5 Outstanding Folk Video Singles w/ Thomas LaVine, N. Kerbin, Jacksonport, Jordan Hart, Shane Lentz

One of the greatest sub-genres of indie rock music over the past couple of decades has been the indie folk-rock movement. The stellar rise in popularity of indie folk-rock from the early 2000s through the 2010s, was especially noteworthy. The list of artists and bands is epic: Fleet Foxes; Bon Iver; Bright Eyes; Sufjan Stevens; Iron & Wine; Mumford & Sons; The Decemberists; The Lumineers; Band of Horses, to name just a few.

While many indie music lovers know the ‘big’ names of indie folk-rock, there are ten times as many talented indie folk/folk-rock musicians and bands recording and dropping impressive albums and singles every month, but they rarely get covered.

Over the past 15+ years that we’ve been covering indie rock, there are hundreds of posts featuring both popular and DIY indie-folk artists and bands.

Kicking off this post is one of the best DIY, or non-DIY, indie-folk songs of the past year by way of South Carolina musician and songwriter Thomas LaVine. Together with heartfelt songwriting, feel-good, melodic acoustic guitar playing, banjo interludes, and LaVine’s, and Luna Keller’s, expressive and silky vocals, “By The Coast,” is one of the exceptional folk tracks that were largely unheard.

Watch and listen to four other splendid choice picks include recent singles from N. Kerbin, Jacksonport, Jordan Hart, and last, but definitely not least, is the amazing folk instrumental, “As The Ice Thaws,” from the exciting and accomplished guitarist Shae Lentz who plays a style similar to the late and truly great Michael Hedges (see last video below).

And the Legendary Guitarist Michael Hedges

New indie folk songs from Phillip Jonathan, Michael Witt, Chris Ho & more

Phillip Jonathan – “Seafront”

The narrative style of this track spoke to me from first listen. I also really appreciate the unhurried composition style. In a world of so many handclaps and “get to the hook as soon as possible” tunes, it’s nice to hear a delightfully expressive tune. The lyrics are more prosaic than a typical folk song (in the best way possible).

But there’s nothing I could say here to prepare you for the energy and power of the guitar solo that rips into the middle of this lulling acoustic folk tune. The juxtaposition is as satisfying as it is surprising. This is a gem.

 

Michael Witt – “Older”

This is a gorgeous composition. The acoustic guitar is the heartbeat, but the rest of the strings make this a magnificent chamber folk piece. Actually, heck with the genre stuff, this is just a really interesting song. It has layers of complexity that all serve one purpose; to convey the lyrical message about reflecting on a complex moment in life.

I will say the main melody reminds me of “Oceans” by Hillsong United. That said, the personable lyrics and impressive guitar work definitely stand out for us on this one.

 

Chris Ho – “Borrowed Books”

There’s something gently rewarding about this track from Chris Ho. The acoustic guitar works in perfect balance with the backing track on this one. The overall energy is genuinely calming. If you’re a book lover (like many music lovers, I’ve found), then this song’s lyrical theme will connect deeply and personally.

It’s a love song, but it’s also about the feeling in the soul experienced with connecting to another’s world. This is a remarkable piece of music with some subtle harmonies that connect perfectly with the mood of the track.

 

Charm of Finches – “Concentrate on Breathing”

The harmonies from Charm of Finches are worth their own post, feature, and round of applause. Then, in addition to the glorious vocals, the rest of the track has this mysterious “wild west” meets a mystery novel… the vibes are absolutely remarkable. I don’t know the entire story behind the mystical sound this band creates, but I am here for the atmosphere that it creates.

If you’re looking for folk music that doesn’t sound like every other hand-clappy good time band out there, check out Charm of Finches esoteric-yet-endearing aesthetic. They are delightful.

 

Sammy Copley – “Marsha”

From the very first time I heard Sammy Copley, I was reminded of the great Anna Tivel. The expressive vocal lines all feel quite intentional. The phrasing is expertly done. The piano, too, plays a pivotal role in creating a calm yet poignant message from the song. The annunciation and clarity in the vocals feel poetic as much as actual singing; it works incredibly well.

