SINGLE REVIEW: This is a band who knows pych. They have jammed with the masters in order to pursue their new single “Evil Things” off of their coming record Indigo Meadow is a head banger. No doubt you should prepare yourself for the drop on April 2nd. Take your vitamins and get ready to take a long dark and dang trip. The keyboards are so Doorsey when they creep in.
Fang Island
Headache MP3 by METZ. As we exchanged tweets back and forth the other day with @Obits on the awesomeness of this band. We compared them to Janitor Joe & GvsB. They are dirty and probably will never make even close to what a actual Met makes but rock-n-rollas can dream. This is the good shit all AM/REP.
Lovecrimes MP3 by The Afghan Whigs (Frank Ocean Cover). This is sounding in the vain of their slick album 1965. All Whig fans should be pretty stoked with this studio cover. Looking forward to some sexy dancing at the coming shows on the east coast.
OK so this first song’s subjective matter is a little morbid but damn is it gleeful. You know like New Pornographers uplifting and aspirational we find ourselves humming to Toronto based Fast Romantics. This will make you want to throw a party at the next unplanned family get together or at least be dark and add to a playlist. All kidding aside if you like progressive alt country indie rock this single might fit in your wheelhouse. Good for driving as well.
Download: Funeral Song MP3 Single
You like the Liars? Here’s some new music via Mute Records. This here is what some will call a palindrome. A mystery for those that are handicapped by crossword puzzles. This is some mighty fine electronica music all the way through on their new album called WIXIW. Upside down its MIXIM. Spell it backwards it’s the same meaningless number you would not understand but this one song is very danceable. So when your trying to impress some chic or dude on the disco floor you can try this joke on them as your point of entry. Please let me know if it works so I can vicariously live through you.
Q: How many indie rockers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: I dunno how many indie rockers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Punchline: It’s a really obscure number you would not understand.
Download: Brats MP3 from WIXIW
Here’s a couple f songs that have crept into the inbox these past couple weeks reminding me why we keep this blog alive. There are a whole bunch more we just need to find the time to cobble a couple sentences.
The Good Life MP3 by Matthew de Zoete from Colour Film. If you are a fan of the pernice brothers and nada surf this tune will make you extremely happy. He lives on a farm in rural Ontario. While he was recording these songs with Less Cooper he was thinking of them in context of as a soundtrack for a short film. Fairly cinematic at that as they do tell nice pop stories. The full length just came out so we suggest you take a ride over to his site to check it out.
The Storm MP3 by Sonic Hearts Foundation. This one is space rock from Glasgow, Scotland. This is actually a debut non-radio edit of the song. Which we appreciate this and think if you love love dark pop like Joy Division suicidal moody parts then this will fit right in with a goth mix-tape. The B-side “Rolling Tide” is equally as good, a little more on Jesus and Mary Chain side. Friend them on their facebook and other dark stuff.
A few weeks ago we mentioned Black Manila. Here’s the video for the B-side for their tune “England”.
Related articles:
SINGLE REVIEW: Black Manila’s psych drink is called ‘Fiasco’
ALBUM REVIEW: The Bats Pajamas is for Meyer & Kern fans
So much pop indie rock this month we don’t know what to do with ourselves. We love our inbox so keep the music coming. Here’s a few bands from Washington DC, Brooklyn, Florida, to Hampshire, UK.
This first one is a good song to open up our singles with by Access Royale. Cool little guitars, keyboard and bass interplay that tweeters and draws you in like a puzzle made out of musical notes. Think Dismemberment Plan and Bloc Party. Yup Access Royale are from DC so the proverbial chord changes do not fall far from the tree. Definitively one to watch!
Download: Hide MP3 by Access Royale from City Of Paradigm
We dig this psych noise from The Owsley Brothers. They are regular joes making a fuckin’ ruckus. Here’s a reverb drenched tune called “Rotten on the Vine” from their forthcoming record called Cobalt due out March 6th. You know that neo-bluegrass music you hear in True Blood. This is that type of swamp psychedelic blues. You’re not quite sure but there is this Cramps like jungle beat bumping you for ride on their pick-up truck with song scary sounding guitars. This scene might not end because the vampires have skills but it does because you certainly want to hear the flip side which is equally garage and dirty south like R.L. Burnside.
Download: Rotten On The Vine MP3 by The Owsley Brother [Get the b-side]
Here’s a Cities of Glass from Hampshire, UK who single starts out a little proggy and notey called “Expect Less” from their EP From Where We Are. The vocal doubling is the strong part here as the music marches on and guitar notes twist you up like a vine. This tune swings and we can see the kids bopping their head along. Maybe even uncrossing their arms! Very agree-able like early We Were Promised Jet Packs so enjoy it!
