Indie Shuffle » acoustic

Purity Ring – Fineshrine (Snowden Cover)

Kavit Sumud — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:28 +0000

Sounds like: Jose Gonzalez, Ben Howard

Song: Purity Ring - Fineshrine (Snowden Cover) [download here]

What's so good?

I’m a bit of a Purity Ring fanatic. Well, aficionado is the PC term. I’ve collected every single track by them including originals, remix, collabs, and songs that sample them. Even though it’s becoming quite the swollen library at this point, I can’t help it; something about their saturnine sweetness took a hold of me the first I heard “Ungirthed,” and hasn’t let go.

So, I don’t how I missed Snowden covering “Fineshrine.” According to SoundCloud, it was posted 25 days ago, but I’m going to go with the belief that he just released it as public but kept it private for a nearly a month. Otherwise the Purity Ring fan club in my head might circle the wagons around me and feed me to some hyenas.

Regardless, Snowden’s cover works for the same reason that Purity Ring’s original does, despite being acoustic. And that’s because Snowden takes his guitar and wraps it around the lyrics like a suffocating hug. By hewing to the band’s traditional fade outs mid-song, he captures the disarming, innocent wonder of Megan James’ vocal delivery that allows the band to get away with such morbid fascinations.

It just goes to show that at the heart of Purity Ring’s art is a darkly passionate love for life — no vocals or electronic tricks are needed to show it.

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1. Original post: Purity Ring – Fineshrine (Snowden Cover)

2. Posted in: folk, acoustic, covers, Purity Ring, acoustic covers

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

Ocean Liner – Dustbowl

Anu — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:30:04 +0000

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Sounds like: S.Carey, Rayland Baxter

Song: Ocean Liner - Dustbowl [download here]

What's so good?

The first 30 seconds of “Dustbowl” had me thinking “This is nice,” and then Ben Smolin’s voice reaches a higher pitch and becomes deeper in emotion, and I thought, “This is serious.”

Ben and Alison Smolin’s stories coalesce and echo the sentiment, ”If loneliness is truth, then why do we all search for someone to wake up with?” The song asks you to inhabit the bare bones of its body, and expose yourself without consequence. In the end, it painfully accepts the irony of love; if we could be honest it would be so much easier, but heartache is inevitable.

Ocean Liner hails from Birmingham, Alabama, but currently resides in Nashville. Visit them on SoundCloud or Facebook to hear more of their self-titled debut album.

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1. Original post: Ocean Liner – Dustbowl

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

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

Kelsea Little – Blue Feather

Christiana Bartolini — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:37:53 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Regina Spektor, Joanna Newsom, She & Him

Song: Kelsea Little - Blue Feather [download here]

What's so good?

Here’s a nice little gem for all you folk pop lovers. Kelsea Little’s single “Blue Feather” is honest and clever while maintaining a beautiful instrumental arrangement.

The song starts off sweet and acoustic, and soon thereafter, Kelsea’s powerful vocals come in with the accompaniment of what sounds like a sizeable and very talented orchestra. While the set up may be traditional, their style is quite the opposite. There’s a slight off-kilter feel to this song at times, and then at other times you’re swarmed with luscious strings. “Blue Feather” has some very unique qualities to it indeed.

You should hear the rest of Kelsea Little’s album, Personal Myth, if you’re jonesing for some new and refreshing sophisticated folk pop.

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1. Original post: Kelsea Little – Blue Feather

2. Posted in: female vocalist, folk, acoustic, folk-pop, indie folk

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

Oliver Wilde – Flutter

Bronte Martin — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:52:58 +0000

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Sounds like: Atlas Sound, Deerhunter, Phoria, Grizzly Bear

Song: Oliver Wilde - Flutter [download here]

What's so good?

“Flutter” is the well-crafted creation of Bristol-based up-and-comer Oliver Wilde, a producing and musical wonder. Released as a teaser for his upcoming debut LP titled A Brief Introduction To Un-Natural Light Years (which is set to be released sometime in July via Howling Owl Records), Wilde has begun to emerge with noticeable force.

Wilde’s sound is introspective, reflective, and reeks of riffs similar to the likes of Angus and Julia Stone, Atlas Sound, and Phoria. With an electronic hint, this melancholic track sets the mood for the rest of A Brief Introduction To Un-Natural Light Years, which Wilde plans to reveal track by track, building to its final release in July.

