So far, 2010 is looking like a great year for indie and alternative rock.
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Chicago indie pop rock band Pet Lions was formed by guitarist and vocalist Karl Østby and bassist Shuhei Yamamoto. The duo began writing and recording music in October 2007. As they progressed, the lineup was rounded out thanks to Craigslist of all places with the addition of Tom Owens on guitar and keys and Matt Dahl on drums. In 2008, the band started performing gigs in and around the Chicago area.
Pet Lions score a touchdown by perfecting classic pop rock sounds with a modern twist on their debut EP release, Soft Right (recorded with Brian Zieske). The group members list among their influences 1960's garage rock/pop of The Kinks, early Beatles, plus more recent bands like Phoenix, The Cure and My Bloody Valentine. Pet Lions are an indie band to watch in 2009-10.
"Roman History" - Pet Lions from Soft Right EP (out now)
"Propeller Plane" - Pet Lions from Soft Right EP
Pet Lions' Official Website
The new EP is available at iTunes, Amazon, and Digstation.
Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Bands to Watch 2009, Chicago Bands, Pet Lions
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Aeroplane Pageant creates addictive melodic pop glazed with swirling guitars and groovy base lines. The vocal style of Brian Kelly has been compared to The Beatles and the guitar riffs "curve, duck, cascade and gush rather effusively" (according to Absolutepunk). Engineer Patrick Stoneback (Vampire Weekend and White Stripes) mixed the new album at Treefort Studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn, New York.
Aeroplane Pageant's 2007 debut LP Wave to the Moon got the band opening gigs for bands like Vampire Weekend, The Hold Steady, Dr. Dog and Tokyo Police Club.
"Stars Still Pretty" - Aeroplane Pageant from Even The Kids Don't Believe Me
Aeroplane Pageant official website
Aeroplane Pageant on MySpace
Labels: 2009 Indie Rock Albums
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Fast forward to right now. Labrador has released a fresh batch of superb new songs from The Radio Dept., The Mary Onettes, Pallers, The Legends, Suburban Kids With Biblical Names and The Sound of Arrows. Altogether, this is some of the best indie music out right now, thanks to the smart people with very keen ears for good music at Labrador Records.
In addition to the new releases listed below, you can download a zip file of all of Labrador's free songs, stream them on LastFM and buy the albums of your favorite Labrador bands on Labrador's website. Find the release dates for the following list of new songs. Cheers to a great indie label!
"Dare" - The Mary Onettes from Dare EP
The Mary Onettes on MySpace
"David" - The Radio Dept from upcoming David EP
The Radio Dept on MySpace
"1999" - Suburban Kids With Biblical Names from #4
SKWBN on MySpace
"Humdrum" - Pallers from Humdrum EP
Pallers on MySpace
"Always The Same" - The Legends from Over and Over
The Legends on MySpace
"M.A.G.I.C." - The Sound of Arrows from M.A.G.I.C.
The Sound of Arrows on MySpace
Get more songs from the Swedish label by downloading the Labrador Spring Sample via Pirate Bay.
Labels: Indie Record Labels, MP3s
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First up in this installment of the In Dee Mail playlist series is a band out of Paris called ProXima who are currently recording their second album Music for Pleasure and have recorded songs for short films by French film director Olivier Benel.
This new single, "My Little Princess", was sent to me by email and has been "selected to be the music for a new upcoming TV series," according to the band, who assert they cannot say any more about the TV series, such as, whether it is an American or French show.
"Hey Little Princess" (Radio Edit) - ProXima, new single
ProXima on MySpace
The second track from the mailbox is from a Pennsylvania indie rock band that originally formed in 1985 (I know!) called The Long Afternoon. Intentionally obscure for many years, the only remaining band member, guitarist and vocalist Eston Martz, is back with some new members - Greg Elliott and Jeff Edmunds - and a new album titled Signifying Nothing.
"Signifying Nothing" - The Long Afternoon from Signifying Nothing (2009)
The Long Afternoon on MySpace
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This post is simply to wish Bob Dylan a belated happy birthday. On May 24, Dylan turned 68 years old. Dylan is one of my personal all-time favorite musicians ever since I was a kid and easily one of the best poets of the 20th century. Few artists have the worldwide recognition and acclaim that Dylan enjoys.
The featured video above is one of the most famous music videos of all time, not to mention one of Dylan's best electric songs, "Subterrian Homesick Blues". Sounds odd in some ways to say so, but SHB is arguably one of the earliest forms of what would decades later be called 'rap' music. The song and the accompanying video will persist in music history through the ages.
