Indie Shuffle » ra ra riot

Shy Nature – Deadly Sin

Christiana Bartolini — Sun, 12 May 2013 15:17:42 +0000

Sounds like: Ra Ra Riot, Local Natives, Shout Out Louds

Song: Shy Nature - Deadly Sin [download here]

What's so good?

London’s own Shy Nature are gearing up to release their introductory track, “Deadly Sin,” a lovely indie pop jam that has energetic tendencies and singalong infectiousness.

Shy Nature wastes no time getting to the nitty gritty of this fun-filled, upbeat track. Raw electric guitar accompanies a prowling bass as the keys keep a choral tone and the vocals lead the way in sweet, sweet harmony. The chords are catchy, the beat is danceable, and the instrumentals are quintessentially preferable. This band has got a great grasp on what the people want!

“Deadly Sin” will be available as a free download on May 13, so don’t forget to snatch this gem up!

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

1. Original post: Shy Nature – Deadly Sin

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, indie, local natives, ra ra riot

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

Matisyahu- Live Like a Warrior (Tune In Crew Remix)

Kavit Sumud — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:50:05 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Discovery, Blackbird Blackbird

Song: Matisyahu - Live Like a Warrior (Tune in Crew Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

Anthems are kind of my weakness. Shoot a great one at me, and it’s likely to pierce my music critic soft underbelly, leaving me defenseless to do anything but review it. Tune in Crew’s remix of one of my faves, Matisyahu’s “Live Like a Warrior” (from last year’s Spark Seeker), definitely falls into that category.

Sure, the lyrics are a bit cloying, but they hit with enough heart to make the track feel like a foot stomping, cavalry march into a promise land of your own making. Tune In Crew’s remix certainly amplifies and accentuates that feeling, making the track feel like a swirling hymnal. With Discovery-esque synth-pop production that wouldn’t have been out of place on that band’s equally uplifting “Osaka Loop Line,” Tune in Crew turn “Live Like a Warrior” into a delicious slice of angel pop.

If you don’t know Tune In Crew, you really should. I’ve been following these very active French remix artists since they released one of the only reworks of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep“ I actually liked. Plus, their ardent support for Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the French Elections on Facebook endlessly endeared me to them.

Check out their SoundCloud and Facebook to check out their catalogue of great remixes (a few of them are award winning!).

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

1. Original post: Matisyahu- Live Like a Warrior (Tune In Crew Remix)

2. Posted in: Electronic, remixes, electro pop, synth-pop, reggae

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

Vampire Weekend – Ya Hey

Jason Grishkoff — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:50:51 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Ra Ra Riot, Discovery, The Strokes

Song: Vampire Weekend - Ya Hey [download here]

What's so good?

Oh goodie, goodie! Vampire Weekend’s new album Modern Vampires Of The City is just on the horizon (May 14th, y’all), and today they’re celebrating by releasing a new video on Youtube for the track “Ya Hey.”

Prior to this single, we’ve heard from more in “Diane Young” and “Step.” Out of the three, I actually think I’m liking this one the most. As We All Want Some puts it, the song has “elements from their debut/Contra here with a more refrained reflective sound mixed with their African influences.”

Peep the video below, and check out iTunes for a pre-order.

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

1. Original post: Vampire Weekend – Ya Hey

2. Posted in: indie pop, surf rock, vampire weekend, ra ra riot, afro-beat

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

SPEAK – Peaks

Aaron Blum — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:49:34 +0000

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Sounds like: Ra Ra Riot, Vampire Weekend

Song: SPEAK - Peaks [download here]

What's so good?

Austin indie rock band SPEAK has just dropped their first new track in almost two years, titled “Peaks.” At first listen, it sounds so familiar, yet so different. It’s one of those tracks that stretches your tuned ear to a broader range of likening. It’s also one of those tracks that doesn’t come along very often. I am finding out that the song is getting better and better with each listen.

Taking a step back into SPEAK’s catalogue to give some of their old tunes a listen, I have noticed the development and growth this band has made over the past few years. It should be interesting and exciting to see a new full-length album from these guys and the direction they take things to.

