James Yuill – Movement In A Storm
August 26th, 2010 | by Jennifer Kahn | published in acoustic, folktronica, indie pop | 3 comments
“Folktronica” is a troublesome and somewhat cringe-worthy label frequently used to describe the danceable synths and acoustic soulfulness of UK artist James Yuill. His newest album, Movement In A Storm, trades in some of the cuteness of earlier albums for a heavier tone and more aggressive beats.
Preview: of Montreal – False Priest
August 23rd, 2010 | by Kyle Suss | published in indie pop, indie rock, psychedelic | 2 comments
According to frontman Kevin Barnes, False Priest, which is set to release on September 14, incorporates several musical elements that we are not used to hearing from the group such as deep, pounding bass. Blast some of Montreal in your car and it sounds almost like Dr. Dre, right? That’s a bit of a stretch but Barnes says that he worked with Jon Brion, co-producer of Kanye West’s Late Registration, to enhance the record and add a little of “the low end,” as he calls it, that was so prevalent in classic hip-hop.
August 20th, 2010 | by Jennifer Kahn | published in experimental, folk, indie pop | 4 comments
Geographer first caught my attention with the bright synths and lush, floating vocals in the single “Kites” off their EP Animal Shapes. This is a band that wants to take you on a journey and explore new territories of sound; even the band’s name, Geographer, suggests this kind of musical wanderlust.
Preview: Ra Ra Riot – The Orchard
August 19th, 2010 | by Jen Verzosa | published in alternative, indie pop, indie rock | no comments
In The Orchard, an album of transition, Ra Ra Riot continues to create beauty of its chamber pop soundscapes but the band appears to be in lyrical limbo when compared to its previous LP, The Rhumb Line – and understandably so.
August 16th, 2010 | by Bryan Mojica | published in dance, electro pop, indie pop | 3 comments
From their sound, you would expect The Pass to hail from New York, Montreal, Paris, etc. – but they don’t. Instead, the quartet is probably the hippest music act since VHS or Beta to spawn from country-music-laden Louisville, Kentucky. In this home of line dancing and doh-see-doh, The Pass paradoxically craft upbeat synth and guitar driven dance tunes through late nights of toying with synthesizer loops and writing lyrics recalling lost loves and hookups on the dance floor.
FM Belfast – How To Make Friends
August 6th, 2010 | by Bryan Mojica | published in dance, electro pop, indie pop | 1 comment
FM Belfast is an electro-pop group from Reykjavík, Iceland delivering warm, contagious dance music that will keep you moving through the most frigid of Nordic winters.
Preview: Jenny and Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now
August 3rd, 2010 | by Jess Alatorre | published in female vocalists, indie pop | 2 comments
Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and her singer/song writer boyfriend, Johnathan Rice, have teamed up as the newest girl-boy duo on the music scene. Will Jenny and Johnny give She & Him a run for their money? (Let’s hope so!) Already the surf inspired, playful indie tunes are creating a buzz, and so far, just two songs have been released from the forthcoming LP.
Best Friends Forever – Romance Conflict Adventure
July 30th, 2010 | by Kathlee Cleveland | published in acoustic, female vocalists, garage, indie pop, punk | 2 comments
In addition to the charmingly accessible lyrics, BFF relishes in camaraderie with audience members and the feeling of sing-along rather than individualism. All of their songs are grungy, raw, and easy to sing to, often with a choir of background singers. I think it gives the entire album a warmth that is often missing from rock (and punk rock, if you can consider this punk).
July 27th, 2010 | by Kathlee Cleveland | published in alternative, rock, punk, etc., female vocalists, indie pop | 2 comments
Bethany Cosentino (AKA Pocohaunted and now Best Coast) began recording songs at 17, and after being frightened by attention from major record labels (a hipster’s worst fear!!), she decided to go from making typical boring pop music to pop music about smoking weed and wanting to make out with boys. I kinda dig her for that. I also like her for making one of the best albums this summer, for the summer.
July 19th, 2010 | by Taylor Fife | published in dreamwave/chillwave, electro pop, indie pop, trip hop | 4 comments
Baths’ first full-length, Cerulean, is creative electropop features the shuffling, ratcheting rhythms of other L.A. experimental electronica and dubstep artists like Flying Lotus and Shlomo. But instead of wobbling basslines and peculiar sounds, Baths layers poppy synth hooks, catchy vocals, and easy to digest samples over his broken beats.
