Indie Shuffle » sufjan stevens

Mesita – XYXY EP

Christiana Bartolini — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:24:28 +0000

Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, Sea and Cake, Apostle Of Hustle

Song: Mesita - Alone Is Okay [download here]

What's so good?

Mesita is back with a new EP entitled XYXY, a gorgeously orchestrated experimental electro rock journey.

Mesita has the ability to combine delicate effects with harder instrumentals such as drums and booming bass, but the balance is just right. With twinkling piano and refreshing synth, the combination is a difficult one to pursue but Mesita is fearless and open-minded in his composition towards such ambitious sounds. The vocals are always choral and multi-layered, making each song a perfect ballad for a sing-along.

With every new Mesita release, I am in awe over and over again. He continues to reach new heights with each creation, making him untouchable. I urge you to check out Mesita’s XYXY EP and all of his other releases, too. It can open up a whole new realm of wonderment.

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1. Original post: Mesita – XYXY EP

2. Posted in: indie rock, experimental, orchestral, sufjan stevens, piano

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

Owls of the Swamp – The Hypnotist

hmcclure — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:41:17 +0000

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Sounds like: Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, S.Carey

Song: Owls of the Swamp - The Hypnotist [download here]

What's so good?

Melbourne folk-musician Pete Uhlenbruch caught me off-guard a little with his latest single. “The Hypnotist.” I hadn’t actually heard of him or his moniker, Owls of the Swamp, but after doing a little digging came up with a bunch of information on this captivating artist. Currently working on a third album over in Europe, he’s supported a bunch of folk stars, including Jens Lekman and Old Man River.

The first single off the coming album, “The Hypnotist” sees a slightly new direction for Uhlenbruch with the introduction of synth layering. Still containing the delicate finger-picking he’s become known for, he’s moved away from the classic-folk style, giving him a fuller, more complete sound.

Recorded at the famous Greenhouse Studios in Iceland, this track features some spectacular backing vocals from Markéta Irglová, whose ghostly tones provide the perfect contrast for Uhlenbruch’s earthy voice.

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1. Original post: Owls of the Swamp – The Hypnotist

2. Posted in: folk, folk-pop, indie folk, bon iver, Melbourne

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

Mesita – Kingston

Christiana Bartolini — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:38:10 +0000

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Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, Sea and Cake, Apostle Of Hustle

Song: Mesita - Kingston [download here]

What's so good?

I’m so glad to hear that Mesita is back with a sparkling new single! After endlessly playing Mesita’s third LP, The Coyote, last year, I’ve been patiently awaiting for a new tune from him.

I’ve just been presented with ”Kingston,” and as I had expected, it’s plush and gorgeous as ever. Mesita is one ambitious guy, and that really tends to show through his multifaceted approach to composing music. It seems as though there is no limit or boundary that could hold him back. He has this gift of maintaining a delicate balance between high-energy momentum and soothing, relaxed undertones that interweave to produce an organic sound. “Kingston” is the perfect example of that.

This twinkling rendition of mathematical indie rock combines deliberate beats and orchestral synth effects to awaken multiple genres all in one song. Meanwhile, the choral vocals and prototypal piano give it a classic feel. The many experimental layers of “Kingston” make it easy to get lost in, but in a very good and even cathartic way.

I find that this is a common theme with Mesita’s style. It’s always nice to know that once his music is playing, you can check out of reality and check in to this ethereal world he’s seemed to effortlessly create.

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1. Original post: Mesita – Kingston

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, experimental, orchestral, sufjan stevens

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

Emerson Snowe – Bella Rose

Sophie Evelyn — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:02:28 +0000

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Sounds like: Wild Nothing, Sufjan Stevens

Song: Emerson Snowe - Bella Rose [download here]

What's so good?

Emerson Snowe (aka Jarrod Mahon) is an electric folk musician living in Brisbane, Australia. Mahon is rapidly establishing himself as one of the Australian music scene’s brightest up and coming, and it’s easy to see why.