This is a kind of heady folk music that speaks to our souls here at ETTG. If you are looking for a chamber folk aesthetic with an amazing lead vocal and thoughtful lyrics, give Sammy Copley a spin.

by Greg Jones

5 Indie Folk Rock Albums You’ve Gotta Hear – Roadkill Ghost Choir, Miner, Honey Locust, Born Standing Up, Waterwells

When indie folk and folk rock gained popularity more than a decade ago, bands like Band of Horses, The Avett Brothers, The Decemberists, The Tallest Man In The World, Bon Iver, Bright Eyes, and many others benefited from that rise in the genre. And while the indie folk scene may have suffered a downturn in recent years, it’s refreshing to know that it’ll always exist, and we’ll always be here to deliver the artists, songs, and albums that we feel need to be heard.

For this particular post, we’re highlighting five predominantly indie folk releases dropped during the past couple to few years that you’ve probably never heard, but that we strongly recommend, especially if you’re a fan of indie DIY, under-the-radar damn good folk music – with rich and subtle infusions of bluegrass, rock, pop and country. These are albums that we did not hear at the time of their original release date, but should be part of the indie folk rock archives – and so here they are.

This post is also meant to bring your attention to the artists and bands themselves, and the songs and releases that first endeared us to them – not their most recent releases. None of these artists have been published on IRC before but they live on in our playlists forever. Enjoy.

In This Installment:

Roadkill Ghost Choir – Jacksonville, Florida
Miner – Los Angeles, California
Honey Locust – Nashville, Tennessee
Born Standing Up – Oxford, Mississippi
Waterwells – Birmingham, Alabama

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Roadkill Ghost Choir – Quiet Light

Original release: July 2013

From the Florida swamp lands of gators and cypress trees covered with Spanish moss, comes the absolutely phenomenal ambient folk rock band Roadkill Ghost Choir. In recent years, they have enjoyed the kind of attention a talented DIY band deserves. To truly appreciate RKGC, we strongly recommend listening to the band’s releases from oldest to most recent.

The ball got rolling for RKGC in 2012 when Andy Shepard (vocals, guitar) was invited to perform a gig at a local club. Not wanting to perform solo because he feared it would bore the patrons, Shepard recruited his brothers – Maxx Shepard (drums) and Zach Shepard (bass) to join him on stage.

And that was the planting of the seed that eventually spawned spectacular songs like bluegrass tinged folk rock track, “Beggar’s Guild”; the heartbreakingly beautiful acoustic ballad, “Bird in the Window,” and the less folk-influenced, more rock-driven, “Devout,” from the band’s fantastic 2013 debut EP, Quiet Light . The original three-track EP received over 150,000 plays and more than 1,200 Likes on Soundcloud.

MP3: “Beggar’s Guild”Roadkill Ghost Choir from Quiet Light EP

Not long after playing live together, the three brothers realized, and based on the response they received from the audience, that they had something special. Wasting no time, the Shepards drafted musicians Kiffy Meyers (pedal steel, banjo, guitar), Joey Davoli (keys, trumpet) and Stephen Garza (lead guitar) to create a fuller, bigger sound.

Bonus MP3: “Bird in the Window”Roadkill Ghost Choir from Quiet Light

The re-released expanded version of the EP, released later on, includes songs like the jammin’ folk rocker, “Drifter,” and the dreamy, melodic hooks of “Tarot Youth.”

Jumping ahead to more recently, the band’s follow-up debut 2014 album, In Tongues, won huge praise and online love, propelling the band into a new realm of popularity. It’s not hard to believe at all, when we first listened to Quiet Light a few years ago, that RKGC came back the next year with a stellar debut album.

Roadkill Ghost Choir on Facebook

Miner – Into The Morning

Original release: February 2014

Los Angeles husband and wife songwriting duo, Justin and Kate Miner, who release indie folk rock under the likely moniker, Miner, began making some waves in the LA folk revivalist scene in 2012.

Miner’s debut LP, Into The Morning, was released in February of 2014, featuring standout singles like “Carousel” and “Hey Love,” that collectively amassed over 380,000 plays and more than 2,000 Likes on Soundcloud. That’s significant for any band. The band’s intricate vocal harmonies and sing-along melodies have made them a crowd favorite in LA, throughout the west coast and increasingly across the nation.