With no official release date set, the band is touring a few dates with Ra Ra Riot over the upcoming months. If you’re digging the track as much as I am, be on the look out for more updates from SPEAK.

Free download available on their SoundCloud page.

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

1. Original post: SPEAK – Peaks

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, indie, vampire weekend, ra ra riot

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

Phoenix – Entertainment (Hot Natured Remix)

Bri Guy — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:58:13 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Danny Daze, Art Department, Wolf + Lamb, Ra Ra Riot

Song: Phoenix - Entertainment (Hot Natured Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

Phoenix are set to release Bankrupt on April 23, 2013, and in the meantime, you can stream the highly anticipated album on iTunes. Last night, Phoenix dropped another remix of “Entertainment” on their SoundCloud. This version is by Hot Natured, who did nothing short of work their magic.

Hot Natured’s remix is slowed down and bass-driven, which keeps your attention for the track’s seven full runtime. Props to Hot Natured for doing an excellent job of remixing “Entertainment” without losing the song’s core.

Hot Natured will be touring Europe and the U.S. in some clubs and festival spots in the summer. Fans can peep the dates here. For more music from this talented act, follow them on SoundCloud.

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

1. Original post: Phoenix – Entertainment (Hot Natured Remix)

2. Posted in: Electronic, remixes, house, electronic remixes, indie rock remixes

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

Ra Ra Riot – All I Fear

Bri Guy — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:49:28 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Freelance Whales, Vampire Weekend, Local Natives, Passion Pit

Song: Ra Ra Riot - All I Fear [download here]

What's so good?

Ra Ra Riot’s Beta Love LP, released on January 22, 2013, is one of my favorite albums of the year. If you can remember, we featured a flurry of their songs, including “Dance With Me,” ”Is It Too Much” and “When I Dream,” in December 2012 and January 2013.

If you wanted more from Ra Ra Riot, it’s your lucky day because they are releasing a special Binary Mind 10″ for Record Store Day (April 20, 2013). This 10″ includes unreleased song “All I Fear,” an indie pop track with great violin work, good bouncing drums, and solid guitar strumming. The 10″ will also feature demo versions of ”Binary Mind,” “Wilderness” and “I Shut Off.”

Enjoy!

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

1. Original post: Ra Ra Riot – All I Fear

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, indie, passion pit, local natives

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

Passion Pit – Interview

Cassie Morien — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:21:49 +0000

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Sounds like: The Naked and Famous, Foster the People, Miike Snow

Song: Passion Pit - Carried Away [download here]

What's so good?

It’s difficult to contain our love for Passion Pit; Indie Shuffle is overflowing with the synth-pop sounds from the Boston-based band. Since their romantic Valentine’s Day mix tape start, the quintet has released two albums and a slew of saucy remixes. And we love them all.

Passion Pit has toured the world, performed on Saturday Night Live, and recently headlined Madison Square Garden (during an epic snowstorm, no less). Oh, they are also Taco Bell approved.

We had the pleasure of speaking with bassist Jeff Apruzzese about the band’s quick ascent into mainstream, plans for a third album, and DJ’ing online with the Chain Gang of 1974. Check it out below:

Over the next few weeks you will be playing Lollapalooza Brazil, Sweetlife Festival, and Coachella. What do you enjoy most about playing these gigantic festivals?
It’s kind of like band camp…You are in these foreign territories, so you’re all backstage everyday. It’s natural for you to migrate and start hanging out. It’s always fun to meet new friends and see bands that you kind of look up to, and being like, ‘Oh, they’re not so crazy. They’re just like us.’ And also catching up with old friends that you haven’t seen in awhile because you’re both on tour all the time. It’s really hard to catch up with people when you’re never home.

I’m really looking forward to seeing a lot of bands too. Queens of the Stone Age is playing Lollapalooza [Brazil]. You get to see bands that you wouldn’t necessarily buy a ticket [to see]. Like when we played Outside Lands, Metallica played. I’ve never been the biggest Metallica fan in the world and I’d probably never pay to see them, but [it] was like, ‘I might as well walk over and see what this gigantic metal band is all about.’

How was their set?
It was worth the walk. They are old, but they still put on a really good show. They gave me an appreciation for a lost art, which is mainstream touring rock and roll production. You don’t really go to serious shows anymore where there is pyrotechnics shooting out from the bottom of the stage.

