Need to Hear Recent Releases

Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

Many people may have not yet heard of Kings of Leon; now's the time to change that. "After three records and touring for five years straight, we knew what we were capable of," says the band's drummer Nathan Followill, "we just had to put our money where our mouths were. We had to take it to the next level"<www.kingsofleon.com/pages/bio>. Youth and Young Manhood (2003) and Aha Shake Heartbreak (2005) began the rockin' saga. Upon the release of their third album Because Of The Times in April 2007, Entertainment Weekly dubbed it their "crowning achievement," while Rolling Stone pondered: "How good can the Kings of Leon get? They've already gone further than anybody could have guessed"<www.kingsofleon.com/pages/bio>.

This album, not unlike the past compilations the band has released, has music made to listen to live. Only By The Night, released September 23rd, has an aesthetic appeal best experienced in person. Having said that, listening to the new stuff from KOL in you car or room with the speakers blasting and you wailing away on the air guitar will only advance the likability of the sounds you hear. "Sex on Fire", the first single off the new album, stresses the importance of safety when dealing with a partner in an sexual relationship . . . or it could just capture the relentlessness of rock the Followill boys produce; I may be reading too much into the title. The official bio for the band emphasizes the "stunning melodies, ringing guitars, and razor-sharp grooves" Only By The Night creates. Kings of Leon have shown they could generate this kind of force throughout their career, and those who have experienced their live shows will attest to that fact.

The trippy, ethereal feel of the opening track "Closer", apparently about a lovesick vampire according to lead singer Caleb Followill, sets the tone for what's to come. "Revelry" builds from a self-reflective, trip-hoppy head-bobber into an outpouring of nostalgically shared love and good times, all backed by a groovy little bass and drum line. Finishing the album is "Cold Desert", an emotionally intense ballad "about a man at the end of his rope who picks himself back up", showing that heart lies throughout Only By The Night. One of my favorite tunes off the album is "17" because it takes turns making you listen to the lyrics ("Oh, it's the rolling of her Spanish tongue that makes me want to stay") and feeling the musicality of the back and forth of the tempo; I'm also a sucker for great drum playing when accompanied by unique instrumentation, here represented by bells mimicking the guitar riffs.

The entirety of Only By The Night will grab you and drag you to see them live. Check their tour dates out here and plan on leaving thoroughly satisfied down to your soul.

Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue

The second solo release from Rilo Kiley lead singer Jenny Lewis churns out the folksy, soulful music she is known for; in a word Acid Tongue is raw. The style is captured ever so definitively by All Music Guide: "early-'70s West Coast rock, rooted in country-rock but touching on gospelfied blues and R&B, pitched somewhere between Laura Nyro and Bonnie Raitt, colored by spooky ballads and sweeping strings swiped from early Elton John" (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide).

Jenny seems to have a knack for "pour my heart out" song writing, and the title track, "Acid Tongue", acoustically delivers her signature singer/songwriter style (the track link features a mini-skit with Death Cab For Cutie front man, Ben Gibbard, leading up to the song). The lyrics speak on behalf of Lewis as she tries to find her way through a relationship in which she has done something to find herself now alone. She admits, "you know I am a liar . . . And you don’t know what I’ve done", but would rather "build a fire" than put the effort into figuring it out.

"Carpetbaggers" stands out as a clear connection to and continuation of the alt-country feel of Lewis' first solo release, Rabbit Fur Coat, on which she collaborated with The Watson Twins in January 2006. This track features a duet with Jenny's idol and fellow accomplished singer/songwriter, Elvis Costello, as she teases, "It's a bad man's world, and I'm a bad, bad girl".

Initially the central focus of Rabbit Fur Coat, Lewis' struggles with her Christian upbringing and spirituality continually prove to be a recurring theme throughout Acid Tongue. The closing gem, "Sing A Song For Them", encourages you to include “weekend tweakers”, “fairies on Main Street”, and “deadbeat daddies and boulevard freaks”, amongst others in your Sunday prayers. Another personal stand out for me is "Jack Killed Mom", which begins with an upbeat, jazzy piano riff which leads you to believe this is just another light-hearted, wellspun diddy. A careful listen to the lyrics reveal that this is a revenge song in defense of the narrator's mother who has been wronged in some way. The tune rolls out in the end with the "kick your seat out from under ya" style Gospel and early rock-n-roll greats used to do. Lewis' voice sweetly captures the message of "Trying My Best to Love You" as well, making this another standout on the album, especially if you dig her journey through love's ups and downs.

Check Acid Tongue out in its entirety and you'll find that the album carries a sense of wholeness to it. It also will please some to know that Chris Robinson (The Black Crows), M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel (She & Him), as well as Lewis' boyfriend Jonathan Rice, all accompany Costello in their own way to the instrumentation and vocal backing arenas throughout the album.

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• Jenny Lewis Gives Conan Her "Acid Tongue"
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It's Deer Hunting Season!

