Keren Ann - Keren Ann

Tracklist:

01. It's All A Lie
02. Lay Your Head Down
03. In Your Back
04. The Harder Ships Of The World
05. It Ain't A Crime
06. Where No Endings End
07. Liberty
08. Between The Flatlands And The Caspian Sea
09. Caspia

Genre: Acoustic Pop
Website: www.myspace.com/kerenann
Release Date: 2007-04-23
Label: Delabel

Keren was born in Israel back in 1974. She's gotten a lot of records put out there and if' i'm not mistaken (I'm not gonna go check) this is her 5th album. I love it when she sings in French, as is the case with most of her other releases, but she still sounds good speaking Engerish. Descending from Russian Jews on her father's side and Javanese/Dutch on her mother's, she's been living an interesting life playing primarely in Paris, New York, and Israel. Good stuff.

Merz - Moi Et Mon Camion

Tracklist:

01. Moi Et Mon Camion
02. Call Me
03. Shun
04. Malcolm
05. Silver Moon Ladders
06. Presume Too Much
07. Lucky Man
08. Cover Me
09. No Balls Left To Chime
10. The First And Last Waltz

Genre: Alternative Folk
Website: www.myspace.com/merzuk

Release Date: 2008-02-11
Label: Gronland

It's been going on 9 years since Merz released his first album. He's since turned down major record label deals and taken a six year sabbatical from the music industry to work on new material. The result was that instead of being influenced by the industry, he sang in his hometown and fell back on the honesty that comes from embracing one's roots. Cool side note: the opening track, if you ever hear it (you will eventually), starts with the sound of a moving van driving away, reflective of his difficulty settling down in one place during the making of this album.

Rosqo - No Stone Left Unturned

Tracklist:

01. Rival
02. Superschnitzel
03. Off The Hook
04. Elk Blut
05. Weird
06. Said
07. Delivering Coffee Machines
08. Distant
09. Cellar Door
10. Aaba
11. Patience

Genre: Experimental Indie
Website: www.rosqo.ch
Release Date: 2008-01-25
Label: Gentlemen

This is Rosqo's second album, recorded in Bristol by the same producer who's worked with reputable musicians such as PJ Harvey. The influences are all over the board which is why I've deemed this experimental... trying on all sorts of shoes and loving the process. If this band were a woman's mind then it fits the stereotypical "can't make up her mind." Lol. Not that that's bad, it's just a stereotype. Unless you check out myspace or buy the album you'll never be able to argue with that!!

Sordal - In Fort Knox With A Penny

Tracklist:

01. World At My Feet
02. Cobblestone Of Babylon
03. Boy & Girl
04. Do You Fear My Head?
05. Larger Than Life
06. Soulfinder
07. Airplane
08. Moving Clouds
09. A Little Blue Bike
10. Bliss
11. The Great Escape
12. Goin' Home

Genre: Alternative Folk Acoustic
Website: www.myspace.com/steinrsordal
Release Date: 2008-02-09
Label: MTG

Stein Sordal began recording this album after releasing an acoustic EP with a Progressive Metal Band (Green Carnation) in 2007, shortly after leaving the band. He's got a lot of guests scattered throughout the noise. Track 3 is tinged with some country and track 11 is folksy. Everything in between is worth a quick listen but if you head over to myspace he has a couple live tracks you can also ear (cuz sometimes it's nice to know if the band/musician can hack it live).

The Teenagers - Reality Check

Tracklist:

01. Homecoming
02. Love No
03. Feeling Better
04. Starlett Johansson
05. Streets Of Paris
06. Make It Happen
07. Wheel Of Fortune
08. Fuck Nicole
09. French Kiss
10. Sunset Beach
11. iii
12. End Of The Road

Genre: Indie Pop Rock
Website: www.myspace.com/theteenagers
Release Date: 03-17-2008
Label: XL

Hahahahaha. Wow. For being a cool song where (for once) the non-native English speaker actually sounds like someone from Belgium or something (it's France in this case) it's gonna come as a surprise to you when you hear the words. That's all I need to say... it's cool talk-singing with some fairly explicit and uncensored lyrics... lol.