The depth in Mahon’s vocal delivery and writing show maturity far beyond his mere 18 years of age. His lyrics are, frankly, beautiful. There’s purpose and meaning behind each line, and an element of pure rawness and vulnerability in every single song. Themes of heartbreak, solitude, and the pains of growing up are universal, and a common focus for artists. Rarely, however, are such sentiments expressed so strongly by a musician, in a way that you actually feel a bit heavy-hearted when listening to their music. I don’t mean that as a deterrent; you’ll understand what I mean when you listen, I promise.

I really struggled to choose which Emerson Snowe track would be best to first introduce you guys to, because there are so many I would recommend. “Bella Rose” seems to be the common consensus as one of Mahon’s best tracks to date, and it really is stunning. Emerson Snowe’s EP is due out any day now, so keep a careful watch on his Facebook page.

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1. Original post: Emerson Snowe – Bella Rose

2. Posted in: folk, indie, synth, bon iver, folktronica

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

Beirut – A Sunday Smile (Kishi Bashi Cover)

Devin Duckworth — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:59:39 +0000

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Sounds like: Olafur Arnalds, Sufjan Stevens

Song: Beirut - A Sunday Smile (Kishi Bashi Cover) [download here]

What's so good?

It’s been quite some time since Beirut has graced us with a new album, but don’t worry, my friends – Kishi Bashi has gifted our ears with a gorgeous cover of “A Sunday Smile” off of Beirut’s 2007 album, A Flying Club Cup.

If you have yet to sit down and check out this cover, let me just tell you that you are in for quite a treat. Bashi takes Beirut’s knack for string instrumentals and seamlessly incorporates some striking alternatives with swelling violins and folky banjos, making it all come together in an audibly exquisite manner. Gone are the trumpets and the minimal beat backdrop of the original and in comes a man with a silky-smooth voice and a dedication to making beautiful melodies that transport you to another time.

This cover appears exclusively on his 7″ 151a, click here for more info.

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1. Original post: Beirut – A Sunday Smile (Kishi Bashi Cover)

2. Posted in: indie rock, folk, covers, indie folk, orchestral

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

Woodkid – I Love You

Kavit Sumud — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:26:00 +0000

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Sounds like: Deerhunter, Alt J, Sufjan Stevens, Matthew Dear

Song: Woodkid - [download here]

What's so good?

Forced to describe artists that represent me in a nutshell, I’d say Woodkid would be right up there on that list. His music is never cathartic, and it feels like he psychologically never catches his breath. I doubt he’s had a full sigh of relief in years.

Woodkid seems like one of those people who constantly flirts with his fight-or-flight syndrome. And I love that about him — his music is more an aphoristic method of storing away anxious emotions than letting them spill out messily otherwise.

Woodkid has explored self-survival (“Run Boy Run“) and rebirth (“Wasteland“) in his previous tracks, always with a stalwart posture that seemed impossible to break through. But this is Woodkid vulnerable, if only for a few seconds at a time. It’s quite a feat to allow a quivering, veneer of strength to make its way into your songs; it helps me see myself in his songs in a very eerie way.

Woodkid achieves a lot of this by being so precise in his production. On “I Love You,” nary a note goes wasted, the strings are never cloying or cheap, and the percussion feels double-edged in its hyperventilating presence. The vocal chants come in at moments that punctuate the air like pulsating, clenched fists, while the bells feel like furiously shaking your head and the piano has a resigned feeling to its plodding nature.

This is a beauteous, little piece of orchestral pop. If you like this track, his debut album, The Golden Age, comes out on March 18, 2013; but you can preorder it on February 4 here and catch the official single then.

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1. Original post: Woodkid – I Love You

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie, orchestral, sufjan stevens, deerhunter

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

Kishi Bashi – 151a

Lauren Sloss — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:31:53 +0000

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Sounds like: Of Montreal, Sufijan Stevens, Dan Deacon

Song: Kishi Bashi - Bright Whites [download here]

What's so good?