Dylan's complete discography is easily one of the best compilations of music in American history and will continue to influence and inspire talented musicians for eternity.
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Brooklyn shoegaze rockers and 1960's psychedelic revivalists Donny Hue and the Colors will release their sophomore album Letter from New Virginia on June 23. Former OK Go member Burleigh Seaver recorded and mixed the bands new album.
"I Speak of the Hayseed Cousins" - Donny Hue and The Colors from Letter from New Virginia (June 23)
"Steps" - Donny Hue and The Colors from Letter from New Virginia (June 23)
Donny Hue and The Colors on MySpace
Labels: New Releases
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based in Austin, Texas. The current line-up of the band includes Daniel Owens (guitar/vocals), Josie Fluri (bass/vocals), Mike Allen (drums) and Harris Thurmond (guitar/synths).
Their 2005 debut record, International Affairs, on Social Recordings got the attention of the right folks in the industry who set the band to open for popular groups like Death Cab For Cutie, Cursive, The Rapture and VHS or Beta. Their sophomore release, On The Sleeve, is due out July 14 on New Granada Records.
"Smoke in Your Disguise" - New Roman Times from On The Sleeve (July 14)
"VCR" - New Roman Times from On The Sleeve
New Roman Times Official Site
Labels: New Releases
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The Danks perform "In Alright" from their first EP
Canadian indie rock band The Danks was formed by Brohan Moore and two former members of Two Hours Traffic - Alec O'Hanley (guitar and keyboards) and Andrew MacDonald (bass), plus Phil MacIssac (drums). The band's sound is much like that of the popular garage rock band The Strokes, but with a little more pop influence. The Danks have just released a new single, "Die Young", from their upcoming release.
"Die Young" - The Danks from Are You Afraid of The Danks (June 30).
The Danks on MySpace
Labels: The Danks
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There are plenty of songs that can make a big impact in two minutes or less, especially in the independent and alternative music arena. The following are a collection of songs that come in, do their thing and get out. Nothing wrong with that. But too much of a short thing isn't always satisfactory, especially when it is something that you want to last longer.
Nevertheless, these songs each find their own way to make a short song work well. Included in this playlist are and the now disbanded Phoenix rockers The Format, the mostly unknown solo artist Super XX Man, the under-rated indie pop band Okay, 90's alt band Bells Of and London's new eccentric purveyors of pop Micachu and The Shapes .
"Closer" - The Format, unreleased (2007)
"Waiting For Your Return" - Super XX Man from Vol. IX (2000)
"Only" - Okay from Huggable Dust (2008)
"Star And Sun" - Bells Of from Two Dos Or Not 2 (1995)
"Lips" - Micachu and The Shapes from Jewellery (2009)
Other playlist series you might enjoy:
- The Great Unknowns
- The Songs of Spring
- Cover Me Indie Songs
Labels: Indie Playlists
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A track from the upcoming White Demin album has already made the rounds and it's an interesting, but welcomed, change-up from the alternative garage rockers. "Mirrored and Reversed" is spacey rock; esoteric, driving psychedelic jam.
"Mirrored and Reversed" - White Demin from Fits (out June 22)
Last week, Animal Collective premiered a new song, "Bleed", on NPR's coverage of the band's performance at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.
"Bleed" - Animal Collective from upcoming release Summertime Clothes.
In case you missed Animal Collective last week on Letterman performing Summertime Clothes, one of the best songs on the magnificent, soon-to-be classic Merriweather Post Pavilion. No one knows what the deal is with the illuminated maggots dancing and writhing in the background, but hey, it is Animal Collective.
Here's the setlist from the 9:30 Club-NPR performance that you can stream here.
01 "Chocolate Girl"
02 "Summertime Clothes"
03 "Guys Eyes"
04 "What Would I Want Sky"
05 "Comfy In Nautica"
06 "My Girls"
07 "Slippi"
08 "Daily Routine"
09 "Bleed"
10 "Lablakely Dress/Fireworks"
11 "Banshee Beat"
12 "Who Could Win a Rabbit"
13 "Brother Sport"
Labels: 2009 Indie Rock Albums, Animal Collective, White Denim
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A surveillance video tape showing three masked men mugging Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament last month was released today. Ament was attacked on April 24, according to police, as he arrived with another man at an Atlanta recording studio where Pearl Jam have been recording their ninth studio album.
The assailants apparently got away with over $7,000 in cash and property. Ament tried to run from the scene of the crime as it was all going down but one assailant chased him and apparently gashed him in the head with a knife. Thankfully, officials reported, Ament was not seriously injured. No arrests have been made in the case.