MP3: “Carousel”Miner from Into The Morning

In 2015, the duo expanded into a full band, welcoming other family members into the fold, including Jeremy Miner, and his cousin, Amanda Koosed, while long-time friends, Justin Krook and David Schechtman, comprised the rhythm section.

Interestingly enough, Miner was originally a Kickstarter-funded, bedroom-studio project inspired by an extended trip through central and South America during which time the duo wrote and recorded the songs from their debut.

In fact, in 2013 and 2014, Miner shared the stage with indie giants like Lord Huron, Cayucas, Typhoon and White Demin. The band lists their top musical influences as Fleet Foxes, Wilco, Beck, Arcade Fire, and the Tallest Man On Earth.


Miner’s Official Website

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Honey Locust – The Great Southern Brood

Original release: February 2014

After making Nashville indie folk band Honey Locust‘s single, “Blue Rooms,” a DIY Song of the Day last year, we were even more impressed the more we listened to their meticulously arranged 2014 debut concept LP, The Great Southern Brood – a reference to 2011’s ‘Brood XIX,’ a cyclical 17-year invasion of cicadas in the southeastern United States.

Honey Locust is the duo of 20-somethings Jacob Davis (vocals, guitar, banjo) and Patrick Howell (piano, violin), who began recording when they were still teenagers.

They spent most of 2013 in isolation, writing and recording the album with friends and “world class string players.” The result is a thoughtful and dense concept album with poignant instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics and vocals.

MP3: “Blue Rooms“Honey Locust from The Great Southern Brood

The album, the band contends, is an introverted and ‘earnestly somber’ form of “southern Gothic chamber music” that explores “the boundaries of contemporary folk music while maintaining connection with their traditional roots,” relying heavily on orchestral strings and horns.

The duo’s debut EP, Fear Is A Feeling, received accolades in the Nashville indie scene and led to bookings with accomplished local bands such as Saintseneca, Frontier Ruckus, River City Extension, Josephine Foster, and The Lonely Wild.

Honey Locust’s top musical influences include Andrew Bird, Timber Timbre, The National, Balmorhea, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Califone. We also really liked Davis’ answer to the question ‘what is indie rock’: It’s “music that is what it wants to be, not what anyone else wants it to be.” Nicely put.

Honey Locust on Facebook

bornstandingup

Born Standing Up – Born Standing Up

Original release: January 2014

From the time Patton Ford, chief songwriter and multi-instrumentalist for the band, Born Standing Up, heard the likes of Otis Redding and Uncle Dave Macon while in the passenger’s seat of his father’s truck as a youngster growing up in Oxford, Mississippi, he knew he had to “respond to these legends, talk back and share his stories, the same way they had done before him.”

Ford began writing songs at a family friend’s cabin in the spring of 2011. With just a guitar and his voice, he began constructing what would eventually become the songs for Born Standing Up’s eponymous debut.

MP3: “No. 9“Born Standing Up from Born Standing Up

After drummer Logan Little suggested his vocally-trained girlfriend, Allison Quick, sing along with Ford on the songs, the three joined forces and performed their first show in Oxford early in 2012.

Because of the grand reception they received, the trio realized they needed a bass player and a second guitarist, and ended up recruiting musician Knowlton Bourne into the band. Soon after, the band dropped their indie folk mixed with alternative country infused debut, featuring remarkable songs like “No. 9” and “Cane Break.”

“Indie rock is anyone with a guitar, laptop, microphone or a melody stuck in their head,” Bourne wrote in response to a question ‘what is indie rock?’ He continued: “It is anyone who can’t go a day without tapping their foot to the sound of music or humming a few words under their breath. Indie music is the future of music. It is something that does not reside in arenas or stadiums…[it] is humble, raw and real.”

Not surprisingly, the band’s musical inspirations include artists such as The Lumineers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Shovels & Rope, The Decemberists, Todd Snyder, Townes Van Zandt, and Steve Earle.

Born Standing Up on Facebook

waterwellsband

Waterwells – Waterwells

Original release: March 2015

And lastly, we are happy to present the unsigned alternative folk rock trio Waterwells from Birmingham, Alabama, who dropped a terrific self-titled debut EP in March of 2015 that we’ve spun a number of times in the cafe.

