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Bella Union recording artist Midlake officially release their long-awaited 2010 album today, The Courage of Others. The band kicked off a three-month tour last week, and played to a sold out crowd Saturday night at Liverpool's The Willamson Tunnels. Midlake's tour will take them from the UK and throughout Europe through Feb. 18th.On March 1st, after a little more than a week off, the band will resume their 2010 winter tour in Tucson and jaunt up the west coast of the U.S. to Canada, then through the heartland with a final stop in their homebase of Denton, Texas on March 13th. After a month hiatus, Midlake will set out for a two-week long tour of Europe. No official word if the band will perform at SXSW, but it's possible, since they will not be out on tour during the south's biggest music event that takes place in Austin from March 17-21st.
"Acts of Man" - Midlake from The Courage of Others
Midlake official website
Brooklyn band Bottle Up & Go have been rising on the indie rock radars in recent months, and no wonder. The band's 2009 EP, These Bones, is magnificent, and we're thrilled to share a new single with you all, produced and engineered by Jake Aron (Grizzly Bear, Yeasayer) and mastered by Joe Lambert (Animal Collective, Black Dice, Obits) with Bear Hands' Val Loper on bass.
Other new releases this week include new albums from The Album Leaf, King of Prussia, Seth Augustus, The Heligoats, and tracks from January releases that we missed, including LPs from Los Campesinos, The Tenant, Worker Bee and Oh No Ono.
"Rather Be Dead" - Bottle Up & Go, single
Bottle Up & Go on MySpace
"Falling from the Sun" - The Album Leaf from A Chorus of Storytellers
The Album Leaf official website
"Waitin for Somethin'" - King of Prussia from The Time Of Great Forgetting
King of Prussia on MySpace
"Tiny Little Head" - Seth Augustus from To the Pouring Rain
Seth Augustus official website
"Fish Sticks" - The Heligoats from Goodness Gracious
The Heligoats on MySpace
January Releases We Missed:
"The Sea is a Good Place to Think about the Future" - Los Campesinos from Romance is Boring - Jan. 26, 2010
Los Campesinos official website
"The Stranger" - The Tenant from Listening/Visitors - Jan. 5, 2010
The Tenant on MySpace
"No Dreams" - Worker Bee from Tangler - DIY on Jan. 11, 2010
Worker Bee on MySpace
"Old Soul" - Giant Cloud from Old Books EP - Jan. 19, 2010
Giant Cloud on MySpace
"Internet Warrior" - Oh No Ono from Eggs - Jan. 15, 2010
Oh No Ono on MySpace
Labels: Midlake, New Releases
All the hype over Beach House's new album, Teen Dream, out today via Sub Pop Records, is more than well earned. We are not just going to jump on the BH band wagon (after listening to Teen Dream again and again for two weeks straight), but, we're willing to go a step further - regardless of what other sensational releases come out in the next 11 months, we think Teen Dream could be the best album of 2010 (although Midlake is poised to pose a strong challenge)."Norway" - Beach House from Teen Dream (2010)
Stream Teen Dream on Spinner
Beach House on MySpace
Magnetic Fields - Realism
One of our favorite bands of all time, The Magnetic Fields, are back with their follow-up to Distortion, a folksy LP, titled Realism, which drops today via Nonesuch Records. Unlike the electric edge and reverbs of the appropriately named Distortion LP, Realism - meant to be a 'companion' piece' - centers more on acoustic strumming, folk sensibilities, flourishing keys and subject matter such as cults and shipwrecks. The blogger Spork wrote: "The Magnetic Fields continue their playful love-hate relationship with pop music with Realism, a new album full of love songs, un-love songs."
"Walk on a Lonely Road" - The Magnetic Fields from Realism (2010)
Magnetic Fields on Nonesuch Records
Magnetic Fields on MySpace
Magnetic Fields official website
Have You Seen This? Free, Legal downloads of Magnetic Fields' covers
Beastie Boys Vs. Alphabeat - "Intergalactic Spell"
White Panda Records sent us a mash up yesterday of The Beastie Boys vs. Alphabeat on a song called "Intergalatic Spell." Pretty cool; nice going White Panda - we're really starting to love you guys.
"Intergalactic Spell" - Beastie Boys vs. Alphabeat via White Panda Records from the Versus mixtape (2010)
No Through Road - Winner
Australian band, and Low Transit Industries recording artist, No Through Road, drop their second album, Winner, today. The songs, as evidenced by the "Girls Are The Devil" (but really, they're not) track below, demonstrate NTR's soaring, shredding and dark anthem-like rock, featuring elements of goth and punk - "like a Kiwi-distorted combo of Strokes, You Am I, Guided By Voices, Interpol and Pavement."
"Girls Are The Devil" - No Through Road from Winner (2010)
No Through Road on MySpace
Get Winner from Low Transit's Bandcamp page
Spirit Spine - Jungle Bridges
One of our top featured unsigned artists of 2009, Spirit Spine (aka Joseph Denny), who impressed us last year with his DIY home-recorded self-titled debut, is back with a new EP. In the span of less than a year, Denny has signed with Lovegiraffe Records and opened for well-known indie artists such as Neon Indian and Toro Y Moi.
"Slept Away" - Spirit Spine from Jungle Bridges (2010)
"Crashers" - Spirit Spine from s/t debut (2009)
Spirit Spine on MySpace
Retribution Gospel Choir - 2
Remember the spectacular slowcore band Low from Duluth, Minnesota? Well, they are one of the best 'underground' bands of the past two decades (and despite rumors, have not split up), and easily one of Minnesota's greatest contributions to the indie rock genre. Low's frontman Alan Sparhawk took some time off to form Retribution Gospel Choir in 2007 along with original Low bassist Steve Garrington and Eric Pollard on drums and vocals.
Their new album, 2, drops today via Sub Pop Records. RGC are currently on tour through mid-April, with jaunts throughout North America and Europe. Check the tour dates via their website link below or their MySpace page.
"Hide It Away" - Retribution Gospel Choir from 2 (2010)
Retribution Gospel Choir website
Woodpigeon - Die Stadt Muzikanten
Die Stadt Muzikanten is Woodpigeon's third full-length album and follow up to the internationally acclaimed Treasury Library Canada. The band's latest album was released on January 12 in Canada, via Boompa Records, and is available today in the States.
"Empty-Hall Sing-Along" - Woodpigeon from Die Stadt Muzikanten (2010)
Woodpigeon on Myspace
Citay - Dream Get Together
Surprisingly, a lot of music folks don't know about one of San Francisco's best bands - the psych pop rock outfit, Citay. The band's new album, Dream Get Together, is colorful, vibrant and full of fire and thrust, as demonstrated on the LP's opening track, the swinging, seven-minute psychedelic rock jam, "Careful with that Hat." The LP drops today, January 26th, via Dead Oceans Records.
"Cafeful with that Hat" - Citay from Dream Get Together (2010)
Citay on MySpace
Boy Genius - Staggering
Jason Korenkiewicz began writing songs in 2006 for what was then a two-man acoustic project. At a party one night that year, someone declared them, "neither boys, nor geniuses," and thus the name of the Brooklyn indie pop band came to be.
The band recorded their first two EPs, and their debut LP, Anchorage, with New York engineer Josh Clark, who is credited for his work with Beirut and the New Pornographers. For their latest album, Staggering - out today on Greenpop Records - the band worked with legendary producer and musician Mitch Easter, who is known famously for his work with bands such as Dinosaur Jr., REM, Pavement, Superchunk, Velvet Crush and many others.
Boy Genius consists of Korenkiewicz (guitar and vocals), Marisa Cerio (lead guitar), Lisa Klimkiewicz (drums), and Jeffrey Mensch (bass).
"Old New England" - Boy Genius from Staggering (2010)
"Ramona Saves The Day" - Boy Genius from Staggering (2010)
Boy Genius on MySpace
Other Releases Today:
"When You Walk in the Room" - Fyfe Dangerfield from Fly Yellow Moon (2010)
"Spy on the Floor" - Chicago Underground Duo from Boca Negra (2010)
"Hurried Feathers" - The Berndt from GBGBG (2010)
Better Late Than...
The following are tracks from other January releases that we missed for one reason or another.
"Lovely Weather" - The Vandelles from s/t debut (2010)
"City Kids" - Boy Without God from single release (2010)
This track is provided under the Creative Commons license via Bad Panda Records
"Poor Boy Can't Dance" - Barton Carroll from Together You and I (2010)
Check out all previous installments of Best New Releases of the Week
You Might Also Be Interested in These Posts:
Band of the Week: Boston's Elephantom Endorsed by Grizzly Bear; Blog Exclusive of Track for Upcoming LP
Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. I - Ex Norwegian, We All Have Hooks for Hands, Pistol for Ringo and Fredrik
Best New Releases This Week (1/19/10): Spoon, Surfer Blood, The Eels, Feral Children, Editors, Big Star, Dinowalrus & Len Price 3
Favorite Indie and Alternative Songs of 2009, Vol. III: Neko Case, Public Radio, Bishop Allen, Harlem Shakes, Deer Tick & More
In Dee Mail Special Edition Vol. VII - Essex Chanel, Scares The Daylights and The Binary Marketing Show
Favorite Indie and Alternative Songs of 2009, Vol. II - The Big Pink, The Thermals, Dan Auerbach, Telekinesis, Faunts & More
Labels: Beach House, New Releases, The Magnetic Fields
Every Tuesday, IRC posts what we think are the best new releases of the week. We shift through, and filter out, dozens and dozens of new releases each week, so that you don't have to. The artists and bands featured on IRC over the years are those which we invest in as well - we buy their music, go to their shows when we can, tell others about them, and so on.Today's new releases include the long-awaited Transference from one of the best garage rock bands of the past decade, Spoon; plus fresh tracks from Florida's Band to Watch in 2010, Surfer Blood, The Eels, Feral Children, Major Stars, Editors, The Len Price 3, Dinowalrus.
Easily one of the best indie garage rock (or whatever you want to label them) bands of the past decade, Spoon, is back with a new album out today, Transference. While we haven't had the chance to listen to it thoroughly enough to give a reliable opinion, if the first single, "Written in Reverse," is any indication of the rest of the album, it looks to be yet another fantastic album from Spoon. Stream the album here. So far, it sounds fantastic.
"Written in Reverse" - Spoon from Transference (2010)
Spoon official website
Surfer Blood, a Floridian indie pop band signed with Kanine Records, have exploded in popularity in recent months, especially after appearances during CMJ in New York, and the release of advanced singles from their debut LP, Astro Coast, out today. The band, who lists their influences as female American authors, will launch a two-month tour of North America (and a brief jaunt in the UK), ending with four sets at Austin's South by Southwest.
Surfer Blood are touring with some of our favorite indie bands, including fellow Floridian indie band, Holiday Shores (whose 2009 debut LP is one of the best of the year), jungle surf -retro classic rock Nashville band, Turbo Fruits, plus other greats like British Sea Power, Pete and the Pirates, Monotonix, and two of Brooklyn's hottest new rock/tropical pop bands, The Drums and Beach Fossils.
Doubling, and tripling, up with such an amazing line-up of buzz bands on an extensive tour is a clear indication of a band's respect in the indie-sphere - with fellow musicians, critics, bloggers and, most importantly, indie music fans. We've already listen to Astro Coast again and again, and it is definitely one of the 2010 albums you want in your collection.
Although the release would have been suited more appropriately for a summer release, it might just be comforting to delve into the sun soaked harmonies, breezy melodies and hot rythyms of Astro Coast as an antidote to the depths of winter that grip most of the country right now.
"Swim" - Surfer Blood from Astro Coast (2010)
Surfer Blood on MySpace
Some critics are calling The Eels newest album, End Times, out today, perhaps their best release ever. At first listen (it's available for full stream via Spinner), that just may be the case. Time will tell, but so far, End Times is likely to satisfy new and old fans of one of rock's most quirky, talented bands.
Also, don't miss Seattle band Feral Children's new single from their fresh LP dropped today, plus new releases from Major Stars, Editors' latest, In This Light & On This Evening, available as a full album stream (via Spinner.) and other releases worth noting from Dinowalrus' %, and the UK's The Len Price 3's newest LP, Pictures.
"Little Bird" - The Eels from End Times (2010)
"End Times" - The Eels from End Times (2010) - via Stereogum
Get End Times on CD, digital or vinyl
"On A Frozen Beach" - Feral Children from Brand New Blood (2010)
Feral Children on MySpace
"The Space You Know" - Major Stars from Return to Form (2010)
Major Stars on MySpace
"Papillon" - Editors from In This Light and on This Evening (2010)
Editors' official website
"Nuke, Duke 'Em" - Dinowalrus from % (2010)
Dinowalrus on MySpace
"After You're Gone" - The Len Price 3 from Pictures (2010)
The Len Price 3 on MySpace
See/listen to last week's best new releases.
Labels: Beach Fossils, Florida Bands, Holiday Shores, New Releases, Surfer Blood, The Drums
For those of you not familiar with this series, IRC regularly profiles the best and most talented new and relatively unknown musicians and bands who send their music via email (thus, the silly title, In Dee Mail) by following the submission guidelines published on IRC's about page.First up, the collective of musicians who have collaborated with members of Animal Collective is ever-expanding, and our next featured artist is just one of dozens. Sore Eros is the musical brainchild of Robert Robinson and has seen a number of different incarnations over the past decade.
In 2004, Robert moved to L.A. and, through a mutual friend, began to collaborate with Ariel Pink, who had recently signed with Animal Collective’s Pawtracks label. That led to Robinson being recruited by Animal Collective's Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) to accompany him on his British tour preceding the release of one of the best albums of the last decade, Lennox's debut solo release, Person Pitch.
"I met Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) about 12 years ago," Robertson told IRC. "We were both going to school in Boston. We kind of made up this band called The Hunted with a few of our friends. We only recorded a few songs, and those tapes are now lost (thankfully)....For the Panda Bear tour, I was supposed to play in Ariel Pink's band, but he got deported, so Noah was kind of enough to let Gary War and I to play in his band. I never heard any of the songs (neither did anyone else) that he was doing for that tour. Those songs would later become Person Pitch."
Upon the completion of the tour with Panda Bear, Robinson reignited his Sore Eros project. During the process of writing and recording his solo effort, Robinson collaborated with high school friend Adam Langellotti to produce the brilliant debut LP, Second Chants, released in February of last year via Shdwply Records.