When you first signed on with Passion Pit in 2008, you had just graduated from college. Were you able to fathom the success you’re currently experiencing?
I feel like a lot of bands say this, but I know that we can say it truthfully and humbly, that we weren’t really expecting any of this. We weren’t really trying for any of this to happen. I think we are just trying to see how far we can actually get before someone tells us this is a joke, and that the dream scenario that we’ve been living in is over. Everyday is a blessing.

We feel so lucky to be able to do everything that we are doing. It’s been so fast paced for the last four or five years, from when this whole project started, sometimes we need to take a step back and see how much we’ve actually accomplished.

That leads perfectly into my next question. You have now performed on Saturday Night Live and in Madison Square Garden. When did you experience that ‘I’ve made it’ feeling?
[It was] when we were playing Madison Square Garden.

Everyone in the band can attest to this. When we first started playing, we’d be in our crappy little practice space in Brighton, and [I’d say], ‘If this band ever plays Madison Square Garden, that’s it. I’m done. I’m quitting because there is no where else to go from there.’ I grew up in New Jersey, so [MSG] was the big venue. Any big, rock and roll arena band that played there had a sense of accomplishment. That show was definitely a huge milestone for us, and for me it was a feeling like I’d actually made it.

Completely honest, I don’t think that we even realize the impact that this band is having. I mean that in a very sincere way. Aside from playing SNL and Madison Square Garden I don’t think that we fully understand what this band is doing right now. I think we have our blinders on. We are just trying to keep going. I think we are always looking forward to the next thing and seeing what could happen.

Do you have another dream venue you hope to play? Where have you set your sights now?
In terms of iconic venues, I think we’ve hit the mark in New York and maybe the country.

I think the thing we are thinking about the most right now is maintaining this thing that we’re riding, and trying to record a new record and get the new material out there as soon as possible. I feel like we were very lucky with the amount of time that we took off between Manners (2008) and Gossamer (2012).

It was our second full-length record and we evaded the sophomore slump. This record is exceeding all of our expectations. I don’t think any of us thought we’d be in a band where our songs are being played on the radio and television. For this record to be getting all of this [attention] is kind of crazy.

There was no sophomore slump for you. Gossamer has been well received by fans. What are you most proud of on that album?
When I first started hearing the tracks I was really excited about everything that Michael [Angelokos] was doing. I was really into the new direction and the way the material was sounding. But I was also anxious to hear how other people would receive it because I felt that it was kind of a black and white comparison to Manners. Manners reminds me of going out on a Friday or Saturday night in New York City and going to clubs. It was just so dance, synthesizers and club heavy.

When I hear Gossamer, I hear more of a well thought out album [with a] mature songwriter. There’s an actual pop continuity with the record, a general theme going on.

You mentioned keeping the momentum going. Are you already working on your third album?
It’s definitely something that we’ve been talking about. When we were touring on Manners, we were so new and so fresh to it all, that we were getting the crapped kicked out of us by touring. We weren’t really thinking about anything else besides getting through the album campaign. We were so exhausted and we were playing so many shows. We were gone six, seven, eight weeks at a time, so that was stacking up against us.

Now we’ve been able to go out for three or four weeks at a time and then go home to regroup. The [third album] is something we keep talking about every time we are together. We are trying to keep this relationship growing, that we have together as a unit. Keep it maturing. Getting closer, tighter.

It takes a long time for people to be able to communicate with each other musically without actually speaking, and understanding what one another is trying to do. I don’t think we are there, yet. I think it’s something that takes a long time to achieve, but I definitely think we are getting a lot closer to where we want to be as a band.

We are trying to have open communication about this record and start working on it while in between tours, instead of completely coming off the road and trying to start recording. It’s a jarring thing to do, creatively and emotionally, to be out on the road every day, playing five or six shows a week, and feeling like you’re really on it. Then going home and hitting this weird, depressed state where there’s not really any creativity going on, because we are all separated in our own apartments.

I think we want to be able to take the momentum we have on tour with one another and take that into a spot where we can start developing new sound.

