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234 posts tagged indie rock
Rape Faction - Games
Rape Faction Games
The shitty, DIY recordings of overly reverbed vocals and slightly psyched garage-surf sounds loving Dre is back! Fuck I know you missed me, what with all the electronic verbage being spouted out of every orifice of my body as of late.
Rape Faction’s “Games” has this 80s nu-wave ala Minimal Waves Vol 1. meets a heavier guitargaze version of DIIV, thing going on that I have to admit, I’m kind of obsessed with. I don’t know what else to say except I hope that they make more shitty demos for me to obsess over. Just kidding. They’re not shitty, I’m just a smart ass with a fried brain for a soul. <3
Rape Faction | Soundcloud
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Sky Blue & Ivory
by Torches
Torches Sky Blue & Ivory
Crashing waves of percussion, drums and magnetic falsettos cascade down like a melodic waterfall against static bursts of crunchy guitar chords. It’s a short and sweet, offering from London’s Torches, who bring the fragility and heart reminiscent of your favorite emo rockers but with the magnitude of a full marching band. Indie rock is alive and well, and Torches are here to lead the way. Can’t wait to hear more.
Torches ‘Sky Blue & Ivory” 7” drops 7/23 via Fractions of One, pre-order HERE.
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Eastern Midwestern Heroes
There is something extremely infectious about New York outfit Eastern Midwestern. They remind me a bit of my beloved Holiday Shores, and even more so like Cold War Kids, but not nearly enough to write them off. With powerful vocals straining over clamoring guitars, drums and percussion. The melodies charming, the vocals stressed, like a scene from a food fight in one of those 90s summer camp movies you loved so much. It’s messy, but fun.
DOWNLOAD “Heroes” for free HERE.
Eastern Midwestern’s 12” s/t drops 6/5, snag it from their Bandcamp HERE.
Deep Time - Clouds
Deep Time Clouds
There’s an eerie vintage quality to their sound, like skinny corduroys and patterned sweaters in the 70s, not because it was cool but because that’s what everyone wore. Getting high with your friends while listening to the Mama’s and the Papas, a kind of worn and grazed nostalgia vibe. Hipster without trying to be. I remember when these guys were called YellowFever and an outlet described a familiarity to their sound saying, ‘In the sense that you could as easily slot one of their catchy three-chord (if that) songs on the Moldy Peach-dominated Juno soundtrack as an International Pop Underground comp between Scrawl and the Spinanes, or on a circa-1982 John Peel playlist.’ Bingo.
Taking subtle cues from some of the biggest female rock bands today like Dum Dum Girls and anyone that played in Vivian Girls, Deep Time has nestled into the Hardly Art family just perfectly. The first single off Deep Time’s July release is just so damn catchy, this is a release I’m really looking forward to.
DOWNLOAD “Clouds” for free HERE.
Deep Time’s self-titled album drops 7/10/12 via Hardly Art, pre-order HERE.
Deep Time | Hardly Art | Facebook
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Orca Orca Holding On + Homes
Make Live, the latest release from Jim Hewitt aka Orca Orca, is a fantastic second offering that I have had on heavy rotation since he sent it over. Make Live is much more refined than his Young Minds very early Death Cab sounding project (which I loved) and less conflicted than his first few Orca Orca singles. This release is just so smooth and has a serious Beach Fossils vibe going on. As Jimmy Morris pointed out to me yesterday, “Orca Orca is Craft Spells with the high’s on the EQ turned up.”
As much as I loved imago demos (under his previous pseudonym Young Minds) Make Live is is your break out EP Jim. This latest offering of songs have a more grown up feel, not as much teenage angst, and instead more of an emotional out pour that everyone can relate too on some level.
Fantastic not too lo-fi guitar riffs coupled with catchy lyrics like “It’s all bullshit anyway, cuz you’re so full of it anyway” that keep hipster hearts alive everywhere, along with lovely haunting pop melodies make this EP a solid listen from start to finish.
If you’re in Boston, check out Orca Orca’s Record Release show with Abadabad, Cheerleader and The Fantasies. Get details and RSVP on Facebook HERE.
Orca Orca’s Make Live EP dropped 3/21 and is available on his bandcamp HERE.
Lands & Peoples Pop Guilt Album Stream
I’m no stranger to this Baltimore band, though so many are, I wanted introduce you to one of the most talented and underrated bands in indie right now, Lands & Peoples. The band’s album Pop Guilt drops next week on Analog Edition Records, which just happens to be one of my favorite blogs, Everybody Taste’s label.
Hype Machine premiered their album stream yesterday and I couldn’t be more excited for you all to hear it. Combining soul drenched harmonies, methodical percussion, fuzzed out guitar ballads with vocals that dance and weave throughout like a match that burns through to the end and eventually becomes a trail of smoke that lingers for hours after. Stand out tracks have been “Ghosts” “In Living Colour” and “Don’t” but really each track holds it in, quite a feat in my book.
The structure and arrangement of songs on this album waiver between psych-pop, playful indie-rock, and a tarnished, southern roots-flecked Okkervil River rock sound. Oh and the title “Pop Guilt” couldn’t be more fitting.
