Tag Archives: Hear

Band of the Day (2.18.11) Cinemascopes

18 Feb

Cinemascopes bring it with garage style rock

Band of the Day (2.18.11) Cinemascopes

Today is the day….the day my fine feathered friends dropped a little treat onto my hard drive. New Radio”F$%*ing”head…. what do I think??? Well as the Arizona Turk pointed out at 5am this great morning, “They had two years to produce something and it sounds rushed” well it’s first listen and we’ll have more to say after a day of it with headphones. “Little By Little” is a rad as is “Codex” let the debate start. Is this album speaking about the “Death of the Dictator” ???? Listen and learn.

What was next to my Radiohead treat…? Cinemascopes! Brighton garage rockers with a flare for wailing guitars and synth craziness. But then you get to track 4 of the EP and it’s there, the brilliance of the band. I’m hooked badly on this track. It’s called “Lost Children” with a sense of great early Snow Patrol, Bloc Party basslines and just good rock drum and guitar. You be the judge of Leon Morgan, Milo Boyd, Owen Thomas and Steffan Eliades 3 tracks. The new self-titled EP is FREE here!!!

Vitals:
Hometown: Brighton, UK
Members: Leon Morgan, Milo Boyd, Owen Thomas and Steffan Eliades
Sonic Soulmates: Thievery Corporation, Snow Patrol, Bloc Part, Thurston Moore led Sonic Youth, Neu
Must Hear Tracks:
“Lost Children” MP3 –>Cinemascopes Lost Children

“Battle Axe”

Follow:
Facebook

MySpace

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day 2.16.11 – Heidi Spencer and The Rare Birds

16 Feb

Band of the Day 2.16.11 – Heidi Spencer and The Rare Birds

Heidi Spencer is a singer-songwriter from Milwaukee, WI who’s quietly toured and recorded for years on her own dime. She’s lived in 12 states, traveled the states, world and even had a Jewel-type stint, where her car became her home. Finally, finally the restless maiden gets her shot in the Bigs with Bella Union (the label is home Fleet Foxes, Midlake and Beach House and more). The well-paced indie folk twang accompanies her school-girl with an edge voice. “Alibi”, the opening single, sends you right down the Lucinda Williams path. I find some moments she’s sounding a lot like Emmy-Lou Harris, then she falls back into a somber slide guitar tone, that has less hope and more pain…Lucinda Williamsesque. It’s heavy stuff and it’s really good. Give this minstrel a whirl.

Vitals:
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Members: Heidi Spencer- vocals&acoustic guitar, Bill Curtis- drums, Jesse Hrobar- piano, Dave Gelting- contabass, Renee Hendrix- harmony, Matt Hendricks- guitar
Sonic Soulmates: Joanna Newsom, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch
Must Hear Tracks:
“Alibi”

“Whiskey”

Follow:
Facebook
MySpace
Official Site

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day – 2.15.11 Howlin Rain

15 Feb

It is Howlin Rain and you will be too when you hear the new EP


Band of the Day – 2.15.11 Howlin Rain

The rules are the rules, but sometimes you have to break them. Our tradition is to focus on bands that are near the beginning. A record or two at the most, but we can’t deny one of our faves Howlin Rain the glory of Band of the Day. Howlin Rain is a native San Francisco band, formed in 2004, released two LPs and now…a glorious EP. It’s brilliant and it’s time they hit the road and got their just due. We’ve been fans for years and we’re so glad to share them with you. The first time I heard them I thought I sent back to 1968 listening to Radio Luxembourg or DJ John Peel. That underground culture was fueled by zines like IT (International Times) and OZ magazine. It’s not too different than today. The market has been disrupted and the bloggers are fueling today’s music revolution. There are so many new bands and the good ones need your love. Listen to Howlin Rain.

Vitals:
Hometown: Formed in Oakland, CA
Members:
Ethan Miller – Vocals, Guitar
Joel Robinow – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Cyrus Comiskey – Bass
Raj Ojha – Drums
Sonic Soulmates: Rod Stewart, Faces, Dead Meadow, Dungen, Traffic, Cream

Must Hear Tracks
“Burning The Midnight Lamp” – Rod Stewart 70’s wailing coupled with psychedelic guitar

“Hung Out in The Rain” – Just a perfect 70’s style love tune. Might be their best track.

