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Jazz Funeral - self titled moody pop rock compilation

Valerie — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:01:52 +0000

Lifting their name from a term used in traditional New Orleans funerals where music is played, Jazz Funeral is a pop rock band that entertains as much as they mystify.

Well, to be exact, Jazz Funeral is simply singer-songwriter, self-proclaimed philosopher and avid drinker, Paul Adler.

Essentially rock with a sometimes gritty pop punk (even emo) sound, the album is a nice introduction to the singer's sound. This is a debut compilation for the singer and it seems like much of his philosophy and lifestyle is embedded in the tracks.

The songs in this album are a product of several years of the singer's life. Some of the songs were written as far back as 2008-2009 while the entire record was recorded after Paul graduated from college. It was then released last year on March 2011.

The artist is quoted in an interview with Absolutepunk, stating: "I wrote all the songs myself; I had somewhat of a grand vision for the record and I wanted to put everything I had into it. I wrote ten pages of production notes before I even got into the studio, so I knew exactly what I wanted and I really just wanted it to be me, to have who I am as a person come across in album-form."

Indeed, he seems to have achieved his vision for the record. The tracks in the album range from haunting, Hymn to the melodramatic and emotional single, Coping. It's not all doom and gloom though. Rosary Beads is an upbeat pop punk track that can be mistaken for something that belongs under emo punk group, Taking Back Sunday's roster, only a tad more whiny.

Regardless if you like pop rock or emo punk, you'll probably have fun with this. Once you get past the trippy, sometimes overly emotional singing, you'll easily discover well-written and recorded cuts. Go ahead and grab the download. You'll find this one for free over at BandCamp.

Republic of Lights: Go Rococo - energetic indie new wave

Valerie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:01:24 +0000

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After receiving a huge amount of praise and positive reviews for their album as well as live performances, Republic of Light seems to have had a good start on their musical journey.

These Chicago natives created quite a bit of noise in the indie music world with their album Go Rococo. The crew is composed of Alan on vocals, Brian on guitars, Greg on keyboards and Rosie on guitars.

Combining a flurry of indie pop, new wave, great lyrics and tons of catchy rhythm; the band is easily likable while the record is a great go-to album if you want something to keep your energy up and bouncing.

I'm not going to deny that I enjoyed the album on first listen. There's a fun and exciting energy that emanates from each track. Even though much of it sounds like a mix of new wave with the melodramatic indie pop of Spoon, it's pretty hard to resist them and keep yourself from enjoying the record.

Kicking things off is title track, Go Rococo. It's actually the shortest cut on the album at only 2 minutes. It combines keyboards, hipster style vocals and some catchy beat. The album then transitions into a full blown dance, hipster track, Lotus. With a mix of guitars and steady beat, you'll find yourself toe tapping to this one. Meanwhile, 22centstamp is a fun lovin' cut that extends with great lyrics and a jaunty rhythm. Alan's vocal work is quite something.

Go Rococo is a great record to grab. Although the band's sound quality isn't as polished yet, they're pretty close. They have all the right elements in place; given a bit more time to evolve, they're sure to blow listeners even more with their sound.

You can grab the download over at BandCamp. And if the band is playing near your area, go ahead and see them. I hear they're mindblowing live. Enjoy!

Tussie-Mussie: From Rough to Calm Seas - feel good indie surfer rock

Valerie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:01:25 +0000

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Claiming to write songs about girls, this indie pop group only lists "Jon" (Jon Torres) as its member. I guess good music doesn't really require much names as the band seems to have a knack for creating catchy indie folk pop cuts.

From Rough to Calm Seas is the artists' latest effort. It's a short 4-track EP that's filled with pop music with a hint of surfer sound.

Weezer, Pavement and The Beach Boys are some of the bands that have influenced their sound. Indeed, you'll hear this feel-good, sometimes quirky sound that most of the bands mentioned above are known for.

The EP was released last December 2011 over at BandCamp. This short compilation opens up with a 4 minute single titled, Buggin' You. Combining a nice Pavement-like surfer sound, the song sandwiches dirty guitars with a catchy melody. Perfect for a morning trip down the beach in sunny California weather.