To this day, “Flutter” is almost all we know of Oliver Wilde’s capabilities. I’d say it’s a “you had me at hello” moment upon first listen.

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1. Original post: Oliver Wilde – Flutter

2. Posted in: chillwave, dream pop, acoustic, lo-fi, indie folk

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

Mikal Cronin – Am I Wrong

Rhett Flowers — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:52:05 +0000

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Sounds like: The Byrds, Nirvana, Real Estate

Song: Mikal Cronin - Am I Wrong [download here]

What's so good?

Mikal Cronin, mostly known for his fuzz guitar work in various Ty Segall bands, is now currently breaking out into Indie Rock’s collective consciousness. His first self-titled album was a delicately crafted album from the opening notes. It really popped out of nowhere for me.

In that regard, I saw this album coming from a mile away. After it was released last week or so, I was still impressively surprised at how great of a songwriter Cronin is. This whole album reminds me sometimes of The Byrds and then other times sounds like a stripped down Nirvana tune. All these influences coalesce into some of the best Pop Rock I’ve heard in a while. He even manages to throw in some noise guitar while you’re not paying and it all makes perfect sense. Check this album out now!

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1. Original post: Mikal Cronin – Am I Wrong

2. Posted in: indie, acoustic, rock, pop, noise

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

Leo Drioli – Give It Your Love

Christiana Bartolini — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:17:50 +0000

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Sounds like: John Lennon, George Harrison, Cat Stevens

Song: Leo Drioli - Give It Your Love [download here]

What's so good?

As soon as I heard this song, I felt a sense of warmth and happiness. After reading a bit more about Leo Drioli, those feelings I initially felt made more sense. Leo is a spiritual teacher in the consciousness movement, and I definitely think that shines through in his music.

Leo’s single “Give It Your Love” is an enthralling folk-pop jam that features acoustic guitar, an electric guitar with a lot of wah pedal effects, and classic bass and drums. The message within the lyrics is something to be considered and quite possibly the most important thing to take away from this song. Basically, the single is just an all-around feel-good track that you can put on when you need a mental and emotional pick-me-up.

What’s even cooler is that Leo Drioli’s first public performance will be at the Dalai Lama conference. I think he’ll fit in just fine.

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1. Original post: Leo Drioli – Give It Your Love

2. Posted in: folk, folk-rock, acoustic, folk-pop, acoustic folk

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

TV Soundtrack: Girls Season 2, Ft. Solange, Santigold + More

Philip Friedman — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:15:56 +0000

“A friendship between college girls is grander and more dramatic than any romance…” This is especially true if the friendship has a great soundtrack. Thankfully, Girls does.

HBO’s hit dramedy Girls just recently finished up its second season trying to live up to all of the hype built up by its hugely successful debut. The season definitely had a darker feel; it dealt with some mental health and alcoholism issues. But, being as Judd Apatow is the show’s executive producer, you knew there had to be some hilarity — specifically with instances like Hannah’s home-done haircut, trash dumping, and running. And you’ve got to love Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) making a guest appearance on the show.

So while Season 2 was kind of polarizing — some loved it and some hated it — it did continue to feature great tunes from the world of indie music. The show featured female artists like Tegan and Sara and their RAC-produced track, Solange, and Santigold; it should only be expected on a show that follows the life and times of four girls that the soundtrack would be filled with the top female artists, proving that perhaps friendships between college girls really is more exciting than any romance… at least as long as the music is concerned.

Check out highlights from the soundtrack to Season 1 here.

1. Original post: TV Soundtrack: Girls Season 2, Ft. Solange, Santigold + More

2. Posted in: indie pop, female vocalist, acoustic, female vocalist remixes, indietronica

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

Song: Santigold - Girls [Downloa d]

From Episode 9, “On All Fours”

Song: Tegan and Sara - Fool To Cry [Downloa d]

From Episode 6, “Boys”

Song: PJ Harvey - You Said Something [Downloa d]

From Episode 4, “It’s a Shame About Ray”

Song: Dirty Vegas - Little White Doves [Downloa d]

From Episode 3, “Bad Friend”

Song: Solange - Losing [Downloa d]

From Episode 1, “It’s About Time”

Siôn Russell Jones – So Long

Justin Lam — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:50:10 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Jack Johnson, Ben Howard, Kodaline

Song: Siôn Russell Jones - So Long [download here]

What's so good?

