Genre: Soul/Funk
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2005-08-23
Label: Fast Life

It's New Year's Eve and it's time to sound out to the city the arrival of a new year and soon the dawn of a new day. Let's get some help from El Michel's Affair; they'll help you usher it in with grace and maybe a little extra step. Myspace link above is to a label you can find them one. Get to the celebrations people.

Genre: Indie Acoustic
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2007-08-20
Label: Phantom Sound & Vision

So I had this album a while ago and lost it. Then thanks to my Parisian darling Leslie I was turned back onto what might be some of the most lyrically talented (albeit what I first thought was vocally retarded, no offense) songs I've heard in a while. The number of ways words can be pronounced was already pretty high up there and The Tellers add countless to the horde. You'll ear it in Second Category and it's a uniquely delicious way to take your acoustic indie music.

Genre: Electro
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2007-02-19
Label: Bangers

Haven't had my electro fix in a hot minute. Welcome back to the crunched up synth. You know what to do with music like this - all that's left to do is get the rest of Fancy's material and say thank you to France for yet another floor bumpin jam.

Genre: Trip Hop/Breakbeat/Lo-Fi
Website: Myspace | Free!
Release Date: ??
Label: Independent

Ok so this album is free and there is no excuse not to get it. The man is a genius and a saint for giving it away. I can't wait until his new album comes out, which you can also find a sample for through the Free! link above. Instrumental beats that get more complicated than those of Felix Laband, they are sleek, smooth, and sexy.

Genre: Electronic/Lo-Fi/Experimental
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2001-09-01
Label: African Dope

Spinitinreverse and sip on some Felix Laband. Only one of his three albums, Thin Shoes In June is a good way to get to know Felix's music. Strictly instrumental, the beats don't get very crazy or complicated but there's something to say about well-made simplicity. Waddya say?

Genre: Indie Rock
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2007-07-31
Label: S Fair

Back to Glasgow ladies and gents. How does the UK manage to get so many quality Indie Rock bands with a much smaller land mass than the US. Their population numbers can't explain it either. They must just be more talented or "into" this kind of music than Americans. But whatever, I love this kind of music and maybe some of you do too. Doesn't take me back to the 90's but I'll take me some 1990s.

Genre: Dub/Reggae/Ska
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2007-06-11
Label: Catskills

I like the band. I don't love them but I do like them. I LOVE this version of their Holiday track. Nothing like some dubbed up reimagining of a track that is more parts ska than anything else (because I have grown out of my love for ska - note: I still appreciate it, just don't love it as much). Grab this remake and use it as an introduction into The Ripps.

Genre: Folk Indie
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2003-09-20
Label: iMusician

The band does Folk Indie. The album is almost entirely as uppety as the first track might lead you to believe. The album happens to be the work of Swiss musicians who together are called Melonmoon. Hard to pick an album favorite. And you know what that means? It's a good one for you to have around.

Genre: Rock
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-01-04
Label: Bad Breaker

If it's rock you want, right down to licks filling every bit of vocally absent tracktime, then look no further. Suede Brothers bring it and they bring it hard. Cleveland, OH is a good place to be when they are playing locally there. If you won't be able to make it there, grab the album and jam out when appropriate. Like now.

Genre: Surf Folk
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-05-13
Label: Antenna Farm

The song Stay With My Brother does something funny to me inside. The way that harmony plays out... the driving rhythm of the bass and continuity of the drumbeat and the lazy guitar accompaniment... the xylophone or whatever it may be... a truly amazing track that has been a favorite of mine since hearing it shortly after this albums release in May. Do yourself a favor and spread this one around.

Genre: Indie Folk
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-07-08
Label: Saddle Creek

Son Ambulance. Truly eclectic and experimentally constructed Indie Folk. The myspace gives claims to music of a Bossa Novic nature and A Girl In New York City attests to that fact. You'll ear it no doubt. Will you go further and ear the whole album as I have? I tell you it's fun with headphones.

Genre: Indie Rock
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-06-24
Label: Credential

Seabird. Popularized by some exposure on Grey's Anatomy, the band deserves the cred it may or may not be getting from that show and before and after and everywhere in between. The album has a softer side to it; it's not just in your face indie rock to fill your pop fantasies. Representing Cincinnati and KY the band will be at SXSW 09... if anybody has plans on being there make sure to see them live.

Genre: Folk
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-05-26
Label: EMI

A short little collection of ditties from Revolver (Paris, FR), it's folk in one of it's finer moments, complete with the harmony that good folk deserves. They sing their English with the slightest accent and it sounds great. Pop De Chambre. I get it. Do you?

Genre: Pop Indie
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-06-17
Label: Doghouse

Heeey Louisville, KY can now boast another ear-friendly band besides My Morning Jacket. Mansions shouldn't be compared to them musically or stylistically but they certainly have that something of their own going on. Something about the album art makes me think of my own childhood. Is this band just one man? Myspace doesn't list anybody else. So I think so. Didn't he just release a new album too? Someone let me know.