It's followed by Think Happy Thoughts, which resounds with handclaps and some harmonic Beach-Boys singing. Meanwhile, third track, Love is Patient, Love is Kind, continues with the melodic number. It's simple but relatively easy to adore. You can put it on and have it serenade you to sleep. On the other hand, Old Photographs, easily caps the album.

Tussie-Mussie is a Jacksonville, Florida band that records their sound using Garageband. You can grab a copy of this EP for free over at BandCamp and while you're at it, also check out their other releases and enjoy.

Wise Children: Absence & Reunion EP - beautifully laced indie acoustic folk

Valerie — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:01:10 +0000

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If you have a soft spot for quiet, acoustic indie folk, it'll be hard to pass up on Wise Children's second release, Absence & Reunion EP. It's about a year old but definitely worth checking out especially for fans of songs that exude a folkish, indie vibe.

Wise Children is actually a one-man band led by Robin Warren-Adamson. Hailing from the South Coast of England; he plays dreamy, melodic indie folk that's reminiscent of Iron & Wine and a slightly less somber, Damien Rice.

Absence & Reunion come equipped with five full songs and a mini instrumental opener. Officially starting with the acoustic number, Absence. The song begins with mellow acoustic guitars coupled by Robin's expressive and soothing voice. It's a track that warmly embraces listeners, drawing them into the singer's personal world. There's also a nice transition right in the middle from a slow pace to a slightly upbeat one.

It's followed by Artichoke, which sees the happy and glee-filled side of the singer. One admirable thing with Wise Children is the artists' capacity to change things up. From quiet indie to energy laced numbers, he pulls it off nicely. He doesn't just do this from one song to another but the artist expertly switches tempo mid-song. Take a listen to Keep Quiet and you'll understand.

Let Me Get Under Your Skin, features heartfelt lyrics that exude a touch of intimacy while final track, You Are a Poem, is another instrumental that hauls in a whole range of emotion thanks to its somber piano work.

Overall, Absence & Reunion, makes for a relaxing listen. At times I do wish it was longer since it's hard not to fall for Robin's voice; nevertheless, it is a comfortable and easily likable album. As mentioned, those who love indie folk music will consider this artist a great find. Let's hope he'll come out with a full debut soon. For the meantime, make sure to check this and download it.

Night Reports: You're All Out - moody and somber indie rock

Valerie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:01:26 +0000

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Another band that you wouldn't think is composed of only two people at the helm; Night Reports create beautiful indie rock music with a touch of soul.

Long time friends, Derrick Brown and Beau Jennings, have both collaborated in various projects before. However, they've never tackled anything similar to Night Reports. Although the collaboration started out slowly, with both of them passing MP3s and recorded files via email and voice message; they eventually compiled what has become You're All Out.

The record is a concept album of sorts, as it revolves around an athlete who is down in the dumps and living (and reliving) his life in his glory days.

You're All Out is one of those records you can pop into your player if you're feeling a little moody and want the perfect music to keep you company. It's somber and a bit melancholic yet filled with beautiful stories that can serve as your lullaby.

Opener, Are You On My Team? is a solemn little cut that comes with sad vocals and wonderful piano work. It's one of the most likable tracks on the record and after hearing it once, you'd be looking forward to hearing it again once you finish the entire album. French Kicks (World Music is the Real Criminal) changes pace and adds a slightly upbeat tempo to the mix. The song is filled with a catchy chorus, occasional handclaps and an overall happier atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Hang On Me Darlin' features a collaboration with songstress Samantha Crain and her hypnotic, quirky vocals. The song is a 3 minute stunner that gently weaves between a piano ballad to an indie melancholic love song. You Were My Pete Rose is a haunting love song that features Derrick's expressive vocals cooing and silently urging his "sweetness" to return to him.

Overall, if you love the likes of Damien Rice, then you'll have plenty of lovin' for this record. It's an album that masterfully combines hauntingly melodic folk music with that of slightly uptempo indie rock. Definitely makes a great balance. Check it out!