Shocking Pinks - Shocking Pinks

Tracklist:

01. Wake Up
02. This Aching Deal
03. How Am I Not Myself
04. Second Hnad Girl
05. End Of The World
06. The Narrator
07. Yes! No!
08. Emily
09. Blonde Haired Girl
10. Victims
11. Girl On The Northern Line
12. I Want U Back
13. Smoke Screen
14. Jealousy
15. Cutout
16. 23
17. You Can Make Me Feel Bad

Genre: Experimental Indie
Website: www.myspace.com/shockingpinks
Release Date: 2007-09-25
Label: DFA Records

This band is very, very experimental. They really are not my cup of tea by any means, but lately I've been sorting through a LOT of music trying to catch up and make some new playlists and after a day or two of not finding something worth getting really excited about... this is what I'm throwin' on here. Not music at its best, it still has something catchy enough about it in that "this sounds like my next door neighbor in his garage with a tape deck recording" way.

Mike Hale - Broken With No Hope

Tracklist:

01. Wicked People
02. Easy Come Easy Go
03. I'm In Need
04. What I Never Want
05. The Last Part Of Me
06. Love Is Disappointment
07. Most Beautiful
08. Losing Tomorrow
09. Before You Were Gone
10. My Last Goodbye
11. Fuck The World

Genre: Acoustic Emo Folk
Website: www.myspace.com/mikehalemusic

Release Date: 2008-02-26
Label: Asian Man Records

Haha. SO. Asian Man Records is the label that most of the bands I first started listening to belong to. I'm talking The Chinkees, Five Iron Frenzy, old school Alkaline Trio, Big D, Bruce Lee Band... wow the list goes on and on. This was back in the first half of the 90's!! I guess Asian Man Records has come a long way because their band list is much more extensive than it used to be. I used to shop for their music through catalogs. Now that's o-l-d.

When I listened to Mike Hale for the first time I got the feeling of a tenor Joshua Radin who wasn't quite so whiny. I like how he uses the word f*ck a lot in track 5. Certainly this isn't the kind of band I would have thought to find with Asian Man Records. It's his solo project anyhow; if you want to listen to his other stuff check out Gunmoll and In The Red but I don't like that sh*t too much (Gunmoll > In The Red).

Sheboygan - It's OK To Say Yes

Tracklist:

01. Prelude
02. The Stars And The Moon
03. Star Child
04. Everybody Knows
05. Dream
06. Got No Game
07. Til I'm Over You
08. Time Machine
09. I Got So Sleepy
10. Birth Of Venus
11. The Power Of Suggestion

Genre: Indie Pop/Rock
Website: www.myspace.com/sheboygan

Release Date: 2008-01-15
Label: CD Baby

It's been said that this is 60's and 70's style Rock & Roll songwriting with 21st century production. I think that's not a bad way to look at it. The old school rock roots certainly shine through... and it's good. They have great instrumental interludes in their songs, shuffling through slow jam and fast rock and the in between.

The Epochs - The Epochs

Tracklist:

01. Thunder And Lightning
02. Opposite Sides
03. Love Complete
04. Mister Fog
05. Picture Of The Sun
06. Head In The Fire
07. Mouths To Feed
08. Stand Up And Be Counted
09. Tug Of War
10. Right On
11. Giving Tree

Genre: Indie Pop
Website: www.myspace.com/theepochs
Release Date: 2008-02-19
Label: The Rebel Group

The Epochs (both album and band) present us with songs that I'm never on the fence with. Love or hate. Do or don't. You've already heard track six so I'm gonna take you to two other songs that are on MY side of the fence... get the album yourself if you wanna take the time to try and disagree with me (yay for supporting bands!). I'd write more, but I'm still studying right now.

Clear Tigers - Brutal

Tracklist:

01. Vacation
02. Igloo
03. Spookhouse
04. Boredome
05. Kids
06. Won't Be Back
07. Summer School
08. Summertime
09. Come Around
10. Hotel
11. Deathray
12. Together

Genre: Indie/Pop
Website: www.myspace.com/cleartigers
Release Date: 2007-10-27
Label: Deathmaze

Another band from the wishin' it was warmin' up mix is Nathan Akin's Clear Tigers album. His voice has a quiver to it that sounds like a combination of pleading and singing. I'm personally just as in love with the sounds he chooses for his songs (like Igloo). It's a bit of an indie wrapper over what would be acoustic folk? Yeah... something like that.