The talent between these two is insurmountable, and this album is a flawed work of genius…and I mean that in the best possible way. It’s a dingy brilliance that kids that went to art school have to work at to achieve, and yet Lands & Peoples pull it off like it’s second nature. Truly great stuff.
Pop Guilt drops 3/27 via Analog Edition Records, pre-order HERE.
GITNB’s Guide to SXSBest Week Ever Pt. I: The Mixtape
Well SXSW 2012 is finally here! I have compiled a list of my top 50 acts to check, a ton of other greats acts, as well as some heavy hitters that if you get the chance you should also check out. Stream on 8tracks above and click on any of the links below to get the music directly from the artists. Be on the look out for part II of my SXSW Guide dropping today too. Enjoy!
1. Peaking Lights - Hey Sparrow (d’Eon Remix)
2. Young Magic - Jam Karet
3. Future Unlimited - Golden
4. Tanlines - All of Me
5. Yellow Ostrich - Marathon Runner
6. Princeton - Remembrance of Things To Come
7. Jonti feat. The Stepkids - The Days Have Turned
8. THEESatisfaction - QueenS
9. Blood Orange - Forget It
10. MMOTHS feat. Superhumanoids - Summer
11. Korallreven - As Young As Yesterday
12. Computer Magic - Electronic Fences
13. Trust - Bulb Form (Trust Mix)
14. SBTRKT - Hold On (Unknown Edit)
15. Kimbra - Settle Down
16. Harriet - I Slept With All Your Mothers
17. Alabama Shakes - Hold On
18. Secret Mountains - Weepy Little Fingers (Winter Session Recording)
19. Au Palais - Pathos
20. Chrome Sparks - Miss You (feat. Steffaloo)
21. Tycho - Dive
22. Charli XCX - Valentine
23. Hooray For Earth - True Loves
24. Niki and the Dove - DJ Ease My Mind
25. Caves - 1993
26. Javelin - Day Job
27. Doldrums - I’m Home Sick Sittin Up Here In My Satellite
28. White Rabbits - Heavy Metal
29. Fiona Apple - Criminal
30. Young Man - Then and Now
31. Radiation City - The Colour of Industry
32. Youth Lagoon - Cannons
33. Polica - Amongster
34. Plants & Animals - Light Show
35. La Sera - Please Be My Third Eye
36. Blouse - Ghost Dream
37. Hundred Waters - Caverns
38. Shlohmo - Wen Uuu
39. Anenon - This Is What I Meant
40. d’Eon - Transparency
41. Jacques Greene - Flatline
42. Boyfriend - Egyptian Wrinkle
43. Some Ember - Era of Wind
44. CFCF - Exercise #3 (Building)
45. The Twilight Sad - Another Bed
46. Nick Waterhouse - Some Place
47. Nicolaas Jaar - Don’t Break My Love
48. Supreme Cuts - Belly
49. Exit Music - The Sea
50. Blondes - Amber
51. Peaking Lights - All The Sun That Shines
Guide to acts that didn’t make my top 50 but are also great
1,2,3 * Taken by Trees *Cold Specks * Craft Spells * Jackmaster * Dive *Haim * White Rabbits * Savior Adore * Friends * Fidlar * Body Language * Salva * Beat Connection * Sonnymoon * Tops * Silver Swans* Groundislava * Waters * Lushlife * Shigeto * Brick + Mortar * Girl in a Coma * Dirty Ghosts * Jacques lu cont * The Men * Fort Lean * Il Abianco * A.Dd+ * Ghosts on Tape * Pressed And * Chrome Sparks * Little Hurricane * Class Actress * Dustin Wong * Slow Club * Gardens & Villa * Oberhofer * Tennis * Ghosts on Tape * Guards *Star Slinger * Widowspeak * Cities Aviv * Sleep Over * LIGHT ASYLUM *ALLAH LAS * Races * White Arrows * Pajama People * Cloud Nothings * We Were Promised Jet Packs * Lower Dens * Dent May * Dinosaur Feathers * Typhoon * Teengirl Fantasy * Shimmering Stars * Reptar * PAPA * Hooray For Earth * Com Truise * Lee Fields & The Expressions * Bleached * Bass Drum of Death * Crystal Antlers * Letting Up Despite Great Faults * The Fresh & Only’s * Amen Dunes * Psychic Ills * Sun Araw * Feeding PeopleActs that played huge showcases in 2011 that you should also check out
Fiona Apple * Zola Jesus * Chairlift * Miike Snow * Sharon Van Etten * Purity Ring * Shearwater * Grimes
The sick artwork is by Tanner Pikop of Phantom Kicks
Wanda and Wonder Bass is Nice
Slippin’ Through The Cracks Episode #2 Wanda and Wonder
This marks the second installment of my new weekly series where I talk about albums/artists I was late to the game on, and now am really wishing I hadn’t slept. Better late than never right? Read episode #1 featuring Oscar + Martin HERE.