You know those songs that make you feel all warm and giddy inside, and you can’t help but smile? Well, this is exactly what you’re about to feel with Siôn Russell Jones’ “So Long.” The Cardiff-born singer/songwriter has just released his most recent EP, So Long, and I’m absolutely in love with the title single.

I think there’s something very unique about Siôn’s voice; it’s the type of voice you can listen to over and over, kind of like Jack Johnson. Behind his wondrous vocals, you find these intricate guitar melodies and cracking choruses that will melt your heart. I think his live performance would be a real treat to see.

Now I’m off to listen to the rest of the EP and hopefully find a few more gems!

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1. Original post: Siôn Russell Jones – So Long

2. Posted in: acoustic, folk-pop, chill, singer-songwriter, acoustic folk

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

YouYourself&i – PLASTICITY

David Peter Simon — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:44:49 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Daniel Johnston, M. Ward, The Mountain Goats, Phil Elverum

Song: YouYourself&i - PLASTICITY [download here]

What's so good?

Take a dash of Phil Elverum, a splash of Daniel Johnston, and maybe a hint of Broken Social Scene, and you cook up singer-songwriter Daniel Gélinas, the man behind lo-fi pop rock project YouYourself&i.

With his repetitive guitar strumming and soft whispers that almost sound like pillow chatter to ex-lovers, his work will hit you like yesterday’s longing. This featured song, PLASTICITY, is indicative of a ‘wealth of talent’ wrapped up in that Montreal indie goodness. As Zach Hart* over at We Listen for You explained,

“I’m guilty of great hyperbole, but I promise, no matter what type of music listener you are, if you give this collection your honest attention and time, a great reward awaits.”

Definitely agreed with that sentiment: this is music that sweetens with repeat listens. Just spend some time with his full 2011 release, Book of Questions. It’s spine-tingling. Right now, I’m all about the track Escalator, a vocal pairing with singer Veronica Charnley. Amazing.

You can listen to the TREACLE WELL, his recent two-part album where this featured track sits, on Bandcamp. Only four tracks from each section of that album are available for listening, but it’s enough to see what you’ve been missing.

*Hat tip to We Listen for You for the great post/share.

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1. Original post: YouYourself&i – PLASTICITY

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

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

Secret Colours – Black Hole

Christiana Bartolini — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:32:39 +0000

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Sounds like: Tame Impala, Pond

Song: Secret Colours - Blackhole [download here]

What's so good?

Chicago’s Secret Colours are back with their latest post-rock single, “Blackhole.”

Prepare to get taken away into a 60s psych rock symphony, complete with dark lyrics and melancholy chords. It’s important to note the 90s grunge that gives this song an impressive edge. A looped drum beat, creepy bass, and reverberated vocals start the song off. Then comes the eerie effects that have the ability to send chills up your spine. I imagine this is the kind of song that would be suitable for a dark horror movie.

May 28, 2013 is the date to remember for Secret Colours’ upcoming album, Peach.

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1. Original post: Secret Colours – Black Hole

2. Posted in: psychedelic, acoustic, shoegaze, post-rock, tame impala

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

Live in San Francisco – Tinariwen

Jeffrey Levy — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:27:15 +0000

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Sounds like: Amadou & Mariam, TV On The Radio

Song: Tinariwen - TENERE TAQQIM TOSSAM [download here]

What's so good?

With collaborators like Kyp Malone (TV On The Radio) and Nels Cline (Wilco), you may be wondering how you’ve never heard of this band. Originally formed in 1979 in Algeria, the band has gained international recognition following its 2007 release of Aman Iman. Their sound has been coined as desert blues, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more rock n’ roll sound (or hairdo of lead guitarist and vocals, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib) than that of their most recent release, Tassili.

I was introduced to San Francisco’s newest music venue, The Chapel, with an amazing 2-hour set. The crowd of 40-somethings danced rhythmically to the drums, electric guitar, and mystifying Arabic lyrics. It’s wonderful to imagine the band members roaming the Sahara Desert with their Gold Gibson Les Paul and Red Fender Mustang, but I am led to believe that traditional music venues pail in comparison to their native landscapes.