What must you have with you while on tour?
My new safety pouch has been my coffee supply kit, which is an AerobieAeroPress, a Hario mini-mill coffee grinder, a little pocket scale to weigh out my grinds, a travel kettle that is .5 liters, and a mason jar to collect coffee beans. That’s kind of been our thing.

We are definitely not young to this anymore. We have all the partying and crappy shows out of our system. We drink a lot of coffee. We always ask for locally roasted coffee beans, to kind of collect samples around the country. By the end of a tour we’ll have 20 different containers of coffee that we’ve gotten from all over the place.

How do you take your coffee?
Black, the only way I can enjoy it!

I noticed on Twitter that you were recently on Turntable.fm with the Chain Gang of 1974. They are another phenomenal band. How was that?
That was funny. Kam [Mohager] is a good friend of mine. I actually played bass for him on a tour, maybe a year ago or so. Passion Pit was off tour and I was getting a little itch for touring, so I filled in for them for a few weeks while they were opening for The Naked and Famous.

The Naked and Famous, Chain Gang and you? That’s a powerhouse mix!
It definitely made me feel like I was little bit of a bitch. [Laughs.] I enjoyed it! But I was back in a van, loading in gear. I was like, “Oh man, I haven’t done this in awhile.’

[Turntable.fm] was fun. Kam and I were chatting on Facebook and he was in there. I was trying to start a thing because Nate [Donmoyer] and I did a Turntable.fm promotion a few months ago. They made us custom avatars in these sweet tuxedos. Up until now they had a capacity limit and with the promotion we were doing the limit was off, as many people as you want could go in the room. So that’s what Nate and I did, and I think there was close to 2,000 people in the room.

I was trying to do that [with Kam]…but I didn’t have patience. I think it only lasted like 15 minutes and then I started cooking dinner.

Final question. When are you happiest?
I am the most happy when I first come into my apartment coming off tour, and I walk in and I see my dog [Betsey]. Usually when I get home, my girlfriend is at work. That’s my second happiest when she gets off work. But my dog? I don’t think I’ll ever meet another girl or woman, in my life, that gets so excited every time I leave and come back. She is so happy whenever I come home.

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

1. Original post: Passion Pit – Interview

2. Posted in: indie pop, passion pit, two door cinema club, miike snow, ra ra riot

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

Vampire Weekend – Diane Young

Jason Grishkoff — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:12:33 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Vampire Weekend - Diane Young [download here]

What's so good?

Vampire Weekend are gearing up to release their new album Vampires Of The Modern City in May, and yesterday unleashed two contrasting singles: “Step” and “Diane Young.” I’ve embedded both below, but figured the more upbeat ought to take the cake as SOTD.

Interesting to note that Vampire Weekend’s performance at the Rachel Ray SXSW showcase was one of the most popular of the entire event. The line was literally wrapped fully around an entire city block — starting at the entrance, and making it’s way back to the entrance. That’s sorta like…four blocks, right? Clearly folks are pretty excited about this.

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

1. Original post: Vampire Weekend – Diane Young

2. Posted in: indie pop, surf rock, vampire weekend, ra ra riot, afro-beat

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

Pacific Air – Float (Ra Ra Riot Remix)

Jason Grishkoff — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:35:49 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: RAC, Goldroom

Song: Pacific Air - Float (Ra Ra Riot Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

Just when you thought the remixes of Pacific Air’s “Float” were done, along comes a new one by a totally awesome band. Ra Ra Riot have been known to jump into the remix game, though we haven’t seen an appearance for quite some time now (probably too busy with their own material).

Good news for us is that this remix of “Float” is hardly the same-old-thing. We’ve heard some many various renditions of this track that it’s hard to imagine something completely unique coming along, but I think Ra Ra Riot executed this one successfully.

Pacific Air and Ra Ra Riot are currently on tour together, and you can find this remix as the B-side to a “Float” 7″ via Barsuk.

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

1. Original post: Pacific Air – Float (Ra Ra Riot Remix)

2. Posted in: indie rock remixes, ra ra riot, pacific air

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

Born Ruffians – Needle

Jason Grishkoff — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:17:38 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Born Ruffians - Needle [download here]

What's so good?

