Posted December 8th, 2011 by Cole Faulkner in Indie | One comment
Here’s an indie band out of Columbia, SC who have self released a pretty darn solid piece of indie. 25 is an easy listen made so by Rejectioneers’ knack for great melodies and strong collective personality. Strong lead vocals and a lush soundscape suggest that the next album is destined to be picked up for an official label release. Get this one while it’s free!
Dine Alone Records is getting in the spirit of the holiday season and has released a generous holiday sampler from a whole load of talented indie artists. From Deep Tick to Parlovr and City and Colour, the label’s roster has steadily improved over the years into the masterful list that is today. Simply a great playlist.
Here’s something for all you noise enthusiasts out there: Grrrl Friend. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I know it’s been big for many people in recent years. Since I’m no expert, I’ll let Duffy from the band do the talking this time around:
“We are a 2-4 piece (all depends on the mood) dream punk/noisewave band who enjoy pizza, weed and noise…all the classics. The cassette version is coming out this summer on Gnar Tapes (www.gnartapes.com) (tape-only label owned by Portland’s White Fang, recently released stuff by YACHT, Mean Jeans, White Rainbow, Young Prisms, etc etc etc) but the mp3 verz is out now here to download”
Here’s a good dose of indie flavoured rock with a good dose of toe tapping melody. If you like the flutters of Minus The Bear, meandering of Sigur Ros, and soft hooks of The Ataris, then this is well worth the time. It’s only a solid four tracks, but those are four solid tracks crafted with a tuneful ear.
Andrea Caccese - Icarus Falling / Set the world on fire (EP)
I first learned about The Story Changes back with their shared split with Lets Go. The split was pretty good, but The Story Changes really stole the show. It’s tough knowing exactly what was so integral to the winning combination, but it was simply a case of those song just working. A while later and the band has released their contribution to the split, along with a couple extras, as a single six song EP. For its first week out, the band is giving it away free, so head over to their bandcamp and get in on the freebie – it’s only up for a week, so get that bandwidth moving!
After spending far too much time not updating this blog because of Christmas, we have a very interesting little addition today. Odd little acoustic(ish) indie group You Animals has posted a collection of alternate acts from their upcoming full length debut. The EP is titled Same Sky, Different Sea, and is a joyful little collection of four tracks just bubbling with happy handclaps, lofty vocals, and a skyward sense of grace. It’s not something I’d listen to all the time, but certainly something I’d throw on enthusiastically if I was in the right mood.
Chicago’s SUNS love orchestrating sounds like a rich layered tapestry. Between their double debut EPs, the band really demonstrates a maturity of sound quite early in their young career. Each EP is well worth your time.
SUNS – Close Calls in the U.S. Space Program / The Howl and the Many
Here’s another great one being hosted over on ifyoumakeit. The band is Candy Hearts and the album is thirteen songs of female fronted 90′s pop-punk fun with an indie tinge, a la Lemuria. I’m not going to go on much longer because this is an album that, with all it’s sugary hooks and licks of simple and catchy choruses, is very capable of speaking for itself. It’s the perfect cure for the looming fall season. And as with all ifyoumakeit releases, you can always donate if you’re feeling generous.
I recently wrote a review for this album by Ontario’s Teenage Kicks. While the review is still pending, allow me to reveal a little spoiler – this 7″ might only run for two tracks, but each is absolutely worth your time; single worthy indie pop with a classic rock vibe that just demands to be listened to. Currently available over from the good folks at Juicebox Recordings, donate if you feel like it.
This is a really solid example of indie and ska coming together in harmony. Sometimes they just beg for a Sublime comparison, other times, they go after something entirely their own (well, RX Bandits might be a good comparison). In any case, I’ve been listening to this album in the background for quite some time now, and I just don’t want it to end… Really catchy and socially aware alt/indie.
Download the Album From Bandcamp