Early in 2014, after a year and a half of performing and recording together under the founder and singer/songwriter’s name, Chris K. Davidson, the trio of Davidson, Jeremy Allinder on bass, and Josh Argo on guitar, morphed into Waterwells.

The guys got to work instantly – writing, recording, mixing and mastering songs DIY-style at Les Nuby‘s (Verbena, Vulture Whale) Homewood, Alabama recording studio. For the final recording, the band needed a drummer – that’s when they found Jacob Freeman.

“By My Side“Waterwells from Waterwells

Waterwells delivers an authentic, rich, mellow folk rock sound drenched in reverb and acoustics, communicating “tales of failure, hope, and reconciliation,” Davidson writes, adding that Waterwells is “determined to make its mark on the ever-changing sonic landscape.”

After listening to songs like “Morning Light” and “By My Side” many times, Waterwells debut EP is certainly on our list of DIY indie folk releases worth a listen. Fans of Wilco, Conor Oberst and Deer Tick are the most likely to be receptive to Waterwells.

The band has opened for artists like Joel Madison Blount, Early Americans, Oh Jeremiah, The Heavy Hearts, and Tangible Green. Among their musical influences are John Mark McMillan, Ryan Adams, Nada Surf, and Judah & The Lion.

Waterwells on Facebook

Around The World Playlist – The Strokes, The Shins, Akron/Family, Sufjan Stevens, The Clash, Calexico, Beach House

We are, collectively, playlist fanatics. That includes you and probably your friends and family members. We love to take songs we dig and organize and label them. It allows everyone to be a deejay in their own way, for real.

Inside the cafe, and for more than two decades – since the late 80’s – we’ve created cassette mixtapes featuring all kinds of genres and styles, from radio hits by big name bands to totally under-the-radar should-be hits from bands very few people have ever heard of.

As the years zinged by, those cassette mixtapes went to CDs and then to iTunes and now to Spotify because it is the one platform that finally made sharing music, and therefore playlists that so many long hours were dedicated to, are now being converted to Spotify to share with our viewers. We try to make sure the music is related to a theme. However, the first criteria is the song itself must be really good to legendary.

We encourage you to review Indie Rock Cafe’s Spotify page where you can follow us for more playlists. You are sure to hear a lot of great music you either already love or much more that you are sure to enjoy, including playlists about looks of different things – including this new playlist, called Around The World, with great songs from alternative, classic and indie rock bands about places around the world.

The fifteen tracks in this playlist highlight favorite songs of ours from a variety of genres and artists, including well-known bands, and others that are more obscure. Enjoy.

You can open the playlist to the IRC channel on Spotify or stream in on the site with the embed included below. Enjoy and share with friends.

‘It’s The End of the World’ Doomsday Apocalyptic 12/21/12 Playlist – REM, Radiohead, The Shins, AC/DC, The Strokes, The Hives

endoftheworld2012playlistIn a few hours, at the start of the winter solstice, some people on our troubled planet may be relieved to find out that the so-called 12.21.12 doomsday prophecies, misinterpreted from translations of the Mayan calendar, did not come true.

It’s been the most anticipated, talked about and hyped doomsday prophecy in the history of mankind – so much so that even a major Hollywood film ‘2012’ (the gold standard for terrible, cliche-filled Hollywood movie-making) was made.

The film is perhaps best known for having more ‘yeah right’ moments than any other film of recent memory – a dark comedy of just how many millions of dollars Hollywood can waste to turn out a seriously bad action-packed movie.

Even Woody Harrelson probably doesn’t want to talk about it – reefed up or not.

That said, if it is going to the end of the world, we’re going out with a playlist, of course – with appropriate songs from REM, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, The Hives, The Strokes, AC/DC, The Shins, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and many others in the Spotify playlist below, including one song that doesn’t necessarily fit in with the others – do you know which one it is?

So, if we don’t get to share music with you again after this day, the apocalypse, it’s been a great five years. As Michael Stipe of REM famously sang: “It’s the end of the world/as we know it/and I feel fine.”