Awake! Awake!: We've Been Strangers - infectious indie rock

Valerie — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:01:20 +0000

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Even though this debut record from the band is a few years old, it's fast paced indie pop rock goodness certainly makes We've Been Strangers a download not to be missed. Made up of David Johnson on lead vocals, Andrew Goodwin on guitar, Taylor Powell on drums, and Chad Turner on bass; Awake! Awake! hails from Murfreesboro, TN.

Inspired by bands like Jimmy Eat World, Switchfoot, MuteMath and classic artists like U2 and The Police, their sound is certainly a nice compilation of feel-good indie rock and melodic power pop.

We've Been Strangers was recorded independently "inside a bonus room from a college home." Despite this DIY process, the record comes out with a clean and polished feel.

Starting with the two minute opener, The Dawn, you get a warm and moody welcome to the album. The song flourishes with melodic guitars that ebb and swell like a morning tide. It's a nice opener although a bit misleading since you're in for an indie pop rock fest in the next few tracks.

Daylight and Ocean are both examples of infectious indie rock music from this band. They're the type of songs you can play and enjoy without much thought. By the fourth track, Quickly I Take My Time, Awake! Awake! exude a more Jars of Clay vibe. Although they don't point out that they are a Christian band; the song is nevertheless a beautiful and uplifting cut. They perfectly cap things off with a closet demo done in acoustic titled, All I Hold.

One of the best things about this album is that even though you can say their sound is "typical indie rock" they do add a certain touch. From pop rock to a slightly more electro-ambient sound, Awake! Awake! covers their bases well and create music that's thoroughly enjoyable without much coaxing. Take a listen and grab the download.

She Makes War: Disarm

Valerie — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:01:34 +0000

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One of the most interesting indie female pop rock compilations I've heard in a long time, Disarm from She Makes War both enchants and captivates upon first listen.

The lady behind this musical project is multi-instrumentalist Laura Kidd. Apart from music, she's dabbled in other interests like film making and photography among others. She also does session work for various musicians including Alex Parks, I Blame Coco and Tricky.

This is her debut compilation and it comes with 13 tracks that hover between indie rock, slight grunge and pop.

Initially recorded and released last 2010, the album released two singles, four DIY videos and a handful of personalized album covers. Currently, the record is available on a pay-what-you-want basis over at BandCamp.

Most of the tracks on Disarm are energetic; filled with upbeat tempos and heartfelt singing. Opening single, Scared to Capsize, is somewhere in between. It showcases a nice blend of instruments which add to the depth of the songs. Laura's vocals are beautiful and lends itself perfectly to the sonic landscape. Other tracks worth noting include Olympian, which places the artists vocals front and center as well as, I Am, with its catchy poppy beat and beautiful lyrics.

The nice thing with the record is that you occasionally get surprising songs like NIMN, which seems to be NIN inspired. There's a slight industrial sound accompanying the cut making it dark and moody. Laura's chameleon vocals also take the song a whole other level compared to the others.

Overall, the album grows on you. Even if you don't fall for all of them, there's bound to be a track on here that you'll appreciate. Plus, the quality of the songs is enough to really check this out. Grab the download. This'll be worth your time.

Fiction Fight: I Am a Thief - passionate electronic post-rock tunes

Mona — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:01:39 +0000

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Bursting onto the sky with all the subtlety like a crashing comet, I Am a Thief by Fiction Fight offers a one-of-a-kind astral experience.

Hailing from Coventry, the once solo project has now bloomed into a full-pledged band composed of Christopher Donald, Josiah Gillespie, Rachel Louise Challis, Tim Pitt, Nathan Daniel Leigh and Matthew Donald. They have already shared stages with Newton Faukner, Enter Shikari and rap artist Example.

Gaining strong influences from Björk and Aim , this electronic post-rock group provides a breath of fresh air to the music scene.

My Rescue appeals to the listeners like black coffee on a cold Sunday morning - rough and relaxing. From a soothing blend of chill-out melody and thick muscular synths, the track slowly builds into a cry of confession which is just emotionally perfect.

Uniquely accompanied with soulful horns, Perfect World maintains that chill-out vibe. Meet Me On the Shoreline, on the other hand, evokes more power with its clever mix of moody electronic and tribal beats. The verses were delivered with such passion that you'd want to repeat it again and again.