"Deep" - Pearl Jam from Ten (1999)
Labels: Pearl Jam
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Over the years Sunny Day Real Estate have been tagged as one of the leading progenitors of today's emo music. Well, that's up to you to decide, but Paramore's popular YouTube video cover of SDRE's song "Faces In Disguise" recently received a wink and nod from Enigk.
"I’ve actually seen one of those (Paramore) videos and I think it’s amazing," he said. " I was absolutely flattered! Because, the singer, Hayley Williams has an amazing voice! So, to see her sing it, that’s super flattering to me. From time to time, I will You Tube old Sunny Day videos, and I came across that."
"Mind Idea" - Jeremy Enigk from OK Bear
(track courtesy via Stereogum)
Enigk on MySpace
Labels: Indie Solo Artists, Jeremy Enigk
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The response to the Songs of Spring playlist series was something else! Therefore, since it's still spring, why not listen to some more cool songs related to, or reminiscent of, spring?
Featured for this the last playlist for this particular series are Peter Von Poehl, Airborne Toxic Event, Stan Getz and Matt Pond PA. I'm so busy know with work and other things right now that there's no time to write a 'real' review. Hopefully you'll find these songs refreshing. Enjoy.
"Wombara" - Peter Von Poehl from May Day (2009)
"Something New" - The Airborne Toxic Event from s/t debut (2008)
"Spring Is Here" - Stan Getz from Jazz After Dark compilation (2004)
"Summer Is Coming" - Matt Pond PA from The Nature Of Maps (2002)
Labels: Indie Playlists
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Labels: Indie Playlists
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It's not surprising that people compare Vincent Minor to Rufus Wainwright - the likeness is uncanny but distinguishable enough to stand on it's own. A self-described lover of children's books and 1930's music, Minor composes and performs sharp, catchy piano pop songs.
"Late Night Show" - Vincent Minor from Born in the Wrong Era, out May 26th on Social Science Records.
Watch and listen a Minor cover of "Lost Cause" by Beck
Vincent Minor on MySpace
Though he’s a twenty-something year-old from the small town of Mountain Home, Arkansas, the music of Chase Pagan sounds like someone with a life time of experience with musical eras and subcultures. Pagan's new album, Bells & Whistles, channels honky-tonk theatricality, the stripped-down intimacy of a folk troubadour and the visceral nature of independent rock music.
"Life Garden" - Chase Pagan from Bells & Whistles (June 9)
"Gun and the Sword" - Chase Pagan from Bells & Whistles
Chase Pagan on MySpace
See past posts from the In Dee Mail playlist series.
Labels: In Dee Mail
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This playlist features songs from Club 8, The Flaming Lips, The Boy Least Likely To and Afternoon Naps.
"Spring Came, Rain Fell" - Club 8 from Spring Came, Rain Fell (2002)
"Sun Will Shine" - Akron/Family from Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free (2009)
"Can't Stop the Spring" - The Flaming Lips from Oh My Gawd...The Flaming Lips (1987)
"Argyle Spring" - Afternoon Naps from Sunbeamed (2009)
"A Balloon On A Broken String" - The Boy Least Likely To from The Laws of the Playground (2009)
The first playlist for Songs of Spring includes songs from Annuals, Spinning Wheels, Fancy Dress Party, The Postmarks and more. The upcoming Volume III will feature Airborne Toxic Event, Peter Von Poehl, Matt Pond PA and Stan Getz.
Labels: Indie Playlists, MP3s
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In 2005, Jagjaguwar Records released The Odawas first LP, The Aether Eater, which became an alternative favorite of that year. Their latest release, The Blue Depths, is one of the surprise alternative releases of 2009. Here's one of the album's many great songs.
"Harmless Lover's Disclosure" - Odawas from The Blue Depths (2009)
Odawas on MySpace
Ice Palace is an indie band from Minneapolis who are touring with Cloud Cult and Say Hi. Ice Palace's new album, Wonder Subtly Crushing Us, will be released this week on Earthology Records. Their sound is best compared to bands like The Donkeys and The Subjects.
"Thoughts/Facts" - Ice Palace from Wonder Subtly Crushing Us (out May 9)
Ice Palace on MySpace
Labels: Bands to Watch 2009, Odawas
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Almost everyone, and everything, celebrates the arrival of spring. It's a time of rejuvenation, optimism, joy and warmer, longer days.
Plus, it's an excuse to create a playlist featuring great indie and alternative songs about spring. This installment features Annuals, Spinning Wheels, The Fancy Dress Party, The Boy Least Likely To, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and The Postmarks.