Genre: Indie Pop
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-01-22
Label: XL

I don't love all of Jack Penate's music. I do really really love some of the songs on this album. For instance, track 03 above. It's got all the right things to be a song that makes my ears happy to ear it. I like that this album has a second disc (in some places you purchase it i.e. US releases) of solo electric recordings. Look around and find it but if you don't check his myspace out and weigh it yourself.

Genre: Indie Rock
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-11-04
Label: Minty Fresh

Boo pah doo pah doo boo pah doo pah doo doo... wow terrible impression of an organ. Listen to Lost Organ and you'll maybe get the drift. Great Indie Rock from Hushpuppies but this time the music is French in origin even if it don't sound it. This album is available for any and all who want it, and many of you should.

Genre: Alternative Indie
Website: Myspace | (Canada only)
Release Date: 2008-06-03
Label: Sonic

It's a shame to have Hey Rosetta only available to those in Canada. I think all music should be available to all people... the enjoyment of music being inhibited by whatever international parlaying between labels and corporations and moneymaking is a disgrace. Just my opinion anyways, because people everywhere want to get ahold of it and if they cant buy it what option do they have!

You can probably find it not on itunes but that's such an easy way to get your music. Hey Rosetta. Hey audience. Listen in to their music!

Genre: Folk Rock/Blues
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-10-06
Label: Rolling

Harmony, grit, soul, and blues all rocking out to acoustic rhythmin and you've got a grasp of what The Fortunate Sons are bringin to the table. Wasted Time is a track to taste after you've had your fill of sampling Get Away. Doin their thang outta Glasgow, UK they are another band that UK has the pride of calling its own.

Genre: Orchestral Indie Folk
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2006-05-02
Label: Ace Fu

Ah yes. It's time to get some DeVotchKa up here. A highly, highly recommended band and even more highly recommended EP. Sorta reminds me of what Andrew Bird might do given the mood (and he has many), but this four piece group astounds my senses with great instrumentation and is just all around lovely in all the right places. Get it.

Genre: Singer Songwriter/Acoustic
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2007
Label: Finest Gramophone

Tina Dico (so... I'm pretty sure it's really spelled Dickow but somewhere along the way to being released in the US it got slimified to Dico?) is one of the female singers you've heard in some of your favorite Zero 7 songs. A great voice to compliment some pretty decent songwriting, this album is not my favorite but I do enjoy partaking in some quality time on my back in bed, staring at the ceiling and counting.

Genre: Alternative Indie
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2006-11-30
Label: Golf

I gave this album a fair amount of eartime a snig over a year ago and re-eared it again recently and thought maybe some of you out there would appreciate it like I have. More in the alternative vein, with about 5% pop thrown in there, you'll do well to hear these London, UK building up some great rock because even if Hell Is For Heroes, their music is for everyone.

Genre: Folk/Seasonal
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-10-17
Label: Epic

Since I love Lenka so much (well, I love a lot of the artists on this compilation but Lenka just happens to cover a song I like too) I've got this great seasonal compilation from Epic records. It showcases a lot of singersongwriting talent and is 100% fit for your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day festivities. Grab it for the occasion and have yourselves a wonderful Eve.

Genre: Classical Folk
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2008-04-15
Label: Phantom Sound & Vision

Phantom Sound & Vision has been on this blog a lot. I can't decide (rather, I am too time-consumed to research it properly) if they just license imports into the US or if they really do just represent a crapton of awesome musicians...

So it's Christmas Eve and I apologize for not gearing all of the posts to Christmasy things but to be honest I'm not a big fan of Christmas music. Additionally I'm not even in the US right now... all of the posts from December 14th until January 12th have been scheduled, including this one, because I'm out of town and in Tahiti visiting family.

That aside, The Miserable Rich are a UK folk band with lots of strings in the midst of their music. I love me some strings and I know a lot of you do too so give em a good ear.

Genre: Folk Rock Pop
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2006-07-06
Label: Independent

The Hereafter came to me by amiestreet recommendation emails that the site sends out every week or so. I thought it was worth a snag and picked up all of their material for my collection. It's very unproduced, almost basement sounding, with a lot of untapped (or at least uncaptured) potential. Their more recent release, an EP with a lot of longer songs (all are at least six and a half minutes), has some nice tracks but with such long songs I thought it would be better to get you onto their music with more playlist friendly track lengths.

Genre: Indie Rock
Website: Myspace |
Release Date: 2005-06-20
Label: Cayman Islands Mafia

Pills youtube video can be viewed at the link right to the left of this text. I suppose it's a popular song off of this album but my personal favorite is Disco 1, found above to sell you on why you should buy what this band is offering. Australian record label Cayman Islands Mafia has a supremely fly name and did a good job picking up The Mess Hall. Find your own way to Disco 2 and keep that indie rock dancin goin.