You Made This Mix, Vol. I: Recommended Indie Songs to Test A Stereo System With

Do you have a new stereo system in your home or your car and want to test how good it is? Well, with a little help from our friends, we’ve put together a mix of songs from various indie rock bands. Last week we sent out a message to IRC readers to suggest songs to test a stereo system with, and we received over 50 suggestions, mostly via our Facebook page.

So many people liked this idea, that we have decided to make it a new playlist mix series called “You Made This Mix”. Now we know why you keep coming back! :) You guys and gals have great taste in music. We’re excited by this new experiment – as far as we know, no other music sites are doing this type of publishing – where the readers and visitors actually play a major and direct role in picking the songs for a mix.  With the next You Made This Mix, we want to know what are you favorite songs of 2010. You can use the Comments below, Facebook or Twitter to make your recommendations.

This mixtape is composed of the original person who recommended the song (usually from FB), the song itself, and the artist or band. Still, keep in mind that in no way can this mixtape itself, as far as sound quality of MP3s, possibly substitue for the sound quality of vinyl and CDs. Therefore, if  you really are serious about testing the sound quality of a stereo system with the songs in this first-ever You Made This Mix, do it with the vinyl or CD versions of the songs. It’s no wonder vinyl is making a comeback; the secret is out – you haven’t heard music until you’ve heard vinyl on a spectacular stereo system.

Note:  If you are one of the contributors below, and wish to say in 30 words or so why you picked you’re song, it’d be interesting to hear. As a total compilation, this mix created by contributors is impressive. If we had more time, we’d love to find streams for all of the songs suggested.

[zbplayer]

Sarah Norris: “Rocco”Arcade Fire

Lena Rathnam: “Elephant Gun”Beirut

Luke Land: “Crystal Visions”The Big Pink

Evan Hartstein: “Comfortably Numb”Pink Floyd

Buddy Tyree: “The Summer Ends”American Football (this song was also on one of IRC’s summer mixtapes series.)

David Hollenbeck: “I’ve Got Friends” Manchester Orchestra

Abe Yospe: “1999” Shout Out Louds

Richard Bivens: “Tough Love”Regrets & Brunettes

Jenna Wilkinson: “My Will is Good”Port O’Brien

Sean Poppert:   “Beach Comber”Real Estate

Chris Tuton: “First Day of My Life” Bright Eyes

Christine Joy Torres: “Hannah”Freelance Whales

Kevin J Weel: “Turn a Square” – The Shins – Track not found; recommend instead:

“Phantom Limb” The Shins

Amy Hughes Kearns: “Entrance” – The Black Angels – Track not found; recommend instead:

“Doves”The Black Angels

Juan Chavez Theme Song – Screaming Females – Track not found; recommend instead:

“Boyfriend” Screaming Females

Kenan Spear: “Foreign Room”Telekinesis

Shawn Beaulieu ‎“Whirring”The Joy Formidable

Eventually we’re going to publish our own version of songs to test a stereo with that will include more genres than just indie rock.

Other Recommendations:

John Caignet: “Sundown Syndrome” – Tame Impala

Kelly Murray: Two Headed Boy – Neutral Milk Hotel

Amanda Ciampolillo: “When I’m Up” – Great Big Sea

Zachary Holland: “Same Dream China” – Golden Gold Panda

Buddy Tyree Actually –  just stick the AF EP and LP in and just play that.

Dave Johnson Honestly: “Whisper” – Evanescence’s Whisper

Victoria Nordgren Lay me down – Emory Joseph

Jack Klempay: “You! Me! Dancing!” – Los Campesinos

Serena Lauren The Golden Age – The Asteroids Galaxy Space Tour : http://www.thesixtyone.com/s/vmRTpeFnm7e/

Celebrate The Days Spring Mix: The Rassle, Annuals, The Margarets, Deerhunter, Beirut, The Flaming Lips

Spring is in full force, people are out and enjoying the warmer, longer days, making plans for the summer, soaking up the sunshine and forgetting about one of the snowiest and coldest winters in years.

What better way to celebrate the days of spring than with a mix of spring-themed, and upbeat, songs from a variety of indie artists and bands? This first of two mixtapes includes select tracks from The Rassle, Annuals, The Margarets, The Flaming Lips, The Kinks, Airborne Toxic Event, Melpo Mene,  Matt Pond PA, Deerhunter, and Beirut.