Follow Howlin Rain:
Facebook
MySpace
Official Site

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (2.11.11) Love Axe

11 Feb

Bi-Coastal Buddies create a long distance indie folk anthem - Love Axe


Band of the Day (2.11.11) Love Axe

After years of playing in multiple bands, Chris Hatfield and Heath Johnson collaborated on this years folk anthem album of the month, maybe year. Love Axe feels like a passion project that took years to create and after reading their bio, it’s very true. Chris Hatfield lives in Oakland and Heath Johnson in Charleston, SC. They met back in 2000, formed a band named Army/Navy, broke up, moved to opposite coasts, but kept creating. They wrote the album over several years, finally meeting in SF to record. Phenomenomenons’ is that record they created and it’s part Jack Johnson, part Jayhawks, part indie folk. The album is anthemic with explosive folk codas. The songs drag a little, a few lag over 6:00, but they’re not repetitive, good diverse sound that pulls in electric guitars just at the right time.

Vitals:
Hometown: Oakland, CA USA (WOOHOO) & Charleston, SC, USA
Members: Keyboards, Bass, Vocals – Chris Hatfield & Drums – Heath Johnson
Sonic Soulmates: Jack Johnson, Bad Books, The Monday Mornings
Must Hear Tracks:
“Don’t You Ever Change”

“Hundreds of Knives”

Buy Phenomenomenons: Name your Price on BandCamp

Follow Love Axe:
Facebook
MySpace

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (2.8.11) Dead Ghosts

8 Feb

Garage Rock that is Really GOOD DEAD GHOSTS


Band of the Day (2.8.11) Dead Ghosts

I have to admit that this year is shaping up to be a fantastic music year. Can’t quite get a grasp on what trends are hitting or where we’re headed but it’s clear that the bands are getting better and that we’re going to have one kick-ass summer. That being said, I feel as if we’ve neglected a few bands or genres for that matter. We got so excited with the return of rock that we forgot to profile garage bands. Those fantastic dudes that grind out 2 minute tracks ripping and shreading their way through an album. This years fave so far has to be Dead Ghosts. Why, because they’re a cross between Harlem of last year, The Vandals, a tame Dead Kennedys, The Walkmen and The Byrds. They got a little doo-wop in em too. They’re no JJ Revue, but they’re good. Buddy Holly cool. The boys are from Vancouver, their record was released late 2010 and it’s 13 tracks of pure garage bliss. I think only two tracks surpass the 3:30 mark…haha, gotta love Canadian surf garage rock.

Vitals for Dead Ghosts
Hometown: Vancouver, Canada
Members:
Bryan – Guitar, Vocals
Andrew – Guitar
Michael – Drums
Moe – Bass
Sonic Soulmates: The Vandals, Buddy Holly, JJ Revue, Dead Kennedys, The Walkmen, The Swamp Rats, The Ronettes’
Must Hear Tracks:
“When It Comes to You” – By far the best track of the record and it’s the first one….Premature Musication!

“What to Do” – Buddy Holly meeting Kids in the Hall…LOVE THAT SHOW. The best thing to come out of Canada in 1991!

“I Want Your Love” – The Walkmen meet The Shirelles

Follow Dead Ghosts:
MySpace
Twitter
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day 2.2.11 Suuns

2 Feb

Suuns the best NEW BAND of 2011 --- REALLY

Band of the Day 2.2.11 Suuns

Arizona Turk reminds me on a daily basis to write about one his 2010 gems Suuns. It’s not that they aren’t worthy of a BOD nod, it’s just that they got lost in the shuffle. Suuns of Montreal, CN really are worthy… Their album, Zeroes QC, was released late 2010, and it received tons of accolades. They have groove rock tracks, mixed with heavy electro beats. They’re part Clinic, part MGMT, part Beck and part Thievery Corporation. These Canadian lads have the groove of MGMT and the swagger of David Bowie. I love their sound. It’s so unexpected, it’s kinda shocking. Give em a listen and love em like we do!

