It’s been a while since we’ve published Vol. X of the on-going In Dee Mail playlist series. The main reason for this is that we’ve been incorporating bands that would otherwise go into the In Dee Mail series with other posts – especially the Best New Releases series. But some people have asked about the series, and based on the raw numbers we have reviewed for past editions, it only made sense to put together another edition. There is certainly no shortage of submissions.
For those of you not familiar with In Dee Mail, it’s a long-running profile and playlist series which is specifically focused on bands – usually, but not always, DIY – that send us their music via the submission form. During its three years in running, the In Dee Mail series has exposed dozens and dozens of talented, often under rated, artists and bands to music lovers around the world.
We don’t presuppose that everyone is going to like the bands featured for this particular series, but, among the bands that submitted music to us, these are just a few of the ones we think have potential to gain a larger following.
Albuquerque’s Genre Non-Specific Band, Cloud Lantern
From the magical desert southwest area of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Cloud Lantern blipped on our radar with their self-produced DIY release of the EP, Songs for Eluard. The band integrates post-punk, surf pop, garage rock, shoegaze and math-rock, and have become well-known within Albuquerque DIY indie rock scene. The new EP is a tribute to the poet Paul Eluard, whose contributions to the surrealist art movement are well-noted.
Cloud Latern’s sound is risque, enthralling and accessible to a wild audience. The first single, “Backgammon,” is a bright, sunny summer day, lo-fi surf pop track, featuring a driving drum beat, crashing cymbals, and lo-fi, surf rock guitars jamming away. The second single sent in, “Pushkin Around,” is yet another surf pop mixed with post-punk track that comes off very much like a noise pop or power pop style. a drummer who’s really going at it, and a clear post-punk guitars stand out more
“Backgammon” – Cloud Lantern from Songs for Eluard EP – July 12th
“Pushkin Around” – Cloud Lantern from Songs for Eluard EP
Website: Cloud Lantern’s Official Website
Opened For: Jenny Invert, Pineapple Explode, Fielded, Slow Animal, Fertile Crescent, Reignbeau, and others.
Musical Influences: The Microphones, Harlem, Gang of Four, My Bloody Valentine, Tera Melos, Real Estate, Slowdive, Bauhaus, Grouper, Wire
Arena Ballad Rock Still Kicks in San Francisco
The age of the 70’s and early 80’s arena rock ballad sound, with it’s sentimental vocals intertwined with glorious moments of sharp, high pitched guitar solos and riffs stays alive with The Jaded, a rock band from San Francisco. In March, the band released a new album, Juke, from which the band sent the lead single, “Without You.” A completely different song, “Honeybear,” reminds us a lot of the Red Hot Chill Peppers crossed with Sly and the Family Stone. The band is signed to the label Interscope Digital.
Website: The Jaded on Facebook
Opened For: None
Musical Influences: Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Motley Crue, The Who
New York Musical Duo Space Command Go Electropop
Space Command is the unsigned New York musical duo of Craig Campbell and Will Nichols. After almost a decade of making music together, the pair decided to give a shot at making an electronic pop album. Following months of work, the band released an album titled Machines Make Music this past April. The band sent along two pretty inspiring songs.
“Insult to Injury” – Space Command from Machines Make Music – April 8th
“Graveyard Shift” – Space Command from Machines Make Music
Website: Space Command Official Website
Opened For: Wazu, Young Heel, Miko & The Musket,
Musical Influences: Miike Snow, Lykke Li, Robyn, Sufjan Stevens, David Bowie, Bon Iver, The Antlers, Daft Punk, Elliott Smith, Bruce Springsteen
Toronto DIY Trio Nights & Weekends
Toronto three piece rock, pop, hip-hop unsigned band, Nights & Weekends released the EP, Old Creel Revival,, on April 2nd. The band members did everything from the writing and recording to mixing and distribution – the DIY spirit.
“The Old Creek Revival” – Nights & Weekends from Old Creek Revival EP – April 2nd
“Just A Little Too Much” – Nights & Weekends from Old Creek Revival EP
Website: Nights and Weekends Facebook Page
Opened For: None
Musical Influences: The Black Keys, Sam & Dave, Kid Cudi
The Brothers of The Jesus Rehab Release New Album
The Jesus Rehab is a Seattle DIY indie rock band that has its roots in southwest Michigan, where lead singer Jared Cortese and his brother, Dominic Cortese, began to write and record the songs that would later become the band’s first EP, Scatterbrained in 2007. The EP was well-received, and the band extensively toured the Pacific Northwest, and also appeared at South by Southwest (SXSW) in 2010. The band’s sound is marked by powerful vocals and driving rhythms which have led to comparisons to bands like OK Go, The Flaming Lips and Weezer. In April, they dropped their new album, Drunken Hillbilly Fight Bar, and sent us in these two singles.
“Long Way To Fall” – The Jesus Rehad from Drunken Hillbilly Fight Bar
“Carry You” – The Jesus Rehad from Drunken Hillbilly Fight Bar
Website: The Jesus Rehab Official website
Opened For: Julia Massey and The Five Finger Discount, The Great Um, Bandolier, Red Heart Alarm, Gashcat, and To The Sea. Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside
Musical Influences: Duke Ellington, Julia Massey and The Five Finger Discount, The Great Um, The Head and The Heart, The Beatles, The Flaming Lips, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Weezer
LA’s Alternative Rock Revival and Diamonds Under Fire
With Los Angeles as their home base, the alternative rockers Diamonds Under Fire take their influences from 80’s new wave, 60’s & 70’s classic rock & modern pop radio. Diamonds Under Fire leads the way from where the few female fronted rock groups left off, drawing comparisons to a younger Liz Phair, the confidence & spirit of Chrissie Hynde (of The Pretenders), the rawness of PJ Harvey, the bare bones rock ‘n roll of Nirvana and the pop production sensibilities of Pink. Diamonds Under Fire were featured on the cover of Guitar Player Magazine in 2007. However, they didn’t release their self-titled, debut album until this past April.
“Wide Awake” – Diamonds Under Fire from Diamond Under Fire – April 12th
“The One” – Diamonds Under Fire from Diamond Under Fire
Website: Official Diamonds Under Fire Website
Opened For: Uh Huh Her, Nations Afire (members of Rise Against), Elle Macho (feat. Butterfly Boucher), Amusement Parks On Fire, Jessie Payo, Scissors For Lefty, Bobby Long, Philip Sayce, Brian Glaze (Brian Jonestown Massacre), Radio Vago (Buddyhead) & many others.
Musical Influences: Nirvana, The Pixies, Depeche Mode, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Lil Wayne, The Game.