Thursday, June 4, 2009

Fanfarlo - Reservoir - 2009



Fanfarlo is a London based band formed by the Swedish musician Simon Balthazar (vocals, guitar, clarinet). Their name refers to Charles Baudelaire’s novella, “La Fanfarlo.” After issuing the singles PlayTalking Backwards, PlayYou Are One Of The Few Outsiders Who Really Understands Us, PlayFire Escape and Harold T. Wilkins on four independent labels between 2006 and 2008, Fanfarlo travelled to Peter Katis’s studio in Connecticut, USA to record their debut album, Reservoir. The album was self-released in February 2009 to coincide with a tour of England and Scotland, including dates supporting Snow Patrol.

Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
The Joy Formidable, Sin Fang Bous, Harlem Shakes, Cymbals Eat Guitars

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sin Fang Bous - Clangour - 2009



Welcome to the Wunderkammer. Pop music with a bow, a present from Reykjavik and from Sindri Mar Sigfusson. A present that he gave to us and especially to himself. A surprise album, a search game in terms of pop music. At the beginning there was an atmosphere of breaking up. Whereas on the one hand face and body of his band Seabear (whose debut was released on Morr Music in August 2007) gained their outlines more clearly, there remained a deliberately left open game with the sounds on the other hand. The name for this game was soon found: Sin Fang Bous.

Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Fanfarlo, Seabear, Uzi & Ari, Animal Collective

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Two Door Cinema Club - More Various Songs - 2009



This should be the last of them, you can grab the others below.



Two Door Cinema Club are 3 people with the help of technology and a thirst for anything quirky. If you were to pose the question, “Where do Two Door Cinema Club live?” and someone was to answer, “Why, Bangor!” That someone would only be 66.67% correct because Two Door Cinema Club are a Bangor/Donaghadee based electro pop band. An obvious absence in the rhythm department is humbly filled by an unadulterated Macintosh and the electronic thump from the fourth imperceptible member goes hand in hand with the electro/pop direction.

A few nice people over at last.fm where gracious enough to send them my way after I came up empty looking for them online. I also ended up ordering their EP and I suggest any of you do so as well.

Here is an additional three songs from their ep.

Standing On Ghosts
New Houses
Not in this town

Download:
Here

Download two other songs:
Here

Download the Single:
Here

Similar Artists:
General Fiasco, Hockey, Friendly Fires

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Uzi & Ari - It Is Freezing Out - 2006



Rioting quieter than most, Uzi & Ari seems to essentially be the solo project of one Ben Shepard, of Salt Lake City - It Is Freezing Out is his second long-play collection following last year’s Dont Leave In Such A Hurry. These songs are well fleshed-out by an assortment of accomplished musicians, each lending their own nuances to proceedings, but at this album’s core beats the heart of a single man only.

Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Sin Fang Bous, Dark Captain Light Captain, Finn

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Fight Like Apes - And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion - 2008



What happens when four highly motivated couch potatoes trawl through the b-movie underworld in search of the purest of gold?… They Fight Like Apes! Hailing from Dublin, Ireland and weighing in at over six hundred pounds, Fight Like Apes combine the Synth with the Sword in this heroic tale of anger, jealousy, greed and …goblins. With an emphasis on loutish vocals, brutish bass and digital distortion, Fight Like Apes are highly trained, armed and considered extremely dangerous.

Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Sky Larkin, The Joy Formidable, Thomas Tantrum

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health - 2009




This Brooklyn band debuts with a remarkably well-crafted EP of expansive garage-pop combining ultra-catchy melodies with soaring harmonies. Their bright, effervescent sound incorporates some vintage pop-rock influences (doo wop, Phil Spector and ’60s girl groups) while also fitting in with New York contemporaries like the Strokes and the Walkmen.

Garage rock that sets your feet (and heart) thumping! The rawness is all there, and they sound genuine rather than manufactured.

Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Fanfarlo, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Handsome Furs, Arms

Two Door Cinema Club - Various Songs - 2009





Two Door Cinema Club are 3 people with the help of technology and a thirst for anything quirky. If you were to pose the question, “Where do Two Door Cinema Club live?” and someone was to answer, “Why, Bangor!” That someone would only be 66.67% correct because Two Door Cinema Club are a Bangor/Donaghadee based electro pop band. An obvious absence in the rhythm department is humbly filled by an unadulterated Macintosh and the electronic thump from the fourth imperceptible member goes hand in hand with the electro/pop direction.

Here is an additional two songs from their unreleased demo.

Hands Off My Cash, Monty.
Undercover Martyn.

Download:
Here

Download the EP:
Here

Similar Artists:
General Fiasco, Hockey, Friendly Fires

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Clues - Self Titled -2009




Clues was founded in the summer of 2007 by Alden Penner (one-half of Unicorns) and Brendan Reed (Endless Forever, Arcade Fire). In 2008, Clues recruited friends Ben Borden, Lisa Gamble, and Nick Scribner from the Montreal art and music scenes.

During live shows and on recordings, the band share and trade-off on their extensive collection of instruments and create a hopeful, urgent music that expands Montreal’s (already diverse) pop music lexicon, with references to post-punk and experimental music traditions. Clues’ concerts incorporate multiple drummers, a Commodore 64, and an OLPC.

Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Handsome Furs, The Unicorns, All Makes Parts & Collision, Islands

Titus Andronicus - The Airing Of Grievances - 2008



Titus Andronicus is an indie rock band which formed in Glen Rock, New Jersey, United States in 2005. They consist of Patrick Stickles (vocals, guitar), Ian O’Neil (guitar), Ian Graetzer (bass), Andrew Cedermark (keyboards, vocals) and Eric Harm (drums). The band takes its name from the Shakespeare play Titus Andronicus.

Their debut album, The Airing of Grievances, received an 8.5 rating from Pitchfork Media and has received positive reviews elsewhere. The album’s loud, heavily distorted guitars are influenced by shoegaze, while the lyrics and song titles are references to various books and other forms of entertainment (such as the album title, from the Seinfeld episode, “The Strike”, about Festivus).

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Times New Viking, No Age, Crystal Antlers

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Crystal Antlers - Tentacles - 2009





Crystal Antlers formed in January 2006 in Long Beach, California. Creating their own blend of psychedelic, punk, & soul, the band quickly became local favorites among a broad range of rock fans. They’ve released two limited 7”s on small labels & recently released their first EP with producer Ikey Owens (Mars Volta/Free Moral Agents). Crystal Antlers issued their debut record, EP, in June 2008.

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Lotus Plaza, Women, No Age

Lotus Plaza - The Floodlight Collective - 2009




Lotus Plaza is the solo effort of Deerhunter’s Lockett pundt. His debut LP, entitled The Floodlight Collective, was released on March 23, 2009 by Kranky.

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Deerhunter, Atlas Sound, Here We Go Magic

I Was A King - I Was A King - 2009




I Was a King are an indie band based in Oslo, Norway, clearly influenced by acts such as Teenage Fanclub, Dinosaur Jr., and My Bloody Valentine. Their music is most commonly referred to as shoegaze and power pop.

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Lotus Plaza, Canadian Invasion

Monday, May 4, 2009

Two Door Cinema Club - Some Good Can Work - 2009




Two Door Cinema Club are 3 people with the help of technology and a thirst for anything quirky. If you were to pose the question, “Where do Two Door Cinema Club live?” and someone was to answer, “Why, Bangor!” That someone would only be 66.67% correct because Two Door Cinema Club are a Bangor/Donaghadee based electro pop band. An obvious absence in the rhythm department is humbly filled by an unadulterated Macintosh and the electronic thump from the fourth imperceptible member goes hand in hand with the electro/pop direction.


Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
General Fiasco, Hockey, Friendly Fires

Metallic Falcons - Desert Doughnuts - 2006




Metallic Falcons are Sierra Casady and Matteah Baim. Sierra Casady is probably best known for her participation in CocoRosie. According to an interview on splendid, their music is baby metal (in contrast with heavy metal)

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Rio en Medio, CocoRosie, Jana Hunter

Ptarmigan - Our Ancient Friends - 2009



Ptarmigan is a modern band of the powerfolk ambioPop genre formed in Columbia, Missouri in 2007. Evan Walton, Peter Marting, and Ted Carstensen create intricate, powerful explosions from simple folk roots and catchy melodies over levels of ambiance. Their debut album “Our Ancient Friends” was released on April 18, 2009.

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Akron/Family, Woods Family Creeps, Barzin, Great Lake Swimmers

The Joy Formidable - A Balloon Called Moaning - 2009




The Joy Formidable are Ritzy Bryan, Rhydian Dafydd and Matt Thomas.
The beginnings of TJF began several years ago, when school friends Ritzy and Rhydian chatted on a night out in their hometown of Mold, North Wales. Both opinionated and madly into music, an instant respect was formed and they began meeting regularly at the legendary Buckley Tivoli; then a North Walian mecca for local and touring bands.

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Red Light Company, Fight Like Apes, Johnny Foreigner, Howling Bells

Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter - 2009



Jason Lytle fronted Modesto, California based indie rock outfit Grandaddy, which split up in 2006. He was the sole songwriter in the band, and he sang and played most of the instruments on the albums. Live he handled vocals, guitars and keyboards and synths. He has continued as a solo artist after the end of Grandaddy, so far only playing Grandaddy material at a handful of solo shows.

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Grandaddy, Lissy Tryllie, Telekinesis

Total Bummer - Total Bummer EP - 2008



Brooklyn Cannon, originally from Victoria, British Columbia but now residing in Montreal, Quebec, is a musician who has been active within the Canadian independent music scene for the better part of a decade. She has been a member of Victoria bands such as God Shaped Vacuum -whose members included Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs, as well as Carey Mercer of Frog Eyes and Swan Lake-, and Atlas Strategic -again with Boeckner-, who released two albums: Rapture, Ye Minions! (2000-Global Symphonic Records) and the independently released That’s Familiar (2002).

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
St. Vincent, El Perro del Mar, My Brightest Diamonds

Starlight Mints - The Dream That Stuff Was Made Of - 2001















Starlight Mints are a group of beautiful pop mutants: four oddballs whose love for archetypal pop music and AM radio has provided a rock-solid foundation for a whole bunch of inspired weirdness. Allan Vest (vocals/guitar), Marian Love Nunez (keyboards), Javier Gonzales (bass), and Andy Nunez (drums) began jamming together in the ’90s, giving birth to their own funky brand of heavily instrumental, surrealistically worded pop sound. Maybe you could call it bubblegum psych. It all adds up to something very grand: one marvelous piece of orchestrated, catchy surrealism after another, in the form of 2006’s drowaton.

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Fruit Bats, Enon, The Long Winters

Sunday, May 3, 2009

The War On Drugs - Wagonwheel Blues - 2009




















With influences ranging from Dylan and CCR, to Suicide and Silver Apples, Adam Granduciel joins a distinct set of songwriters with his own brand of timeless musicianship. Ushering in a new golden era of polished, yet subcultural exploration, Adam’s voice and music have that unmistakable singularity that comes along only so often. This is not the canon rehashed, rather it is realized with a spirit of invention. This earnest playfulness is at the forefront of the listening experience. Layered with popping ecstatic guitars, with drums sitting firmly and a voice that is urgent and in control, it’s like “I’m On Fire”-era Springsteen with 80s singalong qualities while still being firmly planted in the present.

The War on Drugs started like many bands, primary songwriter Adam Granduciel and neighborly aesthete Kurt Vile were just hanging out and playing their guitars. With the addition of Kyle Lloyd, Charlie Hall, and Dave Hartley and some meandering guest musicians, the band congealed into the current outfit which has been playing out in Philadelphia with increased momentum.

Sample:


Download:
Here

Similar Artists:
Titus Andronicus, Blitzen Trapper, Plants and Animals