Sometimes, I find myself stuck in a musical rut of sorts. It’s not because I get tired of music — no, never ever ever say such a thing. But rather, I become stubbornly stuck in a genre, unwilling to listen to anything that deems itself “fun synth ’80s dream pop!” Sometimes, I get burnt out by the onslaught of new music; there are just so many bands, all trying to out-weird the other while managing to sound exactly the freaking same.

I digress. You’re not here to read my rants about the glut of good-but-not-great music out there today. You’re here to listen to Kishi Bashi, a decidedly unconventional musician whose boundary breaking tendencies manage to remain interesting, enjoyable, listenable, and captivating all at once. And how his debut album, 151a, has inspired me to shake of the shrouds of cranky music critic and straight up get happy about some new, new-sounding music.

Let’s start with that aura of positivity. 151a is rife with it, from opening track “Intro/Pathos Pathos” to the folk-rock clap happy rhythms embedded in layers of vocals in the single “Bright Whites.” This is prog-rock for the feel good set, deeply thoughtful and introspective pop music with a beat you can dance to. It’s a pretty brilliant combination — so often, the most carefully constructed music loses it’s joy, while music made purely for pleasure quickly becomes vapid.

Kishi Bashi, who played and produced the entire album himself, takes a light hand on these tracks, making transitions feel seamless while slyly revealing that there is, indeed, a magic trick at play here — he is the clever magician who wants you to know that he’s having as good of a time as you are.

There are so many auditory paths to follow on this album — the exuberant vocals, the swell of strings, the crisp, driving synth of percussion. Or, you can sit back and listen to the album as a narrative whole, which, frankly, is the best way to go about it. Still, the twists and turns that 151a presents makes every listen feel like a choose-your-own-adventure story. Lucky for you, each path seems to lead to a happy ending.

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1. Original post: Kishi Bashi – 151a

2. Posted in: indie pop, experimental, electro pop, folk, freak folk

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

Sufjan Stevens – Which One Are You?

Jason Grishkoff — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:10:02 +0000

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Sounds like: DM Stith, Andrew Bird

Song: Sufjan Stevens - Which One Are You? [download here]

What's so good?

Sufjan Stevens is definitely one of the most prolific artists of the last decade. Since 2000, he’s released 18 albums (10 of them Christmas-related). One of the more bizarre was The BQE, a mostly-classical, instrumental dedication to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Yesterday, Sufjan released a B-side to the album titled “Which One Are You?” Unlike the majority of the album, this track actually features vocals, and sounds a lot like his earlier work.

So, why didn’t it make the cut? Citing the man himself:

Old outtake from the BQE. Could not clear melody w/ ELP publishers. The Endless Enigma of intellectual property. One person’s homage is another lawyer’s annoyance, I guess.

Not entirely sure I can recognize the IP violation, but we’ll take his word for it.

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1. Original post: Sufjan Stevens – Which One Are You?

2. Posted in: folk, folk-pop, folktronica, sufjan stevens, andrew bird

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

Indie Holiday Music: My Morning Jacket, Belle and Sebastian, She & Him, Sufjan Stevens + More

Christiana Bartolini — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:45:36 +0000

I can’t believe it’s that time of year again! The time of year to overindulge on materialistic things and copious amounts of food… and, of course, spend quality time with your dearly loved ones.

All of that warm and fuzzy shit got me in the mood to compile this playlist of a wide variety of indie songs that cover a broad spectrum of what the holidays are all about.

So take off your boots, snuggle up with a blanket and hot cocoa next to the fireplace, and enjoy this indie holiday music playlist before the holiday season is through.