Download: Expect Less MP3 by Cities of Glass off of From Where We Are.
I really like the way the drums start pounding on this track one way then the bass goes another way on the third pass. Fort Lean are from Brooklyn. Lots of drums then towards the middle of the song after the guitar bridge they suddenly remind me of The Strokes. Except with delay on the guitars and little spattering of keywords or something like echo and the bunnymen. Catch them at Santos House Party Feb 28th w/ Team Spirit & Stepdad.
Download: SUNSICK MP3 by Fort Lean(Neon Gold) 7″
Related Stuff:
Jan 2012 Crop O’ Singles
Top Five singles of 2011
So welcome everybody to 2012. Here’s some new music kicking it off with the very pleasant music of Little Jungles not to be confused with little daggers. This track is Psych rock with nice little lead guitar through-out.
Download: Nothing Will Grow MP3 by Little Jungles (2012)
You may ask what’s a Mondrian? Some freaky dutch Neo Plasticism? No it’s pop music made by a French band called Mondrian who have made a killer video for another one of their tracks called Beware! The Killer! featuring some bizarro product called the “Infidelity Machine” Somebody’s paranoid. Anyway, today though we present to you a free single called Paris of a equally great song.
Download: Paris MP3 by Mondrian
So here’s a new one by the band known as Redanda from Hamilton, Canada on Wolfshirt Records. They make tight indie inspired music. Arctic Monkeys would be a fair comparison for their sound. What my favorite part is that their first EP is named Carl.
Download: This Bed Is A Rock MP3
Tumble these Singles
05) “Don’t Think I’ll Make It Through Another” MP3 Single by New Animal. Perfect blend of alt-pop and psych rock. Great things to come from these guys. Another bedroom demo band experiment gone right. Check them out.
04) “Keep Me Waiting” MP3 by Cymbals Eat Guitars from Lenses Alien. The whole album is supersonic without a doubt. The vocals take you on a meandering journey however what I love the most about this music is the guitar interplay. On this tune the vocals is what binds things together because it’s as if Polvo turned into a rock band powerhouse then suddenly you are in the eye of hurricane and it’s over.
03) “And It Come And Goes” MP3 by the Lightouts. This is a head bopper. Simple guitar riff with a killer chorus. What else does a song need?
02) “Teenage Tide” MP3 by Letting up Despite Great Faults from Paper Crush. This is whispy alternative anthem. Sonically perfect no doubt about it. I would even dare to say a #1 hit.
I really like The Bump by Deer Tick. So here’s a live version which was one of best of Albums of 2011.
01) Hyacinth Girl MP3 by The Eversons. We featured these guys a couple months ago and gotta say this song is a great indie song. No doubt about it.
Related Stuff:
Best of Albums of 2011
December Singles: Crop O’ Pop for Your Gingles
November Singles: Movember Crop O’ Singles Indie vs Indie
October Singles: Rocktober Crop O’ Singles
Turnpike Glow is a Italian rock outfit currently residing in the UK who are prepping for a release in 2012. They self-exiled themselves to work on their music. If you dig that space-rock stylings of Phoenix this should be right your alley.
The Turn The Pike And The Glow MP3
Sunny Guy MP3 by Paul Brill from Breezy as follow-up to Harpooner(2006).This guy has been a studio guy for some time working with much rock royalty. A modern pop writer in the vain of Nick Lowe but whom is mostly known for his Score writing with a few Emmys under his belt. Safe to say he makes a pretty good living. We got to say this song is some great bubblegum pop. The rest of album play with bollywood like string arrangements (there’s a musical term that is escaping me now) but in the end these are some pretty tighty tunes. Enjoy!
SUNNY GUY from Paul Brill on Vimeo.
So let me warn you about Regurgitator. This is a rock album in the vain of Blur that suddenly turns to a lennon-esque guitar thing then on a dime in one song it’s rap record. A rap record? We love the artwork here so we could take the name of the band literally maybe. Anyway Here’s the opening track which we think is cool. Once it kicks in the bass drives this mother to town.
One Day MP3 by Regurgitator
SINGLES: Lets kick this Month’s Crop of manly Movember single reviews with South London’s lively band called Dead Social Club. Despite the mention of a Jeffrey on the self titled song from EP ‘Syrian Kisses’ it is not a reference to all inclusive recreational joint from Take Me To The Greek with P-Diddy. This is classic Brit electronic indie rock mixing all of the glorious warehouse vibes into one head bopping tune via their 6 piece ensemble.