Contributors to the album also include Kurt Vile, Gary War and Andy Tomasello (aka, Eat Cloud). Second Chants received wide critical acclaim, mostly on indie music blogs; here's an excellent review of the LP from TinyMixTapes.
There are so many terrific, even gorgeous, songs on Second Chants that it was a bit difficult to decide which to include without posting half of the LP's songs; that said, we strongly recommend getting a copy of this debut. We are almost sure that more people - especially Animal Collective/Ariel Pink/Panda Bear fans - will likely appreciate the work of Sore Eros.
Robinson has been working on the follow-up to his debut LP, and has been kind enough to share a new demo track, "Giraffe's Kiss," exclusively with IRC. He has also revealed exclusively to us that the new album title will be Know Touching, with hopes of releasing it sometime in the next month via Shdwply Records.
Robertson described to IRC the production of Know Touching: "We are still trying to grasp the
vibe for this record. Second Chants was a very inner record. Most of the songs were improvised and written in a very subconsciousness flowing way. I took most of the sketches that seemed to have interesting melodies and built them from there...Adam Langellotti came up with some really amazing orchestrations, and the sketches actually became songs."
"We recorded Second Chants in Pro Tools, where there was unlimited tracking and we went kind of crazy with layering and effects, creating that "chant" effect...with Know Touching, we are taking a different approach (by) recording...on 1/2'' 8-track reel-to-reel. This is limiting our use of layering and effects and forcing Adam and I to concentrate more on the actual song writing itself. The album is much more tangible."
From the yet unreleased new LP:
"Giraffe's Kiss" - Sore Eros from Know Touching (2010)
"Fooled Me" - Sore Eros from Know Touching (2010)
From the magnificent debut Second Chants:
"Lips Like Wine" - Sore Eros from Second Chants (2009)
"Whisper Me" - Sore Eros from Second Chants (2009)
"Smile on Your Face"- Sore Eros from Second Chants (2009)
Purchase Second Chants via InSound
Sore Eros on MySpace
The Melloncollies are the latest in a hallowed line of Brooklyn-bred quintets to unfurl the witty sonic flag and punch back: yes, pop can be daring. Their debut album, Goodbye, Cruel World, is abrasive, edgy and full of sheen. Another Brooklyn band poised to breakout in 2010.
"Simple Naive Someone" - The Melloncollies from Goodbye, Cruel World (2009)
The Melloncollies on MySpace
Formed in Brooklyn in 2007, and founded by former members of Philadelphia's Asteroid #4 and psych-pop ensemble Three Four Tens, the band Himalaya is making its hallucinogenic mark on NYC with its signature sound, and a self-titled debut that packs a psychedelic punch.
Employing deep drones, ghostly melodies, and spacey, noisy waves of guitar, Himalaya calls to mind their influences - from Spiritualized and Spaceman 3, to the Jesus and the Mary Chain and Pink Floyd. Himalaya's self-titled debut is a collection of nine songs that embody the band's distinct voice, unrelenting style, and sonic spaciousness.
"Melt Away" - Himalaya from s/t debut (2009)
Himalaya on MySpace
Matias Aguayo’s "Rollerskate" is an exercise in how catchy a simple, repetitive hook can be. Out on Kompakt Records from his latest release, this tune is a body-moving beast, a dance floor hit at heart with a chill-out backbone. Fans of El Guincho or LCD Soundsystem will likely dig this track.
"Rollerskate" - Matias Aguayo from Ay, Ay, Ay (2009)
Matias Aguayo on Facebook
Stay tuned, we have oodles of music to share with you all in coming weeks. In the meantime, you can also browse through the In Dee Mail series to pick up a lot of great tracks from talented artists and bands you probably won't hear about anywhere else.
Labels: Himalaya, In Dee Mail, New Releases, Sore Eros, The Melloncollies
It's not all about Vampire Weekend, but as far as new releases this week, it largely is all about Vampire Weekend. In an addition to our special feature here of the release of their new LP, we want to share with you great music from Dreamboat Money, Technoir MA, Final Fantasy, We+Are+The+City, The Scruffs, Jason Boesel, Nana Grizol and The Paperbacks (in no particular order).
So, one of the most anticipated sophomore albums of the past few years is finally out; Vampire Weekend's new album, Contra, the follow-up to their half-million-selling, self-titled debut, hit the store shelves today. From our very early listen - thanks to an album stream on the band's site, and via NPR, Contra is an impressive collection of fun, witty and masterfully written and recorded songs that will surely refuel the band's astronomical success.
That said, it will take some time to absorb the complete LP in its entirety; the danger is in the fact that the band has been so exposed (over-exposed?) and wildly popular (hyped?) in the past year and a half - propelling them out the 'indie' scene to the mainstream - that Contra will be held to a higher standard than if they were just another band.
There is no doubt that Vampire Weekend is a band of immensely talented, young musicians who weave upbeat and interesting songs that incorporate various musical styles (from Afro-pop to Latin fusion), instrument experimentation, falsetto vocals and choruses and compelling lyrics that result in memorable, catchy tracks.
In the end, despite what the critics and bloggers say, it will be the fans of Vampire Weekend, as well as the more casual listeners, who ultimately decide the success of the band's sophomore release in the coming months.
After having seen Vampire Weekend perform live at least four times in the past 18 months, we must say that, if you get a chance, they are a spectacular live band, and often prefer to play in smaller venues, as their most recent tour so well demonstrated.
Following a CD release party tonight at the Ford Theatre in Los Angeles, the band are setting out on a four-month European and North American tour that includes a string of already sold out shows in the UK. Check Vampire Weekend's MySpace page for the full tour schedule.
- Order the LP and stream individual tracks via Beggars Group or XL Recordings
- For a limited time orders of the CD or LP will ship with a bonus 3 song CD* containing:
1. "Contramelt A" (album mega-mix version A)
2. "Contramelt B" (album mega-mix version B)
3. "Cousinz" (Toy Selectah Mex-More Remix)
"Horchata" - Vampire Weekend from Contra (2010) - via Stereogum
"White Sky" (Live on Jimmy Fallon) - Vampire Weekend from Contra (2010)
See all of IRC's posts about Vampire Weekend dating back to early 2008.
The next band from Vancouver, British Columbia, we think are one of the newest Canadian bands to watch in 2010. Dreamboat Money's impressive debut, If Found Please Listen, was released officially today via Hipjoint Records, and is available as a free download on Active Minds Productions.
"I Can't Wait To Come Home" - Dreamboat Money from If Found Please Listen
"It's About Time?" - Dreamboat Money from If Found Please Listen
Technoir MA made the decision to record a second EP merely days after completing their first back in May of this year; the thought being that the new EP would become a slightly harder hitting companion piece. When they cut the tracks the third weekend of September, they spent more time with the overdubs, often improvising them. As a result, the Ramones-meets-New Order pulse of "Desire" was given a jangle-like lilt, "Sparks" became simultaneously more aggro and more shoegaze, while the guitar-break in "Use of Force" became an elaborate three-part "surf orchestra".
Hitting their groove, "Return" was recorded on the fly creating a neatly guided detour into darker and spacier territory before the sonic jump of "Use of Force". Having finished the overdubs and mixing in early October, the EP was realized to be a document well beyond a companion piece to the first record and christened it 2/B. The band will be promoting 2/B in 2010 as if it were a proper LP, with plans to take it on the road along with a batch of new songs.
"Sparks" - Technoir MA from 2/B (2010)
Other songs from new releases today you might enjoy:
"Lewis Takes Action" - Final Fantasy from Heartland (2010)
"There Are Very Tiny Beasts in the Ground" - We+Are+The+City from In a Quiet World (2009)
"Treasure Girls" - The Scruffs from Conquest (2010)
"Hand of God" - Jason Boesel from Hustler's Son (2010)
"For Things That Haven't Come Yet" - Nana Grizol from Ruth (2010)
"Slow Learners" - The Paperbacks from Lit from Within (2010)
Labels: Dreamboat Money, New Releases, Technoir MA, Vampire Weekend
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
New Jersey indie pop band The Delfields' new EP, Sooner Than You Think, is a out today and available from their MySpace page. The first single from the EP, "Madeline," is a song rich with sweet harmonies and melodies. The band is clearly influenced by The Beach Boys, but in their own original way. This is evident again on the track "Untitled." Sooner Than You Think is a sweet EP, and comes on the heels of their self-released, and equally enjoyable, debut LP, Ogres. In addition, you can download for free the band's debut EP, Twilight Town.Some of the band's songs, including "Madeline," also have an unmistakable likeness to the sound of The Shins. This is evident as well on the track "A Slippery Slope," although it inexplicably ends suddenly, almost as if it were cut short by accident. Nevertheless, there are other worthy tracks on Ogres, including the title track and the irresistible song, "Honest."
Althought there have been a number of impressive bands to surface from the Garden State this year (Real Estate, The Black Hollies), it is fair to say that The Delfields are one of New Jersey's bands to watch in 2010.
"Madeline" - The Delfields from Sooner Than You Think (2009)
"Untitled" - The Delfields from Sooner Than You Think (2009)
"A Slippery Slope" - The Delfields from Ogres (2008)
Spoon released a new 7" single today as an advance from the upcoming release of their latest LP Transference, due to drop Jan. 5, 2010 via Merge Records. This recording of the track is from their live performance at this year's Pitchfork Festival. You can buy the official single version here.
"Written in Reverse" - Spoon from Transference (2010)
We really like this next band a bunch and anticipate many others will as well. Morningbell have a unique style and a forward driving, amped up sound, especially on the incredibly infectious song, "Marching Off To War." Another track, "Stay in the Garden," from their new LP, Sincerely, Severely, is reminiscent of Tom Waits, and would have been a great song for a Halloween mix. Put Morningbell on your 'bands to watch' in 2010 list.
"Marching Off to War" - Morningbell from Sincerely, Severely (2009)
"Stay in the Garden" - Morningbell from Sincerely, Severely (2009)
After more than a decade of various lineup changes and stylistic incarnations, including extensive tours that touched nearly every corner of the globe, Tristeza's new album, Fate Unfolds demonstrates the band's continued talent for blending multiple musical influences - ranging from Afro jazz and funk, Spanish flamenco, tropicalia, Krautrock, Indian raga, punk and psyche.
Over the years, the band has built a loyal, worldwide following, and shared the stage with bands like Bright Eyes, Yo La Tengo, Curvise, Interol and Guided By Voices, to name just a few. Tristeza kick-off their new tour tonight with a show at The Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, California.
"Tension Futura" - Tristeza from Fate Unfolds (2009)
"Manitas" - Tristeza from Fate Unfolds (2009)
Stream the album Fate Unfolds and watch the fan video of "Tension Futura".
Other tracks from new releases out today that we recommend include songs from Halifax, Nova Scotia indie punk band A History Of; Southern California experimental outfit Regrets & Brunettes; Portland, Oregon's folk pop group The Dimes; Iceland's gothic, post punk band My Summer As A Salvation Soldier; Toronto rockers The Parkas, and Minneapolis' powerpop threesome Arms Akimbo.
"Action in the North Atlantic" - A History Of from Action in the North Atlantic (2009)
"Post Punk" - Regrets Brunettes from At Night You Love Me (2009)
"Tough Love" - Regrets Brunettes from At Night You Love Me (2009)
"Walden and the Willow Tree" - The Dimes from The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry (2009)
"Monuments" - My Summer As A Salvation Soldier from Nytt (2009)
"The Gang's All Gone" - The Parkas from You Should Have Killed When You Had The Chance (2009)
"Giving Up for Good" - Arms Akimbo from You Want It (2009)
Recent IRC 'Tweets' You Might Have Missed:
Two days left to win two free tickets to see Phoenix at a private party in NYC (Let's see the Obama party crashers crash this one)
The Strokes will play their first show in four years at Isle of Wright (via Isle of Wright website)
Morrissey lists the records he'd want if he was stranded on an island (via the BBC)
Nine Inch Nails auctioning equipment; plus The Slip LP is still a free download
Go crazy and download free and legal MP3s from bands like Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Girls, Native, Beach House, Kurt Vile, Nirvana, Fu*ked Up, Raveonettes and dozens more. (via ThinkIndie)
Stream 30 second samples of all the songs from Vampire Weekend's new album Contra - due out Jan 11 (via AMZ)
Due to popular demand, we are bringing back the Top Ten Indie Rock Songs of the Week Mix.
Most Popular Alternative Christmas Song on IRC this week - The Kinks' "Father Christmas" (UK version of Santa Claus)
Labels: New Releases, Spoon, The Delfields, The Dimes
New releases today include LPs from Brimstone Howl, Sunset, Tahiti 80, and others, plus recent worthy releases from Doveman, Old Canes, System and Station, and more. Of all of the releases dropping today, the following are definitely cafe favorites. Don't miss recent (in the past month) releases we recommend that were not previously highlighted in the New Releases series."Suicide Blues" - Brimstone Howl from Big Deal. What's He Done Lately? (2009)
"Pocketful of Debt" - Sunset from Gold Dissolves To Gray (2009)
"Green Truck" - Sunset from Gold Dissolves To Gray (2009)
"Unpredictable" - Tahiti 80 from Activity Center (2009)
"She Cuts His Hair" - Essex Channel from Love is Proximity (2009)
"The Art Teacher and the Little Stallion" - Holopaw from Oh, Glory. Oh, Wilderness (2009)
Kyle Wyss, better known as one-half of the Kanine Records' duo Blind Man's Colour, is the force behind Chromatic Flights. You can download for free Chromatic Flights' four-track Sunset Bell EP via Bandcamp. What a deal for summer-lush ambient music.Other CF downloads are available for free at Monotonik. The other half of BMC is Orhan Chettri, who records solo work under the moniker Lucid Bus. Interestingly, CF does a cover version here of Lucid Bus' song, "Diamond Skull." Also, check out new tracks from Loney Dear, Doveman, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Old Canes and System and Station.
"Passagrille" - Chromatic Flights from Sunset Bell EP (2009)
"Diamond Skull" (Lucid Bus) - Chromatic Flights, unreleased (2009)
"Ignorant Boy, Beautiful Boy" - Loney Dear from Citadel Band (2009)
"Breathing Out" - Doveman from The Conformist (2009)
"The Sound" - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson from Summer of Fear (2009)
"Little Bird Courage" - Old Canes from Feral Harmonic (2009)
"Love, Etc." - System and Station from I'm Here to Kill EP (2009)
Labels: New Releases
The soundtrack to the film The Way We Get By, airing nationally on PBS this week, was composed and performed by Zack Martin of Carrigan and was featured this past Sunday as Amazon's download of the day. The film has also won numerous film awards and honorary mentions.