1. Original post: Indie Holiday Music: My Morning Jacket, Belle and Sebastian, She & Him, Sufjan Stevens + More

2. Posted in: indie rock, sufjan stevens, belle and sebastian, my morning jacket, she & him

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

Song: Langor - Yantsor The Candy Cane Maker [Downloa d]

Song: Eww Yaboo - This Isn't Christmas [Downloa d]

Song: The Boy Least Likely To - Christmas Isn't Christmas [Downloa d]

Song: My Morning Jacket - Please Come Home For Christmas [Downloa d]

Song: Belle and Sebastian - Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto [Downloa d]

Song: Gruff Rhys - Post Apocalypse Christmas [Downloa d]

Song: Sufjan Stevens - Christmas Unicorn [Downloa d]

Song: Rosie Thomas - Christmastime Is Here [Downloa d]

Song: Foxtails Brigade - I'm Not Really In The Christmas Mood This Year [Downloa d]

Song: She & Him - Christmas Day [Downloa d]

Majical Cloudz – What That Was

Kavit Sumud — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:36:40 +0000

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Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, Simon and Garfunkel, Miles Kane

Song: Majical Cloudz - What That Was [download here]

What's so good?

Songs about male bonding tend to get stuck in a vortex of arrested development. Sure, we do more than rambunctious, drunken nights out and ogling together, but you wouldn’t know it by the music that represents us. There are a lot of academic reasons for this, but, simply put, consciously or unconsciously, most male artists avoid potentially orchestrating the soundtrack to the bromance.

Which is a terrible shame, because there is loads of material to mine in this vein. See, for instance, Majical Cloudz’ recent single, “What That Was,” which unabashedly captures the life-giving intimacy of times between him and his best friend, Neil. It sways with a subdued exhilaration much in the same manner as Simon and Garfunkel’s, “The Only Living Boy In New York,” with as much emotional punch — without the uneasy tension — as Sufjan Stevens’ “Futile Devices.” Free from stereotypical cliches, Majical Cloudz material is able to soar in ways few tracks that on this topic do.

Most of you might know Majical Cloudz from his work with Grimes, as he is featured prominently on her track “Nightmusic,” but he’s also released a largely overlooked previous LP and EP, which you can check out on his Bandcamp. However, with the quality of his recent effort, Turn Turn Turn (which this track can be found on), I predict he’s going to be on the fingertips every indie blogger soon.

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1. Original post: Majical Cloudz – What That Was

2. Posted in: electro pop, indie, soul, electro, grimes

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

Sufjan Stevens – Alphabet St. (Prince Cover)

Jason Grishkoff — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:38:00 +0000

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Sounds like:

Song: Sufjan Stevens - [download here]

What's so good?

Sufjan Stevens has been a little boring lately. For Christ’s sake, the man’s about to release a Christmas album. That’s the last thing I want to listen to right now.

But then out of the blue comes this cover of Prince. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Prince is pretty hard to do justice in a cover…

Judge for yourself, but my take is that Sufjan Stevens is back.

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1. Original post: Sufjan Stevens – Alphabet St. (Prince Cover)

2. Posted in: indie rock, experimental, psychedelic, covers, indietronica

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

Cuddle Magic – Rabbit Time

Christiana Bartolini — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:57:35 +0000

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Sounds like: Joan Of Arc, Sufjan Stevens

Song: Cuddle Magic - Rabbit Time [download here]

What's so good?

Cuddle Magic have got a genuinely interesting sound, melding indie folk with orchestral quirkiness that translates into sensational sounds of originality. Hailing from Brooklyn and Philadelphia, the group’s dynamic makes for a wonderfully refreshing style of music.

When you listen to Cuddle Magic‘s single, “Rabbit Time,” it’s probably obvious that this is a truly talented group of people. This track is ambitious to say the least. The strings, the brass, the electronics, the trinkets, the harmonies — it’s truly a work of art.

Listen for yourself, and then you can enjoy their split 7″ with The Daredevil Christopher Wright.

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1. Original post: Cuddle Magic – Rabbit Time

2. Posted in: indie pop, experimental, indie folk, sufjan stevens, psychadelic-folk

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

Woodkid – Baltimore’s Fireflies & Stabat Mater

Christiana Bartolini — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:25:59 +0000

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Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, Antony and the Johnsons, Patrick Wolf

Song: Woodkid - Baltimore's Fireflies [download here]

What's so good?