The Bloody Beatroots - I Love The Bloody Beatroots

Tracklist:

01. Mac Mac
2. Pour Un Rasage De Tres Pres Et Un Confort Absolut
03. Harvest Time
04. Ezekiel Eats Red Hoodie
05. Public Enemy
06. Rotten Pick 2007
07. Bluto Fucks Popeye
08. I Love The Bloody Beetroots

Genre: Electro/Punk Techno/Breakbeat Electronica
Website: www.myspace.com/thebloodybeetroots
Release Date: 2007
Label: n/a

This Italian duo are pretty hard to pin down. Not much information out there, especially on their labels, or even where to buy their music. Lucky for us I stumbled across this little electronic gem because there are certain high-energy activities that could not be better complemented than with some Beetroot beats over the top. Check out their myspace if you weren't gonna without me saying anything. If you need a heads up, think Daft Punk. Not much else to say here... me n some kids love it.

Lior - Corner Of An Endless Road

Tracklist:

01. April Bloom
02. I'll Forget You
03. Corner Of An Endless Road
04. Sleeping In The Rain
05. Heal Me
06. Lost In You
07. Burst Your Bubble
08. Sonja
09. Jerusalem
10. Take The Sting Out
11. Safety Of Distance

Genre: Folk/Acoustic Indie
Website: www.myspace.com/lior
Release Date: 2008-02-09
Label: MGM

It took me an awfully long time to find his first album (I actually managed to get ahold of his first live album before I got his first studio album, titled "Autumn Flow"). The music on this album is a quality follow-up to that 2005 album. In an interview Lior spoke of this being much more "intensely personal and candid" than the previous one... even going as far as saying your ears will "think Led Zeppeling jamming with Nick Drake at a teahouse somewhere in the Middle East." Haha, I'm not sure I entirely agree with that but I guess if you went 65/35 Drake to Zeppelin it would be more accurate.

Yoav - Charmed And Strange

Tracklist:

01. Adore Adore
02. Club Thing
03. Live
04. One By One
05. There Is Nobody
06. Wake Up
07. Beautiful Lie
08. Angel And The Animal
09. Sometimes
10. Yeah The End
11. Where Is My Mind

Genre: Indie/Alternative Folk
Website: www.myspace.com/yoavmusic
Release Date: 2008-02-01
Label: Verve Forecast

Yoav takes the majority of this album and takes it down the same path that Gomez takes with the song "How We Operate." Darkly delicious. They say Yoav also has some Tommy Emmanuelle performance tendencies (the ones where he slaps his guitar around and sings into it and whatnot). He got most of his fans supporting Tori Amos on her tour. And lest I forget, Where Is My Mind is a pretty nice cover of a Pixies song. Yoav certainly gets a spot on my artists-to-see-in-concert list.

Almost There - A Mix For The Coming Spring

So it took me long enough to finally get this up here. I'm sure it'll have been worth the wait (I know it has been for me). It's a fairly cohesive mix I think... of course feedback is always helpful in solidifying future mixes. A brisk sunny day (the kind you get when winter transitions to spring) is the perfect backdrop... so best wishes to those of you who will be experiencing this weather and a jealous "i wish i was you" to those who are already in warmer weather (comme toi ma soeur).

01. Yoav - Yeah, The End
02. Lior - I'll Forget You
03. Adem - Invisible Man
04. Orenda Fink - Blind Asylum
05. Silkstone - We Always Say
06. Bishop Allen - The Chinatown Bus
07. Nada Surf - I Like What You Say (Acoustic)
08. Rustic Overtones - Letter To The President
09. Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl - Rolling Down
10. Laura Marling - New Romantic
11. The Epochs - Head In The Fire
12. Tyler Ramsey - Shipes
13. Clear Tiger - Vacation
14. Teitur - The Singer
15. Mike Doughty - Wednesday (No Se Apoye)
16. Shannon Wright - When The Light Shone Down
17. Kat Flint - The Blinking
18. Gary Louris - Meandering
19. Sleep Station - Under The Lights
20. Mando Saenz - Last Goodbye
21. Josh Kelley - Still Gonna Try
22. Alive In Wild Paint - Cold Spell

Enjoy to the max. If you noticed, this mix is feat. songs from the new albums of artists like Lior, Teitur, and Mike Doughty. I must say I was disappointed with Teitur's new album, but we'll get to that later. In the meantime... the only truly representative songs are the first which refers to an end (I'm pretending it refers to the winter) but alas, the last song, cold spell, is what I call the realization that it's still cold... for now...

