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!