I have one word for this song and video: epic. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of Woodkid earlier. He is immensely talented and has been a pro in the music scene for a while, working with Yelle, Moby, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Lana Del Ray as a music video director.

The video is intense and suspenseful. You feel like something huge is about to happen… and then Woodkid beings serenading with his oh-so-sultry voice, and everything is okay. This video and the music is eleven minutes of pure beauty. There is a sizable orchestra lending softness and hardness from every angle, and then there’s Woodkid with his angelic tone. It almost makes you want to weep.

It turns out that Woodkid will be performing in the states for three dates only. If you can go, then GO. I urge you. If not, you can purchase his newest album here. Who knew that Woodkid could do it all.

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1. Original post: Woodkid – Baltimore’s Fireflies & Stabat Mater

2. Posted in: indie pop, folk, indie folk, the xx, orchestral

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

Andrew Bird – Three White Horses

Joshua Mellin — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:39:04 +0000

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Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, M. Ward, St. Vincent

Song: Andrew Bird - Three White Horses [download here]

What's so good?

Keeping pace with the Fever Year set in the recent documentary about Andrew Bird’s ceaseless creative process and constant touring comes our first listen off his upcoming companion album to this year’s magnificent Break It Yourself, Hands of Glory due October 30.

The companion album features songs from recording sessions inspired by the old-timey portions in his live set, in which Bird, along with drummer Dosh and the rest of his band, play an acoustic set up to a single mic, presenting renditions of classic country songs and reinterpretations of Bird songs past and present.

“Three White Horses” is a song Bird premiered at The Independent in San Francisco at an Outside Lands pre-show during one of these sets, which also featured a rustic re-imagining of “Orpheo Looks Back,” as well as country standard “Railroad Bill,” all highlights featured on Hands of Glory.

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1. Original post: Andrew Bird – Three White Horses

2. Posted in: folk, folk-rock, singer-songwriter, sufjan stevens, st. vincent

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

Dad Rocks! – Take Care

Philip Friedman — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 16:11:32 +0000

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Sounds like: The National, Sufjan Stevens, William Fitzsimmons

Song: Dad Rocks! - Take Care [download here]

What's so good?

With Father’s Day fast approaching, I thought I would pay homage to some dad rock. And who better then a singer/song-writer who calls himself Dad Rocks! probably hoping that his daughter will think that he is cool.

Dad Rocks! is the project of Danish multi-instrumentalist Snaever Njall Albertsson, and Mount Modern is his first full length release. Filled with loads of different symphonic elements, and hilarious self-loathing lyrics, Mount Modern keeps the listener on their toes throughout the album. Whether it’s singing about Twitter on “Battle Hymn Of The Fox,” or about Disney skewing little girl’s thoughts on “Pro-Disney,” you will constantly be asking, “Did he just day that?” Yes, he did.

Musically, Albertsson borrows from the best of some lo-fi country, with simple picked acoustic guitar and his baritone voice, but is not afraid of composing by adding various layers of tastefully placed horns, pianos, and even some electronic elements.

One of the best examples of this marriage between musical styles is the track “Take Care.” Beginning with a simply plucked folky guitar riff, and Albertsson singing about the cost of human progress. The song slowly builds as elements are added like some strings, a horn section, and an electronic backbeat. Finally some vocal processing is added in, and the song is cut back again leaving us with Albertssons vocals and guitar.

Is it folk? Is it indie? Is it folktronica? Is it dad rock? I’m not really sure, but it’s definitely worth checking out this weekend while you’re celebrating your dear old dad, or celebrating that you are a dad.

