Tigers