At IRC, we send our respect to all veterans who have fallen in service of our country, and our thanks to all of those who serve with honor and loyalty every day. Regardless of whatever one's political ideologies, it is appropriate on this day before Veteran's Day to begin today's playlist with a free MP3 from this touching film.
The Way We Get By is a story about troop greeters — a group of senior citizens who gather daily at a small airport to thank American soldiers departing and returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The Trapper" - Zack Martin from The Way We Get By (2009)
Other highlighted MP3s today include fresh tracks from the following artists and bands:
Anders Ponders, Tommy T, Pants Yell!, Dragon Turtle, Loch Lomond, The Orange Peels and The Olympic Symphonium.
"Slowest Motion Miracle" - Anders Ponders from Nodes of Overtones (2009)
"The Response" - Tommy T from The Prester John Sessions (2009)
"Cold Hands" - Pants Yell from Received Pronunciation (2009)
"Darkest Summer" - deVries from Death to God (2009)
"Island of Broken Glass" - Dragon Turtle from Almanac (2009)
"Wax and Wire" - Loch Lomond from Night Bats (2009)
"We're Gonna Make It" - The Orange Peels from 2020 (2009)
"Intentions Alone" - The Olympic Symphonium from More in Sorrow than in Anger (2009)
"Burnout" - Ox from Burnout (2009)
Recent Releases You Might Have Missed:
"Love Sick Teenagers" - Bear In Heaven from Beast Rest Forth Mouth (2009)
"Kids" (MGMT) - The Kooks, single cover version (2009)
"Shattered Shine" - Crystal Stilts from Alight of Night (2009)
"You Cried Me" - Jookabox from Dead Zone Boys (2009)
"Gloomy Monday Morning" - The Black Hollies from Indian Summer (2009)
"Life Magazine" - Cold Cave from Love Comes Close (2009)
"The Fall Companion" - Afternoon Naps from Parade (2009)
"Pigs" (featuring a marching band) - DM Stith from Heavy Ghost
Labels: New Releases
Today marked the official CD release of The Strokes' Julian Casablancas' debut solo album, Phrazes For The Young. So far, the album is mostly a departure from The Strokes guitar heavy sound, which lets Casablancas explore a more eclectic territory, which he does very nicely, raising his status as a talented singer, songwriter and musician. Other new releases today include the delicious pop of The Swimmers sophomore LP, as well as killer fresh tracks from Yeasayer, Laarks and Holopaw. Don't miss four additional impressive tracks from a new electro pop compilation out today.
"11th Dimension" - Julian Casablancas from Phrazes For The Young (2009)
Double-shot: "Glass" - Julian Casablancas from Phrazes For The Young (2009)
"A Hundred Hearts" - The Swimmers from People Are Soft (2009)
"Ambling Alp" - Yeasayer from Ambling Alp (2009)
"All the Words You Can't Say Right" - Laarks from An Exaltation of Laarks (2009)
"The Art Teacher and the Little Stallion" - Holopaw from Oh, Glory. Oh, Wilderness (2009)
We're excited to bring you four tracks from a brand new 24-track compilation release from Ghostly International's affiliate label, Moongadget, titled Moongadget: Nocturnal Suites. Among the two dozen songs on the compilation are terrific tunes from band-to-watch New Villager, the swirling hip-pop of artist Mux Mool, the minimalistic groove and banjo picking of Shigeto, and the dreamy electro-pop hooks and beats of Worst Friends.
The label describes the compilation as a "lovingly assembled mixtape, compiling brief, catchy, electronic-minded pop songs built for obsessive repeat listening." Word! Plus, it's a great deal - only $12 for the double CD, or download all 24 MP3s for $10 at Ghostly's website.
"Rich Doors" - New Villager from Moongadget: Nocturnal Suites (2009)
"Ballad of Gloria Featherbottom" - Mux Mool from Moongadget: Nocturnal Suites (2009)
"Is This All for Real" - Shigeto from Moongadget: Nocturnal Suites (2009)
"I Wish I Don't Drop Dead" - Worst Friends from Moongadget: Nocturnal Suites (2009)
Other Posts You Might Enjoy:
Band of The Week: Long Beach Folk Pop Band Avi Buffalo
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
Ears To The Music, Vol. VII: Built To Spill, Modest Mouse, Pearl Jam, Clues, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Paramore & More
In Dee Mail: One Man Band Series with Washed Out, Stuart Newman and Labrador Labratories
Labels: Julian Casablancas, New Releases, The Strokes
There is no shortage of impressive new releases today, so we're not going to do any lengthy review. Instead, we'll just let the music speak for itself. Check back again later for awesome new music from bands to watch and bands that make blips on the indie radar, plus more indie and alternative Halloween playlists, and a special edition of great really indie music from 08 you may have missed. In the meantime, enjoy today's new releases, and if you like something, show your love and buy the LP or EP. These are all free and legal MP3s. Enjoy."The Trouble with Flying" (w/Billy Squier) - Orba Squara from The Trouble with Flying (2009)
"50s Film" - The Da Vincis from from See You Tonight (2009)
"In These Arms" - The Swell Season from Strict Joy (2009)
"In The Dark" - The Whigs, single release (2009)
"The Colloquialism is Simply 'Gas'" - I Love You from Bell Ord Forrest (2009)
"In A Strangeland" - Talk Normal from Sugarland (2009)
"Love, Etc." - System and Station from I'm Here To Kill EP (2009)
"One More Time" - Lullwater from Forest for the Trees (2009)
"The Season of Flowers and Leaves" - Pugwash from Giddy (2009)
"Colossal" - Levi Fuller from Colossal (2009)
"Zombie" - Fela Kuti from The Best Of The Black President (2009)
"Double Knots" - You and Yourn from It Would Make Things Worse (2009)
"Like a Diamond" - Glass Ghost from Idol Omen (2009)
"Nobody Told Me" - Barzin from Notes to an Absent Lover (2009)
Releases Earlier this Month Worth a Listen:
"Hell" - Tegan & Sara from Sainthood (2009)
"One Fast Move Or I’m Gone" - Ben Gibbard and Jay Ferrar from Music From Kerouac's Big Sur (2009)
"Lovesick Teenagers" - Bear in Heaven from Beast Rest Forth Mouth (2009)
"Swollen and Halo" - Baroness from Blue Record (2009)
Other Posts and Playlists You May Enjoy:
New Indie Releases from Roman Candle, Brimstone Howl, Brazos, Josh Rouse, Nirvana, Memory Tapes, Say Hi & More
New Indie Releases This Week: Altas Sound, Spring Tigers, Sufjan Stevens, Port O'Brien, Neon Indian and More
Bridge School Benefit Concert Brings Out Wolfmother, Monsters of Folk, Fleet Foxes, No Doubt, Chris Martin and Others
Halloween Indie Rock Songs, Vol VIII: Bat For Lashes, CANT, Crocodiles, Beirut, No Age, Sunset Rubdown, Fields & More
Indie Cover Songs, Vol. IV: Beck and the Record Club, The Very Best, Alberta Cross, Spinto Band, Spoon, The Kooks & More
Labels: New Releases
Bradford Cox, of Deerhunter fame, has a new album, Logos, out today under his musical project and moniker Atlas Sound. The track below, "Walkabout," is one of the albums highlights, with Animal Collective's Noah Lennox (aka, Panda Bear) pitching in with his famously echoy, dreamy vocal delivery and feel good electronic musical arrangements. The song is clearly one of the best indie duets of 2009.Next up is a catchy "new to us" indie pop band called Spring Tigers, who just so happen to be from Athens, Georgia, the birthplace of Bradford Cox. Today also marks the official release of Sufjan Stevens' BQE (nope, nothing to do with barbequing), which is basically an all orchestrated LP - and a good one at that. But there are still many of us who really hope he will pick back up on his '50 state' album concept; even a total of 10 would be an accomplishment. The idea came about in reaction to both critical and fan reaction to the albums Illinoise and Greetings From Michigan. (In the meantime, we started a playlist series that includes songs about states called the State of Music. More on that soon, so stay tuned).
Today's other indie releases include new material from Sufjan Stevens, Spiral Stairs, Port O'Brien, Neon Indian, F**k Buttons, The Hush Now, Abdelkbir Marchane & Ahmed Baqbou, Jon & Roy, Hawnay Troof, The Parlour Steps, The Wheat Pool and others. Some of the albums in this mix were released last week.
"Walkabout" (with Noah Lennox) - Atlas Sound from Logos (2009)
"Just Suggesting" - Spring Tigers from s/t debut (2009)
Double-shot: "New Improved Formula" - Spring Tigers from s/t debut (2009)
"Movement VI—Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges" - Sufjan Stevens from BQE (2009)
"Maltese Terrier" - Spiral Stairs from The Real Feel (2009)
"Sandiya" - Abdelkbir Marchane & Ahmed Baqbou from Ouled Bambara: Portraits of Gnawa (2009)
"My Will Is Good" - Port O'Brien from Threadbare (2009)
"Deadbeat Summer" - Neon Indian from Psychic Chasms (2009)
"And I" - Hawnay Troof from Daggers at the Moon (2009)
"Hoping and Waiting" - The Hush Now from Constellations (2009)
"Olympians" - F**k Buttons from Tarot Sport (2009)
"Hold On" - Former Ghosts from Fleurs (2009)
"Little Pieces" - The Parlour Steps from Hidden Names (2009)
"This Is It" - The Wheat Pool from Hauntario (2009)
"Self-Taught Learner" - Lissy Trulie from Self-Taught Learner (2009)
"Another Noon" - Jon & Roy from Another Noon (2009)
"Come Out, Come Out" - I Was Totally Destroying It from Horror Vacui (2009)
Labels: New Releases
Local Natives is a Los Angeles indie rock band that we first heard via the legendary British mag New Music Express' website, and immediately dug their self-described "jungle rock" sound. Their debut album, Gorilla Manor, comes out on November 2, and will be backed up with a November-December U.S. tour together with bands like White Rabbits, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Fool’s Gold. Below are two awesome songs from Gorilla Manor via NME.com.The iconic indie musician Daniel Johnston's new album, Is And Always Was, dropped on Tuesday, and we're loving it; looking forward to seeing him later this month when Johnston stops in San Francisco as part of his current concert tour. Below is feature a free, legal MP3 from the new record titled "Freedom." You can purchase the album directly from Johnston's colorful website Hi, How Are You?, named after his 1993 album that was regularly 'advertised' by Kurt Cobain.
Straight outta of Brooklyn is a band we heard over at Stereogum called the Freelance Whales. Plus, check out these awesome new songs from The Bright Light Social Hour, Annuals, Rubik, Two Hours Traffic, Baaba Maal, Black Whales, The Honey Brothers, Mew, Avett Brothers, Simon Joyner and Julie Peel. There's a general feeling around here that many of the tracks in this playlist will end up on our 'best of 2009' lists.
"Sun Hands" - Local Natives from Gorilla Manor (2009)
Bonus: "Stranger Things" - Local Natives from Gorilla Manor (2009)
"Freedom" - Daniel Johnston from Is And Always Was (2009)
"Generator First Floor" - Freelance Whales, single (2009)
"Back and Forth" - The Bright Light Social Hour from s/t EP (2009)
"The Giving Tree" - Annuals, single release via IGIF (2009)
"Wasteland" - Rubik from Dada Bandits (2009)
"Territory" - Two Hours Traffic from Territory (2009)
"Television" - Baaba Maal from Television (2009)
"Young Blood" - Black Whales from Origins EP (2009)
"Demonstration" - The Honey Brothers from Demonstration EP (2009)
"Repeaterbeater" - Mew from No More Stories Are Told Today... (2009)
"Kick Drum Heart" - The Avett Brothers from I and Love and You (2009)
"Out Into The Snow" - Simon Joyner from Out Into The Snow (2009)
"Unfold" - Julie Peel from Near The Sun (2009)
For more like these, check out the 2009 Indie Songs page featuring dozens and dozens of free, legal MP3s. One of the great things about this relationship between labels, bands, unsigned artists and all of you is that many of you end up supporting, in some way, the artists whose music you dig, and that which you may have otherwise never known about if this 'new music model' did not exist.
Previous Ears to the Music Playlists:
Ears To The Music, Vol. IV: The Spinto Band, The Dodos, Public Radio, Elvis Perkins, A Sunny Day in Glasgow & More!
Ears To The Music, Vol. III: New Indie Songs from Air Waves, Kings of Convenience, Yo La Tengo, The Clientele, Twilight Sad & More
Ears To The Music, Vol. II: New Songs from The Flaming Lips, White Lies, Good Night States, Sea Wolf, A.A. Bondy & More
Ears To The Music, Vol. I - New Songs from Choir Of Young Believers, The Very Most, Firs, The Love Language & More
Popular Posts This Week:
Halloween Indie Rock Songs, Vol I: Arctic Monkeys, Spoon, The Kissaway Trail, Flaming Lips, Beach House, Cat Power...
New Indie Releases From Vampire Weekend, No Age, Devendra Banhart, Neon Indian, Spiral Beach & More
In Dee Mail: One Man Band Series with Washed Out, Stuart Newman and Labrador Labratories
Labels: Ears To The Music, New Releases
One of the biggest disappointments in the rock world during the past year and a half was the official break-up of the awesome Arizona indie duo The Format. During the seven years they were together, The Format released two amazing albums, and a number of EPs, winning overwhelming praise from the music press, bloggers and fans.Sam Means, one half of the now defunct music duo, recently scored the soundtrack to the indie comedy film The Sinking of Santa Isabel. The album for the soundtrack includes six songs and some 20 instrumental pieces. Means apparently came to make the soundtrack after the original score was scrapped by the film makers. Even though the budget was apparently non-existent by the time the opportunity came around for Means, he told Spin that wasn't a problem: "It was a challenge I happily accepted. Who needs a budget when you have a laptop, a cheap microphone, and some extremely helpful friends?"
The song from the soundtrack featured here - and made possible by Spin - is called "Yeah Yeah." Clocking in at just a few seconds under two minutes, the song starts out mellow and sweet and then picks up halfway with enhanced percussion rhythms, piano keys, a fiddle and a lush flow of choruses until it begins to fade out, with Means singing "yeah, yeah."
