Indie Shuffle » Vanessa Torres

SOLARDRIVE – No Drama Ft. Kevin Hicks

Vanessa Torres — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:22:19 +0000

Sounds like: Massive Attack, Wu Tang, Tricky, Portishead

Song: SOLARDRIVE - No More Drama Ft. Kevin Hicks [download here]

What's so good?

You may know Balthazar Getty as an actor, but what you wouldn’t know is that his real passion is music. Getty’s fascination for producing and mixing started in his late teens, and he finally decided to put his musical ambition in high gear.

So, he created his own label, PURPLEHAUS, and armed with just a Pro Tools rig, his DIY debut album SOLARDRIVE was birthed in three weeks. He recorded/produced/co-wrote the self titled album with the help of friends like Kevin Hicks, Ozomatli, vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Asdru Sierra, Mother Tongue bassist David Gould, and Rain Phoenix (Joaquin’s sister). He said, “Like it’s my time, in a way, and I want to share what I’m doing with like-minded people,” when asked about branching out in music.

SOLARDRIVE was created with the dream that you can bring all different types of creative angles together to shape a new sound. There are eight songs that pay homage to Getty’s love for different musical sounds that he grew up loving: 90s NYC rap, electronica, and nitty gritty blues.

The first single, ” No Drama,” features his childhood friend Kevin Hicks rapping. Even though the song is short and sweet at just under two minutes, it makes you want to keep on listening/repeating. The full album drops April 23; go get yourself some rad SOLARDRIVE tunes, because you will be rocked.

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1. Original post: SOLARDRIVE – No Drama Ft. Kevin Hicks

2. Posted in: electronic hip-hop, indie rock hip-hop, massive attack, portishead, wu-tang clan

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

The Stone Foxes – Everybody Knows

Vanessa Torres — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:21:43 +0000

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Sounds like: Dr. Dog, The Black Keys, The Stones

Song: The Stone Foxes - Everybody Knows [download here]

What's so good?

Let me start this review by putting your musical palate to a test. Have you ever tried to infuse down and dirty blues, catchy guitar rifts, and whiskey sounding vocals with a Rhodes piano? While this mixture of elements may sound odd, they must all come together to make something tasty and make you wanting more. After two albums, The Stone Foxes have grown and experimented with a different sound, and it is perfection. They have ‘it’ — whatever ‘it’ is these days.

Straight from San Francisco, The Stone Foxes’ latest single, “Everybody Knows,” starts off with a thrusting harmonica, pulsating electric guitar and lyrics that hook you in right away. The story behind the song relates to an Edgar Allen Poe short story called ” The Tell-Tale Heart,” which the music video closely follows.

The quartet consists of Aaron Mort, (bass, guitar, vocals), Elliott Peltzman (organ, piano), and brothers Shannon Koehler (drums, harp, vocals) and Spence Koehler (lead guitar, vocals). The band formed while they were at San Francisco State in 2008, and have steadily grown a following by playing festivals such as Outside Lands and Wakarusa.

Their upcoming album, Small Fires, was produced by Doug Boehm (Girls, Dr. Dog, The Vines). Together they were able to cut 12 songs in 12 days at Los Angeles’ Carriage House. “We had to seriously bust ass,” says Shannon. “We dove way deeper into what we could do recording wise than we ever had in the past, and we had way less time. I think intentionally recording 12 songs in 12 days kept us really focused.” Small Fires drops February 12, 2013, and is anything but small.

Watch the video and download their latest single for free here.

Like what you hear? Can’t get enough? Check them out live at the venues below.

