Tag Archives: Best New Bands

Band of the Day (1.28.11) Disappears

28 Jan

Rock re-appears with Disappears


Band of the Day (1.28.11) – Disappears

2011 is Becoming Rock Heaven! Another fantastic rock band, these boys are from Chicago and they are brilliant. Bottom-line Lux from Disappears was an amazing record. It was part Lou Reed par Iggy Pop/Stooges, part REM. Odd dichotomy, but it works. The title track “Lux” is so dizzyingly close to the weird Velvet Lou Reed echoed chants, that I thought it was him…but as you dig deeper, the distorted scuzzy tracks from their first album were on the verge of something really good. It reminds me of Bleach , the true Nirvana fan record. No big studio budget, just the three-some in the studio, Kurt screaming and Dave pounding away and a frenetic pace. Then Nevermind hit the streets and we all realized the garage screaming hatched perfection. I’m not comparing the boys sound to Nirvana, but I am comparing the evolution of the band. They could be big, it takes the voice of the fans to make it happen, but from the little I’ve heard from the new record Guider, this may just be the Chicago boys moment! Take a listen

Vitals
Hometown: Chicago, IL, USA
Members: Brian Case, Damon Carruesco, Jonathan van Herik
Sonic Soulmates: REM, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop
Must Hear Tracks:
“New Fast” – Newest bestest track from Guider

“Gone Completely” – The best track from Lux…F’n LOVE IT!

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Band of the Day (1.27.11) – MillionYoung

27 Jan
cred: David Andrako www.davidandrako.com

cred: David Andrako http://www.davidandrako.com of MillionYoung

Band of the Day (1.27.11) MillionYoung

Chillwave was a 2010 phenom, at least it was the talks of the blogs. Our faves in the category, Washed Out and Toro Y Moi, were chilly and wavy, but they had a flavor of groove. Both captured the airy space sound, but they coupled that with beautiful harmonies and layered sounds. MillionYoung, of Ft. Lauderdale, So Florida, captures the finest of chillwave but he adds in a layer of clean guitar that really makes for a great sound. Where he may get a little out of tune on some tracks, he makes up for it on the tracks where he stays on track, in tune. MillionYoung is a pseudonym for South Florida’s Mike Diaz. His first EP was released in 2009, “Sunndream”. His second EP was released in early 2010, entitled “Be So True”. He’s potentially got the chance to dethrone our chilled leaders…you be the judge, listen below…

Vitals
Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, South Florida, FL, USA
Members: Mike Diaz
Sonic Soulmates: Toro Y Moi, Washed Out,
Must hear tracks:

“Gravity Feels” – Wow there is a lot going on here. At around 3:00 minutes the song hits a new level, love this track.

“001” – Very Toro Y Moi…really like this track as well

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Band of the Day (1.25.11) Ex Libras

25 Jan

Three peeps making complicated music - London Boys Ex Libras

Band of the Day (1.25.11) Ex Libras

A three-piece that formed in a Hounslow library, in Hounslow, London are often compared to the “apocalyptic” nature of Radiohead, with Thom Yorke vocals. They describe themselves as “post-backbeat” — a term more associated with hip-hop, but you can hear their slow tempered beats derived from hip-hop DNA. Their most current release, “Cut(s)”, is a re-deux of their 2010 “Suite(s)” album, stripping down 5 tracks, adding loops, cello to create a self-coined “blood-relative” to the aforementioned “Suite(s)”. Ex Libras is a like a bottle of great bordeaux, their sophisticated, deep, dark, emotional and built for those who are aware. If you know your wines, then a bottle of bordeaux tastes so much better. If you know your music, Ex Libras sound so much better. Their sophisticated, mature and so worth the listen/fanhood! Follow them now and you won’t regret it.

Vitals:
Hometown: Hounslow, LONDON, UK
Members: Amit Sharma / Kieran Nagi / Ross Kenning
Sonic Soulmates: Suede, Talk Talk, xx, Radiohead,
Must Hear Tracks:

FROM “Suite(s)”
“Underachievers (Live)” – Add the drums and guitar riffs and you see a complete band…hear stripped down versions below…

FROM “Cut(s)”
“For Us, For Me” – Minimalistic xx/Talk, Talk stylings bring a soulful moody track from London boys.

“Teenage Eyes” – Swell Season meets Thom Yorke, meets the xx in an alley way, I think Thom Yorke wins…great track

Buy Cut(s) — Released in November 2010

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Band of the Day (1.24.11) Whitesand/Badlands

24 Jan

Minneapolis is home to 2011's well crafted Whitesand/Badlands

Band of the Day (1.24.11) Whitesand/Badlands

Well before we even profiled the band, Mr. Arizona Turk surprised us all by adding Whitesand/Badlands to his Gem list. Well they deserved the honorable mention honors, and now they have been granted the Band of the Day trophy. They recorded their new LP, Seeding the Clouds, at Sacred Heart Recording Studio, a 19th century cathedral now a beautiful recording studio. The band has been a band since 2008 and this, their second LP, is a beauty. It’s meticulously crafted and mixed. The songs are expansive and offer a great listening experience. This is not power pop, or 2:40 odes to loved ones, they’re complicated, airy and dreamy. Their one part Band of Horses, one part Radiohead and whole lot of Verve. Their tracks are on a mission, you just need to join up and listen.