Something To Look Forward To

This evening I'll be playing big catch up. Keep an eye out later this evening/tonight for a new mix followed by reviews of most of the artists on the mix. Thanks for bearing with me and my sporadically hectic schedule.

Speedometer - Four Flights Up

Tracklist:

01. The Meter's Running
02. No Woman Worries
03. Same Old Thing
04. Are You My Woman
05. Four Flights Up
06. Main Man
07. Take A Chance
08. Starlight
09. This Is The Real Me
10. Safari Of Soul
11. This Ain't Moving
12. Chicken Run
13. Wilderness

Genre: Funk/Soul
Website: www.myspace.com/speedometeruk
Release Date: 2007-06-18
Label: Freestyle

Mmmm good funk, jazz, and soul melded into delicious ear candy for those times when your boogie needs a woogie. If you like Sharon Jones or The Meters you will not be let down. Equal parts instrumental and vocal, you can shuffle through this album to suit your mood. Did I mention they're from the UK? Figures after all the rambling I've been doing about bands from over yonder. Earjoy.

Cocosuma - We'll Drive Home Backwards

Tracklist:

01. You Are My Sunshine (Intro)
02. Charlotte's On Fire
03. Twilight Zone
04. Cinders
05. Rec74
06. Suffragettes
07. My My My
08. Lady In Waiting
09. Oh Ruby Sun
10. Athletes
11. Polly (Has My Disease)
12. The Verve Were Right
13. Broken Glass

Genre: Experimental Indie/Folk
Website: www.myspace.com/cocosuma

Release Date: 2008-01-28
Label: Third Side Records/Discograph

Their myspace page says "Grindcore/Psychobilly." Although I usually give the band the benefit of the doubt in their self-classification (cuz it IS their music), I have to severely disagree here. This band actually almost didn't get up here but I'm feeling the mood that a few of the songs jive with. Mellow (surprise?) and well-layered songs those be.

Supreme Beings Of Leisure - 11i

Tracklist:

01. The Light
02. This World
03. Mirror
04. Swallow
05. Good
06. Pieces
07. Angelhead (Feat. Lili Haydn)
08. Ride
09. Oneness
10. Everywhere
11. Lay Me Down

Genre: Electronic/Trip Hop
Website: www.myspace.com/supremebeingsofleisure
Release Date: 2008-02-12
Label: Rykodisc

I hadn't heard of these peeps until earlier today. I've most definitely run into some Rykodisc artists before but must've missed out earlier. The rest of their signed bands/artists are not too shabby if you got time to poke around.

If I could judge a book by it's cover (i'm gonna), the Supreme Beings Of Leisure are two people, man and woman, perhaps a couple; the man mixes the beats and the girl does the singing. Morcheeba-ee or more recently Speeka-ish? Nice and mellow, the choice beats will have you slow-roasting in a sea of undulating sound waves. I think i'll get back to them.

The Afters - Never Going Back To OK

Tracklist:

01. The Secret Parade
02. Never Going Back To OK
03. Keeping Me Alive
04. Tonight
05. Ocean Wide
06. Myspace Girl
07. We Are The Sound
08. Falling Into Place
09. Beautiful Words
10. Forty-two
11. Summer Again
12. One Moment Away

Genre: Pop Alternative/Rock
Website: www.myspace.com/theafters

Release Date: 2008-02-26
Label: INO/Columbia Records

So what if The Afters deliver us a traditionally sappy, poppy, cheesy, and quasi-predictable package of radio-friendly music. Sometimes people like to listen to things that aren't at the other end of the spectrum (which would be experimental). But yeah, if you're as aurally flexible as me then you may find a good time for the tunes put forth by this Dallas band. Yeehaw.