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1. Original post: Dad Rocks! – Take Care

2. Posted in: folk, indie, folktronica, sufjan stevens, the national

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

Founds – Avalanches

hmcclure — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:28:43 +0000

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Sounds like: Sigur Ros, Jonsi, Sufjan Stevens, Alpine

Song: Founds - Avalanches [download here]

What's so good?

This track caught me seriously by surprise. I was so enraptured when I first heard it that I pulled over on a busy highway to find out what it was.

The song I’m talking about is “Avalanches” by Brisbane band Founds. Having been together for just over a year, the six-piece is currently finishing their debut album Hadean, which will be released in the coming months.

“Avalanches” is a captivating, mesmerising track – more likely to be made in Scandinavia and not in the Queensland tropics. Subtle to start, with dreamy female vocals drifting alongside glittering synth, the track grows steadily before culminating in a wave of percussion, strings, and keys. The horn section adds to the eclectic nature of this track with spectacular results.

While they’re still quite fresh, they’ve already supported Grouplove and the Naked and Famous as well as performing at the Big Day Out Festival. This is not the sort of music we’re used to being created in Australia, and this makes it even more special.

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1. Original post: Founds – Avalanches

2. Posted in: indie pop, female vocalist, indie, Australia, dream pop

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

Live in Chicago: St. Vincent

Joshua Mellin — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:02:50 +0000

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Sounds like: Polyphonic Spree, Sufjan Stevens, The New Pornographers

Song: St. Vincent - Cheerleader [download here]

What's so good?

St. Vincent’s seemingly endless tour wound back through Chicago this past Friday, expanding from the smaller Metro to the hallowed halls of the Vic Theatre.

Annie Clark presented a tightly packed set to the sold-out crowd, playing what have now become standards off of her first two albums, 2007′s Marry Me, and 2009′s Actor, though she still relied heavily on her most recent masterpiece, 2011′s Strange Mercy. Opening with the schizophrenic “Marrow,” that pleads “H-E-L-P/Help me, Help me,” it seems Clark needs little help at all, as she continues to forge ahead crafting a sharply distorted, sometimes deranged, one woman genre seemingly all its own.

Playing through the majority of Strange Mercy, “Northern Lights” was, as always, mesmerizing. With swirling colored lights seemingly recreating the aurora borealis, Clark shocked the audience back to attention with her mastery of the theremin, which left me completely stunned. Switching back between polite, self described “Vh1 story tellers” tales and screeching guitar solos, Annie Clark has the kind of stage presence that leaves one completely enamored. She is the complete package, a common sense musician accomplishing a far reaching vision. A vision that she shared includes exciting collaborations with former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne on the horizon.

The highlights though came at the end of the set, when the band covered The Pop Group’s “She Is Beyond Good And Evil,” and Clark crowd-surfed through her newest single “Krokodil” before returning to the stage to close the night with a deeper cut off of 2007′s Marry Me, “Your Lips Are Red.”

St. Vincent’s current live show is in the upper echelon of live rock acts, and appears to be on a path to keep producing awe-inspiring music for a long time to come. The current tour continues on throughout the United States, with a stop at Bonnaroo, before embarking over seas for an extended world tour including stops throughout Europe and Japan.

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1. Original post: Live in Chicago: St. Vincent

2. Posted in: indie rock, female vocalist, folk-rock, beach house, sufjan stevens

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

The Flaming Lips and Bon Iver – Ashes In The Air

Jason Grishkoff — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:31:51 +0000

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Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens

Song: The Flaming Lips and Bon Iver - Ashes in the Air [download here]

What's so good?

Are you ready for some experimental brain teasing? Well, The Flaming Lips and Bon Iver have teamed up for some questionable, but certainly interesting music! “Ashes” in the Air” is the first single released by the collaborators, and, well…it’s just very interesting. Perhaps even deserving the description of “weird as fuck.” I should probably just leave it at that?

This all comes in anticipation of Record Store Day, for which The Flaming Lips will be releasing a number of collaborations.