Syrian Kisses MP3 by Dead Social Club
Lync, pavement, modest mouse are all familiar derivatives on Mountains + Valleys by Michael Beach. Every time this song comes on the November playlist I have to do a double take with my ears because the sound re-assures me that indeed bands like pavement were hugely influential to the new league of indie rock. The finely distorted bass parts on the lead-off track “Straight Spines” for instance is slacker-dome incarnate. Basically lots of contrast on this release and we thank Twin Lakes/ Spectacular Commodity for hipping us to this music. So check it out for yourself.
Straight Spines MP3 by Michael Beach from Mountains + Valleys [Get the cassette!]
Burroughs is not dead well at least not the sinister spirit that in this LA bands name. They are not sponsored by Volkswagon either although that would not be a bad thing because energy wise they’re running on the high-octane gas. They were in other groups like Horse The Band, Bleeding Kansas, Lexington, Gypsy River Haunts which we’ve never heard of but that does not mean a thing. We have now! The song “In The Rugal Folds” we think is a fine, fine tune and show cases what a Telecaster is meant to do. If you’re a fan of Interpol and San Diego California’s No Knife this will speak volumes to you coming off their debut for the video above as well as “Spits” which we’re giving you here. Enjoy.
Spits MP3 by Burroughs s/t
Lovedrug is a Ohio-based alt-rock band to be blunt who’s flirted with the majors and is now going out on their own with their 4th release called Wild Blood. Here’s a video for their single “Dinosaur” which depicts some chicks wearing a Zoro masks being delinquents and then being chased out of forest with a guy wearing a white gorilla suit. Oh and the song reminds us of Bloc Party in a way. For a treat though here’s cover from them for our RS readers.
Never Been To Spain (Three Dog Night) MP3 cover by Lovedrug
And So I Watch You From Afar is meglo-maniac metal dipped in rocksauce in the vain of Fang Island and our favorites here at the RS music blog Gondliers. Hailing from Ireland, these epic instrumental blasts are interrupted by a guitar solo or two along the way where they roll you around a bit then stab you with their notes then drown you in delay. Today we’re featuring one of the tracks from Gangs their second release for your enjoyment.
BEAUTIFUL UNIVERSE MASTER CHAMPION MP3 by And So I Watch You From Afar from Gangs (2011 -Sargent House) | [ bookface them ]
Bonus tracks:
Cradle (Fang Island Remix) MP3
Richter Scale Madness | Novena Without Faith MP3 MP3 by …And You Will Know Us From The Trail of Dead s/t
Quinn Beast MP3 by Archers of Loaf from The Speed of Cattle (1999)
In the mouth a desert MP3 by Pavement from Slanted & Enchanted (1992)
Ginger Vitus MP3 by No Knife from Drunk on the Moon (1995)
Related Articles:
Rocktober Crop O’ Singles
Crop O’ Singles August 2011 – Rock Tornados
July – Crop O’ Singles and a Dash of Pop
Move it a long my dear protestors this is a real insurgency. Every month we smash or trash some songs and then let you grab the spoils. There would be busted and bruised ego’s if you heard us in the board room throwing darts at some of the music that does not make the cut. For the record all bribes are accepted as there is no real formal process other than sending us a downloadable link for your latest and greatest track. We think these are number one hits in their own rights but do feel free to follow the unedited Review Stalker noise on the twitters. Enjoy!
Love Teeth MP3 by Drew Smith. We’ll start you out on a slow burn jam which comes with a nicely illustrated collage video. This would also be a great song for a endtro-intro to a film or HBO series like Big Love because the string orchestration draws you in while still remaining at it’s core a decent hip alternative thing going on versus some of that Dave Mathews junk. Drew has a vibe which is reminiscent of Matt Pond PA so if you are fans check him out.
Backroom Darlings MP3 by Femme Fatality from That’s It, Thar’a It.This one is big fuzzy electro disco assault where any thing can happen in the backroom of the green room of the club. Girls sleeping with dogs and guys crossing over to the other side. It’s a trashy sordid affair. We really can’t tell who is into what these days but this music should make any hipster make crazy whoopie sounds. Think The Faint using the tools Kraftwork taught them to use for backroom concert fan situations via www.stickfigurerecordings.com
Diving Bell MP3 by Brown Shoe from The Gift Horse. This is some pretty boy rock music with some of the singing done in a falsetto voice that whisks then it rocks out a bit. The marching band snare drum shuffle moves this along like a rolling wave of underwater seaweed being run over by a lawnmower. Whatever that means we give you this band’s song because it’s good. Get the rest of The Gift Horse manscape on Brown Shoe’s band camp page.
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