TOUR DATES

2/8/2013 Los Angeles CA, El Rey Theatre w/ Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

2/12/2013 San Francisco CA, Amoeba Records

2/13/2013 Oakland CA, The New Parish Music Hall w/ Mahgeetah and The Black Cobra Vipers

2/14/2013 Arcata CA, Jambalaya w/ The Trouble

2/15/2013 Eugene OR, John Henry’s

2/16/2013 Portland OR, Winter Blues Music Festival

2/17/2013 Seattle WA, Sunset Tavern

3/2/2013 Fresno CA, Fulton 55

3/3/2013 San Luis Obispo CA, SLO Brew

3/5/2013 Fullerton CA, The Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Kitchen

3/6/2013 San Diego CA, The Casbah

3/7/2013 Las Vegas NV, Backstage Bar w/ The Dirty Hooks and Jack & The B-Fish

3/8/2013 Flagstaff AZ, The Green Room

3/31/2013 Vienna VA, Jammin Java

4/2/2013 New York NY, Mercury Lounge

4/3/2013 Cambridge MA, Middle East w/ Mojo Kick

4/4/2013 Philadelphia PA, Milkboy

4/9/2013 Cleveland OH, Beachland Ballroom

4/10/2013 Cincinnati OH, MOTR Pub

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1. Original post: The Stone Foxes – Everybody Knows

2. Posted in: folk-rock, blues rock, the black keys, blues, dr. dog

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Parade Grounds – Parade Grounds

Vanessa Torres — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:43:44 +0000

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Sounds like: Delta Spirit, Dawes, The Cave Singers, Punch Brothers, Deer Tick

Song: Parade Grounds - Don't You Know [download here]

What's so good?

Formed in February 2011, Parade Grounds was drummed up by Brooklyn-based guitar player and singer Jared Sochinsky. With a self-titled album released last summer consisting of seven musical gems, the band is set on creating music that is raw with emotion and topped with an indie/folk sound.

The band’s journey may have taken a while to come together, but their music is all the better for it. Sochinsky had been set up to go on tour with Delta Spirit, but due to time restrictions, it didn’t work out. Not to be deterred, he decided to create his own band, recruiting friends Ryan Parker (drums), Doug Drewes (bass), and Andy Emereitz (keyboard). Once they started jamming together, it all clicked. Their first performance as a band was at the now-defunct Brooklyn venue Southpaw, which was also the catalyst for creating their record Parade Grounds. With the help of a generous Kickstarter campaign, they were able to create the album and go on tour to promote it.

Some songs on the album, including “All That I Need” and “When I Wake,” are love songs gone wrong. We can all relate to breakups and the heartache that inevitably follows. Another personal favorite is “Don’t You Know,” which focuses on the depression that America recently experienced and how it sadly affected families. Starting off with harmonics, the slow swaying song really hits you hard when you listen to the lyrics.

Parade Grounds is currently on tour and working on their second album, so if you are in the NYC area, go check them out and their new tunes. You can also stream the entire album on Bandcamp.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
1/10/13 – The Gutter (200 North 14th Street  Brooklyn, NY 11211)
1/25/13 – Bar 4 (444 7th Avenue  Brooklyn, NY 11215)
2/1/13 – Roots Cafe (639 5th Avenue  Brooklyn, NY 11215)
3/5/13 – Freddy’s Back Room (627 5th Avenue  Brooklyn, NY 11215)

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1. Original post: Parade Grounds – Parade Grounds

2. Posted in: indie rock, folk, acoustic, indie folk, singer-songwriter

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

The Last Bison

Vanessa Torres — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:15:59 +0000

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Sounds like: Fleet Foxes, Mumford and Sons, The Decemberists

Song: The Last Bison - Switzerland [download here]

What's so good?

Ever hear of the term folk-chestral? Well, I really hadn’t either until I heard the single Switzerland from the Chesapeake, VA based band The Last Bison. Their debut album, Quill, was released almost a year ago, and it has taken them a while but they finally put out a visually stunning video for the single. The entire album is one beautiful piece of art.

Tangled with lively violins and whimsical banjo rifts, “Switzerland” hinges on the similar sounds of Mumford & Sons and Fleet Foxes. The seven-member band grew from jamming in a living room to a real live act that reflects in their root-sy quality and complex arrangements. With such a wide range of instruments, the band has really created a unique sound that, while may sound similar to other artists, makes them a hybrid that truly stands out.