The album takes a rock-driven road with Love is Brave. I personally liked the fuzzy electric guitars and hooking drum beats. The transition of fast to slower parts are perfectly placed transporting the listeners to a roller coaster treat.

I Am a Thief closes up with the spine-chilling All I Am. It showcases hypnotic vocals and heartwarming violin solos. The band's creativity is maximized in this track, you can recognize their influences but they have managed to create their own brand of music.

Fiction Fight have definitely stirred hearts in this new release. Beautiful in its own majestic way, I Am a Thief will grow into your senses like a garden in springtime.

Moongardening Inc.: A Sky Full Of Killer Whales

Valerie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:01:14 +0000

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Moongardening Inc. might have an unusual band name as well as an album title, but their music manages to stand out and impress. Creating a solid fusion of pop, jazz, blues and a whole lot in between; A Sky Full of Killer Whales exudes a certain charm.

Only downside is that there's hardly anything about the band online except what's written on their BandCamp page and sparse reviews here and there.

Nevertheless, their music can easily take front and center without much background info about them.

Made up of Sarah van der Meer (voice), Munuera Rodrigo Martin (guitar), Fernando Revuelta (Low), Pablo Oliva (keyboards) and Nano Cañamares (drums); the album mixes folk, indie pop as well as jazz and blues in certain areas. There are even times when progressive rock is introduced courtesy of prolonged guitar riffs and trippy vocals.

Speaking of prog influences, the first cut, The Sky, is a short but chaotic mix of guitars, drums, and distortion. Although you'll hear this trait in some of the songs, majority of the cuts are more folkish pop than anything else. Take for instance the third track, To Have or Have Not; the song is a laid back cut that features Sarah's feminine vocals. With a jaunty tune, it's easy to relax to and perfect for perking up your day.

One of my personal favorites from the album is Big G. It opens with heavy guitars which gorgeously complements the female vocals. Towards the middle part, the boys perform some melodic backup singing and it just brings back so much nostalgia of good old 70s rock. They cap off the entire record with a 10 minute opus titled, The Killer Whale. There's a huge blank sound in the middle with only the first and last parts containing songs. They couldn't have capped the record much better since the song evokes an ethereal feel.

A Sky Full of Killer Whales is one record to watch out for. The fact that the band doesn't really stick to one genre makes it even more interesting. You get one enjoyable track after another; something that's a bit rare to see these days. Go ahead and grab the download. It's available at a pay-what-you-want option.

City of Glass: The Diving Bell EP - indie pop dance from Canadian duo

Valerie — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:01:14 +0000

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City of Glass easily captures that thin line between super pop and indie rock. Their sound is enveloped with almost everything that makes you want to dance around, head bob, stomp your feet and love indie pop rock even more.

This Canadian duo have had a successful debut with their EP Equations, leading them to tour the Canadian circuit quite extensively. To gear up for their full length debut, they've released this teaser EP of sorts, The Diving Bell. Filled with 4 indie dance rock cuts, it's an EP worth listening to and checking out.

The Diving Bell EP is filled with promising tracks that showcases the bands capacity to turn a set of ringing guitars and keyboards into a delightful indie dance track. Starting with Sticks and Stones, the boys exude a confidence in their sound fit for veterans in the industry. The cut is upbeat with softened guitars and sincere vocals. It might take awhile before you get used to the deep voice that's singing but once you do, you'll realize that it fits nicely along with the rest of the poppy beat.

After an initial dance fest, City of Glass treats listeners to their quiet side with Tourist. The song is slightly slower and has a moody, almost reflective feel complete with synths and gentle guitars. It's both evocative and melancholic; like having a dark cloud hovering over your head wherever you go. The rest of the tracks include, Little Shadows, which brings back the bands fun and upbeat side; while the last single, Control, features complex synths and odd signatures.

Serving as a prelude to their full debut this 2012, two of the cuts on here (Sticks and Stones as well as Tourist) will be included in the upcoming album. If this is anything to go by, you can be certain to expect a solid record from this Canadian twosome. The band has a strong grasp of their target sound and have a knack for creating polished tracks that deserves a listen.