Los Angeles band The French Semester top today's featured new releases. The band craft jangly and sunny tracks with an unmistakable 1960's pop influence. Guitarist and vocalist Riaz Tejani says the band formed in 2007 after discovering they had a common interest in writing and recording songs "derivative of the sixties and nostalgic for the eighties," but with "a subtler approach to the roots while trying to say something new." It is no surprise then that TFS include among their biggest musical influences Guided By Voices, Syd Barrett, Neutral Milk Hotel, Donovan, Leonard Cohen and The Rain Parade.

In a short period of time, The French Semester have built a following across the globe, and found themselves opening for bands like Vampire Weekend, Olivia Tremor Control, The Zombies, The Rain Parade and Apples in Stereo. That's an impressive track record for a band that is only two years in the making. The French Semester's new album, Forces Afield, is out today and follows the release of their critically acclaimed LP, Good Friends Only I Could See, that came out earlier this year.

"The Large Bouquet" - The French Semester from Forces Afield (2009)

"What's in the Bag" - The French Semester from Forces Afield (2009)

"Backwards Rolling" - The French Semester from Good Friends Only I Could See (2008)

The French Semester's official website

Long Beach's Avi Buffalo, officially release their 7" inch vinyl single today via the legendary indie label Subpop Records, with the B-side "Jessica." You can order the 7" inch vinyl from the Subpop website. Last week, Avi Buffalo announced they will be touring in January with Final Fantasy. AB were an IRC band of the week back in October, and will release their debut LP next spring.

"What's In It For?" - Avi Buffalo from 7" single (2009)

Avi Buffalo's official website


Relocated from Georgia to Santa Cruz, California dub-heavy, break beat-infused psychedelic band Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) are back with a new EP, Ad Explorata, out today via 1320 Records. STS9's huge, loyal fan base will not be disappointed with the band's newest release, which will be followed up by an extensive, cross-country tour in February and March of next year. The band is known for their intense live shows and performances at big-time festivals such as Bonnaroo, Cochella and Lollapalooza.

"Phoneme" - STS9 from Ad Explorata (2009)

STS9's official website

Other releases out today include a new track from The Smashing Pumpkins, Midnight Masses and two vinyl releases from Arctic Monkeys and Sigur Ros.

"A Song for a Son" - Smashing Pumpkins via Stereogum from Teargarden in Kaleidyscope (2009)

"Walk On Water" - Midnight Masses from Rapture Ready, I Gazed at Bodies (2009)

"Cornerstone" - Arctic Monkeys from 7" vinyl (2009)

"Gobbledigook" - Sigur Ros from 7" vinyl (2009)

Labels: Avi Buffalo, New Releases, STS9, The French Semester

Eighteen-year-old Long Beach, Calif., guitarist and singer/songwriter Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg, and his band, Avi Buffalo, have created quite a buzz within the indie music circles during the past year with their impressive folky pop hooks, intriguing lyrics and live shows. So it was no surprise to some when Seattle's legendary Sub Pop Records - home of popular indie artists like Band of Horses, The Shins, Iron and Wine, Grand Archives and Blitzen Trapper - signed Avi Buffalo to a record deal last month.

With Isenberg at the helm, Avi Buffalo, consisting of Sheridan Riley (drums), Arin Fazio (bass) and Rebecca Coleman (keyboards and vocals), are now under the wings of one of the finest indie record labels in the business.

Tonight, Nov. 2nd, Avi Buffalo will open for the wildly popular Vampire Weekend in a sold out show at the Art Theatre in Long Beach - clearly an indication of Avi's rising star status within the indie music scene.

Things started to roll for the band after a couple of well received live performances in 2007 and 2008 led to a meeting with musician and producer Aaron Embry. Before long, Embry - who has worked with musicians like Elliott Smith, Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris - was recording Avi Buffalo's material.

The result of this collaboration is evident on the band's label debut 7", due out next month via Sub Pop. The A-side track, "What's In It For?", is a jangly guitar driven song with a southern rock twang, and rounded out with well crafted, melodic hooks, Isenberg's high pitched and quirky vocals (think Wayne Coyne meets Daniel Johnston), and uplifting back-up choruses.

"What's In It For?" - Avi Buffalo from What's in It For? 7" (2009)

Isenberg begin recording home demos in 2006 when he was just a sophomore in high school (most of the band members recently graduated from high school; Riley is still a senior), and as recently as this past spring, he was mixing the demos using Macbook Pro Tools and SM58/57. In August, the band independently released five songs via their Bandcamp page, allowing fans to decide how much they would pay for each track.

One of those tracks, "We Can't Try This Again," is a lazy, lo-fi acoustic strummer, featuring the following lyrics: no one ever said we can't try this again/brought it so high, brought me so high/spent too much time in there/don't know just what you saw. The translation is, perhaps, typical teenage disillusionment with the highs and lows of young love. Near the end of the song, a brief, but edgy, guitar riff shatters the dreamy soundscape, and closes with a chorus of whistling.

"We Can't Try This Again" - Avi Buffalo

If you like what you hear, you can purchase ($1 minimum) more tracks from the band, including "Distaste and Interest", Avi Buffalo's first song - written and recorded by Isenberg (when his moniker was Avi Buffalo before it became the band name) when he was only in the 10th grade.

It's possible that some of these songs will make it on the track listing for the band's debut full-length album, planned for release in spring of 2010. Avi Buffalo lists musical influences such as Simon and Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, Wilco, Panda Bear and Grizzly Bear. Isenberg recently told BeatCrave: "As much as I’d love to say we’re not pop, we’ve got some poppy stuff going on. I like the way hooks sound, and I like the idea of infiltrating minds with catchy stuff."

We are looking forward to seeing Avi Buffalo open for the Grand Archives on Nov. 12th in Santa Cruz, Calif. In our review of the show, we will published more tracks from Avi Buffalo, including a couple of hard-to-find songs. In the meantime, listen to more songs on the band's MySpace page.

Check out a HD quality video of Isenberg discussing his music, with studio out-takes, plus a video of the 7" B-side track, "Jessica" and a live recording of the song "Remember Last Time".

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

Last Call for 2008 Vol. II: In Dee Mail Special Arists and Bands Spotlight

New Indie Releases from Roman Candle, Brimstone Howl, Brazos, Josh Rouse, Nirvana, Memory Tapes, Say Hi & More

Indie Cover Songs, Vol. IV: Beck and the Record Club, The Very Best, Alberta Cross, Spinto Band, Spoon, The Kooks & More

Bands to Watch: Double-Shots on the Rocks from Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and Fool's Gold

In Dee Mail: New Music from Beautiful Small Machines, Looking Glass, Inkwell, Lemonwilde, Cool Devices & More

New Indie Releases From Vampire Weekend, No Age, Devendra Banhart, Neon Indian, Spiral Beach & More

The Format's Sam Means and Nate Nuess Release New Music Since The Duo's Official Break-Up

Labels: Avi Buffalo, Band of the Week, Bands to Watch 2009, Indie Artist/Group Profiles, Subpop Records