Watch the video here:

Upcoming concerts:

Los Angeles – September 1st – Hotel Cafe
San Diego – September 3rd – Soda Bar
San Francisco – September 4th – Cafe Du Nord

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1. Original post: The Last Bison

2. Posted in: folk, americana, fleet foxes, orchestral, mumford & sons

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Jukebox The Ghost – Somebody

Vanessa Torres — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:09:44 +0000

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Sounds like: Ben Folds 5, fun., Death Cab for Cutie

Song: Jukebox The Ghost - Somebody [download here]

What's so good?

Brooklyn-based artists Jukebox the Ghost have just released their third album titled Safe Travels! The piano pop trio creates an infectious sound that is catchy as hell. Pianist Ben Thornewill, guitarist Tommy Seigel, and drummer Jesse Kristin met in college and have been playing for almost a decade; they have been on tour with the likes of Ben Folds and Jack’s Mannequin, and have gained quiet a momentum as of late.

The first single off their album, “Somebody,” is a pop ballad that is light and peppy. With clever hooks and a bouncy piano, the song gives a feel-good vibe that grabs your attention. The lyrics reflect the opposite though, as it centers around a man who doesn’t trust love anymore because it is too painful. Thornewill sings, “I don’t want anymore heartbreak / I’m tired of the sound it makes / Like trying to shut out the dark at night / you close your eyes but it won’t erase.” But other than the lyrics, the piano, falsetto chorus and a jamming guitar make the song perfect for (happier) summer days.

As a whole, the album is good, but I don’t want to say great. They get pretty close, but there seems to be a little something in each song that either needs to be added or be taken away. While I do believe they have the potential and talent to become mainstream (just listen to the other two albums), they have taken a strong step in the right direction, but still have some room to grow.

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1. Original post: Jukebox The Ghost – Somebody

2. Posted in: indie pop, piano, death cab for cutie, fun, ben folds

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

The Technicolors – Sweet Time

Vanessa Torres — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 14:19:27 +0000

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Sounds like: Oasis, Led Zepplin, Wolfmother, Muse

Song: The Technicolors - Sweet Time [download here]

What's so good?

Ever hear of the expression the bees’ knees? Well, I’m going to go ahead and use it to describe this Arizona quartet.

Pulsating with loud rock ‘n’ roll rifts, The Technicolors are coming full steam ahead with an impressive new sound and tour. The sophomore album, Listener, came out a few days ago on June 19, and is one of those albums you play on loop all day. Their sound is a bit hard to pinpoint due to the sheer amount of different influences that the album reflects. They have an amazing ability to weave loud rock ‘n’ roll rhythm with Southern guitar twangs. It even hits a British sound that works with everything seamlessly. How they pull it off without confusing the audience is a mystery to me.

“Sweet Time” is the first single off the album, and it immediately catches your ear with its heavy guitar and vibrant sound, reminiscent of Led Zepplin and Jet. My personal favorite is “Fake a Smile,” which starts off slow, just simple piano keys and a guitar. It has its rough and wild moments, and then gets quiet and is drowned out… only to build steadily back to the rock guitar that dominates the album. A perfect combination to my ears — plus, it gives the indication that this band knows how to hook their listeners.

While this review is mainly about their new work, their first album, Who You Are, is not to be missed. It is a more of an acoustic rock album that caters to their softer side, which shows just how versatile they are. While I do love the new sound they are currently playing, I do suggest giving “City Where you Sleep” and “To Love” a whirl. These two songs are simply gorgeous.

Oh, did I mention the album was produced by 22-year-old lead singer Brennan Smiley?
Talk about talent.

