Gimme Indie

So far I have missed, 2 pretty big releases from bands that I listen to regulary.  The Fever And Radio 4.

Talk about barely even a press release. The Fever released “In the City of Sleep” in early April of this year. Let me tell you I didn’t even come across a new single floating around for it. I don’t know why Kemado didn’t have much promotion behind the record but a video hasn’t even seen the light of day on TV. Hmmm

Then a few weeks ago, Radio 4 released “Enemies Like This.” That record I didn’t even see coming. I mean, Under the Radar didn’t even report that it was even being worked on. So whats the deal? Radio 4 got a lot more attention when they were on Startime International. Issac promoted the shit out of them. Now they are on Astralwerks and get lost in the shuffle. No single there either. Erg.

Either way, they are out and they are fantastic, just like both band’s previous albums.

Radio 4 on Myspace

The Fever on Myspace

Devendra Banhart…oh where can I even start? Ever since I heard the good Banhart name, I was very interested in hearing this guy. Months past, and I just never really got around to it. I heard his music and saw his videos usually at 4am (which I can base NOTHING on at that time) for a while, and even saw him on the cover of Devil in the Woods after Christmas (and for some reason didn’t buy it).

Anyway, I was pretty skeptical when it came to checking him out in a non-sleepy state. I’m not really too keen on the new ‘freak folk’ movement yet. Don’t get me wrong I love a Chas Mtn. song every now and then. Give it a little bit and i’m sure i’ll be really into it. It seems like the second coming of Antifolk…or at least the very next step.

Anyway, back to Devendra….this guy started out as a homeless folk musician/artist/hippie. I totally agree as to what people say about him. His voice is very retro. Not in a Beach Boys sort of retro or a Television sort of retro but in a 1930’s kind of retro. Oddly this fits really well with his songs….okay okay, EXTREMELY.

Devendra is an artist in every form. Every song paints a picture and in the end it is a masterpiece. He is very whimsical, and slightly crazy but in a weird-good kind of way. I didn’t know what to think of him at first but I must say….he is one hell of a songwriter and I’m in love with him.

I suggest you check him out at

“>The ‘Other’ Devendra Myspace Page
to download my favorite DB song “I Feel Just Like a Child”….that one is not legit though…and they spelled his name wrong but hey)

oh oh and he is GORGEOUS to top it all off.

I am oddly a BIG fan of Mtv2’s Subterranean. As awkward as that sounds, I think they often have really good guests and pretty decent videos. I’m going to let the truth out right now. I used to intern at Mtv/Mtv2 when I was a senior in college. I’m also not going to lie that it usually sucked more than a baby with on a pacifier. Wednesdays were kind of our slow days, and it was also the day that they shot Subterranean. I would take a peek at their schedule every week to see what guests where going to be roaming the halls. So, quite frankily I would make myself look busy by carrying around a microphone or something lame as I kind of just waited around for the smallest glimpse of my favorite bands. You were never really allowed to speak to any guest unless you were spoken to by them first. Some think that is wierd, but seriously, I can see their point.

I have some pretty cool stories from there, like comparing scarves with Nick Stumpf from the French Kicks, and accidently stepping on Carlos D.’s foot from Interpol as I turned the corner (and for the record Carlos D. is a very nice man!) But I will save these for another time.

THE SECRET MACHINES ARE ON SUBTERRANEAN TONITE AT 1AM EST. TIME!
I encourage you to set your VCRs because if you have not yet experienced the Secret Machines, you are surely missing out. I have no doubt the interview will be informative and witty (like their past ones there) and that they will play “Lightning Blue Eyes” and maybe an old Secret Machines video or two.

The Secret Machines are a band that swept me off of my feet a few years ago. They had a video on Subterranean called “Sad and Lonely”. This song was like nothing i’ve heard before. I literally went out the next day looking for it AND IT WASN’T EVEN RELEASED YET. I was able to get a really ghetto promo copy off of the internet later that day and recieved it about 2 days later. Till this day, I can recall it coming in the mail after I got back from one of my morning music classes, and putting it in the stereo and just blasting it the whole way through. They have some sort of unexplainable magic. Sometimes i’m not even sure if they are real. I’ve seen them live as well and its just the most insane experience. Trippy if you could call it that. Everyone just kind of stares in amazement. Its beautiful really.

www.myspace.com/secretmachines
www.thesecretmachines.com
www.myspace.com/120minutes

So let's just put it this way. It's Memorial Day weekend, and basically everyone will be traveling. Me and a friend of mine have put together what we see as the World's Best Indie Rock Stuck-In-Traffic tape. Face it. Radio is shit and unless you really want to listen to those 80's block rocks on your local radio station this weekend, then take our advice.