Wanda and Wonder is not new and not old. They are not hard, nor are they soft. They are neither here nor there, in fact they are just about everywhere. Instances of this influence, flashes of that influence, Wanda Wonder were able to encapsulate so many genres of the past while adding their own silly twist on the future in one four song EP.
The vocals waiver somewhere between Billy Idol, The Cure and David Bowie, which you never really figure out, as you get lost in fancy claps and synth driven keys, amongst harmonized shrieks and heavily reverbed guitar riffs, you start to ask yourself, “Have I discovered a new genre?” A kind of glamwave disco punk, that we had hoped would be lead by bands like Apes and Androids in the uber hip trenches of the New York club scene. But instead, they missed their subway stop and continued onto Queens, Astoria, or somewhere far past Greenpoint, yet at other times, Wanda and Wonder sound nothing like this at all. Instead taking cues from hardly RnB but “inspired by” dance hits and adding their chameleon-like vocals that seem to transform almost entirely depending on the tune.
In certain songs, and parts of songs, I think the band is lackluster and annoying, these poppy, Brit punk wannabe kids living out their Green Day tribute band dreams, only a decade too late…then I realize they are fucking around, (Listen to their cover of Real McCoy’s 1993 jam, “Another Night” to see what I mean). This enigma of a band has caught my attention in just a few short songs, and well I just keep pressing play.
Most recently the band contributed to Just Like Honey Indie Podcast charity compilation with their rendition of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s hit, “Just Like Honey,” and well it’s pure genius. It’s a unique take on the classic that removes just about every ounce of shoegaze, and fills in the holes with a cooing quality that is really beautiful, while managing to hold onto the charm of the original tune that we love so much. Be sure to listen to Wanda and Wonder’s version below, and read more about the comp in my Mixtape Monday series post HERE.
Wanda and Wonder self-released a four song EP appropriately titled EPEP, on August 2nd 2010.
Wanda and Wonder | Bandcamp
Kurt Vile @ Converse Rubber Tracks, February 1, 2012
Last night I had the opportunity, along with about 75 other lucky guests to watch a intimate (and brief) stripped down live set by indie rock hero, Kurt Vile. It’s a truly magical moment when the entire crowd, for the entire four song set is in awe. Oh and did I mention the open bar was provided by Budweiser and Bushmills? WIN.
The Fader sponsored event, in conjunction with Rubber Tracks is part of a monthly series that takes place at the Brooklyn studio as a way to showcase emerging talent in an a very special setting. When up and coming stars like Kurt Vile, King Krule and Zola Jesus are not performing for a live audience, the studio acts as a free recording center complete with professional engineers for bands to lay down some seriously quality tracks without spending a dime. Pretty cool.
Here’s the video for “Jesus Fever,” one of the tracks Kurt played last night.Find out more about recording a session at Converse Rubber Tracks HERE.
Brooklyn Bound Presented by Rubber Tracks + Fader
80 plays
VBZ - RGB
by Fake Flamingo Recordings
album VBZ
VBZ RBG
Fake Flamingo Records: Part 2
Fake Flamingo Recordings puts out quality tunes and doesn’t tell you anything about the artists. You just have to listen to the music and like it for what it is. What a concept. To find out more about FFR read my previous post HERE.
VBZ is a fake band. Let’s just start with that. Complete with great harmonies and a simplicity that made me fall in love with this song almost immediately. This band has got this awesome Americana, feel good vibe that creeps up on you until you realize your lips have curled up around your mouth to form this silly grin. Just when you think it’s too simple, (i.e. Real Estate) they come in with this reverbed guitar, catchy synth and rapsy, cracking vocals. How the fuck did they blend the Eagles and Genesis in just two songs?
I really hope this is actually Lord Huron’s new project with a new singer. Because if it is, great job boys. This is fucking swell. I use the word “swell” because I feel like it’s the 70s and I’m hangin’ on the beach with my friends all the way out in groovy California…except it’s not boring surf pop like the thousands of crap bands that pooped out dream fuzz bullshit this past year.
Totally get what they are going for but unfortunately most people don’t have time to listen to hundreds of anonymous artists in hopes of discovering something new and great. We need that Amazon, “if you like X, you’ll probably like Y” part of music discovery too. Just because an artist draws similarities to fucking Elliot Smith or Spoon doesn’t make them bad, or even unoriginal. Call it what it is. Lana Del Ray backlash is harsh and stings like a mutherfucker.
I posted this song because I enjoyed listening to it. Maybe I’m not part of the majority, but if this song was written by one of the bands mentioned above, and I liked it as much as this one, I would still post it. I’m def not knocking what Fake Flamingo is doing, but I am legit tired of side projects of side projects of side projects under a pseudonym. The people who are actually writing about music, and not just posting to get hits are the ones that go back and really listen and will write about it if it’s good. Keeping your identity a secret isn’t going to change that. Then again, everyone loves a good story. Knowing insider details is what makes the world go round. This rant has gone on long enough, so I will wrap that shit up with this, if you make music and want to share it, fucking do it. There are no rules, nothing is set in stone. Stop listening to the hype. If it’s good, people will listen regardless.