Check out their awesome video introducing Tassili to see what I’m talking about.

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1. Original post: Live in San Francisco – Tinariwen

2. Posted in: acoustic, blues, world music, guitar, african

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

Juno Movie Soundtrack: Ft. Cat Power, Belle & Sebastian + More

Philip Friedman — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:59:11 +0000

I know it’s been a little while since I’ve posted a soundtrack playlist, but during my hiatus my wife and I welcomed our beautiful daughter Madeline Grace into the world. This led to me brainstorming a great movie soundtrack to honor her appearance into my life. Only one came to mind: Juno.

Juno is one of those movies that resonates with so many different types of people. From one aspect, it’s the story of an eclectic uncompromising adolescent (played by Ellen Page) coming to terms with who she is while dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. On the other hand, it follows married couple Mark and Vanessa (Played by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) coming to terms with not being able to have children as they look to adopt a baby and all the stresses that can accompany the process.

It’s like two different worlds colliding, as Juno’s life intersects with Mark and Vanessa’s, as shown in the varying musical taste of Juno (who’s into 70s punk) and Mark (who’s a product of 90s indie rock). Thankfully, this led to some great music being featured in the film, like Sonic Youth’s cover of the Carpenter’s classic “Superstar,” and two great Belle & Sebastian tracks.

The true standouts from the soundtrack were some of the beautiful acoustic tracks, filled with the quirkiness of the Moldy Peaches cover of “Anyone Else but You,” done by Ellen Page and Michael Cera or the heart-wrenching Cat Powers track “Sea of Love.” These tracks served as the perfect backdrop to the storyline.

Ultimately, Juno is a movie all about love and doing what’s right no matter how hard it is. A quality that I hope my daughter will develop as she gets older.

1. Original post: Juno Movie Soundtrack: Ft. Cat Power, Belle & Sebastian + More

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, acoustic, covers, indie folk

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

Song: Ellen Page and Michael Cera - Anyone Else But You [Downloa d]

Song: Belle & Sebastian - Expectations [Downloa d]

Song: Cat Power - Sea of Love [Downloa d]

Song: Belle & Sebastian - Piazza, New York Catcher [Downloa d]

Song: Sonic Youth - Superstar [Downloa d]

The Jinxes – If You Want

Christiana Bartolini — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:00:26 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes

Song: The Jinxes - If You Want [download here]

What's so good?

The Jinxes have a beautiful grasp on composing delicate folk gems with ease. Just listen to their single, “If You Want.”

The song starts off with a cello and acoustic guitar, sort of like a lullaby. Then the girl/guy harmonies comes in, which resonate through the rest of the song. With just a cello, acoustic guitar, and harmonized vocals, this track takes on a delicate orchestral sound, only simplified. The lyrics are easy to follow (and easy to get stuck in your head — fair warning!). This track has all the attributes that one would look for in a classic folk song.

If you’d like to hear more of The Jinxes, mark your calendar for May 10. That’s when their Send Me A Sign EP will be released!

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1. Original post: The Jinxes – If You Want

2. Posted in: folk, acoustic, folk-pop, bon iver, fleet foxes

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

Airhead – Autumn

Christiana Bartolini — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:05:23 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Superhumanoids, James Blake, Daughter

Song: Airhead - Autumn [download here]

What's so good?

Ahh, just what I need. A chilled out, downtempo dreamwave track by UK’s Airhead entitled “Autumn.”

As soon as the song starts, you can feel a rush of warmth and calmness flow over you. The gently picked guitar and chilled out beat is the perfect compliment to the airy, ethereal vocals that lead the way. Throughout the song, it stays pretty consistent in its construction and execution, only taking a modest break for a bridge. Airhead does a wonderful job at instilling a sense of calm through the breathtaking effects they execute in “Autumn.”

June 11 is the date to remember. That’s when their debut album For Years will drop! So even though it’s spring in most parts of the world, press play on “Autumn” and get listening!

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1. Original post: Airhead – Autumn

2. Posted in: female vocalist, experimental, acoustic, dreamwave, downtempo

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

Janet LaBelle – I Only See You

Christiana Bartolini — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:31:39 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Brenda Lee, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside

Song: Janet Labelle - I Only See You [download here]

What's so good?

