Alternative Pop

(live, REM, Sheryl Crow)

The French Revolution – The Letdown

Power pop rock visionaries claiming their stake on revolution. Sharing their penchant "love for rock music." The French Revolution is striving to make their own splash with their upbeat rocking record The Letdown. Well, if there's one thing these guys are doing right, it's NOT letting their listeners "down." The band lineup has changed since this first album was released. From 7 original members contributing in the first release, they've narrowed it down to 4 official members for their upcoming 2nd album. Staples throughout the transition includes Daniel French on vocals and guitar and Jeremy Bentley on drums.

Post Human Era’s To Build A Fire – lazy electronic pop at its finest

Two brothers channeling Deathcab for Cutie along with Radiohead. Perhaps one of the biggest pull that Post Human Era has on its listeners is the fact that they incorporate plenty of elements into their tracks. There are tracks showing hints of Nine Inch Nails, Kraftwerk and even the Postal Service. Underneath all this layering and synth work, there are nice vocals and sweet melodies that remind you of Ben Gibbard at his best. Daniel Finfer usually does the job himself inside the studio, but on the road, he jams along with brother, Michael, on samples, Steve Kurschner on drums as well as Josh Stark on guitars.

The Rest – Atlantis, Oh Our Saviour

Dreamy Canadian youngsters that strike a chord in the world of indie rock. To say that indie rock has never sounded so good, is an understatement with The Rest. Atlantis, Oh Our Saviour is a great compilation of 11 fresh tracks that resonate with twangy guitars, intermittent piano, sometimes painful screaming and sometimes sweet vocals. The Rest certainly showcases one of the best albums in the indie world. Their follow up album Everyone All at Once is out now. But if you want to get to know the band a bit better, start with this album first.
Aloneluna

Mezzamo’s “Aloneluna” – indie pop/new wave release from Synthematik

If you feel like drifting off to somewhere relaxing and fun, you can count on the music of Mezzamo to take you there. Mezzamo, the best newcomer of the International Indie Festival Stereoleto in 2009, is one of the freshest and favored new wave/indie pop groups in Russia. Their creatively compelling video clips appear on various Russian alternative TV channels. The group was launched in 2006. They have released a Russian-language album called 'Mnogotochie' and an English-language single 'Everything You, which were both well-received internationally. Working the vocals that makes you feel so light and buoyant is the wonderful Shura Zhuravleva.

Allison Crowe: Spiral

The songs in Allison Crowe’s Spiral will take you on a rough winding road through different emotions, joy and weariness, to name just two. Variety is the best feature of this album as it offers a little bit of country, a little bit of rock, and a little bit of pop. The best part, without a doubt, is the emotionally-packed, powerful big vocals of Allison Crowe. Allison Crowe has been known as a performer-songwriter who delivers great quality music and she does not disappoint in her latest album.

Rust by No, Really – Acoustic Folk Pop that Leaves You Wanting More

Sweet vocals laced with uncluttered instruments and emotional lyrics. If there's one thing you'll notice about No, Really right off the bat is that the vocals are extremely sweet and easy to listen to. Rust compiles 10 soft, electronic folk songs with mournful melodies and revealing lyrics. It's a brand of folk pop that's easy to love without even trying. No, Really's soft melodies will make you look back to your own heartaches, joys and sadness. All that from a girl from Tennessee with a guitar.

Paris-Chicago by NO [Olivier Nataf] – a Frenchman with a Heart for American Blues

American blues jazz with a French aftertaste. An almost fool-proof formula for creating pop funk music for this French singer includes a "few notes of Blues, a zest of Funk, a tear of Soul." Bizarrely calling himself, NO, French musician Olivier Nataf creates his own brand of blues jazz inspired tracks that are laced with French lyrics. Paris - Chicago compiles 10 tracks that serve as a bridge connecting the American landscapes to that of the French. If you wonder what the blues sounds like with an international flair, NO, would be one act worth checking out.

Tsk! by The Gasoline Brothers – New Album from “Lazy” Indie Pop Rockers

Fun and catchy, pop rock beats that give you a good sugar rush. From start to finish, this is one solid indie pop rock album. Okay, I admit, I immediately assumed that The Gasoline Brothers was an American band when I first heard Psychosomatic Heart Failure, but upon closer inspection, I realized that it said Netherlands! My apologies for assuming. Tsk! is one awesome album from start to finish. It's full of fun, pop, upbeat , alternative rock tracks that will get you bobbing at least one part of your body at some point.

The Singletons by The Singletons – British Mod Influenced Spanish Scenesters

No nonsense garage rock with a surfer's flair. When hearing The Singletons for the first time, you would automatically think it was an updated version of the Kinks. A mix of surfer music, brit pop rock garage combined with slightly offbeat enunciation. However, The Singletons are in fact from Barcelona and released their brand of music only about 2-3 years ago. Although this type of music has been played and re-played by various other bands, there's no doubt that it sill holds its appeal under the hands of this band. Check out their 11 tracks and judge for yourself.