Boy did Born Ruffians have me fooled on this track! For the first minute or so I could have sworn they were headed in a Fleet Foxes-inspired direction (I’m confident that anyone familiar with Robin Pecknold will agree that Born Ruffians’ lead singer Luke Lalonde sounds almost exactly the same here).

Past the one minute mark, that whole illusion falls apart. Born Ruffians quickly emerge in true fashion, with an upbeat and slightly dated indie pop sound. I think that if it weren’t for the first minute, I’d probably have lost interest pretty quickly. As it turns out, however, it took the song far enough to qualify it for SOTD.

“Needle” is the first single off the band’s upcoming album Birthmarks, which should be available April 16th.

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

1. Original post: Born Ruffians – Needle

2. Posted in: indie pop, folk-pop, fleet foxes, vampire weekend, ra ra riot

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

Phoenix – Entertainment

Jason Grishkoff — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:42:58 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: The Royal Concept, Ra Ra Riot

Song: Phoenix - Entertainment [download here]

What's so good?

HOLY SHIT A NEW SONG FROM PHOENIX! I’ve been waiting for this for oh, I don’t know…four years maybe?

I think the best part about this new track titled “Entertainment” is that it doesn’t let me down in the slightest. It’s catchy, it’s upbeat and it presents Phoenix in a slightly new manner.

Basically, I can’t wait for Bankrupt to get here.

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

1. Original post: Phoenix – Entertainment

2. Posted in: indie pop, two door cinema club, phoenix, Last Dinosaurs, ra ra riot

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

Ra Ra Riot – Beta Love (RAC Mix)

Jason Grishkoff — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:22:07 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Ra Ra Riot - Beta Love (RAC Mix) [download here]

What's so good?

I’m clearly a sucker for André Allen Anjos’ remixing ability. He has to be by far our most featured Song of the Day artist. And on that note, Ra Ra Riot are certainly up there as well. In fact, this probably isn’t the first time we’ve featured a collaboration between the two.

“Beta Love” comes as the title track off the New York-based band’s third album Beta Love, released earlier this year to a pretty good reception. I can’t say I’ve been listening to it on repeat, but this rendition almost makes me want to do that.

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

1. Original post: Ra Ra Riot – Beta Love (RAC Mix)

2. Posted in: indie pop, indie rock remixes, rac, ra ra riot

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

Haim – Send Me Down (Kisses Remix)

Kavit Sumud — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:17:21 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Tegan and Sara, Ra Ra Riot, The Magnetic Fields

Song: Haim - Send Me Down (Kisses Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

I’m a big fan of remixes that replace the guitar drivelines and percussion entirely with synths. (The gold standard of this being Ra Ra Riot‘s remix of Young the Giant‘s “Cough Syrup.”) On these remixes, they are less tweaks to the original than internuncios of an alternate emotional world.

Take, for instance, Kisses’ remix of Haim‘s “Send Me Down,” and the way that the lines “You came back/back into my arms/like a heart-attack” hit in the original version versus in the remix. The heavily foreboding percussion of Haim’s take makes the sentiment feel like emotional jujitsu; whereas Kisses’ remix feels like the singer is about throw herself on the altar of love, convulsing at its power.

But nowhere is the difference more obvious than in the bridge where Kisses’ synths twinkle with such forlorn infatuation you can’t help but feel empathically tied to the track. That desolate twang in those few notes makes me quiver every time. That takes some skill and vision for producers to achieve.

If you like this track as much as I did and are looking forward to hearing more from Kisses, follow them on their SoundCloud (grab a free download while you are there! ) and like them on their Facebook.

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

1. Original post: Haim – Send Me Down (Kisses Remix)

2. Posted in: female vocalist, remixes, synth-pop, electronic remixes, female vocalist remixes

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

Lauren Mann and The Fairly Odd Folk – I Lost Myself

Christiana Bartolini — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:25:05 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ra Ra Riot, Of Monsters and Men

Song: Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk - I Lost Myself [download here]

What's so good?

Are you looking to start your day on a breezy, bright note? If yes, then you’ve come to the right post! Lauren Mann has delivered a gorgeous folk pop touching upon her journey back into the world of music.

