posted by Patrick on March 10, 2010
Dr. Dog isn’t really my thing, but I love this track all the same. The atmospherics of “Shadow People” would be equally at home on the soundtracks for Dazed & Confused and Donnie Darko. Or perhaps some mashup of the two. Either way, you couldn’t handle this shit on strong acid. Not that we would know.
Dr. Dog - Shadow People (Downloaded 9 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Folk • Male vocal • Vintage
(1 votes)
Loading ...posted by Leigh on March 2, 2010
SXSW is fast approaching, so it is time to highlight some interesting upcoming acts. Jamey Huggins, aka James Husband, propels spirits in a very different direction from the experimental and psychedelic sounds of Of Montreal, where he is also their fantastic multi-instrumentalist. You won’t see any animal suits on stage or any surprise talent (Susan Sarandon, anyone?) during his set. He and his band play away steadily on their instruments, abandoning the heavy theatrics and freneticism of Of Montreal in exchange for measured and controlled indie pop. The contrast when seeing both bands in one night works quite well.
The tunes are laid back and melodic, some invoking a hint of The Shins, with a smattering of 60s sentimentality. “Little Thrills” and “No No Baby”, both off of the 2009 A Parallax I, are delicate creations, with catchy hooks and lyrics, making it impossible not to bounce around a little bit as they are playing. Unless you are one of those anti-bounce people. Either way, James Husband should definitely make your SXSW short list.
James Husband - Little Thrills (Downloaded 58 times)
James Husband - No No Baby (Downloaded 37 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Catchy • Happy • Male vocal • Poppy
(2 votes) Loading ...posted by Tina on February 11, 2010
Sometimes it’s ok to take it down a notch. It’s not always about rocking out with your cock out. Everyone enjoys just hearing some great music from beginning to end. I found this happy medium with the band Great Northern. Don’t be led astray, they are far far from a band that would put you to sleep. They define the meaning of words and music and I find myself liking them more and more every time I listen to them. Rachel Stoltes and Solon Bixler’s voices take you to place where they can connect with you and make you really “feel” the music. Because let’s all face it, you appreciate the music so much more when you understand where the music comes from. This duo brings it to the surface with heartfelt lyrics, sometimes positive, sometimes negative, but every time you hear them, you’ll walk away with a sense that there is a world out there that “gets” you. It’s evident that Rahel and Solon work very hard together to produce music worth listening to. This duo has managed to produce music that has gotten them tours with other musical talent such as Cold War Kids, Spoon, and Silversun Pickups. Coming to us out of California, you’ll want to make sure you listen to more than one tune by this talented duo.
Great Northern - Fingers (Downloaded 264 times)
Great Northern - Snakes (Downloaded 194 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Amazing Voice • Clever Lyrics • indie
(15 votes) Loading ...posted by Leigh on January 29, 2010
Do you ever wish that you had the perfect soundtrack for those long skips that you like to take through the effervescent forest, your feet lightly bouncing off each patch of candy-striped path as you bury yourself deeper and deeper into the anthropomorphic trees, whose sinuous branches seem to individually caress you as you pass them by? Look no further, Dance Mother, from Brooklyn’s Telepathe, is here for just that occasion. Well technically, Dance Mother was here in early 2009, so your forest romp could have been that much better for months and months and months, in the event that you had you not listened to them already. Minor details.
Onward. The voices that emanate from this two-piece girl band are pleasing, like the elevating sounds you would expect to rise from little elves dressed in colorful parkas who wave at you as you run through that psychedelic forest. Start or repeat your synthesized and experimental dream here, with “In Your Line” and “Can’t Stand It”. Blips and bleeps never sounded so good (again).
Telepathe - In Your Line (Downloaded 228 times)
Telepathe - Cant Stand It (Downloaded 255 times)
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» Meaningless labels: ambient • Electro • Experimental • Female vocal • With Bleeps & Blips
(15 votes) Loading ...posted by Ariana on January 20, 2010
Midlake’s music makes me want to go dwell in a forest somewhere. Admittedly, though, many of my favorite bands give me a similar feeling, but in Midlake’s case, it’s a wood that does not–and cannot–actually exist. Chess-playing lead singer Tim Smith’s vocals are calming and lush, as are the songs on the last album, ‘The Trials of Van Occupanther’ (2006). “Roscoe,” available here, is from that album, which is pervaded by a hushed sort of delicate nostalgia. Now, almost four years later, the band is set to release ‘The Courage of Others’ on February 2nd in the US. “Rulers, Ruling All Things” is from this new album, and it seems a lot more driven by complex melancholy than its predecessor. Whereas ‘Van Occupanther’ was more of a cream puff, ‘Courage’ promises to be a hauntingly serious continuation of that sound. I, for one, can’t wait to hear the rest of it.
Midlake - Rulers Ruling All Things (Downloaded 251 times)
Midlake - Roscoe (Downloaded 148 times)
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