“Celebrate The Days”The Rassle from unreleased (2010)

“Springtime”Annuals from Such Fun (2008)

“Someone Heavenly”The Margarets from The Best Of Cloudberry Records, Vol. II (2007)

“Can’t Stop the Spring”The Flaming Lips from Oh My Gawd…The Flaming Lips (1987)

“Better Things” – The Kinks from Give The People What They Want (1981)

“Something New”The Airborne Toxic Event from s/t debut (2008)

“Tropical Island”Melpo Mene from Holes (2007)

“Summer Is Coming” Matt Pond PA from The Nature Of Maps (2002)

“Spring Hall Convert”Deerhunter from Cryptograms (2007)

“A Sunday Smile”Beirut from The Flying Club Cup (2007)

Stay tuned for Part Two of Celebrate The Days Springtime Mix, featuring songs and videos from Simon and Garfunkel, Akron/Family, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Postmarks, Midlake, Horowitz, Wooden Birds and more.

Mother’s Day Mix – Mercury Rev, Dead Weather, Pink Floyd, Paul Simon, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Voxtrot

motherdayfunny

We love our Moms. We love excuses for creating playlist mixes. We love sharing them with you. We love that we’re on the cusp of summer. Thank you all great Moms. The world would totally suck without every last one of you!

[zbplayer]

“First-Time Mother’s Joy (Flying)“Mercury Rev from The Secret Migration (2005)

mothersdaymix

“Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives“Voxtrot from Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives (2006)

“Mom Cop“The Netherfriends from Calling You Out (2009)

“Mother of God“Close Lobsters from Foxheads Stalk This Land (1987)

keenyawoods
"Mother and Daughter's First Conversation" Keenya Woods

“So Long, Mom, I’m Off to Drop the Bomb“Brad P from s/t debut (2009)

“Mother Heart“Vulgaras from Dots (2008)

“Mother’s Tears“Sad Day For Puppets from Unknown Colors (2008)

“Gold Star Mothers“Hammock from Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow (2008)

“Motherless Children”Bob Dylan from The Gaslight Tapes (1962)

nativeamericanmother
“Treat Me Like Your Mother“The Dead Weather from Horehound (2009)

“Mother And Child Reunion“Paul Simon from 1964-1993 (1971)

“Mother And Child Reunion“ (Paul Simon) – The Morning Benders, single (2008)

“Send A Picture of Mother“Johnny Cash from Greatest Hits (1995)

“Mother”Pink Floyd from The Wall (1979)

“Mother’s Little Helper”The Rolling Stones from Aftermath (1966)

“Mindless Child of Motherhood “The Kinks from The Kink Kronikles (1972)

If you want more mother/mom themed songs, see our Mother’s Day Mix from 2009

Songs About Spring, Vol. III: Deerhunter, A Boy Least Likely To, Akron/Family, Fruit Bats, The Very Most, and Atlas Sound

To borrow an old phrase, it’s that time of year again. Warmer, longer days are replacing the colder, shorter days of winter. Trees and flowers are blooming like crazy (as folks with allergies will tell you). People are out of the house, more active and definitely in better spirits. Baseball bats are cracking. Students are cracking the books for finals. Travelers are planning their summer getaways. It’s spring. And after a particularly challenging winter, especially for folks from Virginia to Maine (where snowfall amounts shattered all the records), you can just feel people’s appreciation that the winter of 2010 is over.

A great way to celebrate spring is a playlist mix about spring, and the things we associate with spring. This mix includes tracks from Deerhunter, A Boy Least Likely To, Akron/Family, Fruit Bats, The Very Most, Atlas Sound, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Grand Hallway, The Catholic Comb, and to close out, a classic spring-themed song from The Beatles, “Rain”.