Simple whistles and a ukulele open the song along with Lauren’s silky vocals. That’s enough to get you hooked… but wait, there’s more! Soon you’ll find yourself engulfed in a sea of acoustics galore. This orchestral folk group isn’t afraid to pile layer upon layer of instruments to form a truly infectious and relatable song that will probably get stuck in your head after just one listen.

Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folks’s debut full-length album is set to release on April 9, 2013 through Wanderer Records. Don’t forget to check out this ELLE interview with Lauren as she explains her passionate journey back into music.

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

1. Original post: Lauren Mann and The Fairly Odd Folk – I Lost Myself

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

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

Local Natives – Wooly Mammoth

Aaron Blum — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:34:19 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Grizzly Bear, Freelance Whales

Song: Local Natives - Wooly Mammoth [download here]

What's so good?

I think it goes without saying that we here at Indie Shuffle are big fans of the L.A. indie rock band Local Natives. If you haven’t already noticed, we have featured three songs off their new album Hummingbird. How new is it? Well, the highly anticipated second studio album was officially released today. So, I thought why not share one more gem from the new album to commemorate the official release.

Here we have the track “Wooly Mammoth” — full of their signature echoing guitars, quick snare drum beats, and harmonizing vocals. The track is a tad more uptempo from our last post, “You and I,” and reminds me of the flavor they put into Gorilla Manor and what has made them one of my favorite bands over the past few years.

Grab your copy of Hummingbird over on iTunes, as it will be one of the better decisions you have made in 2013, or in the meantime, stream much of the album over on their SoundCloud page.

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

1. Original post: Local Natives – Wooly Mammoth

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie, folk-rock, fleet foxes, grizzly bear

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

The Last Royals – Friday Night

Justin Lam — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:37:10 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Ra Ra Riot, Little Red, Penguin Prison

Song: The Last Royals - Friday Night [download here]

What's so good?

New York City’s Eric James and Mason Ingram make up the dynamic duo that is The Last Royals (TLR). Interestingly enough, TLR began as a solo project, with Eric specializing in “urban walking music” and with Mason joining in 2010, and the pair haven’t looked back since. Fun fact: drummer Mason Ingram actually recorded with Angus and Julia Stone for the album Down The Way (featuring none other than “Big Jet Plane”).

Enough about the band and more about the debut album. Twistification was released a few days ago, and I couldn’t think of a better way to start the year. “Friday Night” is the lead single; it’s a nice mix between heartfelt love pop and good ol’ dancy, synthy electro pop. The rest of the album is much the same, and to be honest it was quite refreshing to hear such an amusing sound.

I highly recommend checking out the full album.

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

1. Original post: The Last Royals – Friday Night

2. Posted in: indie pop, electro pop, synth-pop, indie, ra ra riot

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

Ra Ra Riot – Is It Too Much

Jason Grishkoff — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:59:47 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Ra Ra Riot - Is It Too Much [download here]

What's so good?

Look, I know we’ve been featuring a lot of music from Ra Ra Riot’s upcoming album Beta Love, but hear me out: this is the best song yet. You’re probably going to enjoy it.

Beta Love will be the band’s 3rd album, and their first since losing cellist Alexandra Lawn. While her presence is missed, it seems it hasn’t hold the band back one bit.

The album will be out January 22nd, and you can pre-order it here.

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

1. Original post: Ra Ra Riot – Is It Too Much

2. Posted in: indie pop, passion pit, local natives, vampire weekend, ra ra riot

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

Ra Ra Riot – Dance With Me

Bri Guy — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:39:56 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Passion Pit, Matt & Kim, Tokyo Police Club, POP ETC

Song: Ra Ra Riot - Dance With Me [download here]

What's so good?

Barsuk Records have been releasing previews, one at a time, of Ra Ra Riot’s new LP, Beta Love. The last we heard from them was the downtempo ”When I Dream.“ This week, they released another single, titled “Dance With Me.”

“Dance With Me” is an upbeat indie pop jam that makes you wanna get moving; it’s also a quick song that’ll leave you wanting more.