1. Art Brut- Modern Art * If you have not yet heard Art Brut, you should really be ashmaed of yourself. Hailing from London, this band is like nothing you've ever heard. This is the band you should care about…not crap like Coldplay. www.myspace.com/artbrut

2. Central Services- 89 * Central Services I first learned about from a great indie rock album reviewer (good old Matt). I must say, whenever I listen to Central Services, I get chills down my spine. Its that good. Its almost like a blend of Ben Folds meets the 1950s. Thats how life should be. www.myspace.com/centralservices

3. Grizzly Bear- On a Neck, On a Spot * Often refered to as the "Paranoid Android" of the folk world (and that is pretty damn odd reference from me since I hate Radiohead). Grizzly Bear makes by far, some of the most interesting music to ever come from Brooklyn. www.myspace.com/grizzlybear

4. The Spinto Band- Brown Boxes * I must admit, I don't know much about the Spinto Band, but I do know that A. They are from Delaware B. They got their name from one of their Grandfathers C. THEY ARE AMAZING. Indie kids, this is a must for you, okay? www.myspace.com/thespintoband

5. The A-Sides- Sidewalk Chalk* Lately, everytime I turn on the good old college radio stations, I come across this catchy-as-hell band called the A-Sides. This band claims to be influenced by everything from the Beach Boys to Broken Social Scene. If that doesn't sell you already into checking them out, then I don't know what will. Indie Pop at its best for God's sake. www.myspace.com/theasides

6. Tender Trap- 6 Billion People* Tender Trap is the new-new project of Amelia Fletcher. Where do you know her from? Well Heavenly and Talulah Gosh to name a few. I'm usually not a big fan of female vocals, but Amelia Fletcher always keeps it interesting. www.myspace.com/tendertrap

7. Electric Soft Parade- Cold World* Electric Soft Parade are usually known for their form of so called electric dance rock, but this time they really approach Indie Pop in the most wonderful way. www.myspace.com/electricsoftparade

8. The Lovely Feathers- Pope John Paul* If anyone can write a great song its the Lovely Feathers. I was urgent to check them out because, after all, they are Canadian. This is the band that should replace the Arctic Monkeys. www.myspace.com/thelovelyfeathers

9. The Minders- Don't You Stop* For some reason The Minders remind me a bit of Of Montreal, the early days, but smoother. Thats the vibe I get from their music. This may not be so apparent to others, but to me it makes perfect sense. The Minders are the band you've been looking for in your life. They are your new special someone. www.myspace.com/theminders

10. Sufjan Stevens- Dear Mr. Supercomputer * I'm not going to lie to you. I'm pretty new to the Sufjan Stevens fanclub. I have been told by several people (including the talented Jonathan Delehanty), that I would really dig Sufjan's music. I checked him out a bit, about a year ago, and several times after that, but I never seemed to be really impressed. I don't know why. Recently I picked up "Illinois" on a whim. The record store had nothing else in stock I was looking for (shocking), and Sufjan was next on my list. I find Sufjan's music very unique and quite amazing to say the least. You've gained a new fan Mr. Stevens! www.myspace.com/sufjanstevens

11. Bishop Allen- Things Are What You Make of Them* These things hold true. 1. Ted Leo is not really a Pharmacist 2. Lassie was a boy 3. I LOVE BISHOP ALLEN. I can't really say any more about this band except for the fact they are one of the greatest things in creation. I'm also convinced if you don't enjoy this band, you clearly have no soul and your musical taste is complete shit. Bishop Allen does indie pop right. www.myspace.com/bishopallen

12. Of Montreal- A Cloud Crashes * I am to the point where Kevin Barnes could shit into a hat and I'd still thing it was by far the greatest thing ever created by a human being. 'A Cloud Crashes' is a new OM song that the band has given us the pleasure of listening to (and downloading) via their myspace page. Of Montreal will always keep us dancing and thank God for that. www.myspace.com/ofmontreal

13. The Stills- In the Beginning* I was skeptical and somewhat afraid to hear the new Stills record "Without Feathers". Why? Oh i'll tell you. All of the interviews that the band did at the beginning of the year had them stating the fact that they totally discarded the sound they created on "Logic Will Break Your Heart". This was pretty big for me. I loved that record and I was really nervous to hear them as a band that wanted to do a complete 180. Thankfully, this is a happy accident, for the Stills continue to be the magical band they've always been. www.myspace.com/thestills