Tyler Ramsey - A Long Dream Swimming Across The Sea

Tracklist:

01. A Long Dream
02. Ships
03. Night Time
04. Once In Your Life
05. Chinese New Year
06. No One Goes Out
07. Birdwings
08. These Days
09. When I Wake
10. Iris
11. Worried
12. Please Stop Time
13. Hmmmmmmmmm

Genre: Acoustic/Folk
Website: www.myspace.com/tylerramseymusic

Release Date: 2008-01-15
Label: Echo Mountain Records

Tyler Ramsey can be considered a pretty lucky newcomer (even if he is 34?) to the scene. Perfectly timed with his debut album (this one) was his recent incorporation into Band Of Horses. I was fortunate enough to see both Tyler play solo and with Band Of Horses at Halfway To Forecastle Festival in Louisville a few weeks back. His stuff meanders with melancholy and is almost entirely a spotlight of Tyler's voice and guitar... which serves to add to the loneliness the music can bring. Don't let it get you too down, ya ear?

PlayRadioPlay - The Frequency

Tracklist:

01. Bad Cops Bad Charities
02. Complement Each Other Like Colors
03. Confines Of Gravity
04. At This Particular Moment In Time
05. Even Fairy Tale Characters Would Be Jealous
06. Mr. Brightside

Genre: Pop Alternative/Indie/Electro
Website: www.myspace.com/playradioplay

Release Date: 2007-04-24
Label: Stolen Transmission

Some of you may want to steer clear of this band. It's highly, highly pop-oriented in the vein of radio-friendly pop punk... maybe like a hellogoodbye wannabe? Anyways, I'm not entirely ashamed to admit that I enjoy the electronic sounds and the wailing vocals. Funny how we come back round to an American band and what do we get? Exactly what we'd expect on MTV. Hah.

Absent Kid - Misadventure

Tracklist:

01. Retaliate First
02. Shoot On Sight
03. Ricochets
04. 1 Up
05. Tastes Like Happy
06. Confetti
07. She's A Liability
08. Just Stay Low
09. The Recovery Position
10. Note To Self

Genre: Alternative/Indie/Pop
Website: www.myspace.com/absentkid

Release Date: 2008-02-15
Label: Independent

Big surprise that this high-energy 5-piece is from Essex (that's UK for those of you who didn't know). For an unsigned band they are particularly memorable... they come across with that same driving indie flavor that is characteristic of most bands in this genre. Maybe not defiantly unique, but certainly reliable catchy and spazzy hooks. Check em out.

Dylan Mondegreen - While I Walk You Home

Tracklist:

01. Wishing Well
02. Girl In Grass
03. Say It Isn't So
04. Something To Dream On
05. My Favourite Songs
06. That Mortal Kiss
07. Faint Sound Of Surf
08. Broken French
09. Where You Are Is Where It's At
10. While I Walk You Home

Genre: Pop/Indie
Website: www.myspace.com/dylanmondegreen
Release Date: 2007-09-17
Label: Division Records/Artspages

Wow... and another European takes center stage on earitnow. This guy is from Oslo, Norway, and in accordance with my last post he sings English sans accent. The album cover totally reminds me of what I'd expect to see in a movie set somewhere in that part of Europe. Clothes, colors, looks, the whole deal. But yeah, this guy singer-songwrites some quality stuff... and as you know you get what I consider to be the most convincing two :)

Gonzo48k - Hi-Fi Lovers

Tracklist:

01. Fear Of You
02. Julie
03. Blonde Girl
04. Stereo Wave
05. Shine
06. Angel
07. Stars Underground
08. Gaze
09. Johnny & Candy
10. Rene'

Genre: Indie/Pop/Ambient Electronica
Website: www.myspace.com/gonzo48k

Release Date: 2007-03-03
Label: Pippola Music

This guy is from Italy. I'd have to say this is the first english speaking Eye-tallian to make it onto this blog. Music made for rainy days or slow days when you're not moving much faster than the hour hand on the clock, you'll be happy with this if you like either ambient music or slowpop. Shoegazer might be the appropriate term here. Other than that I don't know much about this guy because I stopped taking Italian classes two years ago and haven't felt like polishing it up on this guys bios.