"Yeah Yeah" - Sam Means from The Sinking of Santa Isabel (2009)
The other half of The Format, Nate Ruess, is currently involved with his new band called Fun, which includes Andrew Dost, formerly of Anathallo, as well as former Jellyfish and Steel Train members. Fun released their debut, Aim & Ignite, last month.
"Be Calm" - Fun from Aim & Ignite (2009)
Ears to the memories:
"Oceans" - The Format from Dog Problems (2006)
"Time Bomb" - The Format from Dog Problems (2006)
"Closer" - The Format, unreleased (2007)
"The Compromise" official YouTube video.
Most Popular Recent Posts/Playlists:
-Ears To The Music, Vol. III: New Indie Songs from Air Waves, Kings of Convenience, Yo La Tengo, The Clientele, Twilight Sad & More
- New Indie Releases This Week: Why?, The Pains, The XX, Jack of Heart, Fool's Gold, The Mary Onettes & More
Pavement Reunion News Spurs Sell Out of Three 2010 NYC Shows in Hours; Fourth Show Added
Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. I - Sun Airway, The Ambience Affair, Brian Olive, The Bats, Land of Talk & More
Vampire Weekend Reveal New Song and Album Cover from Upcoming Sophomore Album 'Contra'
Previous Ears to the Music Playlists:
Ears To The Music, Vol. II: New Songs from The Flaming Lips, White Lies, Good Night States, Sea Wolf, A.A. Bondy & More
Ears To The Music, Vol I - New Songs from Choir Of Young Believers, The Very Most, Firs, The Love Language & More
Labels: New Releases, The Format
Today's playlist kicks off with one of the best songs of 2009 from one of the best albums of 2009, "The Blackest Purse" from Why?'s long-awaited release, Eskimo Snow, which officially drops tomorrow, September 22. Also featured is a recent single from Why? recorded with the band Themselves. Following Why? is the title song from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's new EP Higher Than The Stars. Next up is a London teen band - and latest buzz band from UK - known as The XX with their song "Basic Space," off their debut LP due out tomorrow, and their new cover version of a Womack Womack tune.
Guster chimes in with a cover version of Belle & Sebastian's classic indie pop song "Boy With the Arab Strap." Also check out an acoustic alternative take from Beck's Modern Guilt, and a Beck cover of a classic Velvet Underground song.
Plus, check out fresh tracks from new releases by French garage rockers Jack of Heart and songs from Fool's Gold, Hunters Run!, The Mary Onettes, First Rate People, The Music Tapes, Hallelujah the Hills, The Get Up Kids, Rollercoaster Project, Panther, Forro in the Dark, Will Hoge, Beaujolais and more.
"The Blackest Purse" - Why? from Eskimo Snow (2009)
"Canada" - Why? and Themselves (2009)
"Higher Than The Stars" - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart from Higher Than The Stars EP (2009)
"Basic Space" - The XX from s/t debut (2009)
"Teardrops" (Womack and Womack) - The XX, single (2009)
"Boy With The Arab Strap" (Belle & Sebastian) - Guster from archive.org
"Gamma Ray" (Acoustic) - Beck, acoustic versions from Modern Guilt (2009)
"I'll Be Your Mirror" (Velvet Underground) - Beck (2009)
"Jack of Heart Wicked Guy" - Jack of Heart from s/t debut (2009)
"Surprise Hotel" - Fool's Gold from s/t debut (2009)
"If I Had Half a Chance" - Hunters, Run! from EP2 (2009)
"Puzzles" - The Mary Onettes from Puzzles (2009)
"For the Planet Pluto" - The Music Tapes from Clouds and Tornadoes (2009)
"Classic Tapes" - Hallelujah the Hills from Colonial Drones (2009)
"Perro Loco" - Forro in the Dark from Light A Candle (2009)
"The Rain Becomes the Clouds" - Emanuel and the Fear from s/t EP (2009)
"Sufferer" - Devon Williams from Sufferer (2009)
"Holiday" - The Get Up Kids from Something To Write Home About (2009)
"What Happened" - Rollercoaster Project from Revenge (2009)
"Hoods Up" - Rollercoaster Project from Revenge (2009)
"Love Is Sold" - Panther from Entropy (2009)
"Even If It Breaks Your Heart" - Will Hoge from The Wreckage (2009)
"All My Exorcisms" - Beaujolais from Admiration (2009)
"Locked in the Basement" - Fredrik from Trilogi (2009)
"Goodbye Sweet Youth, Goodbye" - Greycoats from Setting Fire to the Great Unknown (2009)
Labels: New Releases
Former lead vocalist of The Concretes, Victoria Bergsman, has released a new album this week with her current band, Taken By Trees. The LP, titled East of Eden, is the band's follow-up to their 2007 debut, Open Field.
Bergsman traveled to Pakistan to work on the new album and the result is a remarkable indie pop sound mixed with influences of Pakistani music woven in with an affect that is sometimes mesmerizing. View the video above to see Bergsman explain why she went to Pakistan to record the new album.
While listening to East of Eden, it's easy to get swept up in the lush melodies mixed with Swedish pop and Pakistani Qwaali musical elements that come together brilliantly. The entire album is refreshing, masterfully produced and packed with mystical references.
Animal Collective fans might be interested to know that the band has done its own unique semi-cover of AC's "My Girls," titled "My Boys," which can be heard on the full album stream (via DrownedInSound.com) included in this post.
"Watch The Waves" - Taken By Trees from East of Eden (2009)
"Greyest Love of All" - Taken By Trees from East of Eden (2009)
Labels: New Releases
Chad VanGaalen is a singer-songwriter who garnered all kinds of praise and interest for his 2008 album release Soft Airplane. The album was recently nominated for Canada's 2009 Polaris Music Prize, sharing the list of nominees with Patrick Watson, Great Lake Swimmers and K'naan, among others.The good news for VanGaalen, a Subpop recording artist, came just a couple of weeks ago, and coincided nicely with his newest music project. Using the moniker of his electronica alter-ego Black Mold, VanGaalen released his new album, Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz, August 11th on Flemish Eye Records.
VanGaalen spent the past couple of years experimenting with vintage analogue and hand-built modular synthesizers to create a new and electifying sound that has drawn parallels to the works of his previous recordings, including the albums Infiniheart and Skelliconnection. But VanGaalen's latest work is an album of instrumental electronica that mixes some old-school techniques, dips and pitches, minialistic themes and touches of distortion in various forms.
On the song "Metal Spider Webs," it's almost as if you can hear a 'metal spider' building a web, which is quite surreal, but poignant. The track "Tetra Pack Heads" is laden with sound glitches that would be annoying to most people, and perhaps intriguing - or not - to fans of VanGaalen's respectable catalog of songs as a singer-songwriter.
While Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz is unlikely to get nominated next year for a Polaris as Soft Airplane has been this year, it is a commendable side project with some impressive mixes. It's always a good sign when artists break out of their known format to take a risk and try something new, most especially when it is driven by a true passion and executed with heart and soul.
"Willow Tree" - Chad VanGaalen from Soft Airplane (2008)
"Metal Spider Webs" - Black Mold from Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz (2009)
"Tetra Pack Heads" - Black Mold from Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz (2009)
Note: It's no secret to regular readers of IRC that we have a deep fondness for Subpop Records, not just because they have an amazing lineup of artists and bands, but also because of their unique relationship building efforts with music fans, bloggers and the media. There are other labels that do this as well - Merge, Labrador, Matador and Saddle Creek, to name a few. Along with Subpop, they serve as models for the successful record company of the next decade.
Labels: Black Mold, Chad Van Gaalen, New Releases
One of the best indie rock bands to come out of Seattle in recent years is Grand Archives. Now, after what may have seemed like forever in the minds and hearts of die-hard fans, the band has released two brand new songs from their forthcoming SubPop Records sophomore album Keep In Mind Frankenstein.Thanks mostly to a 2007 Pitchfork feature of the band's demo tracks, Grand Archives, led by former Band of Horses guitarist Mat Brooke, were picked to open for Modest Mouse on a seven show West Coast tour.
The success of that tour paved the way for signing a record deal with SubPop Records which released Grand Archives' masterful debut album in 2008. In addition to Brooke, other band members include Curtis Hall, Jeff Montaño and Thomas Wright. Ron Lewis left the band earlier this year to join The Shins.
The new album will drop on September 15th. The band will kick off a month-long North American tour on September 22nd in San Francisco.
"Oslo Novelist" - Grand Archives from Keep In Mind Frankenstein (2009)
"Silver Among the Gold" - Grand Archives from Keep In Mind Frankenstein (2009)
Grand Archives on MySpace
Grand Archives on SubPop Records
Labels: Grand Archives, New Releases, Seattle Bands
After meeting at a gig in Omaha, Nebraska, local indie folk pop band Thunder Power recorded some new songs that were recently released on a split EP, Friend Ships, with London recording artist Alessi Ark.For the purposes of this review, the focus is on the magical music of Thunder Power. After a decade of making music together, the band has only recently revealed to indie music lovers their perfected, unified sound that draws on their appreciation of different music styles, including folk, pop and rock, and their various talents as musicians.
While there are only three of them, the Thunder Power songs contained on the split Friend Ships EP are tantalizing and wistful, masterfully spanning a spectrum of moods from melancholy to jubilation within a relatively limited bandwidth. The array of sonic experiences that colors Thunder Power's music is potentially as enjoyable for listeners as it appears to be for the band - that's always a good sign.
The tender and unforgettable voice of Thunder Power's lead vocalist Kacynna Tompsett is a perfect match for the band's well-honed sound; a case of one complimenting the other. Tompsett's voice at times is strikingly similar to Chan Markshall (Cat Power) and yet retains its own identity and charm.
The first Thunder Power song, "Postscripts," is a dreamy, love sick ballad fused with lush harmonies and a free-flowing accordion. The following track, "Sleep, Not Violence," is a folksy lament that morphs into a rock song backed by ambient organs, slide guitar and a snare drum. "Blood Water," the final track on the EP, is an epic tale of struggle and loss in the haze of the 'American Dream.' It will be interesting to hear what the band does for their first full length, even though there is no official word that a debut LP is in the works.
Thunder Power caught the attention of Slumber Party Records back in 2007 and signed on to record and release their highly-acclaimed debut EP Love Yourself which was produced by Ian Aeillo (Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst, Cursive).
The success of the EP paved the way for the release of Friend Ships, which Aeillo and Saddle Creek Records also contributed to. Among the band's musical influences include Nick Drake, Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura, Elliott Smith, Johnny Cash, Loney Dear and The Smiths.
"Sleep, Not Violence" – Thunder Power from Friend Ships (2009)
"Postscript" - Thunder Power from Friend Ships (2009)
Thunder Power on MySpace
Labels: New Releases, Thunder Power
Chris Thomson, Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij,Chris Balo of VM (photo by Larry Busacca)
New York indie band Vampire Weekend have had quite a wild ride since their 2007 song "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" first won over music fans in the U.S. and U.K. Now, nearly two years since they appeared on the proverbial indie rock radar, the band has become one of the biggest buzz bands of the past 18 months, gracing the cover of Spin magazine, appearing on Saturday Night Live, and touring extensively to sold out crowds on three continents.
Vampire Weekend's unique blend of catchy indie pop with upbeat African influences - the band prefers to call it 'Upper West Side Soweto' - has made them extremely popular. But some other music fans dismiss the 'Vampire Weekend hype' arguing the band has only put out one album (their follow-up album is due out this fall).
While taking a break from Vampire Weekend, two of the band members have been working on other music projects. Keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij teamed up with Ra Ra Riot leader singer and friend Wes Miles - who began recording together back in 2005 - under the moniker Discovery. Their spectacular debut album, simply titled LP, was released earlier this month. LP oozes with electro pop and hi-fi sonic sounds, sounding at times like Kayne West meets Animal Collective meets Vampire Weekend.
So it is no surprise that Vampire Weekend vocalist Erza Koenig leads vocals on one of the album's best tracks, "Carby." Other highlight tracks include "Orange Shirt", "Osaka Loop Line" and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend."
In a separate collaboration that has been making the rounds this week, Koening also steps in to sing on a new The Very Most song called "Warm Heart Of Africa".
"Osaka Loop Line" - Discovery from LP (2009)
Labels: Discovery LP, Erza Koenig, New Releases, Rostam Batmanglij, Vampire Weekend, West Miles
The Top 10 Indie Rock Songs is a new feature that highlights the songs people are listening to and downloading the most on IRC. The Twilight Sad's much anticipated album is out today, July 21.This playlist mix will be an ongoing series highlighting weekly and monthly 'most played' - top 10; sometimes top 20 - songs. This playlist focuses on the most popular songs during the past week from bands like The Clientele, Twilight Sad, The Kissaway Trail, Jay Reatard, Patrick Watson, Starlight Mints and more.
"Wonder Who We Are" - The Clientele from Bonfires On The Heath (2009)
"Reflection Of The Television" - Twilight Sad from Forget The Night Ahead (2009; out today)
"Smother=Evil + Hurt" - The Kissaway Trail from The Kissaway Trail (2007)
"Wounded" - Jay Reatard from Watch Me Fall (2009)
"Tracy Waters" - Patrick Watson from Wooden Arms (2009)
"Paralyzed" - Starlight Mints from Change Remains (2009)
"Changes Is" - Wheat from White Ink, Black Ink (2009)
"Now I'm In The City" - Creaky Boards from Brooklyn Is Love (2008)
"Octavio" - Viva Voce from Rose City (2009)
"Percussion Gun" - White Rabbits from It's Frightening (2009)
Labels: New Releases, Top 10 Indie Rock Songs
Last month IRC featured the Swedish indie label Labrador Records and one of the bands in the playlist mix was The Legends. Now the band is back with another great track titled "You Won" from their new album.Listening to this song, there are elements of rock and pop, but as the band's Wikipedia entry states, they don't even know what genre their music belongs to, although they cite a strong influence from the C-86 post punk (one of the forerunners of indie) sound of the 1980s.
Philip Ekstroms of Mary Onettes helped produce "You Won", reportedly adding "deliciously doomy 80s-esque drum sounds to the song's anthemic qualities".
The Legends are well-known among rockers in Sweden and the UK; in fact, Swedish Pop Review tagged the band as "absolutely the best band to emerge from the Swedish indie scene since The Hives."