Grab a pre-order of Beta Love here – the offical release date for it is January 22, 2013. If you’re digging their sound, say hi to them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

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

1. Original post: Ra Ra Riot – Dance With Me

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, passion pit, ra ra riot, matt & kim

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

Born Ruffians – With Her Shadow

Jason Grishkoff — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:04:49 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Ra Ra Riot, Local Natives, Fleet Foxes

Song: Born Ruffians - With Her Shadow [download here]

What's so good?

Okay, I’m pretty sure our blog is getting old. Old enough that I can say it’s been 2.5 years since we covered Born Ruffians’ last release, Say It.

Why does that matter? Well it means that when I saw a new song from the band this morning, I was pretty excited to listen in. It’s their first new single in quite some time, which often means a good bit of evolution.

I’ll let you be the ultimate judge of how this holds up, but overall I’m not finding myself blown away. It’s definitely very well produced, but toward the end the melody starts to grind me the wrong way. Can’t please everyone, I guess.

No word yet on what the album title will be or when it’s due to be released. But you can probably count on us covering their future singles, by which time we’ll hopefully know more!

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1. Original post: Born Ruffians – With Her Shadow

2. Posted in: indie pop, folk-rock, folk-pop, fleet foxes, local natives

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

Ra Ra Riot – When I Dream

Jason Grishkoff — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:36:14 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Ra Ra Riot - When I Dream [download here]

What's so good?

Sneaky Barsuk Records, uploading a new Ra Ra Riot track without any accompanying press blast. Fortunately one of our fans flagged this track to us, and I couldn’t resist featuring it as today’s Song of the Day.

If you’re familiar with Ra Ra Riot, this song might strike you as being slightly downtempo. Whereas the band have forged a name for upbeat indie pop, “When I Dream” is a reflective, slow-paced track that’s certainly appropriate for dreaming. Perhaps that’s because they’ve lost their cellist?

“When I Dream” will be released on the band’s upcoming LP Beta Love, out January 22nd. You can pre-order the album here.

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1. Original post: Ra Ra Riot – When I Dream

2. Posted in: indie pop, ra ra riot, phantogram, stars, tokyo police club

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

Ra Ra Riot – Beta Love

Jason Grishkoff — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:30:44 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Discovery, Tokyo Police Club

Song: Ra Ra Riot - Beta Love [download here]

What's so good?

Well, what have we here? A brand new song from Ra Ra Riot? Sure looks like it…

“Beta Love” is the first song off the band’s upcoming third LP by the same title. We’re not entirely sure when it’s going to be released (as of now, we haven’t received a press email). But, it appears that it’ll come some time in early 2013 via Barsuk records.

Definitely on the poppier side of things, but I’m liking this one.

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

1. Original post: Ra Ra Riot – Beta Love

2. Posted in: indie pop, passion pit, ra ra riot, tokyo police club

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

Midi Matilda – Red Light District

Elizabeth Walker — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:01:33 +0000

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Sounds like: M83, Ra Ra Riot, Cut Copy

Song: Midi Matilda - Red Light District [download here]

What's so good?

One thing that’s extra awesome about blogging is that people always want to share their music with you. Last week, a coworker of mine emailed me about a new band she discovered, so here we are ready to listen and learn about the stellar band Midi Matilda.

Based out of San Francisco, Skyler Kilborn & Logan Grimé make up the indie electro-pop group. Easy parallels between M83 and the indie-r side of Cut Copy are definitely there, Midi’s style drawing upon dreamy synths layered with washed out vocals.

“Red Light District” is a definitely go-to in their blossoming library, well-arranged and evoking. A video of the track (below) features Midi Matilda playing a most minimal-acoustic version on a rooftop set with an amazing sunset and deep, furrowed eyebrows.

Also worth mentioning is their most excellent Twitter bio, stating “We are here to create pop gems that keep you humming in your dreams.” Mission accomplished, Midi.

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1. Original post: Midi Matilda – Red Light District

2. Posted in: indie pop, electro pop, m83, cut copy, ra ra riot

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

The Lighthouse And The Whaler – Venice

Jason Grishkoff — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:20:52 +0000

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Sounds like: Of Monsters And Men, Freelance Whales

Song: The Lighthouse And The Whaler - Venice [download here]

What's so good?