Vitals:
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Members:
Holly Habstritt – fender rhodes, piano, guitars, vocals, trumpet
Casey Holmgren – bass
Ryan Parsons – drums, saxophone
Andy Larson – guitars, vocals, drum, fender rhodes (LEAD DOG)
Sonic Soulmates: Band of Horses, Radiohead, Verve
Must Hear Tracks: (These are expansive tracks that are full of nuances and beauty. Take your time and give them a chance to blossom)

“Syntax Trees” – Layered guitars, pianos and airy earthy vocals. Great track. A little Band of Horses

“Angels on a Pinhead” – Lovely shoegaze vocals with horns, Verve guitars and a kick ass ending.

Buy Seeding The Clouds now and you won’t regret it!

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Band of the Day (1.21.11) Black Pistol Fire

21 Jan

Rock is back and it's under the name of Black Pistol Fire


Band of the Day (1.21.11) Black Pistol Fire

Ahhh yeah, two rock bands in one week. Maybe just maybe we’re onto something. Rock music is dead and it’s time for a revival. Jack White tried, Tame Impala was lead dog in 2010, but I think this might be the year. I read that the only rock band to even have a Top 10 Hot 100 Billboard track f’n TRAIN. Just garbage. What happened to our rock bands? Well 2011 is Rock Heaven. The Austin, TX via Toronto, CN duo of Black Pistol Fire, rock just as hard as Meg and Jack. Black Pistol Fire features Kevin McKeown on Guitar/Lead Vocals and Eric Owen on Drums. Kindergarten bros have been crushing it for two decades. They’ve got the chops, the guitar riffs, the country swagger and the blistering drum beats to make this summer one to remember. I love these dudes and I hope this is a 2011 trend. It’s time for the GODS of ROCK to rise from the ashes and let Black Pistol Fire be your first.

Vitals:
Hometown: Austin, TX via Toronto, CN
Members: Black Pistol Fire features Kevin McKeown on Guitar/Lead Vocals and Eric Owen on Drums.
Sonic Soulmates: Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Creedence Clearwater, The White Stripes
Must Hear Tracks:
“Your Not the Only One” – We’ll let the typo slide…because this is the best ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR! Kings of Leonesque.

“Sort Me Out” – These dudes can do the blues similar to The Black Keys.

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Band of the Day (1.20.11) Boy Friend

20 Jan

Austin, TX thank you for delivering our new fave Boy Friend


Band of the Day (1.20.11) Boy Friend

I think we’ve mentioned before that this is the year that female leads will dominate. Another XX/XX duo. We’ve already profiled 5 this year and Boy Friend might be the front runner. Their space age, chill wave is very 2010, but it’s the moments when Moon Safari takes over and the
chill turns into a nice groove. Really love the new EP and I appreciate how deep the Arizona Turk had to dig to find this Gem of a band. The vocals of Christa Palazzolo and Sarah Brown (formerly of Sleep∞Over). Playing together since tweenage-years has led the two ladies to this current project, started in December of 2010. New album is coming this year. It’s the track “Spirit Burner” that is the clincher…

Vitals: Hometown: Austin, TX
Members: Christa Palazzolo and Sarah Brown (formerly of Sleep∞Over)
Sonic Soulmates: Air, Sleep∞Over, Beach House, Cocteau’s Elizabeth Frazer
Must Hear Tracks:
“Spirit Burner” – Just a beautiful track. WOW!

“The False Cross” – I remember early Siouxsie Sioux and I think the ladies of Boy Friend do too.

Buy the new EP on BandCamp:
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Band of the Day (1.3.11) Playfellow

3 Jan

The Deutschland delivers something special

Band of the Day (1.3.11) Playfellow

Well we’re back and 2011 is already starting off with a bang. We’ve had some great feedback on our 2010 wrap-up from labels, bands and of course our readers. So who will top 2010’s The Tallest Man on EarthBest New Band Honors of 2010 honors, well we start the year off with quite possibly our best new band in a while, Playfellow. You probably saw them on the Turks Best of 2010 Gem (Album) List well here they are in all their glory.

The German boys and a lady, probably our first band from the Deutschland, are moody rockers with a hint of the Karkwa boys. Maybe it’s the cold weather, but their songs harken, cold moody indoor days, where you contemplate everything. Their solid Brit Rock sound, is very similar to early Snow Patrol, before they were gobbled up by The OC, and I was actually shocked to see they weren’t from London. I love their sound and their use of echoed, layers of sound with whining guitars, and piano plucking. They are a nice more homey version of Muse with a dash of Radiohead’s experimentation.

Vitals:
Hometown: Brandenburg, Deutschland
Band members: Toni Niemeier – Gesang / Gitarre, André Dettmann – Orgel / Synthesizer, Katharina Mey – Bass / Gesang / Piano, Robert Laeßig – Gitarre, Tom Herberger – Schlagwerk
Sonic Soulmates: Muse, Snow Patrol, Radiohead even early Soundgarden, Midlake
Tracks to hear:
“All’s Asleep” – Ever heard “Full on Kevin’s Mom” by Soundgarden? Well this track is a much better version.

“Another Weird Place”

Pick-up their new album which was released on 11.26.10 Carnival Off

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