Upcoming Shows

July 4 - Green Valley Park – Payson, AZ

July 5 - Green Room – Flagstaff, AZ

July 6 - Roxy – Scottsdale, AZ

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1. Original post: The Technicolors – Sweet Time

2. Posted in: indie rock, acoustic, british rock, muse, southern rock

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

The Hives – Go Right Ahead

Vanessa Torres — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:36:35 +0000

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Sounds like: The Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age, Early White Stripes

Song: The Hives - Go Right Ahead [download here]

What's so good?

The Swedish quintet rockers The Hives have returned with their crowd-provoking fifth album, Lex Hives, after a few hiatus years and “Go Right Ahead” is their first single. With this track, they prove that they’ve stuck with what made them popular in the punk resurgence of the early 2000s – garage rock’n'roll beats.

Riding on the early coattails of The Strokes, The Hives became popular on the scene with their big hit, “Hate To Say I Told You So.” These Swedish lads surely have not adapted to the changing music scene, instead keeping their original eardrum crushin’ sound alive — and for that, I applaud them. But I also question their adaptability for years to come.

Starting off with a high pitched scream, lead singer Pelle Almqvist brings the party right to you. The pulsating “Go Right Ahead” gets you amped up and ready to head to the nearest watering hole. This song is about living life the fullest and never looking back. With the yelling lyrics “Find a bull and you grab the horns/Go right ahead/Scream your head off, like the day you were born/You gotta go from A-Z from when you’re born until you’re dead,” you might as well listen to the man, because he’s right — you only live once. Definitely a learned and wise motto to go by.

While sections of the stimulating song may sound familiar to ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down,” lead singer Pelle Almqvist gives them credibility. And finally, the song screams “is it right, or is it wrong, you never know – but go right ahead” — we should cheers to that and follow his lead.

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1. Original post: The Hives – Go Right Ahead

2. Posted in: garage rock, punk, the strokes, garage punk, franz ferdinand

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts

Vanessa Torres — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:33:10 +0000

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Sounds like: Danger Mouse, Adele, Broken Bells, Rachael Yamagata

Song: Norah Jones - Happy Pills [download here]

What's so good?

“Good morning, my thoughts on leaving are back on the table, I thought you should know,” are the first lyrics you hear of Norah Jones’s latest and fifth album, Little Broken Hearts. That first track, “Good Morning,” sets a dark tone for the entire album that shadows a failed relationship and how she dealt with the pain, grief, and eventually the acceptance of its demise.

The album was produced by Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton who is known more for his moody and eerie musical taste than Norah’s signature jazzy piano-esque songs. In this collaboration, he created a unique sound layered with fuzzed tone guitars and thumbing drums. While her voice is still soft and rounded throughout the album, it is a great departure from her earlier sounds and may alienate her fans.

Gone is the “girl next door” image, and in its place is the alluring and sinister alter-ego who is wrestling with her mixed emotions about a breakup. In “Miriam,” for example, she threatens the life of the girl who stole her boyfriend, whispering, “Having fun in my big pretty house … Was it a game to you?” Later she adds, “You know you done me wrong, I’m gonna smile when I take your life.”

Not all the songs are about revenge; the sedating “Travelin’ On” focuses on her moving on in life without him. Mixed with tender cellos and cooing guitar strums, it’s almost a beautiful lullaby that will put you to sleep. It is easily my favorite song on the album, especially with her raw and relatable words, “Call me when you get where you’re going, I’ll keep traveling on… Don’t be too hard on yourself… We won’t leave this place any worse than when we came.” With those lyrics, she speaks volumes of forgiveness.

Only the album’s lead single, “Happy Pills,” takes on a brighter note — but don’t fooled by the uplifting beat. The song is clearly about leaving her ex. She sings breezily, ”Trying to pick up the pace, trying to make it so I never see your face again, time to throw this away, wanna make sure that you never waste my time again.” She is ready to walk away without looking back.

In the end, Norah’s intoxicating voice isn’t entirely lost behind the production, and despite the album having a somber and menacing tone, it leaves you feeling comfortably at ease.