Tracklist
Side 1:
01. 2012 (feat. Ke$ha and Biz Markie)
02. Ashes In The Air (feat. Bon Iver)
03. Helping The Retarded To Know God (feat. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros)

Side 2:
04. Supermoon Made Me Want To Pee (feat. Prefuse 73)
05. Children Of The Moon (feat. Tame Impala)
06. That Ain’t My Trip (feat. Jim James of My Morning Jacket)
07. You, Man? Human? (feat. Nick Cave)

Side 3:
08. I’m Working At NASA On Acid (feat. Lightning Bolt)
09. Do It! (feat. Yoko Ono)
10. Is David Bowie Dying? (feat. Neon Indian)

Side 4:
11. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (feat. Erykah Badu)
12. Thunder Drops (feat. New Fumes)
13. I Don’t Want You To Die (feat. Chris Martin of Coldplay)

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1. Original post: The Flaming Lips and Bon Iver – Ashes In The Air

2. Posted in: indie rock, experimental, bon iver, sufjan stevens, flaming lips

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

Sufjan Stevens vs. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps to Chicago (Radioface Edit)

Jason Grishkoff — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:02:03 +0000

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Song: Sufjan Stevens vs. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps to Chicago (Radioface Edit) [download here]

What's so good?

Something about Radioface’s bringing together of Sufjan’s “Chicago” and Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Maps” is thoroughly alluring. While the track itself feels a little light, hearing two amazing songs align so well keeps my ears piqued and keen to hear more.

I think I first heard this song more than two years ago, but figured that featuring it as today’s SOTD (being Sunday and all) was totally acceptable. Hope you enjoy!

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1. Original post: Sufjan Stevens vs. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps to Chicago (Radioface Edit)

2. Posted in: indie rock, folk-rock, indie rock remixes, sufjan stevens, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

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

Sufjan Stevens & Rosie Thomas – Where Were You?

Jason Grishkoff — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:45:24 +0000

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Sounds like: St. Vincent, Andrew Bird, Bon Iver

Song: Sufjan Stevens & Rosie Thomas - Where Were You? [download here]

What's so good?

WTF, Sufjan? Can no one can escape your auto-tune madness?! You established yourself as a successful artist by having one of the most beautiful voices out there. And now all you do is smother it with auto-tune.

“Where Were You?” is the first single released by Rosie Thomas and Sufjan Stevens off their split 7″, Hit & Run Vol. 1. It’s a good song and all, but I’m getting a bit sick of the auto-tune.

That said, if you can tolerate the warbling, there’s here information about how to get your hands on the 7″ via Vintage Vinyl.

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1. Original post: Sufjan Stevens & Rosie Thomas – Where Were You?

2. Posted in: folk-pop, sufjan stevens, experimental folk, rosie thomas

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

Mrs Bishop – Broken Wing

hmcclure — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:04:35 +0000

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Sounds like: Jinja Safari, Efterklang, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros

Song: Mrs Bishop - Broken Wing [download here]

What's so good?

Born in Sweden, raised in London, but currently residing in Sydney, Mrs Bishop have a definite global feel to their music. Brothers Oscar and Hugo Bishop have begun to draw plenty of local attention with their obvious talent.

Their first single, “Broken Wing” (the first track from an upcoming EP release), is the definition of angelic. The boys have obvious training, and their vocals hover perfectly throughout, melding sweetly together. They sound like a Nordic version of fellow Sydney-siders Jinja Safari, with their similar, almost magical vibe.

“Broken Wing” is very difficult not to appreciate. After all, music is supposed to make you feel good isn’t it?

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1. Original post: Mrs Bishop – Broken Wing

2. Posted in: Australia, pop, folk-pop, Sydney, sigur ros

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

s / s / s – Museum Day (Ft. Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux and Serengeti)

Jason Grishkoff — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:56:53 +0000

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Sounds like: 13 & God, Themselves, Polyphonic

Song: s / s / s - Museum Day (Ft. Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux and Serengeti) [download here]

What's so good?