Image by Jalapeño via Flickr

Sound Breakdown and Analysis

Go on a journey of sound with Deerhunter, an experimental, post-rock, indie band from Atlanta. Formed in 2001, these guys produce a sound they term "ghost rock" on their MySpace page. The early albums from Deerhunter nurture the dreamy, lightweight feel of the gloom rock they exude. Songs like "Strange Lights" and "Cryptograms" contribute to this conception.

What's more engaging is the presence of the band on stage during live performances. Lead singer Bradford Cox suffers from Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder which among other health aggravators is characterized by abnormally long limbs. The late Joey Ramone endured the same condition. The look seems to compliment the sound. All Music Guide put it best: "Cox often exaggerates his otherworldly look by performing in Victorian-style party frocks and engaging in Iggy Pop-style acts of ritual self-abasement while his band mates churn out an aggressive mix of industrial-grind guitars and fractured dance rhythms that often recalls earlier Georgia art punks like the Method Actors and Pylon."

Why You Should Be Listening

The word on the streets (my streets are narrow and breezy) is that the new disc, Microcastle, the third full length album due out in late October, is more appealing to those indie rock fans who may not have loved previous incarnations Turn It Up Fa**ot [explicit title] or Deerhunter [censored title] (2005) and Cryptograms (2007). What does this mean for those who may be new to the Deerhunter sound? Take advantage of the opportunity and buckle up for a noisy, infectious good time.

Disjointed guitar riffed song "Operation" showcases the band's post-rock sound they've become popular over. "Nothing Ever Happened" is spinning on satellite radio right now; it features a groovy drum beat laid behind a more pop rock sounding flow, although the experimental elements of guitar and bass are still present just enough to recognize the band as Deerhunter of yesteryear. The "Little Kids" demo heard on the band's MySpace page features the space rock, dreamy-like feel of the band.

Bottom line is you should invest some time to get to know, or reknow, this unique on all accounts indie rock band.

Release Date: October 28, 2008

Overall Artist Rating: 8 out of 10 for when you feel in a drifting off into space kinda mood.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Name Fight! Deerhunter vs. The Dear Hunter! [Two Bands Enter, One Band Leaves]
• Bradford Cox of Deerhunter: The gift and the curse

The Great Eight - September 22nd

Yes, I know. It's been quite a while since I've graced your ears with something indieface-like to indulge in. That's what happens when the day job takes precedent over the job you do for fun and music love. Oh well, fear not my independently-minded friends! I have a new great eight with eight great mellow-minded tunes . . . Please to enjoy.

Midlake - Roscoe (from July 2006 release, The Trials of Van Occupanther, via Bella Union)
~ These Denton, Texas down home boys produce a 70's soft rock flashback complete with mellow instrumentation and a lyrical flow worthy of rockin' out with the longhairs.



Rouge Wave - Chicago X 12 (off September 2007 release, Asleep at Heaven's Gate, from Brushfire Records)
~ Acoustic lead, classic-sounding indie tune from this versatile group who compile "all their heartbreak, love, hurt, pain, elation and insight into a most affecting and beguiling record", according to an editorial review @ Amazon.com.



The Notwist - Good Lies (from June 2008 release, The Devil, You + Me, via Domino)
~ Described by some as "dream pop", this German quartet sends out the good feeling vibes and invites us into their sweetness to chill.



Wye Oak - Please Concrete (from April 2008 release, If Children, off Merge Records)

~ Pinned as shoegaze, noise, and folk sounding, the debut release from this Baltimore duo features a folksy hip, sweet sounding diddy starts off mellow and displays lead singer Jenn Wasner's enticing vocals; the song mixes up the bridge with a rockin' showing of talent from Wasner and drummer Andy Stack.



Hot Little Hands - Scene of The Crime (from Summer 2008 release, Dynamite In Black and White, off Rubber Records)
~ Australian group hands you your ears as they rock them off (other tunes on album set a cooler tone); these guys should be more well known and possibly blow up as the months go on, but we'll enjoy them now while we knew them when



Oxford Collapse - Young Love Delivers (off August 2008 release, Bits, via Sub Pop Records)
~ Via their fourth album, this quirky Brooklyn indie pop rock group lets you know they're "doing fine, thanks to [their] slow decline".



The Zincs - Hamstrung and Juvenile (from March 2008 release, Black Pompadour, via Thrill Jockey Records)
~ These Chicago-based mates are fronted by London-displaced lead singer James Elkington; this tune is described by a marsneedsguitars.com feature as "classic bit of droning organ and foreboding Sax with Elkington's brooding baritone leading the charge" which equals a chilled out rendition of indie jazz rock.



Morning State - Spectacular (off May 2008 release, You Know People I Know People, via the Indie Outlaw / The Orchard label)
~ This track eases into its rockin' capability and shows off the Atlanta-based band's full-length debut skills; take in the indie rockness!

The Great Eight - August 31st

This edition of the Great Eight features songs of the indie dance persuasion. Since it's been a bit since I've been able to post on here, I figured we all could use a release of sorts so we can hop around and dance to the beat . . . indie style! you may or may have not heard of these acts before, but that's the point of the Indieface: to promote and feature music you should be aware of and listening to. Again and as always, I welcome comments and feedback of all kinds, so let me know what you think and share the indie dance love! - Piece



Black Ghosts - It's Your Touch (off July 2008 release The Black Ghosts via the Southern Fried label)
~ Bossanova, bongo groovefest track with a retro and modern feel at the same time.