"You Won" - The Legends from Over and Over
The next song was an advance release from this archived post:
"Always The Same" - The Legends from Over and Over
The Legends on MySpace
Labels: New Releases
Although Iron and Wine's extraordinary new double CD release, Around The Well, is not technically new - it's comprised of rare and unreleased songs - much of the material is new to fans of Sam Beam (the man behind Iron and Wine). Around The Well may just be the best collection of songs in Beam's discography. It's hard to believe most of the songs (some tracks were simply re-mastered) were never released before. With his trademark delicate, whispery vocals accompanied by stunning acoustic guitar arrangements, Beam is the curator of some of the most beautifully haunting, and even hypnotic, Americana-style folk music of the past decade.
"Communion Cups And Someone's Coat" - Iron and Wine from Around The Well
The following You Tube video features Beam performing "Two Hungry Blackbirds" at Other Music in New York City last month promoting the release of Around The Well.
Stay tuned; coming up this week will be a lot of great new music from musicians and bands most people never heard of featuring special editions of the In Dee Mail series.
Labels: New Releases
One of Canada's secrets is out: The Rest. The band's new album, Everyone All At Once, features some of the best indie to cross the northern border so far this year.The Rest successfully deliver on both ends of the spectrum of pop rock music - there are great songs that make you want to get up and move and others that are so beautiful you want to swoon. For example, "Walk On Water" has a driving, Arcade Fire-like march swirling around pop rock guitars and completed by one of Canada's best indie rock vocalists, Adam Bentley.
Then you take a song like "Apples & Allergies" - its odd name disguising the elegant and calming notes that match perfectly with the other side of Bentley's voice - rich, textured and soothing. The album is full of harmonies, melodies and day-dream symphonies. Other memorable songs include "Modern Time Travel", "Blossom Babies Part Two" and "Phonetically Phonetic".
"This is an album that we feel as strongly about each and every track," Bentley wrote on the Indiecater Records' web site. "In a world of expanding music more focused on the quick instant pleasures, we hope that you can completely fall into these pieces, finding new ways to listen, and varied interpretations around each word, tone, rhythm and melody."
After listening to Everyone All At Once a few times, Bentley's wish seems attainable, especially for fans of Canadian orchestrated indie pop, which has played a big role in fueling the popularity of indie music worldwide in recent years. The Rest can now put themselves in the forefront of the second wave of this phenomenon.
The talented young musicians who make up The Rest include Anna Jarvis, Blake Bowman, Dwayne Brydon, Jordan Mitchell, Matty Buzanko and Steve Jones. The only thing the band doesn't have going for it is the name; come on, The Rest?! With so much talent, why couldn't they have come up with a better, more unique name than that? Regardless, the bottom line is: Everyone All At Once is one of the best surprise indie albums of 2009.
"Walk On Water" - The Rest from Everyone All At Once (2009)
"Apples & Allergies" - The Rest from Everyone All At Once (2009)
Stream Everyone All At Once
The Rest Official Site
The Rest on MySpace
Labels: New Releases
Weapons is one of Iceland's most popular new indie rock bandsJust in time for summer, the music submissions continue to come in and pile up. It's a daunting task to review all of this music. In recent months, the number of submissions has shot through the ceiling and I live in a place with 22-foot vaulted ceilings, so you get the idea.
Over the next few weeks, I will be clearing out the backlog of music submissions by publishing a number of playlist mixes with the goal of quickly catching up with all of the great new material that has been sent over the past couple of months. So, let's do this.
First up is the band Weapons - a power pop trio from Iceland whose latest single delivers melodic electro punk with drive and attitude that's hard to ignore. The band's 2008 full-length release, Ditch In Time, was produced by Gordon Raphael (The Strokes and Regina Spektor) and hailed by critics and music lovers alike. This next single, a RAC mix of "Mister Mister" was self-released by the band and sent to IRC a few days ago.
"Mister Mister" (RAC Mix) - Weapons
Ditch In Time is available from the band as a free download.
Kniife Prrty is a Chicago electro-pop duo featuring Steve Pahl and Eric Whitney. KP combines the sugar rush of 80's synth pop with the gritty realism of artists like Nine Inch Nails and EL-P. After listening to the emailed single "Change Your Mind", it didn't take long to realize the potential that Kniife Prrty has. "With the music we’re making now,” says singer and producer Steve Pahl, “I feel like we’re throwing the biggest thinking-man’s dance party around."
"Change Your Mind" - Kniife Prrty from new, self-titled debut LP
KniifePrrty on MySpace
There is nothing trance about D.C. area band Shane Hines and The Trance, but they do make accessible, groovy pop songs featuring aggressive arrangements with hook-filled melodies. The band's debut album, The Glory Journal, is out now, and was completely financed by donations from fans to the tune of more than $34,000. Songwriter Shane Hines also was a finalist in the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
"I Promise Me" - Shane Hines and The Trance from The Glory Journal (2009)
"The Broken Breaking Down" - Shane Hines and The Trance from The Glory Journal (2009)
Shane Hines on MySpace
The 66 is a Manchester alternative rock band that have caught the attention of UK bloggers and music critics. Over the past 18 months, the band has been touring throughout the UK with headline slots in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and receiving rapturous feedback in the Manchester rock scene.
The band members are Danny Rimmer on vocals, guitarist Mike Bee, bassist Craig Harman, drummer Ian Wilson and Paul Glover on keyboards. The 66 have opened or played with bands like Starsailor, Bonehead and Airborne Toxic Event.
"Shoot to Kill" - The 66, single release
The 66 on MySpace
Labels: New Releases
Last week, Grizzly Bear released Veckatimest, an album that offers an impressive compendium of songs featuring discordant arrangements flushed with acoustic and electric instrument experimentations, warm harmonic choruses. There are a few great, stand-out tracks that skittle along, curve, blend and swirl around wonderful story-telling; the most notable include "About Face", "All We Ask", "Cheerleader" and "Foreground".Although I do think Grizzly Bear are over-hyped at times on some popular music sites, they are accomplished musicians, who create enchanting, intricate musical compositions. That said, some people may find Veckatimest a bit strong on the melancholy and experimentation; it's definitely not sun-drenched beach pop. However, there are a few bright spots, most notably on the minimalist Beach Boys-sounding track "Two Weeks", which is the most non-GB like song on the album.
"Two Weeks" - Grizzly Bear from Veckatimest
Get the song "Cheerleader" free at the band's official website.
Labels: New Releases
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
Originally founded in Orlando, Florida, New Roman Times is an indie rock bandbased 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
No longer known as Bright Eyes, frontman Conor Oberst and his new band, The Mystic Valley Band, have released a fresh documentary called One Of My Kind, featuring the band's journey around the world during the past 18 months.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
Eccentricity, creativity and raw talent all mixed together sometimes reveal pure artistic brilliance that is immediately addictive. If you haven't heard Sin Fang Bous yet, now's the time. Sin Fang Bous is the moniker of the young musician Sindri Mar Sigfusson from Reykjavik, Iceland.Whatever the case, his debut album Clangour is a brilliant treasure chest full of musical treats, and thus far, one of the best indie releases of 2009, yet the album has not received the attention you would expect.
Maybe Sigfusson should join the growing Animal Collective family? Well, maybe not; he's doing well on his own as evidenced on Clangour. The music is rich with textures of 'noise' synth pop layered with choruses, orchestrated embellishments, lo fi and hi fi weaves, sunny and watery sound effects found on songs like "Lies" and "The Jubilee Choruses".
Other tracks like "Poi Rot" suggest an intrinsic gift to create lush ballads with gorgeous vocals, interspersed with whistling and string plucking similar to Andrew Bird's signature sound. Yet other songs like "Fa Fa Fa" mix lo fi with rock elements and acoustic guitar before reaching a climax of "oh oh ohs" that soar higher with each note.
One of things that is magnificent about Sigfusson's musical abilities is his penchant for creating songs that stand on their own, and with the exception of some commonalities, are individualistic in style, delivery and content. An example of this is the song "We Belong" full of xylophones, echoed vocals, driving beats and electronica pop influences. Another good example is the noise pop track "Melt Down The Knives", one of the album's standout songs.
Sigfusson is not a newbie to the indie music world. In fact, his previous band, Seabear, established themselves as a buzz band with their magnificent debut The Ghost That Carried Us Away in 2007. As of today, Seabear's MySpace page has over one million views - that's no small accomplishment.
By comparison, popular singer-songwriter M. Ward has 700,000 more views but has had his MySpace account twice as long as Seabear. Sin Fang Bous MySpace page, opened in January of 2008, has had slightly over 107,000 views.
Read more and listen to songs.
The following YouTube video of the song "I Sing I Swim" has been viewed nearly a quarter of a million times and has 4.5 stars. So, clearly, Seabear is not unknown in the indie music world.
After parting ways with Seabear, Sigfusson cut out on his own to develop his musical career on his own terms. What came of that brief time with a full band was the seeds for his new solo release under the unusual moniker Sin Fang Bous. It's hard for me to see this album not being in my personal list of the best indie albums of 2009 at the end of the year.
"Melt Down The Knives" - Sin Fang Bous from Clangour (released in Feb. 2009)
"Poi Rot" - Sin Fang Bous from Clangour
"Nothings" - Sin Fang Bous from Morr Music compilation Not Given Lightly: A Tribute To The Giant Golden Book Of New Zealand's Alternative Music Scene (out May 25)
"I Sing I Swim" - Seabear from The Ghost That Carried Us Away
Sin Fang Bous on LastFM
Sin Fang Bous on MySpace
Labels: 2009 Indie Rock Albums, New Releases, Sin Fang Bous
It's not a surprise at all nowadays to discover another great indie band that I was unaware of previously - there are dozens of them that I hope to introduce you to in the coming weeks.
In this case I'm talking about the English pop/country duo The Boy Least Likely To comprised of composer and multi-instrumentalist Pete Hobbs and songwriter/singer Jof Owen. Earlier this month they released their new album The Law of the Playground.
Owen and Hobbs attended school together in the village of Wendover, Buckinghamshire in England. While classmates in school they began to write music together. In 2003, they released their first record in 2003. The duo's eclectic sound features pleasing blends of banjos, pianos, guitars, bass, drums, chimes, violins and electronic sound effects accented by dynamic vocal arrangements.
BLLT have a real knack for creating totally unique, upbeat songs that thoroughly explore the landscape of musical possibilities, ranging in sounds similar to obvious influences from The Beatles (i.e., "The Boy Least Likely To Is A Machine") to ELO ("Every Goliath Has Its David), and more modern bands like Camera Obscura and Architecture in Helsinki.
Buy this album. If you like the songs below, you're sure to like just about every track on this album including songs like "The Boy With Two Hearts," "A Fairtale Ending" and "A Balloon On A Broken String." The track "Saddle Up" is a perfect example of BLLT's pure and original talent to mix country and pop and make it sound really good.
The Law of the Playground is one of the most masterful pop albums of 2009 hands down, and likely to be one of IRC's best albums of 2009. Sure, it's early still to say that, but this one is a guarantee.
"Saddle Up" - The Boy Least Likely To from The Law of the Playground
"A Balloon On A Broken String" - The Boy Least Likely To from The Law of the Playground
Get the album
Labels: New Releases
Having surfaced to the indie music scene for all the right reasons in recent years, and now signed with the Dandy Warhols' label Beat The World, Logan Lynn has released a set of new singles from his anticipated third album release, From Pillar to Post, due out later this year.Lynn teamed up with producer Carlos Cortes of the Portland DJ collective Assemble The Empire to record From Pillar to Post. The result: An amazing collection of upbeat, sprawling electro-pop tracks that are not over-produced but engineered to be original and free-flowing.
There's a lot of musical experience and talented wrapped neatly in this well packaged upcoming release. The guys sent these fresh tracks to share with all of you. Enjoy.
"Feed Me To The Wolves" - Logan Lynn off From Pillar to Post
"Burning Your Glory" - Logan Lynn off From Pillar to Post
Labels: Logan Lynn, New Releases, Portland Bands
This week you'll see some reviews of much talked about recent releases by groups like The Decemberists, Beirut and U2. I'm probably going to get some spitfire emails, but just trying to keep it real (one person's opinion). Let's start off with a band that was a favorite of mine for years.
Then, not so long ago, The Decemberists 'crossed over' and signed with a major label - Capitol Records. That was a bit hard to take for a band that helped boost the popularity of true indie labels. Anyways, my fear that their music would change has come true, and not in the best way.
And so what is the freaking hype for? First off, I have been a huge Decemberists' fan since first hearing The Crane Wife. After hearing that record, I immediately bought everything they ever released - and I was hooked man. The upcoming release of The Hazards of Love marks a new direction for the band that personally I am not a fan of.
There are really only a handful of songs on Hazards that are keepers for me, among them "The Rake Song" and "The Wanting Comes in Waves". I am more inclined to go back and listen to their merchant sailing songs and bucolic ballads from bygone days.
The NPR music dudes from All Songs Considered recently "bet" after The Decemberists' SXSW show last week in Austin that Hazards will be the best album of 2009.
What?! First of all guys, it's only freaking March. Secondly, I've heard dozens of better albums so far this year from bands few have heard of. Sometimes NPR irks me. For the last few years, NPR's musical staff druels over a handful of bands and commonly declare, prematurely notwithstanding, the contenders for 'best albums of the year', and eagerly enough, the sure-fire, got-to-be, hands down winner - with an entire freaking nine months in the year left.
Please guys. Time for a reality check at NPR music. If you don't believe me, dig through the IRC archives for this year and check out some of the other albums on the list to the right of this page; I promise there are better albums in that list than The Hazards of Love.
Next up in "Just OK" New Releases: Beirut and U2
Labels: 2009 Indie Rock Albums, Beirut, New Releases, The Decemberists, U2
At first I wasn't impressed. Strange how that happens on first listen with albums that on second listen reveal their relevancy. The upcoming release from Royksopp's titled Junior (due out March 24), offers a fine collection of dance-driven pop with lush vocals and tight arrangements and moments of ambient genius. Although Royksopp's music is not so much my thing - it's a bit too Madonna-esque for my tastes, Junior has some standout tracks.Sounding more like Swedish charged pop, Junior features infectuous dance beats, intricate mixes and spot on vocals like are found on tracks like "Tricky Tricky". This is sure to be a memorable track. The heavy and slow flows of evolving keyboard arrangements on the instrumental "Silver Cruiser" would be perfect in a movie sequence. The opening track "It's What I Want" is reminiscent of the new wave sound of the 80s draped in a 2009 dance track.