I’m so happy to have Janet LaBelle on the blog again! This time, we’re taking a look at her intimate, stripped-down video for her song “I Only See You.”

Filmed live in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, Janet sits atop the mountain — beautiful scenery in the background — as she croons a bittersweet song of love and loss that we can all relate to. The raw emotion put forth in this song and video can’t be ignored. That’s not to say that Janet can’t rock and roll like the best of them (she can, I’ve seen it). But for now, Janet is taking a step back and letting her ukelele and voice do the work. And that’s enough for me!

In my opinion, everyone can use a little throwback style of music in this modern world of genres upon sub-genres, and Janet has got that covered. Her retro style is refreshing and thoughtful, and truly a cut above the rest. If you’re itching for more, be sure to pick up Janet’s album, Blossom & Blue!

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1. Original post: Janet LaBelle – I Only See You

2. Posted in: female vocalist, folk, acoustic, indie folk, feist

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

Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk – Over Land and Sea

Christiana Bartolini — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:55:37 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Of Monsters and Men, The Lumineers

Song: Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk - Over Land and Sea [download here]

What's so good?

Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk have just released their debut record, Over Land and Sea, and it’s a beaut!

This rustic folk rock album oozes classical touches with modern twists perfect for a generation like ours, whose appreciation for past decades of music still lingers along with our appetite for the new and innovative. As you make your way through this album, you’ll find that Lauren Mann and Co. are a respectable bunch. The own their talents as they fearlessly venture into a path-whacking journey of vintage styles and contemporary approaches. Their indie folk sound is something that can be appreciated by demographics across the board.

Head on over to Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk’s music page and get yourself a copy of Over Land and Sea!

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1. Original post: Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk – Over Land and Sea

2. Posted in: female vocalist, folk-rock, acoustic, folk-pop, indie folk

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

Ben Howard – Old Pine

Jason Grishkoff — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:14:07 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Ben Howard - Old Pine [download here]

What's so good?

Sundays are a good day to put aside the electronic indie rock remixes and bring in some acoustic folk. I stumbled upon this song by Ben Howard about an hour ago, and figured it’d be a great fit!

“Old Pine” is of course by no means a new song. First making an appearance on an EP titled Old Pine, the song went on to stand as the opening track to Ben Howard’s debut 2011 album Every Kingdom.

There have been a few remixes since, but folk songs tend to present themselves best in their original form. “Old Pine” is no exception.

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1. Original post: Ben Howard – Old Pine

2. Posted in: folk, acoustic, singer-songwriter, The Tallest Man on Earth, jose gonzalez

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

Belle Mare – The Boat Of The Fragile Mind EP

Christiana Bartolini — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:22:08 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Beach House, Grizzly Bear, Sharon Van Etten

Song: Belle Mare - The Boat Of The Fragile Mind [download here]

What's so good?

I’d like to introduce all you Shufflers to one of my new favorite bands. Brooklyn’s own Belle Mare is a talented boy/girl group that oozes potential and infectiousness.

Their debut EP, The Boat Of The Fragile Mind, is a cathartic and soothing journey into a dream world of many wonders. Sometimes melancholy, sometimes intricate delicateness — this album is solid through and through. Belle Mare takes the simplicity of just a few instruments and effects and calls it their own, producing glistening and gorgeously constructed dream pop that has the ability to awaken your mind and soul. Vocalist Amelia Bushell’s softly hypnotizing voice has a beckoning quality to it as she glides through each song with wistful ease.

Luckily for you, Belle Mare’s EP has just been released. Now you have no excuse to not hear it! I see big things happening for them; with a sound so intriguing and the skill to have such a strong presence within their music, they truly hold a ton of merit in this modern music world.

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1. Original post: Belle Mare – The Boat Of The Fragile Mind EP

2. Posted in: indie rock, female vocalist, dream pop, acoustic, dreamwave

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

Carla Bruni – J’arrive à toi

Christiana Bartolini — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:34:11 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Alizee, She & Him, Dido

Song: Carla Bruni - J'arrive à toi [download here]

What's so good?

Believe it or not, Carla Bruni is about to release her fourth album, Little French Songs. Her latest single, “J’arrive à toi” is a melancholy, heartwrenching-yet-beautiful French ballad.

