Color Of Clouds – Brother

“Brother” is a song you might hear in that moment of stillness right before you die, or in that short period of time when you feel the ache your bones take on when you feel heart break coming on. I might be leading you astray because it’s not macabre in any sense of the word, it’s just that painfully breathtaking. Who would have thought that Brooklyn would become the make-up and lipstick of a burgeoning New York music scene? But it’s true. I have a feeling Color Of Clouds will have us all swooning and crooning their tunes in no time. This 3 piece has a debut album by the name of Satellite of Love coming out on April 6th, 2010. The album is a follow up to last year’s well-received EP The Look. “Color of Clouds is fronted by singer-songwriter and Moby touring partner Kelli Scarr with Dan Chen (Nicole Atkins & The Sea) on keyboard and Nate Greenberg on production. Amen.”

-Visit Color Of Clouds

——————————————

Woods – When I Was Gone

With the release of their new album At Echo Lake right around the bend, the musical prowess that is Woods has just released a lo-fi gritty mountain music rocker perfect for skinning dears or planting evergreen trees, and it’s called “I Was Gone”. Now you should no it’s short, and just when it gets going it ends, but that’s all the more reason to get into it. This song actually might be only a tidbit of the actual song. Maybe their publicist sent the short version of the song? It could be on purpose. In 2007 this NYC rock band released their last full length album At Rear House and now the world only has to wait a few May showers until full realization is ours.

-Visit Woods

———————————————

Sleep Bellum Sonno - A House Of Spades

“A House Of Spades” could have made it on the soundtrack to the new Alice In Wonderland flick. Instead the people that came up with the tunes for that movie decided to put a bunch of watered down tracks on it instead of material worthy of such a tripped out subject. Needless to say “A House Of Spades” succeeds at entertaining even with duo vocals that are as opposite as day is to night but fit the odd composition well. I’m imagining people that are way into Cursive and mewithoutYou liking Sleep Bellum Sonno, let me know if I am wrong.

-Visit Sleep Bellum Sonno

———————————————

Sarah Kirkland Snider – Penelope

-Visit Sarah Kirkland Snider

“Crazy” is the first single from The Pack A.D.’s upcoming release We Kill Computers. The song features two gorgeous ladies playing dirty rock n’ roll at its best. What could be better? Look for the new album in April in care of Mint Records (New Pornographers, Neko Case, Hanson Brothers, the Evaporators). Here’s a nice description – “The two ladies from Vancouver BC smash a slight hint of delta blues with a healthy dose of garage punk and moments of psychedelics and angular riff-ology.” – Look for the ladies at SXSW

The Pack A.D. – Crazy

-Visit The Pack A.D.
-Visit Mint Records

Grab this fun little remix by a US Indie Favorite of a Swedish Indie Favorite. Fun times will be had by all. We promise!

Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard (Passion Pit Remix)

In celebration of the February 23 release of their upcoming album, Work (Merge Records), Sweden’s Shout Out Louds are offering up a FREE MP3 Remix download of the first single “Fall Hard.” The remix was done by Cambridge, MA’s electronic-pop sensation Passion Pit. Already an infectious slice of pop perfection, once in the hands of Passion Pit, “Fall Hard” becomes blissed out and synthed up.

Shout Out Louds will be bringing their engaging live show to the following North American venues throughout May. More dates to be announced shortly.

Shout Out Louds Tour

01 Mar New York / Brooklyn, Music Hall of Williamsburg SOLD OUT!

02 May Washington, 9:30 Club

03 May Philadelphia, First Unitarian Church

05 May New York, Webster Hall

06 May Boston, Paradise

07 May Montreal, Cabaret Music Hall

08 May Toronto, Mod Club

10 May Chicago, Lincoln Hall

11 May Minneapolis, Varsity Theater

14 May Vancouver, Commodore Ballroom

15 May Seattle, Neumos

16 May Portland, Doug Fir

18 May San Francisco, Great American Music Hall

21 May Los Angeles, El Rey

Fyfe Dangerfield – When You Walk in The Room
(We Do Not Have Barricades For Download, But Try This Other Album Track!)

I’m not a fan of Fyfe Dangerfield’s new album. For some reason it just rubs me the wrong way, but also, somehow, in some way, the song “Barricades” really sticks out to me above and beyond everything else on the album. Perhaps it’s how much it reminds me of the Beatles. Perhaps it’s because all the other songs on the album have deterring vocal deliveries and for reasons unbeknownst to myself “Barricades” just came out normal. It’s a simple, straightforward piano ballad.

Maybe like “The Scientist” by Coldplay it just comes together so gently and simply it just hits home. Where the rest of the album feels like too much, too much trying, too much in your face, too much acting, this one song seems to just come together naturally. Those are usually the songs that seem to sit well with me. Simple. Human. Natural. Fyfe.