The Go! Team - Ladyflash (off October 2005 release Thunder, Lightening, Strike via Sony Records)
~ Hip-hop inspired indie dance diddy that features prerecorded vocal infusions.


Midnight Juggernaut - Road to Recovery (off May 2008 release Dystopia via Astralwerks)
~ Austrailian trio produce club sounding, smoke-inducing indie dance song; video features trippy aspects one may experience while listening to song!


Digitalism - Pogo (from June 2007 release Idealism via Astralwerks)
~ "Digital" sounding, drum and high hat tapping, bouncy track from the Germany-based music makers.


Uh Huh Her - Not A Love Song (off May 2008 release Common Reaction via Nettwerk Records)
~ Synth heavy, bass happy dance groove from musician/actress Leisha Hailey and her singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist partner Camila Grey.


The Faint - The Geeks Were Right (off August 2008 release Fascination via BLANK.WA Records)
~ Omaha, NE disco rockers come back to drop some flava on their first album in four years.


Sam Sparro - Black and Gold (off June 2008 release Sam Sparro via the Universal Republic label)
~ Another bass heavy, synth-laden dance happy track that featrues some actually lovely vocal backings and lyrical matureness from the Sparro man himself.


The Presets - My People (off April 2008 release Apocalypso via Modular Interscope Records)
~ Heavy trance-like dance track from Sydney-based duo.


EXTRA BONUS TRACK: Ladytron - Ghosts (off June 2008 release Velocifero via Nettwerk Records)
~ Liverpool's dance export experts deliver a gothic synth glam indie pop masterpiece with this tune.

Can't Miss Artist of the Week - Week Eight

By Tim Barber

Love as Laughter
MySpace, Official Website, Blog

Sound Breakdown and Analysis
Love as Laughter hail from the BK. They have been around since the mid 1990's and have built a reputation for energetic live performances. Their sixth full length album, Holy, turns another page in the evolution of this band. As put by Spin Magazine in their album review found here, singer-songwriter Sam Jayne "attempts to capture two disparate vibes on Holy: Pixies' loose-limbed chatter and Neil Young's big-sky heartache". What this means is Love as Laughter has come into their sound today after dabbling in 70's style garage rock and incorporating new millennium indie rockness.

Released on the Red Int/Red Ink label, "All Parts of Me", the bongo-happy, group vocalization tune, and "Coconut Flakes", the acoustic mellowness, "cheer up a friend" diddy, demonstrate the range and "variety of contrasts" used "to create a complex and thought provoking musical experience" on their new album, according to their MySpace. "Crosseyed Beautiful Youngunz" begins with a ratatat-tat on the drum and leads into lyrical creativeness. This lengthy indie rock groove sounds great live, as demonstrated here. Singer-songwriter Sam Jayne shows he has wit and sass in his lyrics to go with the band's almost 15 years of musical experience.

Why You Should Be Listening
Love as Laughter is currently on tour with fellow Brooklyn based group Oxford Collapse. Having built up a bit of a reputation from their previous album, Laughter's Fifth, which was released in April 2005 and received much acclaim, even being called "clever", "genius", and "hilarious" by several critics, LAL has plenty to live up to. Their new direction in the indie rock circuit should garner interest from new and seasoned fans alike. And again, they seem to have a great reputation for live performances. Much of their current album is available on their MySpace.

Release Date: Their latest album, Holy, was released in June 2008

Overall Artist Rating: 7 out of 10, but it may grow a bit on you!

Spotlight On Austin Area Music Scene

Photo Courtesy of The University of Texas at Austin

The South Texas music scene has given us many an act to boast about over the last decade or so. Some of these bands are more well known than others, but the group is a diverse, multifaceted sounding orb of energy festering deep in the loins of South Tejas. This would have been another "Great Eight" posting, but I only felt like representing seven, so what? The following are either based out of the ATX or make and produce their music in the area. Enjoy!

Voxtrot - Kid Gloves (off first full length album, Voxtrot, released May 2007 on Playlouderecordings)
~ Popish indie rock with xylophone backing witty lyrics; their release of preference is the EP, but this self-titled LP release advances Voxtrot's ability to jam out

Aliens - Guinea Pig (off Head First, released November 2007 on MISC. MUSIC)
~ Punkish, noise rock-like awesomeness; a drum machine often has to be used to lay down the back beats for the incessant guitar riffs ranges lead singer/guitarist Blake Sandberg puts on his songs (extra info: "band" formed after moving from NYC in wake of September 11th attacks, created "alien" persona)

Bob Schneider - Changing Your Mind (off 2008 release, When The Sun Breaks Down On The Moon, from Shockorama)
~ Singer/Songwriter folk musician who infuses a lot of fun into song writing and making; he draws BIG local and fan-loyal flocks to his performances

Oh No! Oh My! - Farewell to All My Friends (from self-released self-titled album released July 2006)
~ Labeled "post-pop" by some, these melodic indie hipsters utilize many instruments while producing music comparable to similar acts The Magnetic Fields and Belle and Sebastian

Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines (off upcoming September 9th release, The Stand-Ins, from Jagjaguwar)
~ Folksy, acoustic tale of sailing that rises in tempo, and volume, to reveal why it's good to leave from home sometimes

The Come Latelys - Chicago (off June 2008 release Essential EP from Phono Records)
~ Bluesy jam from these self-described "soul, melodramatic popular song" cats; shows range of flavor Austin acts can showcase

Iron and Wine - Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car (off September 2007 release, The Shepherd's Dog, from Sub Pop Records)
~ Slightly more upbeat indie folk from Mr. Sam Beam; see here for further info on this great live act

Can't Miss Artist of the Week - Week Seven

photo by Judson Baker

The Hold Steady

MySpace, Official Website


Sound Breakdown and Analysis
August's Find of the Month is also this week's CMAW. Many people have unfortunately never heard of this band; it's a shame to think it, since all the reviews I've ever read about this band rave about their live performances. Maybe it's time you give them a listen for yourself!

The Hold Steady, as it stands now, has been around since about 2003, and released their debut album, Almost Killed Me, in 2004 on French Kiss Records. Lead vocalist/guitarist Craig Finn (formally of Lifter Puller) formed the band after moving from Minneapolis in 2000 and wanted to make sure to not give in to the multitude of New York sounds and influences around him. He had a specific direction he wanted to take and invited guitarist Tad Kubler (also from Lifter Puller), bassist Galen Polivka, and drummer Judd Counsell to join him in the process. Franz Nicolay has since joined the band on keyboards providing accordion and harmonica melodies as well. Heavily influenced by the Twin Cities own, Hüsker Dü, as well as classic rock mainstays, The Band, The Hold Steady wanted to produce music they could play live as well as they recorded it. As a result, much of their first albums were recorded with that live appeal-approach. Their sound forms from those classic rock standards but adds the energy of indie mentality that people live for the music they are hearing.

Brooklyn-based The Hold Steady released their fourth full length album, Stay Positive, last month, which was recorded while performing at several New York-based venues over several months last fall and winter. They have transitioned their sound into a more radio friendly version of their previous outings, but Stay Positive still touts the rockin' musicality of previous releases Boys and Girls in America (2006) the religious themed-laden Separation Sunday (2005), which was the last album to be released via French Kiss Records. Seasoning and experience has done the band well. They have been signed with Vagrant Records since 2006 and their reputation for solid performances has led the band to be deemed America's Bar Band by National Public Radio. New tracks like "Both Crosses" really provide that classic, acoustic throwback feel while infusing new instrumentation and, as Pitch Fork Media put it, "opening up the sonic palette". The lead single "Sequestered In Memphis" rocks along in "The Boss" style with organ keys and horns backing the gruffy lyrical style of Craig Finn. The mix of arrangements on Stay Positive prove that The Hold Steady are as good, if not better in person as they sound.

Why You Should Be Listening
Live performances can and do make or break a band. If you haven't seen The Hold Steady perform live, then all you can hope for is to catch them on tour soon, which they seem to do a lot according to many a back story. Since I fall into that group, we all have to settle with this and a little of that until they come our way. Do yourself a favor and look here to see when they are on tour near YOU so you see for yourself what all the fuss is about.


Release Date: July 15, 2008



Overall Artist Rating: 7 out of 10

Need to Hear Recent Release

The Grates

Sometimes songs come along and actually make you pause, wonder to yourself, "Why haven't I heard this before!?", and cause you to scramble to write down the name of the band so you can look into the music afterwards. Then you're caught between trying to act like you are one of the first ones to hear this music and feeing like you should have known about the band before they released the sounds entering your brain. The Grates have made me do all of this, and I'm not ashamed to admit it because they need to have more fans enjoying their mix of post punk and indie rock greatness.

Hailing from "the land down under", The Grates received much praise from American music landmarks, Rolling Stone and Spin (amongst others), for their debut full length album, Gravity Won't Get You High, released in 2006. Songs like "Silence is Golden" portray the sound they were going for during that period, a clap-happy, indie power pop taste of female lead singer-music. The fun and excitement in their music is evident through the videos for the songs on that album. Even "19-20-20" is evidence of their head-bobbing, silly performance style. Despite this previous focus the band had, they returned to Brisbane, AU only to realize the hype had passed and they now were forced to write again. Bandmates Patience Hodgson, lead singer, John Patterson, guitarist, and Alana Skyring, drummer, found their renewed direction. Here's how it went down: New songs ‘Two Kinds of Right’ and ‘Milk Eyes’ became "the new yardsticks, and suggested a major evolution. 'We wrote a bunch of songs that week,' John says. 'And right there was the direction of the new album.' Patience interjects sweetly: 'We blew our creative load during that period.'”(thegrates.com/bio)

You can also hear this new direction on "Burn Bridges", the first single off The Grates new album, Teeth Lost, Hearts Won. What makes this new batch of songs stand apart from The Grates previous releases is the post punky edge Patience sings with and the rhythm energy John and Alana possess when performing the tunes. Patience still wants to have fun with the performances, which is one of the reasons why they garner great admiration from their fans, but now she can be rightfully be compared to Karen O, of Yeah Yeah Yeahs fame, instead of the lady who used to handpuppet Lambchop.