“Rainwater Cassette Exchange”Deerhunter from Rainwater Cassette Exchange (2009)

“I Box Up All The Butterflies” – Boy Least Likely To from The Law Of The Playground (2009)

“River” – Akron/Family from Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free (2009)

“Beautiful Morning Light“- Fruit Bats from The Ruminant Band (2009)

“Raindrops” – Grand Hallway from Promenade (2009)

“A Two Week, Springtime, 7th Grade “Romance”The Very Most from Spring from Spring EP (2009)

“Frisbee In The Rain” – The Catholic Comb from Ghost Stories (2005)

“Spring Break”Atlas Sound from Another Bedroom EP (2008)

“Cold Spring”Cymbals Eat Guitars from Why There Are Mountains (2009)

“RainThe Beatles from B-side to “Paperback Writer” (1966)

Bonus: “This Time Tomorrow”The Kinks from Lola vs. Powerman and the Money Go-Round (1970)

Get a zip of this mix

If you liked that mix, you can also see the first mix of Songs About Spring, posted a year ago, with songs from Annuals, Spinning Wheels, The Fancy Dress Party, The Postmarks, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and The Flaming Lips.

Feetz to Da Beatz, Vol. I – Bands That Get You Dancing: Body Language, Yes Giantess and Friends Electric

Feetz to Da Beatz is yet another new playlist mix series that offers our listeners a unique perspective on artists and bands that they might not hear elsewhere. In recent years, dance, soul, R&B, blues and hip hop styles have been increasingly incorporated under the growing umbrella term of ‘indie rock,’ which is just fine with us, but also confusing to many others.

That said, who doesn’t like to move their feetz and dance to da beatz? Regular visitors to IRC know by now that we have an eclectic taste in music; the bottom line being – great music is simply great music no matter what genre it is labeled as, regardless of who makes or where it originates – you know it when you hear it.

Armed with an arsenal that includes vocoders, glockenspiels, graceful vocals and forceful percussions that sync to deliver a kinetic dynamite sound that even grandpa would find hard to sit through, Body Language have risen from the DIY scene to become one of NYC’s most popular new dance bands of 2009-10, branding their own flavor of driving beats, sunny (and at times dark and heavy) synths and soaring, catchy choruses. Body Language is the ass shaking combination of Grant Wheeler and Matt Young graced by the soul styles of Ms. Angelica Bess, and the drum work of Ian Chang, known best as a member of Mickey Factz.

In September, Body of Language released a five-track EP, titled Speaks. The EP features the hopping grooves of the unforgettable song, “Huffy Ten Speed,” which our friends at I Guess I’m Floating called: “..a darker/heavier sound with glitchy synths and forceful beats to boot – not to mention they’ve crafted a chorus as catchy as it is locomotive..”

“Huffy Ten Speed”Body of Language from Speaks EP (2009)

After cutting their teeth on the local circuit and becoming one of NYC’s most in demand party bands of 2008, Body of Language were recruited to collaborate on the production of Passion Pit‘s widely acclaimed 2009 debut LP, Manners, and Machinedrum‘s 2009 Late Night Operation EP.

The band was also contracted to back up Theophilus London in live shows dressed as ‘The Lovers,’ in addition to playing with Passion Pit, School of Seven Bells, Ninjasonik & Jimmy Edga and We Have Band.

Another excellent song from the Speaks EP, “Work This City,” was featured on the collector’s compilation, Moongadget: The Noctural State, released in 2009 via Ghostly International. The band is also working on remixes of tracks from Yes Giantess, Shuttle, and Alaska. This is one band that you don’t want to miss in 2010.

“Work This City”Body of Language from Speaks EP (2009)

Body of Language on MySpace

Since Boston’s Yes Giantess has a tie-in with Body of Language, it is convenient, and fitting, to include a track from this popular electro-dance band that has created quite a stir in the past year or so with their groovy beats, pop-punk attitude, and intoxicating synth-gaze compositions. Make sure to heck out the band’s MySpace link below for remixes and other tracks, plus the 411 on their upcoming performances at SXSW and the Sasquatch Festival.

“You Were Young”Yes Giantess from 7″ (2009)

“Tuff N Stuff”Yes Giantess from 7″ (2009)

Yes Giantees on MySpace

Up next in this Feetz to Da Beatz mix is Friends Electric, a group comprised of talented young lads from Neath, South Wales. One blogger described them as “a blend of seriously radio-friendly pop-candy and dance-synth/electro.” The band’s electro, keys glazed pop is hard to ignore, and is among our favorite new dance bands. Remarkably, like Yes Giantees, Friends Electric are unsigned. The band is currently working on new material for a 2010 LP, but no release date has been announced.