Also, "This Must Be It" is another catchy, awesomely arranged and executed track and will likely be playing in clubs worldwide not long from now. "One Vision" oozes with techno grinds, digs and curls that remind me of Daft Punk at times. All in all, Royksopp fans, your Norweigen peeps haven't let you down. This will be one of the biggest dance/techno pop albums of 2009.
"Tricky Tricky" - Royksopp from Junior
Get the album from the band's website
Labels: New Releases, Roykosopp, Techno Hits
The Seattle garage rock-pop band The Lonely Forest is set to release their third album, We Sing The Body Electric!, on April 21 via Burning Building Recordings. In the interest of full disclosure, I was unaware of the band until their latest album came in dee mail.As I listened to We Sing The Body Electric!, it became apparent that I was hearing one of the best albums so far this year. Song after song reveals rich, raw, sophisticated, emotional, party-ready and wonderfully crafted music; there are no gimmicks or cookie cutter rock here. What worries me about bands that are this good is what can happen to them if they become too popular.
Music producer Jack Endino, who worked with Nirvana, Mudhoney and Soundgarden said of The Lonely Forest: "These guys came out of no where...and blew my mind!"
For reals. We Sing The Body Electric! may likely be on some best rock album lists for 2009 by year's end. Band members include Eric Sturgeon (bass and vocals), John Van Deusen (piano, lead vocals), Braydn Krueger (drums) and Tony Ruland (guitar).
Some of the bands The Lonely Forest have played with include The Velvet Teen, The Thermals, Appleseed Cast, Mates of State, Viva Voce, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Cloud Cult, YACHT, Maritime and many others.
MySpace has become one fairly reliable measure of a band's popularity. The Lonely Forest opened their page in July 2004 and have since racked up 265,824 profile views and amassed 5,958 friends in the extended (and sometimes over-extended) MySpace network.
"We Sing In Time" - The Lonely Forest from We Sing The Body Electric!"Stars and Moons" - The Lonely Forest from Nuclear Winter (2007)
The Lonely Forest on MySpace
Both songs are currently available via Burning Buildings Recordings
The gorgeous Pacific Northwest has played a major role in popularizing alternative and indie rock music for nearly two decades now, and The Lonely Forest are clearly one of the big shots in modern Seattle rock.
Labels: Best Indie 2009, Garage Rock, New Releases, Seattle Bands, The Lonely Forest
Here are some other great indie songs that have come out in the past six weeks, including fresh tracks from San Francisco's Leopold and His Friction, Jason Zumpano, Iowa rock from Wolves in the Attic, LA's Go West Young Man and Henry's Funeral Shoe.
"Loss of God" - Wolves in the Attic from Electronic Hearts - Jan. 5
Bonus: "Electronic Hearts"
"Come Back (Now That I'm Here)" - Leopold and His Fiction from Ain't No Surprise - Jan. 14
"Beggars of Blue Sky" - Jason Zumpano from Roses $9.99 a Dozen - Jan 17
"Chinatown" - Go West Young Man from self-titled release - Feb. 17
"Henry's Funeral Shoe" - Henry's Funeral Shoe from Everything's for Sale - Feb. 17
Labels: Go West Young Man, Leopold and His Fiction, New Releases
By the time the best indie albums of 2009 lists start coming out later this year, today, February 17th, will surely be a day to remember.That is because today marks the official release of a number of high anticipated, and for the most part, rewarding albums by some of indie music's most popular artists, including M. Ward, Beirut, Morrissey, Robyn Hitchcock, Sing Fan Bous and Architecture in Helsinki, among many others. The most anticipated in my world was M. Ward's newest release.
Wow! Brilliant! Addictive! Those are my initial reactions after listening to M. Ward's new release (today, Feb. 17) Hold Time. If there is one album every music lover should hear in 2009, it is this one.
I'll hedge a bet and say right here, right now that Hold Time will be, as the months pass, considered one of the best, if not the best, album of the year. Tonight he also appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.
M. Ward is a genius. His songs are masterfully composed and executed. He has splendid vocal capabilities and is clearly one of the best singer songwriters of the past decade. With Hold Time, Ward definitely locks in that honor.
One of the things I love about this album is that every song is brilliant and memorable, spanning an entire field of genres and styles that is a cornerstone of Ward's musical appeal.
Whether they are upbeat country rock songs or dreamy folk pop ballads, Ward's songs jump out and attach themselves to your ears, guiding you to turn up the volume, sit back and soak them up.
Rarely does an album come along in which every song on it is precious in it's own way. Hold Time does just that. It is simply a masterpiece.From beautiful duets on songs like "Oh Lonesome Me" with Lucinda Williams to "Rave On" with Zooey Deschanel, and catchy pop songs like "Stars of Leo" to country rock songs like "One Hundred Million Years" to the magical and dreamy love song and title track of the album.
"Never Had Nobody Like You" - M. Ward from Hold Time (song Ward played on Lettermen tonight)
"Oh Lonesome Me" - M. Ward from Hold Time on Merge Records
Other songs that are infectious and get better with each listen include "Shangri-La", "Epistemology", "Jailbird" and "For Beginners", each of which could be a hit song on their own.
It's hard to imagine that enough mind-blowing albums will be released in the next 9 plus months that will keep Hold Time out of the majority of Top 5 and Top Ten albums of 2009 lists that come out later this year. I would not be surprised at all if Hold Time is widely considered the best album of 2009 months from now.
Labels: Best Albums 2009, Best Indie 2009, M. Ward, Merge Records, New Releases
In less than two weeks, The Noise Pop Festival will begin in San Francisco, and next month the famous South by Southwest Festival will kick-off in Austin.Today, the spotlight turns to the amazingly gifted musician and Oregon native Laura Gibson, who is performing at both Noise Pop and SXSW. She first got noticed on a large scale with the 2006 debut album If You Come to Greet Me. Gibson followed up with the well received Six White Horses in 2008.
On February 24, Hush Records (The Decemberists' first label before they "crossed-over") will release Gibson's newest album Beasts of Seasons.
"Spirited" from Beasts of Seasons - Pre-order at Hush Records
Gibson's music is folksy, flowing, soothing and marked by her distinctively soft yet determined vocals. Her music has a majesty all of its own and the potential for a broader appeal than she currently enjoys (that can be good and bad).
Her music scales the confides of the common folk classification bestowed on her, displaying a creative knack to weave in elements of country, rock and pop. There are even elements of Spanish guitar such as in the song "Sweet Deception".Listen to a full stream of Beasts of Seasons via NPR Music until February 24.
Gibson displays excellent craftsmanship with musical and lyrical progression, sophistication and range, as evidenced by songs like "Nightwatch" that drift like a raft on a quiet summer lake to tracks full of marching drives and orchestrated lifts found on songs like "Spirited".
Gibson will headline the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Feb. 26 and play from March 18 to March 24 at SXSW. Check out Laura Gibson's MySpace page to get all her touring and performance information, listen to songs and more.
Related:
Listen or download a DayTrotter Sessions of Laura Gibson from 2007 featuring songs from If You Come to Greet Me.
Read about, and listen to San Francisco Noise Pop Festival Artist Showcase: Telekinesis
Labels: Laura Gibson, New Releases, Noise Pop Festival 2009, Singers and Songwriters, South by Southwest
"Two" - The Antlers from upcoming release Hospice
"Bear" - The Antlers from Hospice
"November Was White, December Was Grey" - Say Hi from Oohs & Aahs
"Everything With You" - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart from their self-titled debut
Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Barsuk Records, Merge Records, New Releases, The Antlers, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Today's new indie songs feature the latest from The New Pornographer's A.C. Newman, plus Peasant and Findlay Brown with advance songs from upcoming releases by Mazes and Broken Spindles."There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve" - A.C. Newman from Get Guilty
"Introvert" - Broken Spindles from Kiss/Kick out Feb 17
"I Have Laid in the Darkness of Doubt" - Mazes from s/t debut out March 3
"Exposure" - Peasant from On the Ground
"Holding Back the Night" - Findlay Brown from Love Will Find You
Labels: AC Newman, Indie Rock Songs 2009, New Releases
Brooklyn's New Villager caught attention recently by performing with High Places and are set to release their new 7 inch. Take a listen."Rich Doors" - New Villager
Pre-order the Rich Doors 7" at twosyllable Records via their MySpace page.
The Sea Lions, out of Oxnard, California, north of Los Angeles, dish out fast and excited dance-pop. Check out their debut new single from YAY! Records.
"Beautiful Day" - The Sea Lions
Fans of Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, especially their album 3, and now the band is back with a new EP titled 1999. Hey guys, you can do better, but sharing with SKWBN fans and the curious anyways.
"1999" - SKWBN from 3
Labels: 2009 Releases, New Releases, New Villager, The Sea Lions
Andrew Bird has done it again. Bird's 2007 album Armchair Apocrypha was widely hailed as one of the best albums of that year. It's almost a sure bet that his newest release, Noble Beast, will go down as one of the finest albums of 2009. I've had the album on a near loop for days, and it's a grower - the more I listen to it, the more I am sure it will probably remain on my essential albums list years from now.Bird, who is currently on tour, really expands as an artist on Noble Beast and yet manages to perfect the framework that made him famous and keep his compositional idiosyncrasies that so many fans treasure still interesting, such as his signature whistling.
Few artists can get away with as much whistling as Bird spreads throughout this work because it is always appealing and woven in with the music just perfectly. For example, on the track "Take Courage" Bird whistles like a musician, not just some guy walking down the street.
"Souverian" is a love song that would go well with a road trip through quiet places. It's also a split single in that it transforms in to another style of music half-way through. Split singles are becoming a trend in recent years, and Bird is a natural when it comes to creating such a song. Other album highlights include "Oh No", "Anonanimal" (see new video above) "Fitz and the Dizzyspells" and "Tenuousness".
There is a limited edition double CD version called Useless Creatures, a collection of new instrumental works. Orders for the limited edition are being taken at http://fatpossum.com.
Please note: I have not heard the bonus CD except for one ten-minute track titled "The Barn Tapes". Let's just say that song is not a keeper - an unusual occurrence with Bird's music catalog.
It must also be noted that some critics will argue Noble Beast is not as ground-breaking as Armchair Apocrypha, or as accessible, but the overall collection of songs on Noble Beast is a solid follow-up to AA and will easily survive any nit-picking.
"Tenuousness" by Andrew Bird from Noble Beast
Stream songs from Noble Beast at Andrew Bird's MySpace page.
Get Noble Beast at Emusic.com or iTunes
Official Release for Europe: Feb. 15 (how romantic)
Bird is performing Monday night at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn and the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City Wednesday night.
With the exception of a two-week break in early March, Bird will be touring until the end of April. Chances are he will sell out just about everywhere he plays, especially as word about his newest release spreads.
Labels: 2009 Indie Rock Albums, Andrew Bird, Best Indie 2009, New Releases
Philadelphia's East Hundred formed in 2004 as a 'basement recording project', toured relentlessly, built a following and have just released their debut LP, Passengers.
Comprised of brothers Brooke and Will Blair, and Beril Guceri on vocals, the band creates synthesized pop with low beat tracks, reminiscent somewhat of The Sundays.
"Slow Burning Crimes" - East Hundred from Passengers
Stream East Hundred at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/easthundred
Labels: East Hundred, Free MP3s, New Releases, Philadelphia Indie
After the release of their 2007 second full-length album Raven and the White Night on Jagjaguwar Records, Bloomington, Indiana indie psychedelic band Odawas, are set to release a new album, The Blue Depths, on February 17.Odawas is Michael Tapscott and Isaac Edwards and a somewhat revolving door of a group of other musicians, including at least one they clearly don't like according to a photo caption on the Odawas' MySpace page.
"Harmless Lover's Discourse" from The Blue Depths
In 2006, Tapscott released a home produced solo LP under the moniker More Animals of the Artic. The band will be performing a show during San Francisco's Noise Pop Festival on February 27, 2009 at the famous Cafe DuNord.
Labels: Chicago, New Releases, Odawas
Colin Meloy and The Decemberists, satisfying a craving of fans for some sounds from the upcoming release of their new album, The Hazards of Love, have made the track "A Rake Song" available as a free download.
To get the song, just go to the band's official website and provide a valid email address. You will be emailed a link to download the song.
The album is scheduled for release on March 24.
Die-hard fans can follow Colin on Twitter.
Labels: Colin Meloy, New Releases, The Decemberists
M. Ward and National Public Radio have collaborated to offer a full stream of the talented artists' upcoming new release Hold Time.
The album is rich with what fans expect from Ward - acoustic ballads and songs that are soothing and bright. NPR said of Hold Time: "Hold Time, continues this tradition, with a gorgeously produced mix of finger-picked guitars, upright bass and shuffling rhythms, all tied together by his achy voice."
Stream the full album uninterrupted choose to listen to individual songs.
Ward was the other half of She & Him which received wide critical acclaim for their 2008 Volume One. The duo are working on Volume Two slated for release in 2010. Hold Time will be officially release on February 17, 2009 and the following day, Ward will kick-off a tour with a show in Boston.
According to Reuters UK the long-awaited album from Ward, My Morning Jacket's Jim James and Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis is also expected in 2010, even though Ward called the work on the album moving at a "glacial pace."
Free Merge Records 2009 sampler featuring Ward, Portistatic, Lampchop, Conor Oberst, Wye Oak, The Broken West and others.
Labels: 2009 Indie Rock Albums, M. Ward, New Releases, NPR Music
The new releases stack is growing out of control so if you wanna help, we're all ears. Seriously. Some of the noteworthy new releases include albums by Black Lips, Get Up Kids, Deastro, Mark Kozelek, All American Rejects, Justin Vernon, That Was Something, The Firemen (with Paul McCartney) and Artist Vs. Poet.Newly available EPs from Luv Lux, Third Eye Blind and Cat Power are out and Christmas themed albums from Backseat Goodbye and Gentlemen Auction House are perfect for right this time of year.
Alternative rock and post punk fans might want to check out special editions from artists like Pavement and Husker Du, not to mention live concerts and studio sessions from Foo Fighters, Belle and Sebastian, Paul Weller and Long Winters.
MP3: "Sweet, Sweet Magdalene" - Justin Vernon from For Emma, Forever Ago
Yesterday we featured the Illinoise pop band Headlights as the IRC Artist of the Month.