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1. Original post: Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts

2. Posted in: female vocalist, jazz, singer-songwriter, blues, Adele

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Delta Spirit – Delta Spirit

Vanessa Torres — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:36:54 +0000

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Sounds like: Middle Brother, Dr. Dog, Deer Tick

Song: Delta Spirit - California [download here]

What's so good?

Delta Spirit’s self-titled third album is finally out — after two years of anticipation — and boy does it reach a new height. Armed with strong electronic beats and a heavy guitar, their signature folk sound appears to be left behind. Emerged is a wide ranging personal album that sounds more like a progressive rock album tethered lightly with their “Americana” roots.

Recorded in a converted church in Woodstock, NY, the album starts with lead singer Matt Vasquez’s gut bustling voice and fuzzed out riffs in “Empty House.” Layered with texture, the next song is “Tear It Up,” which was inspired by the events that were happening in Egypt during Arab Spring, but also carries a more universal theme about what can happen with people band together with a common goal. The first single off the album, “California” is painstakingly honest and at first has a uplifting airy and ethereal ballad. In reality, the lyrics are carefully crafted about a failed long distance relationship that makes it relatable for anyone who has been though a breakup. Vasquez sings that he knows he has to let go a loved even though it will hurt him in the end: “And though my heart will fight until its dying breath / You’re not for me.”

The second act of the album after “Otherside” veers a bit from the previous songs, but they are just as fiery “Otherside” will keep the folk fans happy while “Tellin The Mind” seems to be a bit punk/experimental at times. “Time Bomb,” a mesmerizing atmospheric and accosting song, incorporates a synthesizing piano that helps to create a dreamy ballad. Guitar-driven “Money Saves” adds throbbing and speedy beats to a familiar sound that is captured in one of my favorite songs from them, “Bushwick Blues.” Ending with a track that could easily fit in an Arcade Fire album, “Yamaha” takes Delta Spirit into a completely different realm of music. With its heartbreaking lyrics and heavy piano, the song really takes you in and allows you to weigh on every word: “There’s certain things in life I cannot take /And I will wait / I hope you know I care.”

While there might be some growing pains with the more modern sound, Delta Spirit has taken one giant leap forward, and I know it will prove to be a big pay off. Frustrated with their earlier sound and being categorized as indie folk, they took a risk with self-titling their third album. The title only seems fitting, as this is the sound they had always envisioned for their band. I have already pegged this album as one of my favorites of 2012, hands down. Oh, and on May 10, they will be playing in Los Angeles at the Music Box. I’ll see you there.

Stream the entire album via their website here.

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1. Original post: Delta Spirit – Delta Spirit

2. Posted in: indie rock, experimental, folk, indie, folk-rock

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Hot Bodies In Motion – Old Habits

Vanessa Torres — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:57:22 +0000

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Sounds like: The Black Keys, Of Mice & Men, Alabama Shakes & Stevie Ray Vaughan & Indie Rock

Song: Hot Bodies In Motion - Old Habits [download here]

What's so good?

The first single, “Old Habits,” by Seattle’s four piece indie blue rock band is best described by their website as “baby-makin’ mammal funk, laced with old-school blues roots.”

Hats off to that description.

Not only does this song reverberate from the ground on up, but their entire EP is infectious and you will have it on loop in no time. Even the music video is worth a look, it makes eating pizza look sexy. I kid you not – it is quiet steamy.

While the band has been around for more than a year, they are worth mentioning again and again until they are discovered. I am actually quite suprised they have not blown up as quickly as Alabama Shakes.

This band is really all soul, and the featured song makes me wish I was feet stompin’ and drinking whiskey in some barn. Don’t ask why – once you hear, you will understand.

Listen to the whole album via their Bandcamp website.

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1. Original post: Hot Bodies In Motion – Old Habits

2. Posted in: indie rock, blues rock, the black keys, blues, alabama shakes

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.