The track starts off with a sad guitar and Carla’s milky vocals, gently singing in French; her vocals have a sense of sorrow with a tinge of underlying glimmer. As the song goes on, the overall mood stays the same, with the guitar resonating in a gloomy state along with Carla’s anguished voice. As dismal as the chords and melody may sound, there’s an undeniably gorgeous yet simple format to be appreciated here.

April 16, 2013 is the date to remember. Hopefully along with the doleful tracks comes some joyful ones too!

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1. Original post: Carla Bruni – J’arrive à toi

2. Posted in: acoustic, feist, singer-songwriter, blues, French

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

Nonaphoenix – Go

Justin Lam — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:06:49 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Wild Nothing, Cosmo Jarvis, Cheers Elephant

Song: Nonaphoenix - Go [download here]

What's so good?

So, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve taken a liking to Jakub Andrew’s solo project Nonaphoenix, and it just so happens he has a new single for us to escape to once more. “Go” his is fifth single with no sight of an album yet, but I’m more than happy to receive a new song on a monthly basis.

One thing is missing in this particular number: the banjo! How dare you deprive me of that wondrous instrument, Andrew! Jokes aside, it’s still as lovely a single that he’s ever wrote. He’s kind of nailing this particular genre at the moment, and has developed his own unique blend of folk and pop to create a real jovial listening experience.

Head over to Bandcamp now to support this man’s mission!

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1. Original post: Nonaphoenix – Go

2. Posted in: indie pop, folk, indie, acoustic, folk-pop

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

Movie Soundtrack: Django Unchained, Ft. RZA, 2Pac + More

Philip Friedman — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 13:00:07 +0000

The Western has long been one of the quintessential forms of film. From John Wayne to Clint Eastwood, there have been plenty of classic cowboy flicks complete with shoot outs, romance, and suspense. Such films have garnered many fans, one of them being indie filmmaking maestro Quentin Tarantino, whose newest film Django Unchained is his own flavor of Western.

Starring Jamie Foxx as Django, Django Unchained tells the story of an escaped slave-turned-bounty hunter who comes up with an elaborate plan to buy back his wife from evil plantation owner Calvin Candie (played brilliantly by Leonardo Dicaprio). With an all-star cast and all the gore and outlandishness that we have come to expect from a Tarantino film, we get exactly what we should in a movie: sheer entertainment.

The soundtrack for the movie is a musical smorgasbord filled with traditional western tracks, amongst others. Quentin Tarantino has long been famous for his inclusion of some obscure musical gems in his movies (pulled from his own record collection), but the Django Unchained soundtrack also sees Tarantino reaching out to the world of contemporary hip-hop.

Tracks written specifically for the movie — like Rick Ross’ “100 Black Coffins,” and RZA’s “Ode To Django,” playing over the closing titles — proves that Tarantino really does know what’s going on in the world of hip-hop. There was also a clever James Brown and 2Pac mash-up from Claudio Cueni, not to mention a beautiful acoustic piece sung in Italian by Elisa Toffoli and a track written by John Legend.

Django Unchained proves that all things are better with hip-hop, westerns included.

1. Original post: Movie Soundtrack: Django Unchained, Ft. RZA, 2Pac + More

2. Posted in: hip-hop, acoustic, rnb, soundtrack, movie soundtrack

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

Song: Rza - Ode to Django (The D is Silent) [Downloa d]

Song: Elisa Toffoli - Ancora Qui [Downloa d]

Song: John Legend - Who Did That To You? [Downloa d]

Song: James Brown - Unchained (The Payback/Untouchable) feat. 2Pac [Downloa d]

Song: Rick Ross - 100 Black Coffins [Downloa d]

Frank Turner – Recovery

Bri Guy — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:00:18 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Gaslight Anthem, Fake Problems, Biffy Clyro

Song: Frank Turner - Recovery [download here]

What's so good?

Frank Turner is a solo artist from the United Kingdom who has been performing solo since 2004. His style is a combination of acoustic, folk rock and freak folk.

“Recovery” is a folk rock song that brings full volume guitar play and vocals. It’s his first single off his upcoming LP, Tape Deck Heart, which is due for release April 23, 2013 via Xtra Mile Recordings. If you are enjoying this song, feel free to grab a pre-order here.