Not much more than a week ago, we covered the single “Pioneers” by Lighthouse and the Whaler. Today, we’re stoked to be bringing another track to you, “Venice.”

The Cleveland-based quartet are set to release their new album This Is An Adventure on September 18th, and by the sounds of it, their folk pop senses will remain sharp throughout (they’re batting 100 at this point).

Further adding to my suspicion, the album was produced by Ryan Hadlock, who has previously worked with the likes of Ra Ra Riot and The Lumineers.

To be fair, Lighthouse and the Whaler aren’t exactly novices on the scene. They’ve played more than 200 shows to date, including performances with The Temper Trap, The Dodos, Sufjan Stevens and Best Coast. Still, they’re poised for some good attention with this release, so don’t be surprised if you see more coverage from us.

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1. Original post: The Lighthouse And The Whaler – Venice

2. Posted in: indie pop, folk-pop, ra ra riot, freelance whales, lighthouse and the whaler

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

TV Soundtrack: The Vampire Diaries Season 2, Ft. Smith Westerns, The xx + More

Philip Friedman — Sun, 20 May 2012 21:18:16 +0000

The CW has been famous for bringing us plenty of teen drama in the form of hit TV shows (Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, etc.), and even for introducing us to some science fiction drama (like Supernatural). Both formulas came together to bring us The Vampire Diaries, based the on novel series by L.J. Smith.

The Vampire Diaries Season 2 saw the plot thicken as the love triangle between Elena, Stefan and Damon grew stronger as new monsters were introduced to the show. That’s right, you guessed it: werewolves, “super” vampires, and doppelgangers. With just the right amount of teenage angst mixed with supernatural creatures, Season 2 was a fan favorite.

What continues to set The Vampire Diaries from the majority of its CW counterparts is the heavy doses of weekly indie music featured on the show. Season 2 definitely did not disappoint in this department, with songs from the masters of new blues The Black Keys, electronic wonderkids The xx, and the indie/hip-hop mashup super-group Broken Bells. There were so many quality songs that I had trouble deciding what to feature on this playlist!

Apparently, vampires listen to some great music. Don’t take my word for it though, check out the songs below and the playlist for Season 1 here.

1. Original post: TV Soundtrack: The Vampire Diaries Season 2, Ft. Smith Westerns, The xx + More

2. Posted in: Electronic, indie rock, indie pop, female vocalist, the xx

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

Song: Lykke Li - Get Some [Downloa d]

From Episode 19, “Klaus”

Song: The National - Lemonworld [Downloa d]

From Episode 15, “The Dinner Party”

Song: The xx - Islands [Downloa d]

From Episode 15, “The Dinner Party”

Song: Smith Westerns - All Die Young [Downloa d]

From Episode 14, “Crying Wolf”

Song: Stars - Take Me to the Riot [Downloa d]

From Episode 12, “The Descent”

Song: Broken Bells - The Mall and Misery [Downloa d]

From Episode 12, “The Descent”

Song: Ra Ra Riot - Shadowcasting [Downloa d]

From Episode 11, “By the Light of the Moon”

Song: The Drums - Let's Go Surfing [Downloa d]

From Episode 11, “By the Light of the Moon”

Song: The Black Keys - Tighten Up [Downloa d]

From Episode 6, “Kill or Be Killed”

Song: The Temper Trap - Science of Fear [Downloa d]

From Episode 6, “Kill or Be Killed”

Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma

Jason Grishkoff — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:14:03 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma [download here]

What's so good?

Vampire Weekend basically pumped out hit after hit with their self-titled 2008 debut release. With songs like “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” “A-Punk” and “The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance,” they etched themselves into the ethos of anyone who liked indie pop, myself included. Even this song, “Oxford Comma,” was able to climb the charts worldwide.

A couple days ago, we mentioned that Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanlij was scoring the film Sound Of My Voice. So, given that they’re doing a big push for the movie in the United States, I figured it was only appropriate to hash up something from this 2008 album.

If you’re keen to preview the first twelve minutes of that film, you can head over to the official Sound Of My Voice website.

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1. Original post: Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma

2. Posted in: indie pop, vampire weekend, ra ra riot, afro-beat, baroque pop

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