“Beep Beep Beep”Friends Electric, single release

“Hours”Friends Electric, single release

Friends Electric on MySpace

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2010 Releases You Might Have Missed: Boy Eats Drum Machine, Phantogram, ArpLine, BlueBrain, Wakey! Wakey!

Disbanded: Band Break-Ups, Vol. I: New Faces, The Fake Fictions and The Catholic Comb

Best New Releases of the Week: Fang Island, Shout Out Louds, Shearwater, Holly Miranda, Blood Feathers, Quasi and More

San Francisco’s Noise Pop 2010 Festival Guide: Artists, Schedules, Trailers, Venues, Ticket Prices and Resources

Some of the Best Tracks of 2009: Radiohead, Girls, Sunset Rubdown, Flaming Lips, Deer Tick, WWPJP and More

Names in Songs, Mix II: Freelance Whales, Conor Oberst, The Kinks, Animal Collective, The Border Cops, The Fratellis, The Dodos

Song titles that include names in them are nothing new; there are literally thousands of such songs that span the history of music. This playlist focuses on mostly indie rock songs that fall into this category. This is the second Names in Songs mix (see Mix One featuring Throw Me The Statue, M83, Deastro and more).

The opening track in this latest mix is from Freelance Whales, one of the biggest “buzz” bands of the second half of 2009. In fact, Freelance Whales kick off a five-week tour with Fanfarlo tonight at Moe’s in Englewood, Colorado.

This mix also includes sweet tracks from Loney Dear, The Kinks, The Border Cops, Conor Oberst, Animal Collective, Yo La Tengo, The Fratellis, Gordie Tentrees, Red House Painters, The Dodos, Sunfold, Apples in Stereo and a double-shot from Travis.

“Hannah” Freelance Whales from Weathervane (2009)

“Danny Callahan” Conor Oberst from s/t debut (2008)

“Wicked Anabella”The Kinks from The Village Green Preservation Society (1968)

“Derek”Animal Collective from Strawberry Jam (2007)

“Allie & Donnie”The Border Cops from Musical Beatings for Your Inner Metrosexual (2007)

“I Am John”Loney Dear from Loney, Noir (2005)

“Madeline” Yo La Tengo from And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out (2000)

“My Friend John”The Fratellis from Here We Stand (2008)

“Alfred”Gordie Tentrees from Mercy Or Sin (2009)

“Find Me, Ruben Olivares”Red House Painters from Shanti Project Collection (1999)

“Jodi” The Dodos from Visiter (2008)

“Sara The American Winter”Sunfold from Toy Tugboats (2008)

“Stephen Stephen”Apples in Stereo from Stephen Stephen (2006)

“Sarah”Travis from J. Smith (2008)
Double-shot: “J. Smith”Travis from J. Smith (2008)

Halloween Indie Rock Songs, Vol VIII: Bat For Lashes, CANT, Crocodiles, Beirut, No Age, Sunset Rubdown, Fields & More

Bat For Lashes’ Natasha Khan

Today we are publishing two 13 song Halloweenish indie rock playlists, leaving five more, four of which will be published as doubles as October 31st fast approaches. First up is a Bat For Lashes’ cover of The Cure’s original haunting post punk song, “A Forest.”

Last week, Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor released his debut solo 7″ single using the moniker CANT via his own Terrible Records. Gorilla vs. Bear provides this track which it calls “Taylor’s gorgeous and haunting (and aptly titled) contribution” to the Halloween indie music collection. Don’t miss Volume VII that was published earlier today. All the Halloween playlist volumes are available here.

“A Forest” (The Cure) – Bat For Lashes

“Ghosts”CANT

“I Want To Kill”The Crocodiles

“Brandenburg (Monster Island)”Beirut

“Snakes Got A Leg”Sunset Rubdown

“Teen Creeps”No Age

“Calling All Skeletons”Alkaline Trio

“Here Comes the Phantom”The Clientele

“Skulls and Flesh and More”Fields

“Hunchback”Kurt Vile

“Our Haunt”Palomar

“Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard”Tom Waits

“King Kong”Herself

Extra Treat: “Blackie’s Dead”Scarlett Johansson & Pete Yorn