So it only makes sense to let you know that Headlights has released a new remixes album containing some creative covers of songs from their previous two full lengths and one EP. The album, strangely titled Remixes, features remixes from artists like
The following list of new releases over the past few weeks was taken in part and parcel from our blogger friends at Music Under Fire and other sources.
Avant - Avant (Official) (MySpace)
Backseat Goodbye - A Christmas EP (Official) (MySpace)
Black Lips - We Did Not Know The Forest Spirit Made The Flowers (Official) (MySpace)
Busta Rhymes - B.O.M.B. (Official) (MySpace)
Cat Power - Dark End of the Street EP (Official) (MySpace)
Get Up Kids - Four Minute Mile (MySpace)
Harmonic 313 - Dirtbox 12" (Official) (MySpace)
Headlights - Remixes (Official) (MySpace)
Long Winters - Live at the Showbox DVD (Official) (MySpace)
Luv Lux - The Brave Kids In Color EP (Official) (MySpace)
Mark Kozekel - The Finally LP (Official) (MySpace)
Paul Weller - Weller at the BBC (Official) (MySpace)
Pavement - Brighten The Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition (Official) (MySpace)
That Was Something - Down But Not Out (MySpace)
The Magnificents - Year of Explorers (Official) (MySpace)Alaska in Winter - Holiday (Official) (MySpace)
All-American Rejects - When The World Comes Down (Official) (MySpace)
Artist Vs Poet - Self Titled (Official) (MySpace)
Belle and Sebastian - The BBC Sessions (Official) (MySpace)
Deastro - Keeper's (download only) (Official) (MySpace)
Foo Fighters - Live at Wembly Stadium (Official) (MySpace)
Gentleman Auction House - Christmas In Love (Official) (MySpace)
Husker Du - Candy Apple Grey (vinyl reissue) (Official) (MySpace)
The Fireman - Electric Arguments (Official) (MySpace)
The New Regime - Coup (Official) (MySpace)
Third Eye Blind - Red Star [EP] (Official) (MySpace)
You, Me, And Everyone We Know - So Young, So Insane (Official) (MySpace)
Labels: Cat Power, Get Up Kids, Indie Rock 2008, Long Winters, Mark Kozekel, New Releases, Pavement
Boston's Hooray for Earth is one of the most exciting breakthrough indie bands of 2008, but have yet to receive the name recognition that they very well could get in 2009.Since their debut album in 2006, it's clear that the band's music appeals to indie fans who like like poppy, keyboard and vocal driven music. The song "Take Care" from the band's debut album is the type of songs you listen to when you're in a good mood, or want to be in a good mood.
From their newest release the song "Want Want Want" is yet another memorable song that helps solidify the band's talent and promise. There are other tracks on the band's EP Cellphone, including "Warm Out", that make us think they could be a band to watch in 2009.
MP3: "Take Care" - Hooray for Earth from
MP3: "Want Want Want" - Hooray for Earth
While the band may be labeled as a pop band, some of their songs have a clear influence of 80's style rock and new wave. To hear more, check out two additional free downloadable tracks from the band's official website and purchase the album to get all of the songs from Hooray for Earth.
Labels: Best Indie 2008, Goh Nakamura, Hooray for Earth, Hospital Ships, New Releases
Lawrence, Kansas indie sensations Shearwater released their new EP last week titled Snow Leopard on Matador Records.MP3: "Snow Leopard" - Shearwater
Here is Shearwater's current 2008 scheduled shows:
- 10/19/08 - Boston, MA @ Cafe 939 at Berklee
- 10/20/08 - New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
- 10/24/08 - Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle, JM solo
- 10/25/08 - Durham, NC @ Duke Coffee House, JM solo
- 10/26/08 - Atlanta, GA @ Criminal Records (Instore) 5PM, JM solo
- 11/07/08 - Brussels, B @ Botanique
- 11/08/08 - Antwerp, B @ De Nachten Festival
- 11/09/08 - Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli
- 11/10/08 - Rouen, F @ Club 106
- 11/11/08 - Paris, F @ Le Bataclan
- 11/12/08 - Feyzin (Lyon), F @ L'Epicerie Moderne
- 11/13/08 - St-Gallen, CH (Switzerland) @ Palace
- 11/14/08 - Lausanne, CH (Switzerland) @ Le Romandie
- 11/15/08 - Luzern, CH (Switzerland) @ Treibhaus
- 11/16/08 - Schorndorf, D (Germany) @ Manufaktur
- 11/17/08 - Berlin, D @ Postbahnhof
- 11/18/08 - Dresden, D (Germany) @ Beatpol
- 11/19/08 - Hamburg, D (Germany) @ Nachtasyl
- 11/20/08 - Ghent, B @ Vooruit
- 11/21/08 - Den Haag (The Hague), NL @ Crossing Border Festival
- 11/22/08 - London, UK @ St Giles in the Fields
- 11/23/08 - Coventry, UK @ Taylor John's House
- 11/24/08 - Brighton, UK @ Komedia
Labels: Indie Rock 2008, New Releases, Shearweater
To celebrate the release of The Eels' acclaimed Blinking Light and Other Revelations four LP deluxe vinyl limited edition, the band is offering a four-song EP download for free until October 28th.
The deluxe Blinking Lights package includes three LPs from the critically acclaimed album on vinyl with a fourth disc featuring an exclusive 17 track live album, Manchester 2005.
Pressed on 180-gram vinyl, the four LPs each have their own covers, rice paper dust sleeves, and a hardback book of lyrics and photos. The edition is limited to 2,500 copies and will be sold in order of lowest cover numbers first, 0001 - 2500.
The free EP contains four songs from the exclusive Manchester 2005 and is available on The Eels' official website. Simply enter a valid email address and you'll receive an email link to download the free EP. All four MP3s will play on any iPod, MP3 player or computer.
EP TRACKLIST:
01 fresh feeling
02 packing blankets
03 jeannie's diary
04 climbing to the moon
To order the deluxe edition box set, go to http://www.merchlackey.com/eels.
Labels: Free MP3s, New Releases, The Eels
The Killers reveal their album cover art from their upcoming new releaseAfter an awesome performance on Saturday Night Live recently, The Killers' have fans on edge for their fourth album Day & Age, slated for US release on November 24.
Stream the single "Human" on The Killers official website. By the way, the countdown is on for The Killers' new UK website - just 12 days away.
"Human" - The Killers
Featured bands this month include two bands from the independent label, The Kora Records; one from Sweden - Fredrik, and a new band called The Piano Creeps, consisting of two former members of the 90's acclaimed alt-pop band Madder Rose.
"The Black Fur" - Fredrik from the new album Na Na Ni
"Hey Love" - The Piano Creeps from the new album Future Blues
"I'll Be Your Whore" - Boo and Boo Too from No Tempo
"Coal Grey Sky" - The Buttless Chaps from Cartography
"Mr. Electric" - Chandeliers from The Thrush
"Have a Nice Day" - Kinetic Stereo Kids from Have A Nice Day
Stay tuned for more new indie music or sign up for the Feed Me Indie RSS feed.
Labels: New Indie Rock, New Releases, The Kora Records
Summer brings the heat and long days, and with that the music industry shifts into full throttle - music concerts, tours, festivals and new releases.It is literally impossible for any one blogger - much less a staffed music publication - to seek, listen to, review, write and post all of the great music that comes from the 'indie' music world.
So, in the spirit of supporting indie music, here is a collection of recent free MP3 songs from indie artists, including one of this year's new 'buzz' bands (and well deserved at all), The Fleet Foxes, plus Celestial, The Afternoons, The Mars Volta, Destroyer, The Jukebox Ghost, The April Skies and Band of Horses guitarist Tyler Ramsey.
MP3: "White Winter Hymnal" by The Fleet Foxes from Emerald City, Washington off the self-title debut album. Perhaps a strange title for a song premiering in the summer. Yet it is also odd to hear a song about winter time from a band that is so strongly influenced by The Beach Boys.Of course, The Beach Boys are famous for creating some of the biggest summer time hit songs in rock history. Nevertheless, Fleet Foxes has carved out its own piece of the musical landscape, and were a favorite at this year's South by Southwest festival in Austin.
MP3: "Say Yes" by The Afternoons from Los Angeles, CA
MP3: "Wax Simulacra" by The Mars Volta from Los Angeles, CA from the album Bedlam in the Goliath
MP3: "Hope, You Know" by Celestial from Orebro, Sweden off self-titled debut
MP3: "Hold It In" by Jukebox The Ghost from Washington, DC off their debut album Let Live and Let Ghosts
MP3: "When The Leaf is Not Green" by Astrolab from Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
MP3: "Madame Butterflies" by Destroyer from Vancouver, Canada. You'll need to be logged in or register to download the song.
Other 2008 Indie MP3s
MP3: "How It All Played Out" by The April Skies from Hershey, Pennsylvania off the album How It All Played Out
MP3: "Ships" by Tyler Ramsey (guitarist for Band of Horses) from Asheville, North Carolina off the album A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Ocean (Echo Mountain Records)
Note: MP3 links may expire or be removed. A label or artist who wants an MP3 link removed, see IRC's MP3 policy below. IRC encourages listeners to buy music, and attend concerts, from artists and bands they enjoy.
Increasingly, rock radio stations play 'indie rock' and more so-called indie bands and artists are getting mainstream press as the popularity of indie grows. One sign of the explosion of indie rock is the number of rock festivals that are overwhelming packed with what are mostly indie music artists and musicians.
The definition of what constitutes indie music is definitely not set in stone, and it means different things to different people, but it's generally accepted that indie music is created by bands and artists who are signed, or not signed at all, with an independent record labels.
Stay tuned to the best indie music and events by subscribing to the Feed Me Indie RSS feed.
MP3: "Hold It In" by Jukebox The Ghost from Washington, DC off their debut album Let Live and Let Ghosts
MP3: "When The Leaf is Not Green" by Astrolab from Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
MP3: "Madame Butterflies" by Destroyer from Vancouver, Canada. You'll need to be logged in or register to download the song.
Other 2008 Indie MP3s
MP3: "How It All Played Out" by The April Skies from Hershey, Pennsylvania off the album How It All Played Out
MP3: "Ships" by Tyler Ramsey (guitarist for Band of Horses) from Asheville, North Carolina off the album A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Ocean (Echo Mountain Records)
Note: MP3 links may expire or be removed. A label or artist who wants an MP3 link removed, see IRC's MP3 policy below. IRC encourages listeners to buy music, and attend concerts, from artists and bands they enjoy.
Increasingly, rock radio stations play 'indie rock' and more so-called indie bands and artists are getting mainstream press as the popularity of indie grows. One sign of the explosion of indie rock is the number of rock festivals that are overwhelming packed with what are mostly indie music artists and musicians.
The definition of what constitutes indie music is definitely not set in stone, and it means different things to different people, but it's generally accepted that indie music is created by bands and artists who are signed, or not signed at all, with an independent record labels.
Stay tuned to the best indie music and events by subscribing to the Feed Me Indie RSS feed.
Labels: Best Indie 2008, Fleet Foxes, MP3s, New Releases
Weezer's new YouTube video for "Pork & Beans" has been viewed an astonishing
five million times on YouTube alone in just one week!
five million times on YouTube alone in just one week!
Few bands were as successful and influential during the post-grunge explosion of alternative rock during the mid-1990's as was Weezer.
The band's eponymous self-titled "Blue Album" debut in 1994 made them a near-overnight sensation, helped along by a series of enormously popular MTV music videos. Critics and fans were instantly attracted to Weezer's refreshing, yet somewhat geeky and poppy brand of alternative rock music.
Soon after the release of the "Blue Album", Hollywood legend Spike Jonze directed the group's first hit video, "Undone (The Sweater Song)", featuring films of the band spliced with scenes from the generational hit TV series Happy Days. The "Undone" music video put the band on a nearly endless rotation on MTV for months.
Other songs from the debut album, including hits like "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So", dominated college radio station playlists, and even seeped into the otherwise "cookie-cutter" rock radio markets from Los Angeles to London and New York to Melbourne.
Now, 14 years since their historic "Blue Album" debut, Weezer - with only a couple of original band members remaining and large gaps in the creation of new material - have released their long awaited new release.
The self-titled "Red Album" (aka, #6) was officially released this week. Already, "Red" has received largely positive reviews from the music press, bloggers and fans, following months of anticipation, rumors, leaks and wild speculation.
The following are new MP3s from "Red".
MP3: "Pork & Beans" by Weezer from the new "Red Album"
MP3: "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)" by Weezer from "Red Album"
MP3s are not guaranteed to work and have been provided by the blog Quick Before it Melts - the hint is in the name. If you enjoy these songs, definitely show your love and purchase the band's albums whichever way you obtain your music - whether via an online music service or by visiting your local record shop.
The limited Deluxe Edition of "Red" contains four bonus tracks with a special digipak featuring a deluxe booklet of lyrics, photos, liner notes and the band members' thoughts about the new songs.
Red Album Track Listing (from Geffen Records):
1 - Troublemaker 2:45
2 - The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn) 5:52
3 - Pork And Beans [Album Version] 3:11
4 - Heart Songs 4:06
5 - Everybody Get Dangerous 4:03
6 - Dreamin' 5:12
7 - Thought I Knew 3:02
8 - Cold Dark World 3:51
9 - Automatic 3:08
10 - The Angel And The One/Non Musical Silence 6:46
11 - Miss Sweeney [Bonus Track] 4:02
12 - Pig [Bonus Track] 4:03
13 - The Spider [Bonus Track] 4:43
14 - King [Bonus Track] 5:11
Interestingly enough, MTV has named Weezer the "Buzzworthy Artist of the Week" (for June 2, 2008) and produced a series of video clips (see below) to celebrate the band's new release.
Yet, in 1997, MTV pretty much abandoned the "Weezer sound" after years of a mutually rewarding relationship by changing its format to embrace the emerging popularity of hip-hop.
The legendary AllMusic Guide summed it up by describing how Weezer's sophomore album, Pinkerton, failed to generate the enthusiastic response that "Blue" had, and "MTV and modern rock radio had withdrawn their support not only to Weezer, but their style of guitar-driven punk-pop in general."
Years after its release, Pinkerton - now considered a classic by some hardcore Weezer fans - was unearthed by a new generation of so-called 'emo' lovers, and "their audience grew despite not having a new album in the stores" for five long years (until 2001's "Green Album" and the 2002 release of Maladroit).