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1. Original post: Frank Turner – Recovery

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

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

Kavinsky – Nightcall (Alice Jemima Cover)

Justin Lam — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:41:53 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Lisa Mitchell, Sarah Blasko, Feist

Song: Kavinsky - Nightcall (Alice Jemima Cover) [download here]

What's so good?

I’m guessing the vast majority of you have come across Kavinsky’s “Nightcall” from the popular movie Drive, but you’ve probably never heard it quite like Alice Jemima’s interpretation. I’m quite a big fan of the young Brit; she just has one of those swooning voices that will win you over an instant, and it came to me as little surprise when I read of this ambitious cover.

Alice does what Alice does best, she strips everything down to its bare minimum, which reveals the true beauty of Kavinsky’s once synth-y and distorted masterpiece. Her vocals are as delicate and heartfelt as always, sitting on top of a dense and ambient guitar which immediately sets the mood.

I couldn’t imagine a better individual to cover this song, and I can’t wait to hear more from Alice Jemima this year!

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Kavinsky – Nightcall (Alice Jemima Cover)

2. Posted in: female vocalist, indie, acoustic, covers, feist

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

Kurt Vile – Never Run Away

Bri Guy — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:31:05 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Real Estate, The War On Drugs, Woods, Ducktails

Song: Kurt Vile - Never Run Away [download here]

What's so good?

Kurt Vile gave us a first listen to his new album, Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze, with “Wakin’ On A Pretty Day.” His next single, “Never Run Away,” premiered on a commerical on a local CW based in Philadelphia — it featured his daughter and him listening to the song on his record player.

“Never Run Away” is an acoustic track that blends guitar work and vocals together perfectly. With this single, Kurt Vile brings another great song to the table and has set the bar high for Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze, which is due out April 9, 2013 via Matador Records. Get a pre-order here.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Kurt Vile – Never Run Away

2. Posted in: indie rock, folk-rock, psychedelic, acoustic, lo-fi

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

TV Soundtrack: The Walking Dead, Ft. Wye Oak, Tom Waits + More

Philip Friedman — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:24:58 +0000

Imagine you just woke up in a hospital after being in a coma for who knows how long, and while you were asleep, zombies had taken over the world. You’ve got a few things to take care of. First, what type of weapon can you find? Second, what’s going to be on your zombie-whacking soundtrack?

While zombies and the movies have been a popular combo in pop culture since George A. Romero’s Night of the Walking Dead, nobody had managed to make a successful zombie television show. That is until AMC and Frank Darabont came up with the brilliant idea to bring Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore’s cult-classic Image comic book The Walking Dead to life.

After three seasons, the show’s popularity continues to grow, bringing zombie popularity to an all-time high. The gritty horror series follows sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes as he survives his way through a post-apocalyptic world overrun with “walkers” (zombies). His humanity is tested as he encounters his family and other walking dead (survivors), as they all make sense of the horrific new world around them.

The music for the show is composed by Bear McCreary, who was responsible for the “theme song.” It’s that little bit of music that starts before the main title, getting you ready for the upcoming episode (it got the remix treatment from UNKLE on The Walking Dead: AMC Original Soundtrack, Volume 1, but I didn’t have the rights to share it). The show has also included some Americana from Wye Oak, Tom Waits and Jamie N Commons, as well as a track from Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson and electroclashers Black Strobe. This all provides the perfect Southern sounding, pick-up-your-shotgun-and-hunt-some-zombie type of background music.

So grab your nearest blunt or projectile object and prepare for the zombie apocalypse with these tracks!

1. Original post: TV Soundtrack: The Walking Dead, Ft. Wye Oak, Tom Waits + More

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

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

Song: Jamie N Commons - Lead Me Home [Downloa d]

From Season 3, Episode 12, “Clear”

Song: Tom Waits - Hold On [Downloa d]

From Season 3, Episode 11, “Aint a Judas”

Song: Patrick Watson - Noisy Sunday [Downloa d]

From Season 3, Episode 1, “Seed”

Song: Wye Oak - Civilian [Downloa d]

From Season 2, Episode 9, “Triggerfinger”

Song: Black Strobe - I'm a Man [Downloa d]

From Season 1, Episode 2, “Guts”