This is a totally bizarre venture. Experimental folk champion Sufjan Stevens has joined forces with Son Lux (ambient / experimental) and Serengeti (hip-hop) to put out an EP by the title of Beak & Claw.

I’m generally on the fence about the song. It features a ton of warbling Sufjan auto-tune — a style that I am increasingly finding stale. The only interesting part about it really is Serengeti’s role providing hip-hop lyricism. Beyond that, it’s generally unimpressive, but figured it worth sharing.

You’ll be able to grab the EP via Anticon on March 20th.

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1. Original post: s / s / s – Museum Day (Ft. Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux and Serengeti)

2. Posted in: hip-hop, experimental, mellow hip hop, sufjan stevens, son lux

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

Beirut – Elephant Gun

Jason Grishkoff — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:20:14 +0000

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Song: Beirut - Elephant Gun [download here]

What's so good?

It’s Sunday. What does that mean? For one, it means there’s a new episode of Sunday Night Chill in the works. It also means that there’s virtually no good new music being released, so we’re going to have to pull something out of our time machine.

Today’s selection is “Elephant Gun” by Beirut. One of the best tracks on their Lon Gisland EP, the track is notable for Zach Condon’s call to include a full orchestra behind his ukelele. Released in January of 2007, this song remains one of my favorite to this day.

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1. Original post: Beirut – Elephant Gun

2. Posted in: folk, folk-rock, orchestral, sufjan stevens, beirut

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

Jordan Klassen – Go To Me

Philip Friedman — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:54:58 +0000

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Sounds like: The Shins, Sufjan Stevens

Song: Jordan Klassen - Go To Me [download here]

What's so good?

Is it just me, or is Vancouver becoming the new indie hotspot? With bands like The Japandroids and Teen Daze making a splash in the realm of independent music, Jordan Klassen poises himself to be the next one added to the list of great Canadian musicians with his new single “Go To Me.”

Since his first release Tempest and Winter that came out back in 2009, Klassen has been quietly releasing some great music, introducing us to his brand of playful, fun, and upbeat neo-folk. The trend continues, but on a much bigger scale with the release of his Kindness EP.

Within 30 seconds of listening to the new single “Go To Me,” you can’t help but let a small smile grace your face. All it takes is a few chords played on a ukelele, Klassen lightly slipping into his falsetto, and some xylophone. By the time the bridge hits, you’re reminded of The Shins, and then the song really begins to takes off. If all of this wasn’t enough for you, then just wait for the whistling solo at the end of the song accompanied by some French horn.

If this isn’t a song ready for a movie soundtrack, then I don’t know what is. In fact, it will be featured in the new Bruce Willis movie Catch .44!

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1. Original post: Jordan Klassen – Go To Me

2. Posted in: indie pop, folk, acoustic, indie folk, the shins

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

Juan Alban – Death in the Family

hmcclure — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:08:02 +0000

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Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, Damien Rice, Husky

Song: Juan Alban - Death in the Family [download here]

What's so good?

Melancholy vocals. Check. Floating guitar and banjo work. Check. Melodic choruses. Check. Sounds like Sufjan Stevens right? Hailing from Ballarat (just out of Melbourne) former Epicure frontman Juan Alban has channeled the enigmatic artist with his track “Death in the Family. A perfect way to launch himself as a solo artist, this song is the first taste of a debut album anticipated later in the year.

Upon first hearing “Death in the Family” in the car this morning, I quickly took down the details, looking forward to sharing it. Delicate, gentle and soft, the track is still incredibly striking. It builds perfectly, with simple guitar and hushed vocals being replaced by stirring banjo and prevailing melodies, before drifting off in true Sufjan style. An earlier released track, “Like I Never Was At All,” is just as rousing, played out in a poppier style with heavier guitar and percussion.

This man knows how to make music.

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1. Original post: Juan Alban – Death in the Family

2. Posted in: Australia, folk-rock, folk-pop, sufjan stevens, damien rice

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