The Whip - X Marks Destination

Tracklist:

01. Trash
02. Save My Soul
03. Frustration
04. Blackout
05. Muzzle #1
06. Sirens
07. Divebomb
08. Sister Siam
09. Dubsex
10. Throw It In The Fire

Genre: Indie/Electronica/Pop
Website: www.myspace.com/thewhipmanchester
Release Date: 2008-03-24
Label: Southern Fried Records

And another band from the ever-music-producing UK. I'm always surprised at the number of bands that come to my attention and happen to be European (or more specifically British). I'm also always surprised by the way in which people of all different backgrounds can manage to sound like they're from the States based on the way they sing in English. So yeah, this band plays with other similar bands such as Simian Mobile Disco and if you're lucky enough to be heading to SXSW 08 then you'll catch these guys from March 10-15. If you really are that lucky to be going to SXSW I expect you to hit me up with some news and music!

DJ Cam - Lost And Found

Tracklist:

01. Show Your Love
02. So What (Part 2)
03. China Girl
04. Lost And Found
05. Los Angeles
06. A Supreme Love
07. Summermadness
08. La 4eme Dimension
09. The Nautilus

Genre: Electronica/Hip Hop/Club
Website: www.myspace.com/djcamrecall
Release Date: 2008-01-16
Label: Inflamable Records

DJ Cam has come out with a lot of releases in the last decade or so. Considered to be one of the bedrock artists of the electronic genre, Laurent Daumail does both remixing and producing. This album is a strictly instrumental one, unless you count the spliced in tracks with vocals in it. This is the kinda stuff you listen to on a sunny day when you're in zero hurry with your windows down. The horns in track six are like butter... or margarine if that's your thing... smooth beats that definitely sound like there are supposed to be emcee's spittin' on top.

Via Audio - Say Something

Tracklist:

01. Developing Active People
02. Modern Day Saint
03. Harder On Me
04. Numb
05. We Can Be Good
06. Presents
07. From Clouds
08. Enunciation
09. The Collaboration
10. Hazmat
11. I Can't Focus

Genre: Indie Pop
Website: www.myspace.com/viaaudio
Release Date: 2007-09-25
Label: Sidecho Records

Thanks to one L for making me force some time into my morning for this... which is (given the work load) usually what I do. Pretty big something due on Tuesday is keeping me down! Anyhoo, this is a dece band that made it into my car on a mix cd, meaning it's gotta be worth at least a little something. On track six you'll here some pretty awesome harmonies even if it starts out a little "uppety cheesy" sounding. Reminiscent of a more indie and experimental Cardigans (but still better).

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad - Slow Down

Tracklist:

01. Buffalo
02. Creation
03. Burkina Faso
04. Hiroshima
05. Conspire
06. Incognito
07. Forever Party
08. On The Moon
09. Seasons Change
10. Ginger Juice
11. Missing You More
12. Sunshine Dub

Genre: Dub Roots Reggae
Website: www.myspace.com/giantpandadub
Release Date: 2006
Label: Independent

Sweeeeeet. These guys dub you just right. Track two has vocals that will give you a smidgen of Bradley Nowell. JT this goes out to you since you're leaving tomorrow and have been complaining that you're not getting any good travel tunes from me anymore. For the rest of you, ride JT's coat-tails and take these tunes wherever u may go.

Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static

Tracklist:

01. All At Once
02. Sleep Through The Static
03. Hope
04. Angel
05. Enemy
06. If I Had Eyes
07. Same Girl
08. What You Thought You Need
09. Adrift
10. Go On
11. They Do They Don;t
12. While We Wait
13. Monsoon
14. Losing Keys

Genre: Roots Rock Acoustic
Website: www.myspace.com/jackjohnsonmusic
Release Date: 2008-02-05
Label: Brushfire Records

Got a nice treat for you here... but you probably knew that cuz you looked at the album title before you even got here. It's good. Jack will always be Jack and there will always be that certain unchanged something that Jack brings to the ear but hey, i'm really liking the fact that after so many albums i'm still hearing sounds that i wanna be hearing. mmmmmm.