14. The Futureheads-Skip to the End * Usually Futureheads songs take me a few listens to get in to. I'm not sure why that is. "Skip to the End" though, caught my attention immediatly. In any case, I will always believe The Futureheads should have gotten the spotlight that the Killers somehow recieved. (oh and Kudos Issac from Startime International for snagging them after they got dropped by Sire) www.myspace.com/thefutureheads

15. Cuff the Duke-Antisocial * This is a song that I literally stumbled upon in my quest for live Sloan recordings. For quite some time I have had this Sloan poster on my wall for a show they played in Canada. Listed as their opening act was "Cuff the Duke". I have been meaning to check them out for quite sometime because Sloan always speaks so highly of them. "Antisocial" does remind me of Sloan and that is the best thing possible. The singer even has down the 'Chris Murphy vocal sound'. I can't stop listening to this band. www.myspace.com/cufftheduker

16. Reindeer Section-"I'll Better When You Wake" * The Reindeer Section is the 'Indie Rock Supergroup' of our time. Thats no lie. I quite enjoy this band, and they bring something different to the table that you aren't going to hear anyplace else. Borrowing members from Snow Patrol, Belle and Sebastian, Mogwai, Arab Strap and Teenage Fanclub just to name a few. If that isn't enough to make your head explode, I don't know what is. www.myspace.com/thereindeersection

17. The New Pornographers- Sing Me Spanish Techno* I ADORE The New Pornographers. Actually that may be a bit of an understatement! They are number 2 in the Top 10 reasons that I love Canada (Sloan is number 1 of course!). This band always makes me smile, want to dance, and blare their music through the speakers. This is the NP's at their best, and in my opinion is the greatest combination of AC Newman's and Neko Case's voices. Check them out or lose in a major way. www.myspace.com/thenewpornographers

18. The Mountain Goats- Next Year * This song was added after we heard that Miss Kimya Dawson was going to be opening for the Mountain Goats last nite! I am quite a fan of the Mountain Goats, and I must admit that they aren't really for everyone. But its witty folk music at its best so deal with it. www.myspace.com/mountaingoats

19. Love as Laughter-Dirty Lives* Love as Laughter reminds me of the bastard child of a Post-Pavement Stephen Malkmus song and Preston School of Industry. I'm not sure if this is done on purpose, but it works pretty damn well. Especially in "Dirty Lives", the Stephen Malkmus-esque vibe is brought out. I'm not sure if Sam Jayne is aware of this or just denying it (or maybe i'm nuts all together and no one else makes this connection). Either way, one of my favorite songs. www.myspace.com/loveaslaughter

20. The Headlights- Tokyo * I used to get a lot of stickers, postcards and samplers from Polyvinyl Records in the mail promoting The Headlights. I figured "Hell if they are on Polyvinyl, then they have to be a pretty good band". I was right. Think Grandaddy (R.I.P.) meets Bjork. They are often marketed as, and I quote, "Indie pop with a shoegazy after taste". I couldn't think of a better description myself. I don't think I would want to. www.myspace.com/headlights

21. The M's-Plan of the Man * I enjoy the M's. I really do. They are another Polyvinyl band. I first saw them opening for Of Montreal, and while I was not blown away, I was indeed interested in what they had to offer. Giving them a further listen to their first full length ("Future Women"), they've won me over completely. www.myspace.com/thems

22. The Eastern Stars- Little Punk * Some say "Little Punk" by The Eastern Stars sounds a bit too much like The Raveonettes. True, but given not all of their songs are as Raveon-esque. This song ventures off a little off their track of what they usually sound like, but still, a great and interesting listen. www.myspace.com/easternstars

23. Irving- Jen, Nothing Matters to Me *I could kick myself in the ass for missing them on Subteranean last week. Irving is the band that the world needs. They are nothing short of brilliant. Another indie-pop-make-you-want-to-dance band, but oh so much more! The harmonies are enough to kill you. Literally. This is the new band to watch out for. Screw the Arctic Monkeys. www.myspace.com/irving

24. Man Man-I'd Rather Be Blind (Etta James Cover) * For Arcade Fire and Fiery Furnances fans alike, I present to you Man Man!! What a lovely way to end a mix cd. Man Man covering Etta James?! WHAT?!! Oh your eyes and ears do not decieve you my child. I wouldn't have it any other way. www.myspace.com/wearemanman