Their recent release came out August 2nd in Austrailia and last week, August 5th, in the states. Currently, it is backstocked as an import buy on Amazon, which has to mean something if you "buy" your music, which you should be doing! (I'm not gonna rant about illegal downloading, but you should support your artists!) Either way, get The Grates Teeth Lost, Hearts Won when you can and bounce dance to the new sound of the new music. Feel free to investigate for yourselves on their MySpace and official website here.

The Great Eight - August 8

Some people hold special significance for today's 8-8-08 date. Many think it's because the planets align and the environment takes on greater importance on this day. Others want to shine a large light on the Olympics officially beginning today. I believe people garner respect for today because I have released my latest "Great Eight" list on the eighth day of the eighth month in the eighth year of this decade . . . but I could be wrong! Enjoy these newer indie tunes anyway.

Tilly and the Wall - Pot Kettle Black (from June 2008 release o off Team Love)
~ Omaha, NE five piece redefine their sound but still literally stomp out the drum beat in this rockin' single as they have been accustomed to do

Koufax - Any Moment Now (from Strugglers out September 23rd on Doghouse Records)
~ Sax-laden, hip-flowing track from forthcoming album featuring Czech Republic-living lead singer and his take on American life and culture

Japanther - See Evil (from May 2007 release Skuffed Up My Huffy on Menlo Park label)
~ Brooklyn duo on the experimental side of indie punk pop; a bit older but since they usually play basements and hole in the wall-type places in the BK, you might not have heard about them

Johnny Foreigner - Eyes Wide Terrified (from June 2008 release Waited Up Til It Was Light on Best Before Records)
~ Fresh on the scene UK indie rock threesome described by label as "inventive, exciting, angular art-pop"; features a unique sounding version of indie dance rock music

Ratatat - Mirando (off July 2008 release LP3 from Beggars Xl Recording)
~ Another BK duo who have opened for Daft Punk, Franz Ferdinand, and Interpol who have been described by Rolling Stone as "appropriate for indie dance clubs and late-night chillouts"

The Breakups - Day In The Sun (from February 2008 Eat Your Heart Out EP on Records)
~ Calling themselves "powerless pop", the flow and focus of this track from this "Hollywoodland" band is described well here

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Dead Right (from April 2008 release Pershing on Polyvinyl Records)
~ The addictive melodies of this Springfield, MO band continue with this acoustic, head bobbing track

These Modern Socks - Picking a Lock at The Speed of Light (from May 2008 release Picking a Lock at the Speed of Light on deadelectricrecords)
~ Eclectic mix from Minnesota band mates produce an indie electro pop groove worthy of hoppity dance moves; also check out their cover of the 80's classic Tears For Fears tune, Head Over Heels, here!

Can't Miss Artist of the Week - Week Six

Georgie James
MySpace, Official Website

Sound Breakdown and Analysis

This duo of masterful indie sound production have called it quits. So why am I mentioning them as this week's CMAW? So you can get the benefit of their lovely sound before it disappears! John Davis, of Q and Not U fame, did the whole experimental, punkish thing with his previous band. However, having grown up around his soft rock deejaying father who had several jobs around the country, Davis also learned to love the lighter side of rock. The result shows in his manipulation of the indie genre and his work with fellow Georgie James-er, singer/songwriter Laura Burhenn. Together they share an appreciation for The Zombies, The Beach Boys, and Elvis Costello, among others. Their music captures that soft rock feel of the 70's and 80's while delivering a modern twist to the ever so delicate lyrical and acoustic feel of bands like Bread and Seals & Crofts.

What makes Georgie James so appealing is their sense of their time. Yes, the soft rock approach may not be the best way to sell this actually hip-for-their-britches act, but the duo knows how manufacture an indie pop song. Just listen to the flow of "Need Your Needs" and tell me you don't find yourself bobbing your head and eventually singing along with the other fans. Even tracks like "Look Me Up", screaming upbeat bounciness, and "Cake Parade", featuring Burhenn on lead vocals and showing that the organ can be cool, present the best of the duo. (Special thanks to Obscure Sound for the tracks)

Why You Should Be Listening

This is fairly obvious. Here's what the band themselves have to say on their website:

"August 4, 2008
After three years, Georgie James is calling it a day. We're proud of the album we made and everything else that we were able to do during our time together. We are both working on our respective solo projects (John's can be found at www.myspace.com/titletracksdc and Laura's at www.myspace.com/lauraburhenn) and hope to have albums out early next year. Thanks to everyone that helped our band over these past few years. And thanks to those who've listened to the music and come out to the shows. It is greatly appreciated. See you around soon. - John and Laura/Georgie James"

Release Date: Their only full length disc, Places, came out in September of 2007. Pick it up when you get the chance.

Overall Artist Rating: 8 out of 10

Lollapalooza Playlist

In honor of this past weekend's Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, I present a few bands and songs worthy of your ears. I was fortunate to attend last year's three day music celebration, but a trip to Yankee Stadium before it closes took me away from this year's event. I'll wish along with some of you who wanted to be there. Enjoy these selections! Other indie faves attending this year included CSS, Jamie Lidell, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Bloc Party, The Ting Tings, Dr. Dog, Iron and Wine, and Black Kids, amongst many other wonderful acts.

Broken Social Scene - 7/4 Shoreline

~ Actual Lolla performance provided by festival-goer; shows why they've been rockin' for years.

The National - Mistaken For Strangers

~ Gothic-sounding throwback NY quintet with a penchant for groovacity.

The Black Keys - Strange Times

~ Still kickin' it blues style, these two fellas were great last year and I'm sure they represented well again this time out.

MGMT - Electric Feel

~ 2007/2008 buzz band bring the thunder in their live performance shot here from just off stage.

Louis XIV - Guilt By Association

~ Performance on G Rock Sessions live with Matt Knight, courtesy of Last FM. After seeing them this past March, I must say that these guys put on a great, great show.

The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful

~ English female-led act with bass heavy, drum machine tracks sure to appease the indie electrorock lover. Link is to their website, scroll through their provided songs. I picked one of my favorites.

Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan

~ Live performance from this year's festival shows the fun this band can generate on stage.

Holy F*ck - Lovely Allen

~ Lo-fi, electrodance noise duo specialists turn out the fun and seem to have provided much to talk about, at least according to this review. Enjoy this video off their 2007 self-titled LP.

What Made Milwaukee Famous - Almost Always Never

~ Actually making Austin, TX more famous than it already is, these guys deliver the indie hits.

The Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution

~ All reviews I've read point to this band's performance as one of the best, even competing with headliners Rage Against The Machine, NIN, Wilco, Kayne West, and Radiohead.

Can't Miss Artist of the Week - Week Five

Annuals/Sunfold
Annuals MySpace, Sunfold MySpace, Annuals Official Website,


Sound Breakdown and Analysis

How can a band release a split EP with themselves? Well, if you're a part of the collection of members from Annuals and Sunfold, it's quite easy. They are basically the same group. Annuals are a band from Raleigh, NC who share the same basic members as the band Sunfold, but feature lead singer Adam Baker. Sunfold is the sister project of Annuals, and allow guitarist/vocalist Kenny Florence to sing lead vocals for this group. These two groups are the very same band except for the lead singer distinction, but Sunfold is supposed to be more "guitar-heavy sounding". If you can't decipher the idea here, don't worry. Both bands are worth your time and ears.


The Wet Zoo EP, which came out April 1st, includes five tracks, the first three from Annuals and the last two by Sunfold. Best put by Last FM.com, "Annuals transform pop paradigms into sweeping, luxuriant sonic landscapes while remaining faithful to a wholehearted emotional core." This basically means Adam Baker leads the Annuals' charge to stretch the noises and sounds of electronica, folk, and indie rock. Songs on Annuals last full length album, Be He Me, released in 2006 features "Complete, Or Completing", a folksy ballad complete with piano accompaniment, and "Chase You Off", which demonstrates a mix of their tastes and rock ability. Sunfold released their first full length CD, Toy Tugboats, on July 22nd. This disc includes the groovy, reggae guitared "Shrinking the Sphere" and "Gnosis", a softer indie rock jam filled with Kenny Florence's high pitched vocals.


Why You Should Be Listening

These band mates produce a unique sound, even in the indie arena. Some of their songs are hard to come by on the web, which is why there are limited links in this posting. Nonetheless, Annuals appeal to the Mars Volta-lite fans while Sunfold expresses the love for indie rock many other music fans may feel.

The Great Eight - July 27th

Today's songs feature a variety of tracks from the dance and pop sides of indie music. The sounds you will experience should bring you much joy and excitement, and in one particular case great "comfort". Look into finding out more about these bands if you like the sound of the songs featured here. Enjoy!

Tilly and the Wall - Beat Control
~ These five Omaha, NE natives show a love of "the same classic ’60s pop, boy/girl harmonies and Americana folk records", at least according to Last FM. Enjoy this very danceable beat, beat, beat!

Clinic - The Witch (Made To Measure)
~ Veteran Liverpool chaps dish out this indie jam from Do It! which came out earlier this year.

Axe Riverboy - Roundabout
~ Xavier Boyer, lead singer songwriter of French group Tahiti 80, is the force behind this track. Axe Riverboy is actually an anagram for his name. Have fun with this rockin' soulful tune.

The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control
~ Beth Ditto shouts out the lyrics of this disco-sounding, dance punk song, truly capturing the energy of this band in their self-titled EP which came out in 1999. If you haven't seen or heard this band, you will be in for a treat.

The Comfies - Your Sunshine
~ Head-bobbing, groovy, infectious rock music from these Nashville dudes provide plenty to feel good about off their Close To Me EP.

Georgie James - Needs Your Needs
~ This D.C. based twosome cranks out the fresh melodic harmonies on this great song from their equally great LP, Places.