Vitals:
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Members: Ben Shemie, Liam O’Neill, Max Henry, Joseph Yarmush
Sonic Soulmates: MGMT, Clinic, The Besnard Lakes, The Kills, Thievery Corporation with some Beck vocals
Must Hear Tracks:

“Arena” – Probably the best tack on the record

“Sweet Nothing” – If David Bowie recorded a track with MGMT.

“Up Past The Nursery” – I feel a little Beck with MGMT here

Follow Suuns:
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.31.11) Chalk and Numbers

31 Jan

Authentic pure quality sound of 60's bubblegum love pop - Chalk and Numbers


Band of the Day (1.31.11) Chalk and Numbers

Well you all are familiar with Tennis from our 2010 Hummingbird awards? Right? I used “Y’all because I am catching a connecting flight in Dallas right now. Well, the 60s pop XX/XY duo was a hot thingy in 2010. Many bands attempted it, many failed. Tennis succeeded because it captured the finest of The Walkmen, griity, somber rock guitar with what amounts to a perfect set of female vocals. Chalk and Numbers is even more of the 60’s bubblegum pop. Yeah 2010 was the year of it, but 2011 is the year others perfect it. Hell there were many many MP3 players before the iPod. It just took Apple to make the best one, with the content store…Chalk and Numbers are authentic and if you added some pop and crackle, you’d swear it was a 45 from 1963. I’m not equating Chalk and Numbers to Apple, but I am comparing them to Tennis. I think they’ve nailed the sound and the tamborines just close the deal for me. I’m sold. Hell it’s fun music, so enjoy it and let Chalk and Numbers know you love em too. Got the band tip from these “new to the scene” chaps from @_DeadJournalist on Twitter…Muchas Gracias. Find him here

Vitals
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Members: Sable Yong and Andrew Pierce
Sonic Soulmates: Spectoresque, The Shangri-Las, Tennis, Jenny and Johnny, Fitz and the Tantrums
Must hear tracks:
“Here With Eachother” – It’s The Byrds with a little Tennis and whole lot of 60’s bubblegum love all over it.

“I Really Want to Work This Out” – Just so good.

Grab their new EP at BandCamp for free or a small price!

Follow Chalk and Numbers:
MySpace
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Follow Millionyoung:
Facebook
MySpace
Twitter
Official Site

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.26.11) The Vaccines

26 Jan

UK boys on the rise...Best New Band of 2011? The Vaccines


Band of the Day (1.26.11) The Vaccines

Buzz buzz buzz, well sometimes bands just deserve it. The Vaccines have been buzzing through London on the backs of two quality singles. The first, released in August, 2010 “If You Wanna” — hear below — quickly gave The Vaccines the air coverage they needed. It’s a 50’s diner track coupled with Surfer Blood vocals. It’s a GREAT track. The second single, “Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)” was released in November. A fast paced track that gets from here to there quickly. Much like the career arch of The Vaccines. Traditionally we wait on these so called buzz bands for do something impressive before we feature them, but these may just be The Strokes of this decade. Their songs are anthems, not just power pop punk, but 1:50 anthems that beg for you to hit repeat. With DNA attached to The Horrors and Jay Jay Pistolet, the band has the world a buzzin’ so we’re in, count us one of the many who believe the hype. I personally believe that this band will rise to the top and get the US recognition it deserves. We have to make it our duty to help these GREAT London acts make a name for themselves in the US. IT’s TIME. So we say “Today you just found your favorite new band.” 2011 is Rock Heaven

Did we mention that this is the Year of Rock? Well check this out…see Coachella line-up, three rock headliners, see Wolf People, see Black Pistol Fire…we believe The Vaccines will lead this charge! It’s time.

Vitals:
Hometown: London, UK
Members: Justin Young, Árni Hjörvar, Freddie Cowan, Pete Robertson
Sonic Soulmates: The Strokes, Chapel Club, Surfer Blood
Must Hear Tracks:
“If You Wanna”

“Blow it Up”

Follow:
Facebook
MySpace
Official Site

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Follow:
Facebook
MySpace
Official Site
Twitter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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!

Follow Whitesand/Badlands:
Official Site
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

Follow:
MySpace
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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:
Follow:
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →