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Karma Tree: Sleepium - indie pop rock with a whole lot in between

Valerie — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:01:37 +0000

Karma Tree mostly sounds like a Swedish version of Vampire Weekend. Although occasionally they venture out and mix alternative and sugar pop, it's hard to deny that the boys have a knack for the indie sound.

Sleepium is the full length debut for the trio. It was recorded late 2009 and released the following year. Much of the songs on here showcase the band's penchant of mixing everything up, they can easily go from pop with bright twinkly guitars, to heavy metal sounding riffs and even boyband sounding beats.

Soak, is the first single that greets you when you put on the record. It's a three minute track that seems confused about its identity. Opening rather slow with melancholic, Morissey-esque vibe, it then moves to an acoustic bit before embracing a slight new wave demeanor for a couple seconds then back to twinkly moderate tempo pop.

On the other hand, if you jump to the third track, Hipster Clouds, you'd be forgiven to think that the band is a hardcore alternative rock group after hearing the first few minutes of the song. It features heavy guitars and drumming before settling for a more mellow pop rock beat. Meanwhile, Words Just Won't Do, sees the band in their element. Personally, I prefer it when they sound like this. They seem more comfortable without any hint of "trying too hard."

Overall, even though the record has several tracks worth checking out. Much of the songs have this annoying habit of switching gears/genres/ beats right in the middle or towards the end part. It's possible that the band is doing this as some sort of statement for their sound. Personally, though, it gets quite irritating when you listen to it. It's all good the first one or two cuts but when you hear it on almost every single track, it gets old really fast. More so, if you're enjoying a particular song or beat and it suddenly turns topsy turvy out of nowhere.

Regardless, even if the album doesn't completely work for me, this band could be just what you're looking for. Take a listen and grab the download if you like what you hear.

Ghastly Menace: Pitcairn - charming experimental indie pop

Valerie — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:01:20 +0000

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Although indie bands are abundant these days, occasionally you'll find a group that deserves all the hype they're getting. Ghastly Menace is one of these groups.

Composed of Andrew Schroeder and Christopher Geick (formerly of They Found Me, They Named Me), the duo set their sights in creating a wonderfully melodic and entertainingly sweet indie pop band.

Pitcairn is their first EP. It contains 5 songs that clock in at less than 3 minutes each but filled with some gorgeous and catchy beats that makes you want to leave it on loop for a long time.

Gathering influences from Paul Simon to Elliot Smith and ultimately Paul McCartney's Ram record, the duo has created a charming collection of indie rock tracks. Listeners can expect some beautiful tambourines, handclaps, and layers of catchy melody intertwined in each song.

Pitcairn starts with the two-minute single, Know The Sun. Instantly, you get a stirring energy that seems like a dose of warm sunshine greeting your morning. It's coupled with lovely singing and a catchy beat; making it tough to not move or sway to the song as you listen. It's a classic indie rock song that's possibly one of the best in the record. Meanwhile, Ocean Waves and Arial, both keep the tempo up and add a lighthearted feel to the compilation.

The last two songs, Not Mine and Stay All Day, bring in a more surfer indie rock sound to the album. The latter track is the longest one on the album and features heavier guitars coupled with jolly sounding vocals and handclaps.

At the end of it all, Ghastly Menace's sound is far from ghastly or menacing. In fact, it's the type of songs you can play while you sleep; when you wake up and pretty much all day if you want to add some good vibes. Really great compilation to check out. Grab the download.

Evan Uhlmann: Blue Lipstick - feel-good acoustic indie pop rock

Valerie — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:01:45 +0000

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Evan Uhlmann has a knack for creating fun pop songs, complete with cheeky lyrics and a catchy melody. It's the type of songs you won't mind playing even if you aren't big on pop music at all.

Born in Chicago, Uhlmann now calls New York City his home. While studying in Wales, he was under the tutelage of Ray Davies, among the founding members of the British band, The Kinks.

Just last year in September, he released his first debut record and called it, Blue Lipstick. Combining pop with acoustic indie rock guitar work, the record contains songs that are playful and with good composition.

Uhlmann can easily go from cheeky pop to Bob Dylan-esque acoustic numbers in an instant. There's no denying that he has versatility which helps add to the album's obvious charm.

Blue Lipstick opens with a decidedly Beatles-sounding, Here I Come. The song is fast and rushes on through with an upbeat retro sound that allows it to pass as a vintage vinyl track from a long forgotten pop band. On the other hand, the title track chronicles someone who has to wear a sort of mask and a "blue lipstick" in order to please people. It's a bit serious underneath it all but the song is sung in a lighthearted vibe making you want to smile and laugh as you hum along.

Other tracks worth noting include Strawberry Wine, Melanie and Unfaithful Bird. Although really, it's easy to enjoy all of the tracks on this album. It's a feel-good compilation that serves as great company whether played on your iPod, car or home system.

Evan Uhlmann is a musician worth checking out if you come across his gigs in the NYC area. He's been making the rounds in local clubs such as "Mercury Lounge" and "The Bowery Poetry Club" to name a few. For the meantime, you can also grab this album download over at BandCamp.

Balthazar B and the Beatitudes: Like Shrapnel - short but sweet indie folk rock

Valerie — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:01:37 +0000

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Balthazar B and the Beatitudes might seem like an odd name choice for a band but there's definitely nothing odd about their sound. Creating a beautiful mix of indie folk and rock, Balthazar B and his ever-revolving cast is bent on sharing their gorgeous melodic sound to anybody who wants to listen.

The group was founded and fronted by Paris based musician, Baltazar B. To complete his sound, he enlists the help of friends from various walks of life, some of them doctors others "geeks and religious scholars." This helps create a fresh menagerie of sound that's a certain delight to listen to.

Like Shrapnel is a short EP that was recorded in pockets of time between Paris and London.

Despite being short, with only a running time of no more than 18 minutes; the album easily conveys a soothing and captivating mood.

Title track, Like Shrapnel, opens the record with a folkish noir feel. It showcases wonderful guitars, violins, thumping drums, tambourines and magical vocals. There's something ethereal about this song which is highly contrasted with the slightly cheeky chorus: "like shrapnel, you're under my skin; like shrapnel, you invite yourself in."

Red Ribbon is a quiet single that features great harmonies while Madagascar, is a more upbeat cut that's filled with harmonicas and guitars. The short compilation is then capped off by, Snowden's Secret. It's a blissful track that makes you think of quiet snowy mornings.

Like Shrapnel was released back in April 25th, 2011 and features Alex Dowding on guitars/keys/vocals; Tom Kershaw on bass; Charlotte Domanski on violin; and Dan Bush on drums. Grab the download. This is one relaxing record that deserves a listen.

Germany Germany: Last Summer - an ocean of infectious and ambient harmonies

Mona — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:01:10 +0000

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Falling largely within the pleasing electronic-chillwave framework, Germany Germany’s Last Summer is a fresh musical treat to the indie camp.

Drew Harris, better known as Germany Germany is an independent musician from Victoria, Canada. Released last October 27, 2010, Last Summer offers eight tracks of perfectly enunciated music that encapsulates a nostalgic summer.

Kicking things off is Beginning, a feel-good song laced up with playful piano keys, chimes, and neat instrumentation.

A personal favourite, Too Much To Say is the ideal backdrop for lazy summer afternoons. Layered vocals, sharp guitars, and shakers spin into a coherent, easily listenable whole.

Title track Last Summer follows with a blend of natural sounds and electronic tunes. Press play, escape, and dive into an ocean of ambient harmonies.

Songs like Electric, Nostalgia, and Static use the right dose of electrogaze sounds to spin unwoven harmonies. Tape Deck Revolution, on the other hand, paints a vivid image of the sea with stellar instrumentation and wave sounds on the background.

Last Summer is by, of, and for indie kids. Germany Germany’s infectious music regularly reminds us that while listening to this collection, we are always in a distant memory.

Green River Ordinace: GRO FREE Sampler - pop rock tracks that's temptingly good

Mona — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:01:30 +0000

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Green River Ordinance (GRO) looks like their ready to steer the wheel to stardom.

The pop-rock group composed of John Jenkins, Jamey Ice, Joshua Wilkerson, Geoff Ice, Denton Hunker have greatly evolved from their childhood in Forth Worth, Texas to the release of their latest album Under Fire and their current North American tour. The seven-track GRO Free Sampler offers a sneak peak on the band’s pleasant offerings.

An explosion of sharp guitar strums and steady drum beats open in Heart of Me. GRO starts slow, rough and sexy. Jenkins’ voice is perfect to the track’s pop rock aesthetic.

Venturing on the acoustic side, Dancing Shoes is laced up with earthly vocals and potent lyricsm. Ambient harmonica solos add a country flair to the track.

On Your Own plays up with our senses through heart-piercing lines and playful piano keys. While Out of My Hands goes back to the rock sensibilty that’s been left in the first song.

Boosting with a plethora of loud drum beats and stingy electric guitars, Don’t Give Up places GRO on the frontstage. The harmony of each instrument is impeccable. Even in the loud parts, the instruments don’t overpower each other.

Sealing the collection with a positive and upbeat vibe, Come On is a perfect anthem for weekend road trips. I personally like how the rock aspect of the track blends flawlessly with its pop melodies.

Green River Ordinance have proven their maturity as artists. Though it’s a free sampler, the whole set sounds like its ready to hit sound waves. The band has successfully ignite everyone’s curiosities, leaving us wanting for more!

Opus Orange: Reinventions EP - short and punchy indie pop compilation

Valerie — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:01:50 +0000

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A short and sweet teaser EP, Reinventions contains only 4 tracks. Regardless, this is more than enough to make you want to find out more about the band.

Opus Orange is actually a personal project by long time music mixer PB. It took him some time to finally release this short compilation as he focused on his main work of helping bands mix their own sound. Judging from the gems in this EP, he really should find more time recording and releasing his own material.

Featuring beautiful indie folk pop, the EP is a real treat. It's upbeat, catchy and highly enjoyable.

Starting with a song that is hard to resist, Reinventions opens with, Nothing But Time. It's a catchy little ditty that showcases Opus Orange's knack for creating guitar and synth driven beats coupled with enjoyable vocals. Crystal Clear follows; this time the cut is bit mellow yet still retains that twinkly pop vibe. For some reason it reminds me of 80s retro synth music, only much, much better.

Third cut, That Is To Say, is a beautiful pop song that would feel at home some time in the 70s. This is an awesome track for driving around town or if you simply need some cheering up. With handclaps and gorgeous, laid back vocals; you'll bet this is one of the best cuts on the EP. The record finally ends with the two minute track, Almost There. Again, there's a warmth and sunshiny ambiance to the song. Something you'd like to listen if you need some picker-upper or simply make your day better.

Opus Orange is one artist to watch out for. Let's just hope they'll create more compilations and share their music in the future. The members of the band apart from Paul include composer/vocalist Lauren Hillman of Kotomi and multi-instrumentalist Jo Pusateri. You can grab this Free EP over at BandCamp.

Fraser James: Gone From Here - uptempo indie acoustic pop

Valerie — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:01:05 +0000

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Creating beautiful acoustic indie pop, Fraser James, has a knack for capturing any listener's attention with only his guitar and sweet vocal chops.

Gone From Here is a debut EP from the St. Albans singer. It delivers music that seems ideal company for cold afternoons with hot cocoa on hand while silently taking in the quiet day.

You'll find 8-tracks in this compilation, all recorded between winter of 2010 to summer of 2011. Almost all of them were written by James except for Flume which is a Bon Iver cover.

Although there are upbeat singles, most of the tracks on here have a subdued folkish mood. Starting with Scattered, the song introduces listeners to James' endearing vocals and lyrical honesty. It features steady guitar strumming combined with intimate lyrics and topped with harmonic backing vocals.

The artist not only showcases his penchant for catchy, uptempo indie tracks but he also dabbles with quieter singles like Gone From Here. Meanwhile, pure indie pop gems such as Forever for the Second Time and Blue Eyes are also must listen cuts.

Fraser James definitely brings his A-game to the table with this compilation. It has a smooth, laid back feel that's instantly likable. Plus, each track beams with a pleasant and catchy melody enough to warrant a listen.

Currently, James is concentrating on writing his solo material but he also does guitars and vocals for his band, Baxter Wilson.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Montes Rook: Patience - beautiful acoustic indie folk

Valerie — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:01:17 +0000

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Mixing folk music with some enchanting vocals, Montes Rook is a cool little trio from Montgomery, NY. The band is made up of Drew Guido, Jean-Marie Dean, and Noah Meyer; the members aren't exactly new in the band scene. They've spent some time in various other bands before coming together to record this sweet compilation.

Drew and Noah have been friends since they were young and have dabbled with different musical genres before settling with this indie acoustic piece. Afterwards, they finally drew the courage to ask Jean-Marie to sing for them. The result was this pleasing trio and their sound.

Citing influences such as Brand New, Pinback, Death Cab for Cuite, and The Weepies; Montes Rook creates music that is both laid-back and enjoyable. Patience is an 11-track record that was released last May 2011. Much of the songs on here employ acoustic guitars and male as well as female vocal work.

Title track, Patience, opens up the album features skillful guitar plucking that's coupled with Jean-Maries folkish, slight Joanna Newsom vocals. This one would feel right at home in some romantic or feel-good indie film's soundtrack. Meanwhile, You Don't Know Jack, brings to mind Rodrigo Y Gabriela's masterful handling of guitars and percussions. The only difference of course, is the vocals included on this one. It features a duet from both Jean Marie and the boys. Upbeat and coupled with good lyrics; it's a song that's worthy of exploring. The band ends the record with a live track titled, Reason To Do.

Overall, Monster Rook creates songs that are both fun and easy to listen to. These songs don't require much thinking, instead you can just put it on, play it the entire day and simply enjoy.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Kit Oh Nein!: KON! - indie space rock worth grabbing

Valerie — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:01:19 +0000

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Feel-good psych punk with a touch of indie rock is one way to describe Kit Oh Nein!'s music. The three piece band hails from Detroit/NYC and seems to know their way around the sound.

Led by frontman Ryan Milligan from The Hotwalls, KON! (an acronym of the band's name) is the group's debut record. The album contains 10 tracks that run circles around punk, pop, and psychedelic indie rock.

Enveloped in raw energy as well as a hazy indie rock club vibe, it's hard to believe the entire set of tracks were recorded in only 3 days. This is one of those debut albums worth checking out if you like dirty, cerebral indie punk rock.

At times resonating like MUSE, the band combines spacey sounds with murky guitars and shouty, sometimes incoherent vocals. This doesn't diminish the allure though, in fact, all of the elements come together to create their one-of-a-kind sound.

Opening the album is the super catchy, Cloud Nein. Perhaps one of the best tracks in the album, the single sounds off The Kinks' garage pop sound in places. Meanwhile, you'll find tracks like, Octavia, to be a bit more new wave influenced; playing heavily on distortion and louder instruments in general. Ponzi, on the other hand, sounds like a whole range of noises and inarticulate singing but coupled with a good beat while the last song, Cheater, is an upbeat single that you could imagine The Strokes playing.

KON! was released back in December 2011 and despite being new, the band seems to have a good grasp of their chosen niche. Whether you like jangly guitars and warbled vocals or not, there's no doubt you'll probably enjoy this one. Kit Oh Nein! has a knack for creating likable songs even if you have no clue where it's heading or even where it's from. Worth checking out if you ask me.