Monte Negro - Give Me Love (No Llores)
~ Bilingual L.A. band delivers this reggae infused diddy off their debut album, Cicatrix, coming out August 5th. This group is getting a lot of buzz from the industry side of the business, but their sound is undeniably indie . . . at least for now! Catch them before they are forced to sell out, j/k!

Black Kids - I've Underestimated My Charm (Again)
~ Jacksonville buzz band hits indie gold again with this 50's rock-sounding, new wavish tune. See my other blog posting for their first single.

Dr. Dog Makes House Calls

Dr. Dog - Fate
Take some time to familiarize yourself with Philadelphia darlings Dr. Dog, Indieface's Artist of the Month. They have been and will continue to create amazing music that on its surface appears to be listener friendly, but is, in fact, very complex. With musical accompaniments that mimic a backyard orchestra, Dr. Dog does not roll over with boring straightforward arrangements. They have made no bones about being influenced by the harmonization and instrumentation of the legendary Beach Boys and Beatles, but this album signifies a departure from their earlier recordings and easily stands alone without the easy comparisons to those stalwarts of rock. The organic/grainy production that is heard on their other albums is not lost on this new album as some fans might observe: it is still there, but amplified. Without compromising their under-produced sound, Dr. Dog has captured that feeling in a higher resolution. Their set list on Fate could easily be shuffled into the Classic Rock station on your parents digital cable music channel and you would never know it, but don't dismiss the old style. Stylistically Dr. Dog feels retro, but it feels even better to know that it is real and accessible and new music. Experience this band while you can. Dance like an uninhibited fool to "The Rabbit Bat and Reindeer."

Links
www.myspace.com/drdog

Taste the Daytrotter Session and Interview
http://www.daytrotter.com/article/550/dr-dog-five-professional-life-specialists-filled-with-grandfathers-unafraid-of-dr-death

Don't forget to download the free session songs on page two!

Can't Miss Artist of the Week - Week Four

CSS

MySpace, Official Site

Sound Breakdown and Analysis

Cansei de ser Sexy, Portuguese for "I got tired of being sexy", is now a five piece band from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Their name reportedly came about after an off-the-cuff remark singer Beyonce made regarding her fame. The moniker captures the self-assurance of CSS and goes well with the feel and flow of the band. You already may be familiar with the iPod selling song, "Musk Is My Hot Hot Sex" from the self-titled first album which came out in 2006. This particular tune demonstrates the flair and tenacity of their production. They make fun, pop culture referenced, electrodance rock which falls into the indie pop realm as well.

Their second full length album, Donkey, dives into yet another area of sound. Donkey features a harder, 90's alt-rock edged feel, which lead singer Lovefoxxx explains came about despite touring almost nonstop for the past two years. She gives an in depth interview to Pitchfork Media here about the album making process. Even though the lead singles, "Rat Is Dead (Rage)" and "Left Behind", are in line with this alternative feel, CSS still knocks out the synth pop rock that made them so infectious in tracks "Move" and "How I Became Paranoid". All these songs are currently spinning on their MySpace page.

Why You Should Be Listening

Donkey shows the range this band can have beyond its sound inception. Besides the fact that CSS provides the dance and song beats to move along with, they have a very exciting live show which captures their energy levels. I speak on word of mouth here, since I have yet to see them live, eben though I had a chance at last year's Lollapalooza just to suffer from their flight to Chicago being delayed. :(

Listeners will also enjoy their recent cover versions of the Breeders' alt-rock classic, "Cannonball", on a "B-side of the "Left Behind" single which came out July 14th, as well as the new Bloc Party single, "Mercury". Look for these songs wherever available.

Release Date: July 22, 2008

Overall Artist Rating: 8.5 out of 10 for evolution of sound!

Must Know Artists

There are times when music comes out and you find yourself saying, "Who is that!?" or "What is this?". These instances provide opportunities to look up, into, and around the music you hear so you can find out more about it. A few artists you should be looking into, if you haven't already, are provided here for your listening and viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy these acts! Let me know what you think . . .

Bloc Party

~ British foursome who released Silent Alarm in February 2005 and A Weekend In The City in February 2007.

"One million people had bought the band's debut album . . . British music weekly NME made it their Album Of The Year in 2005 . . . in the UK album charts for a thumping 69 weeks. It wasn't just the London-based four-piece's home country that fell hard for their agit-jitter guitar pop. Bloc Party - Okereke, Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes, Matt Tong - had received similar plaudits across Europe, and in Japan. They raced up the charts in 17 countries. In America, they were the only Nu Skool Brit guitar band that could sell out 8000-capacity venues." - Atlantic Records Website Bio

Get to know this band through Banquet (Silent Alarm) and Hunting For Witches (A Weekend In The City). Bloc Party has a sound that is infectious and good vibe-inducing. Their MySpace also currently features their latest single, "Mercury".

Editors

~ These Birmingham mates have a "dark" sound with a melodic guitar riffs and synth added in. They have drawn comparisons to Echo and the Bunnymen and even Joy Division, but Editors insist their style of indie rock contains too much of a modern feel to accurately be put along side of those classic British indie rockers. They honor the past while looking towards the future with their two albums 2005's The Back Room and 2007's An End Has A Start. Whatever you hear in this band, you're sure to be pleased with the tracks "Munich", "Bones" and "An End Has A Start".