Following Maladroit, the band set off for another hiatus (releasing only one mediocre album Make Believe in 2005 that contained the mainstream radio single "Beverly Hills") consumed by side projects. The temporary parting of ways by the band members fueled speculation that the band had broken up.
Weezer has certainly gone through a metamorphosis since 1994, yet the release of the "Red Album" is proof that the band can still deliver a quirky and unique brand of alternative rock to the pleasure of long-time fans while also appealing to a new generation of media saturated music lovers.
Here are some more great Weezer links:
- Watch the official Making of the "Pork & Beans" Video on MySpace
- MTV's collection of 13 Weezer video and music clips
- AllMusic Guide's in-depth Weezer biography
- YouTube video of "Island in the Sun", directed by Spike Jonez
- Weezer.com
- Weezer's official MySpace page
Labels: 2008 Releases, Alternative Rock, New Releases, Red Album, Weezer
Infusing elements of dance, hip-hop and funk, Spokane, Washington's one-band and DJ James Pants (born James Singleton) has released his debut album Welcome.MP3: James Pants - "We're Through" from the album Welcome on Stones Throw Records
If you like what you hear, purchase Welcome from iTunes.
After meeting Stones Throw Records head Peanut Butter Wolf, Pants' recording of "Do A Couple of Things" was included on Wolf's compilation Chrome Children.
Pants has a penchant for recording humorous and fun mixtapes, which have been the catalyst behind much of his popularity in the indie music underground.
In 2007, Pants has released a 12" EP titled Kash and a follow-up single track "Murder" on Chrome Children, Vol. 2.
Recently, Pants has toured as a DJ with Peanut Butter Wolf and Jamie Lidell.
Labels: Indie Rock Labels, James Pants, New Releases, Peanut Butter Wolf, Stones Throw Records
Since their formation in 2004, and a widely applauded debut album and series of performances at the South by Southwest festival, Glasgow, Scotland's indie pop band Frightened Rabbit has emerged in greater frequency on music websites and blogs in the past few months, largely based on their new sophomore release The Midnight Organ Fight.MP3: The Modern Leper - Frightened Rabbit
The digital version of the album was released this week and CD version of the album will be officially released on April 29th on Fat Cat Records.
- Frightened Rabbit interview with Stereogum
- MySpace: Frightened Rabbit
- Pitchfork review of The Midnight Organ Fight
- Elbo.ws review and tracks off Frightened Rabbit's new release
According to the band's record label:
Frightened Rabbit's performance and interview from this year's SXSW festival will feature on Rockfeedback TV on CH4 on 19 April...and 25th April.
Labels: 2008 Indie Releases, Frightened Rabbit, Indie Pop, New Releases, Scottish Indie Bands
(photo via Coachella; Roger Waters of Pink Floyd)Based on visitor traffic, comments and your email requests, people want more music festival news, updates, line-ups and more for 2008 music festivals - perhaps the biggest year for music festivals worldwide.
Coachella, less than two weeks away, has just added Prince as a headliner. It's really helpful that he returned to his original namesake rather than that symbol (thanks Prince). Also the Coachella line-up rumors that Goldfrapp and Aphex Twin have been added have been confirmed.
MP3: Fly Me Away - Goldfrapp
The Virgin Mobile Festival, set for August 9-10, 2008 at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, has yet to release the official, full line-up of artists for this year's festival, but the headliners already announced include Foo Fighters, Jack Johnson, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails and Stone Temple Pilots.
Get more details at the Virgin Festival official website.
Tickets for the UK Reading and Leeds Festival sold out in record time. To see why, here’s the official line-up for 2008.
Video: The Killers - When You Were Young
Headliners for both fests include include Queens of the Stone Age, Rage Against the Machine, The Killers, Metallica, The Raconteurs, Editors, Bloc Party, Manic Street Preachers, Justice and Bullet for My Valentine. The dates of the festivals are from August 22-26, 2008.
MP3: Die in the Summertime - Manic Street Preachers
Organizers have canceled the Isle of Skye Festival in Scotland due to mounting debts. Nice work, guys!
The Flaming Lips have announced that they plan to debut their long-awaited movie "Christmas on Mars" at this year's Sasquatch Festival in Washington State on Sunday, May 25. The following day, Monday, May 26, the Flaming Lips will close out the festival with a predictably flashy set.
Other headliners set to play the Northwest's largest outdoor festival - and voted by Pollstar as the best outdoor fest in the U.S. - include Modest Mouse, The Cure, Death Cab For Cutie, Built to Spill, Rodrigo y Gabriela, MIA, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, The Mars Volta, REM and The National.
Video: Modest Mouse: Dramamine (many of MM's vids on YouTube have been disabled for embedding; hmmmm....)
Non-headliners, but not less note-worthy, include bands such as Mates of State, Rogue Wave, Beirut, Okkervil River, Grand Archives, Cold War Kids, The Kooks, White Rabbits, Throw Me the Statue, Ghostland Observatory, The Hives, Battles, Yeasayer and many more. Here's the full line-up.
The Celebrate Brooklyn summer music concert series kicks off for the 30th year in Prospect Park beginning in June.
Artists and bands slated to play Prospect Park include Issac Hayes (June 12); Cold War Kids (June 26); Brazilian Girls (July 11); Beth Orton and Matt Munister (July 12); Deerhoof (July 18).
Related stories:
Outdoor music festival are bigger and better than ever
TradingMarkets.com
Have festivals gone middle-aged?
UK Sunday Times
Rocking on, Lollapalooza-style
Chicago Tribune
Stadium rock: this summer's big noise
UK Telegraph
More 2008 music festival news, updates and profiles coming soon. In the meantime, see the Festivals page or save this site to your feed reader.
Labels: 2008 Rock Festivals, Indie Rock News, New Releases
They made a splash at South by Southwest, which says a lot nowadays in the world of 'indie' music. With their soft harmonies and breezy melodies, Wye Oak have risen in popularity on music blogs in recent months. Not only that, but Wye Oak can also rock, demonstrated by the indie rock song "Warning".Now the band, consisting of members of Jenn Wasner (guitar, vocals) and Andy Stack (drums, vocals), have released their debut album If Children on the popular independent label Merge Records.
The Baltimore duo's music has been compared to Stars and Bodies of Water and their music role models include Elliot Smith and Yo La Tengo (that's some awesome influence!), which is evident in listening to their tracks.Purchase If Children via Merge Records
MP3: Wye Oak - Family Glue from If Children via Box.net
MP3: Wye Oak - Obituary from If Children via from Box.net
MP3: Wye Oak - Warning from If Children via Merge Records
Stream more songs from If Children on the band's official mp3 page
Wye Oak's Tour Dates:
4/10 - The G-Spot (CD Release Party), Baltimore, MD
4/11 - The Sugar Tank, Lancaster, PA
4/12 - Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY
4/13 - The Black Cat, Washington, DC
5/01 - Garfield Artworks, Pittsburgh, PA
5/02- Over the Top Festival, Toronto, ON
5/03 - Valentine's Downstairs, Albany, NY
5/04 - Great Scott, Boston, MA
Wye Oak Official Website Wye Oak on MySpace
Labels: Album: If Children, Free Indie MP3s, Merge Records, New Artists, New Releases, Virgin Festival 2007 Baltimore, Wye Oak
Few bands in today's highly competitive and saturated music market can remain popular without having new material for fans on a regular basis.But veteran indie electronic rockers Portishead have managed to overcome those odds for nearly a decade.
On April 28th, Portishead will release their first original collection of new material since 1997's self-titled 'trip hop' classic, which propelled the band to celestial heights, and kept them going for years, thanks in large part to a loyal fan base and numerous performances at big music festivals over the last few years.
The new album, Third, (which may refer to the fact that this is only their third album since 1994's classic Dummy) has been kept under tight wraps in hopes of preventing a leak, but just to make sure they don't miss having some control over the "blogger buzz" that is so important nowadays, the band has just released their new video called "Machine Gun."
MP3: Portishead - Machine Gun from upcoming release of Third.
See the Portishead official website for more information, ordering details and news updates. Just a quick note: The band needs to create a new and more dynamic website and definitely get rid of the frame-navigation of their site's pages.
Labels: Electronic Music, Machine Gun Video, New Music Videos, New Releases, Portishead
Riding on the sails of their 'critically acclaimed' debut album Humanimals, San Diego's indie trio Grand Ole Party has announced a slew of concert dates with indie rockers Rogue Wave and punk old-timers New York Dolls (do they get MediCare?) for the month of April with a final show in San Francisco on May 3rd.
Question: Is this band really good enough to tour with the likes of Vampire Weekend, Rilo Kiley and Rogue Wave? (I don't think so, but you be the judge.) Plus, the name; that's the best they could come up with? GOP? Maybe they'll get a spot at a McCain rally.
Grand Ole Party: "Nasty Habits" [mp3] from HumanimalsGrand Ole Party's April/May Concert Schedule
April
2 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
3 Omaha, NE - Slowdown Jr
4 Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge
5 Nashville, TN - The Rutledge
6 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree
7 Mt. Pleasant, SC - Village Tavern
11 Boston, MA - Paradise #
12 New York, NY - Fillmore at Irving Plaza #
15 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church #
16 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club #
18 Chicago, IL - Schubas #
19 Chicago, IL - Schubas #
20 St. Louis, MO - Gargoyle Club #
22 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre #
24 Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room #
27 Indio, CA - Coachella
May
3 San Francisco, CO - The Fillmore #
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Labels: 2008 Indie Releases, Grand Ole Party, New Releases, Rogue Wave, Vampire Weekend
For the first time in major music festival history, one band - the iconic Radiohead - will headline two of the three nights of the All Points West Festival, commonly referred to as APW and "Coachella East". 
Get the full story (released on 2/21), plus the full lineup, ticket sale dates and prices, transportation and the whole skinny at a new site ironically called CoachellaEast.com.
+ Radiohead - House of Cards
+ Radiohead - Videotape (Mojib Remix)
Radiohead 2008 Tour Dates:
05-05 West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre
05-06 Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre
05-08 Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheatre
05-09 Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
05-11 Bristow, VA - Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge
05-14 St. Louis, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
05-17 Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
05-18 Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center
06-06 Dublin, Ireland - Malahide
06-07 Dublin, Ireland - Malahide
06-09 Paris, France - Bercy
06-10 Paris, France - Bercy
06-12 Barcelona, Spain - Parc del Fòrum
06-14 Nimes, France - Arenes
06-15 Nimes, France - Arenes
06-17 Milan, Italy - Civica Arena
06-18 Milan, Italy - Civica Arena
06-20 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany - Southside Festival
06-22 Scheeßel, Germany - Hurricane Festival
06-24 London, England - Victoria Park
06-25 London, England - Victoria Park
06-27 Glasgow, Scotland - Glasgow Green
06-29 Manchester, England - Lancashire County Cricket Club
07-01 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Westerpark
07-03 Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival
07-04-05 Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter Festival
07-06 Arras, France - Main Square Festival
07-08 Berlin, Germany - Wuhlheide
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Labels: 2008 Festival Line Ups, 2008 Indie Releases, All Points West Festival, APW Festival, Coachella East Festival, Festival Tickets, Festivals, Jack Johnson, New Releases, Radiohead
The super-talented emo-rock indie band Bright Eyes, flying on the success of the release of the Four Winds EP and a string of hot shows in New York City two weeks ago, are teasing fans with the upcoming full-length release of their long anticipated album Cassadaga scheduled for official release by the band's own indie label, Saddle Creek Records. Cassadaga is Bright Eyes' first full-length album in two years. The album is titled after the name of a town knof psychics in Florida.
If you can't wait until April 10, you can stream the entire Cassadaga album from the band's record label website.
Just in the past few years, the band has achieved enormous success worldwide. In fact, their stardom rivals that of "Big Five" label artists who have worked decades to reach the same level of popularity and record sales.
In 2004, the band hit the Billboard Hot Top 100 twice within two weeks of release with their singles "Lua" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)." While they have not released a new album since 2005, rumors say it's in the works.
The new EP, Four Winds, currently No. 5 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums charts, is a pre-ample for the upcoming release of Cassadaga, which critics call the band's best work to date. The album is as American as anything Oberst has ever created with intricate observations of American history - good and bad - as he travels across the country.
In the single "Four Winds", Oberst writes "off to old Dakota where genocide sleeps, in the Black Hills, the Badlands, the calloused East, I buried my ballast, I made my peace." Other notable songs include the ironic "Soul Singer in a Session Band," the energetic "hot Knives" and a show favorite "I Must Belong Somewhere".
On the Saddle Creek Records website, the fun song "Make A Plan To Plan To Love Me" is described as "Bright Eyes at their most playful; a straight-up love song, replete with girl group vocals and Burt Bacharach strings.
From the website: "Oberst, the fumbling guitarist whose impassioned prose tumbles out under stark stage spotlights, is still recognizable in every track, but the songs are rich with elaborate production, cinema-sized orchestration and, at times, sprawling, almost psychedelic, atmospherics. "
Here is the official track listing for Cassadaga:
1. Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed)
2. Four Winds [mp3 link above]
3. If The Brakeman Turns My Way
4. Hot Knives
5. Make A Plan To Love Me
6. Soul Singer In A Session Band
7. Classic Cars
8. Middleman
9. Cleanse Song
10. No One Would Riot For Less
11. Coat Check Dream Song
12. I Must Belong Somewhere
13. Lime Tree
Bright Eyes is the creation of guitarist, singer and songwriter Conor Oberst and producer and instrumentalist Mike Mogie and Nate Walcott.
The band is also frequently joined by many indie artists from the Omaha scene and beyond, including Andy LeMaster (Now It's Overhead), Ben Kweller, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Maria Taylor, Rachel Yamagata, M. Ward, Janet Weiss (ex-Sleater Kinney), Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley) and John McEntire (Tortoise).
Bright Eyes is somewhat like Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene - they have rejected Big Five contracts and make wonderful, creative and experimental music that involves artists from other bands or disciplines in a rotating-type fashion.
Fame and experience in the business world is nothing new to these guys, especially for Oberst who caught the attention of the indie rock world in 1994 at the age of 14! as the founder, singer and songwriter of the indie outfit Commander Venus.
Realted Links:
Bright Eyes Spring 2007 Tour and Show Dates
Bright Eyes MySpace
Labels: 2007 Concert Dates, Best New Indie CDs, Bright Eyes, Bright Eyes Tour Dates, Bright Eyes' Shows, New Releases, Popular Alternative Rock, Popular Indie Bands