Visit Fyfe Dangerfield

Zeus – Marching Through Your Head

Score 7.7/10

Piano pop rock with a very driving catch throughout, Zeus doesn’t seem to waste time delivering on this single called “Marching Through Your Head”. Handclaps and guitar solos and a chorus of vocals seem to make up the nonstop driving force of the seemingly brief two and a half minute track. But despite its drive and force and push, it doesn’t really feel like a song so much as a response to the song previous.

Since this is the single, I must say, as a single, it feels empty without the rest of whatever other songs should be around it. It’s other four track companions that make up the Sounds Like Zeus Ep. Nonetheless, it’s compelling and catchy and gets your attention and it makes me curious to hear the full EP. That is the point of the single. Job well done.

Visit Zeus

Penguin Prison – Funny Thing
Score 7.5/10

The Penguin Prison single is reminiscent of the kind of construction that really put Hot Chip on the map. It’s tug towards the dance floor is consistent and the chorus makes the head bob from side to side. There aren’t too many interesting change ups. It’s a simple verse chorus verse chorus kind of song, but it’s that kind of consistency that really drills it into your head.

The album art is nothing short of amazing as well. It might be my very favorite part of the whole listen. And though for me the song may not be a total jam, it’s well made and worth sharing. It may even be right up your alley. Dance music with a lot going on to keep your attention. Welcome to the modern world where everyone likes to pretend they have ADD.

Visit Penguin Prison

The Wagner Logic – Waiting For Snow

Here is a fun tune for you from the great white State of Alaska. The Wagner Logic hail from a small, rural, Alaskan town called Kasilof (pronounced kuh-see-loff). Their shoegaze indie pop is exactly the type of stuff I’d expect from a basement. Ha! I think some of you will enjoy it!

Visit The Wagner Logic

Or The Whale – Toxic (Britney Spears Cover)

This is a tough one, but San Francisco Band, Or, The Whale pull off a common trend in the Indie World right now, THE POP COVER. And they pull it off pretty well. With the slide guitar and the southern vibe via the Bay, this Radio and Jersey Shore classic takes on a whole new life. A better life in the vein of Johnny Cash and Merle Hagard. Download it now and give us your thoughts!

OR, THE WHALE Tour Dates

02/27 – Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
03/09 – Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge ^
03/10 – Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern ^
03/11 – Cottage Grove, OR Axe and Fiddle ^
03/12 – San Francisco, CA The Independent ^
03/13 – Los Angeles, CA Hotel Cafe ^
03/14 – San Diego, CA Bar Pink ^
03/15 – Tucscon, AZ Club Congress ^
03/17-03/20 – Austin, TX SXSW

^ = w/ The Maldives

Last month, our own Natalie Salvo sat down with the Philly Jays to talk to them about their Down Underground takeover of the indie airwaves. Check it out HERE. Today we get the word that Too Pure Records is going to be releasing the boys infectious Indie Pop tunes here in the states. While their only US tour dates for now, are at SXSW in March, their label has been kind enough to give us a free tune for your downloading pleasure. Enjoy it and put it on repeat.

Philadelphia Grand Jury – Going To The Casino

This tune seems to be a bit of an homage to The Beatles and is not one of my favorites of their s but it still puts a smile on my face!

Visit Philidelphia Grand Jury

Rifoki – Sperm Donor

This song has been floating around the Hipster-verse for some time now.

Is there a love/hate relationship that revolves around one of the artist? Yes!

Does it mean this track blows? No!

I love it when artists go back to their roots and experiment again. Steve and Bob remind me of the Beasite Boys of the 90s. Giving the youth a taste of what influenced them and hopefully, helping this generation open it’s minds to more than the digital Ableton/Pro-Tools, quantized, four on the floor bangers, that they have grown to love from Mr. Rifo, Mr. Aoki and their peers!

Long Live Rifoki! Be sure to give Zombie Attack a spin! What a throwback! Continue Reading

Written By Barry Moore
Score 7.8/10

Michael Gross and The Statuettes – Keep Driving

“Keep Driving,” the opening track to Michael Gross and the Statuettes’s new EP “Impulse & Exports,” has a lot of punch. Its driving guitars and attacking drums leave little time outside of simply enjoying it. With wispy vocals layered on top of loud and fast drums, it’s easily comparable to Nada Surf or maybe even Dinosaur Jr.

The lead guitarist tends to send the song into a more spacier realm which only complements the chorus’s lyrics, “It’s getting clear to me, you’re just a memory and I am just an afterthought.” Simple, straightforward, fast paced rock and roll with rather lovely layered vocals lend themselves for somewhat of a hit on the hands of Michael Gross and The Statuettes.

Visit Michael Gross and The Statuettes
Buy Impulse & Exports