"Springtime" - Annuals from Such Fun (2008)
"Allergy Season" - Spinning Wheels from Master (2008)
"Egg & Spoon Race" - The Fancy Dress Party from Off The Beaten Tracks (2008)
"I Box Up All The Butterflies" - The Boy Least Likely To from The Law Of The Playground (2009)
"Sunshine and Clouds" - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah from s/t debut (2005)
"Winter Spring Summer Fall" - The Postmarks from s/t debut (2007)
The second installment of the Songs of Spring playlist series will feature tracks from The Flaming Lips, Akon/Family, The Airborne Toxic Event, Stan Getz and Matt Pond PA.
Labels: Indie Playlists
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On Sunday, the first installment of the The Dream Playlist series was published, featuring songs from bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Animal Collective and Odawas. Below are the songs for Vol. II of this series featuring bands and artists like The Magnetic Fields, Sore Eros, Bon Iver, Spirit Spine, Blind Man's Colour and more.
"The Dreaming Moon" - The Magnetic Fields from Get Lost (1995)
"The Dream Self" - Sore Eros from Second Chants (2008)
"Babys" - Bon Iver from Blood Bank EP (2009)
"Gauze" - Red Red Meat from Gauze (2009)
"Beds" - The Octopus Project from The House of Apples and Eyeballs (2006)
"Vine Swinger" - Blind Man's Colour from Hidders (2008)
"New Age" - Spirit Spine from s/t debut (2009)
"Harmonic Deluxe" - ISAN from Not Given Lightly (2009)
"Happy Chord Whore" - ISAN from Not Given Lightly (2009)
Labels: Indie Playlists
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One of the playlists on my iTunes is titled "dreamy". One reason for this is due to the rise of the popular "indie psychedelic" genre that Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, The Magnetic Fields, Deerhunter and many others have made so popular in recent years.
Animal Collective, and it's members under different monikers, have been creating "dreamy" sounds for years and have been monumental popularizing this particular genre. Their latest classic release Merriweather Post Pavilion, is a prime example of their influence.
On the song "Also Frightened" the lyrical question "Will it be just like their dreaming?" - and variations of - is repeated over and over to great success. This first installment of the Dream Playlist series features all new songs from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Spirit Spine, Bon Iver, Odawas, Loney Dear and ISAN. Oh, the songs are not necessarily about dreams per se, they just sound dreamy in some way or another.
"Also Frightened" - Animal Collective from Merriweather Post Pavilion
"Little Shadow" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs from It's Blitz!
"Boy In The Yard" - Odawas from The Blue Depths (sorta sound like Fleet Foxes)
"One Reminder, An Empty Room" - The Appleseed Cast from Sagarmatha
The second installment of this series, The Dream Playlist, will be published soon.
Look out for a new playlist of songs that are about, or feel like, spring. Plus, another installment of the popular playlist series The Great Unknowns: Rarely Heard Classic Songs.
Popular Posts This Week:
Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band New Rockumentary
State of Music Playlist Series: Introduction
Cover Me Playlist Series Vol II: The Killers, The Black Keys, The Chairs and Slaraffenland
Labels: Indie Playlists
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In 2003, the duo officially put together a band. Now, some years later, their transcending, energized music is making the rounds thanks to the freshly-released Mystery EP. Other band members include Molefi Makananise and Tshepang Ramoba.
"Lakeside" - BLK JKS from Mystery EP
Check out BLK JKS cover of "Summertime"
BLK JKS on MySpace
Labels: 2009 Indie Bands
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Originally, Conor Oberst started off in the music world in Bright Eyes and released as many as seven albums, most of them full of 'keeper' music.
Then, in January 2008, following a tour to support the brilliant album Cassadaga, Oberst went to Mexico to record a solo album and "accidentally" ended up forming a band - The Mystic Valley Band. The name of the band, according to the band members in One Of My Kind, came from the Mystic Valley where they were staying and rehearsing.
The documentary release, and an advanced track from next week's release of the band's new album, Outer South, have created a good deal of anticipation among fans. The band is asking people who download the film to make whatever donation they can to a charity of their picking at Cause Cast.
Conor Oberst Donates Music Video To Charity
The documentary is available as a free download in HD quality. Simply sign up for a drawing to get a free movie poster signed by the band and you'll receive a link to download the film.
"Nikorette" - Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band from Outer South (May 5th)
Not a bad tune, huh? I still can't get 2008's "Cape Canaveral" out of my head. It's definitely one of Oberst's best songs and it's the opening song in this hour-long and entertaining "rockumentary". Interesting metamorphosis for Conor Oberst in a relatively short period of time.
Labels: Conor Oberst, New Releases
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