San Francisco’s favorite experimental indie band, [tag]Xiu Xiu[/tag], are just a few weeks away from the release of their sixth album “Women As Lovers.” As a unexpected teasers, they decide to stream the whole thing down at the band’s MySpace page. We gave it a few repeated listens, actually it’s on the background as I type, and so far it’s shaping up as a really solid effort. Need more listens to form a opinion for…
This spring sees everyone’s favorite troubadour, [tag]Jose Gonzalez[/tag], embark on a eco-friendly tour, in partnership with Reverb, a non-profit organization designed to educate and engage music fans and promote environmental sustainability. They work closely with artists to create earth-friendly events and tours. Part of Gonzalez’s ‘greening’ is his rider will include biodegradable catering products, and a reduction of plastic water bottles will be facilitated by providing his crew with re-usable water bottles to carry throughout…
Athens, Georgia garage rock band The Whigs, came under my radar 1 year ago, when the southern duo, back then a trio, were featured on Rolling Stone as “possibly the best unsigned band in America.” A righteous claim I might add, considering they’re surprisingly talented, mixing a blend of late 60’s garage rock and contemporary indie music. Time passed and they eventually got signed by ATO Records, that helped re-release their initial interdependently recorded debut…
Photo by Mocking Music If the recent shopping spree traffic had some negative affect on your jovial holiday spirit, here’s a bit of spiritual elevation from behalf, of whom has recently become to us the new indie Christmas elf, [tag]Sufjan Stevens[/tag]. Sounds Familyre just compiled a list of new interpretations of traditional Christmas carols as well as original songs, with free streams and mp3, that also includes Sufjan’s take of the classic “We Wish You…
It was the year 2001 and [tag]Rilo Kiley[/tag] were just making their debut into the indie mainstream with their own lovely Take-Offs and Landings. One of the stand out track was “Wires and Waves,” a heartbreaking now conventional Rilo Kiley anthem, that was also picked for a music video as well. But when you film a video with planes and sing lines like “sometimes planes they smash up in the sky,” right after the 9/11…
Plants and Animals, a Montreal based indie trio, have recently come to my attention, thanks to their beautiful blend of acoustic and electric sound, striking me as a forming rock ‘n’ roll shooting star. Lead vocalist and guitarist Warren Spicer is easily recognizable in Montreal as an increasingly sought-after producer, guitar hero, and mustachioed gambler. Matthew Woodley (aka “The Woodman”) handles the rolling backend of the trio on drums with Graceland-like soul (and headband), and…
Sometime earlier this morning, the zoological quartet of [tag]Animal Collective[/tag], stopped by BBC Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank show and were gracious enough to play a few songs live for the show. Not only that, but they played a two new songs as well! Besides the fan favorite “Doggy” from Campire Songs and the psychedelic “Hey Light,” from Here Comes The Indian, the band also premiered two never before heard tracks as well. These are…
The product of a merger between two local New York bands, The Mercenary Gang and Del Black Aloha, The Vandelles have made a name for themselves, thanks to their experimental distortions and harmonies, as Noir Rock’s new generation spearhead. Recently I’ve had the pleasure to sample their latest self titled EP [via Safranin Sound] and I can say that I’m particularly impressed. Their sound resembles The Jesus and Mary Chain and Danish duo The Ravonettes,…
I just recently came across a really interesting Florida based indie band, going by the name of The Oaks. It was founded by drummer Matthew Antolick and guitarist/songwriter Ryan Costello. The later has been living a, some may say, thrilling and risky life in the past years, after he sold everything he owned and moved to Afghanistan for the next two years (this was from 2003-2005), where he thought agricultural techniques and directly participating in…
Artist name: Sigur Rós Album name: Hvarf/Heim Label: XL Recordings Gender: Pop-Rock/Experimental Rock Release date: November 5, 2007 ZMErating: 9/10 Website: http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk After playing with the same music and influences for a over a decade, Icelandic post-rock fine musicians Sigur Rós, a lot of people might think that a change might come as a dose of fresh air, for both the band and fans alike. I’m not saying that, during their five records career, they’ve…
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