Belle and Sebastian

~ A decade's old band who has only relatively recently gotten their due. The enthusiasm of the group's fans through a word of mouth campaign has garnered Belle and Sebastian much deserved props. I have to admit I only learned about these musical geniuses in late 2006, but I'm glad I did. The group's members have taken on many a side project throughout the years including participation in V-Twin, The Amphetameanies, The Gentle Waves, and Snow Patrol; nonetheless, the essence that is Belle and Sebastian sounds like groovy indie pop with a Scottish/British-influenced flow. Their official MySpace has all the songs that make them so good, including "For The Price of A Cup of Tea" (2006's The Life Pursuit) and "Like Dylan In The Movies" (1996's If You're Feeling Sinister). I also really enjoy the slightly more rockin' "We Are The Sleepyheads", also off The Life Pursuit.

Iron & Wine

~ Samuel Beam is Iron and Wine. Iron and Wine is Samuel Beam. Samuel Beam is a man! The stage name of Mr. Beam represents his indie folk rock gone groovy. Iron and Wine offers solid, yet slick music (like iron) but the tunes go down smooth (like wine) and satisfy your insides. OK, he didn't purposefully name himself that because of these reasons, but it makes sense to me. Just listen to "Naked As We Came", a mellow, folksy love song, and the equally as sweet "Sunset Soon Forgotten", both of Our Endless Numbered Days. He jumps to a slightly more upbeat tempo with "Pagan Angel and A Borrowed Car" and "Boy With A Coin" off The Shepherd's Dog. He really gets to the folk music lover in you.

The Great Eight - July 18th

There are songs that stick in your head, stay there for a while, and repeat over and over again until you find yourself humming, buzzing, or all-out singing them aloud in front of strangers. The following are a few songs I have maybe, probably engaged in these activities . . . but man are they worth it! Some are older songs, and a couple are fresher to the scene, but as it goes with sing-a-longs, we can't choose our favorites, our favorites choose us. Enjoy!


Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control
~ Live performance from Cochella 2006 provided by my friend at 1,2,3 . . . Calabaza!

The Bird and The Bee - Polite Dance Song
~ I've posted a link to this song before but it really benefits from a bad ass video!

The Flaming Lips - She Don't Use Jelly
~ Classic song no one can resist singing, while using magazines . . .

Muse - Time Is Running Out
~ Glad to be an Entourage fan; first heard this tune on out credits after an episode and have been hooked on the band since!

Kings of Leon - Fans
~ "Homegrown . . . Rock to the rhythm and bop to the beat of the radio". If you don't, you're dead inside!

Rilo Kiley - Silver Lining
~ What happens when the girl gets over the guy's BS? She writes this song.

Born Ruffians - Badonkadonkey
~ Song is much more than the name. It makes you get up and groove.

Miniature Tigers - The Wolf
~ "Everybody's looking at you like they wanna go home with you". What more do you need to know? (link is to the band's MySpace, and yes I just blogged about this song but it's stuck in my head!)

Can't Miss Artist of the Week - Week Three

fire Zuave
MySpace, Own Page on Reverb Nation

Sound Breakdown and Analysis

How to identify the sound that is fire Zuave . . .

One might hear tinges of acoustic classic rock, another may say that was a twang of Nashville I just heard. How does indie alternative country sound? Well if it represents a slice of Americana and it goes down smooth with guitars a-blazin', you may just have what fire Zuave offers. This collection of musicians from Cleveland, West Palm Beach, and Detroit got together to independently release Sand Fastened, a 9 song LP, in May of this year.

Marya Summers of the New York Times described their sound as "a mashup of their own 'if the Beatles were born in Nashville'". Songs like "Starving Like A Pack of Wolves" definitely back up this claim. Once you get your twang on, you move on to the more indie rock sounding "Different Day" complete with electric guitar riffs, melodic pacing, and of course meaningful grit-filled lyrics sung by lead vocalist/guitarist Chuck Andrews. "Emily", on the other hand, starts out with Chris Cartrett's bass leading into a rousing love lost song gone rustic. The ear-pleasing incessant drumming of Jason Hermes on the track sounds more like the groundwork for a battle cry to get the girl's attention before she's gone forever.

Why You Should Be Listening

fire Zuave is just different enough to garner worthwhile attention from admirers of the band of Montreal and those who enjoy early Rilo Kiley. As it works out, Andrews' cousin, Kevin Barnes, is a member of the band of Montreal and has helped fire Zuave sculpt its performance and has offered recording session advice as well. This merry mesh of musicians molds the sound of their instruments into an ear-to-the-ground grassroots rockin' good time. Even if your not originally a fan of the style of music these guys perform, you should invest in listening to Sand Fastened to make sure you're not missing something.

Release Date: May 2008

Overall Artist Rating: 7 out of 10 for their first outing means they can only improve!
*Special thanks to Chris for hooking me up with all the band info!*