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Tag Archives: indie rock

May 9, 2013 Vows – The Golden Hour

stranger things

Two years ago, Vows released a beautiful debut album Winter’s Grave.  Now as summer approaches, they release an album for a new season: Stranger Things.  Vows have been honing their sound while they were away.  What used to be more often quiet and mellow than not has become bright and clear.  One of my favorites “The Golden Hour” is the perfect example.  Synths hum in the background and guitar after guitar barrage rays of sunshine through their amps.  It’s still the same great harmonies and the same great style, just taken up a notch, and they’re all the better for it.  Check out the new album on their bandcamp and listen to the single below.

-M. Kauf

 

Vows – The Golden Hour

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May 6, 2013 Vampire Weekend – Ya Hey

Vampire Weekend have slowly been leaking out songs from their fast-approaching third album, Modern Vampires of the City.  Where “Diane Young” took on a sort of 50s rock n’ roll doo-wop blend and “Step” was beautiful and delicate, “Ya Hey” is a triumphant march into the sunset.  Upbeat drums, lively piano and choral backing vocals push the song forward proudly, the beat for that isolated yet ever-optimistic vagabond, traveling with no purpose but to be and to love.  The group stretches their classic sound on this one with the vocal distortions and overall it feels like they’ve crossed a boundary into newer and more interesting territory than even.  Check out the lyrics video accompanied by a montage of people opening champagne.

-M. Kauf

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January 4, 2013 Local Natives – Heavy Feet

local natives heavy feet

A few months ago, Local Natives released the first sweet taste of their upcoming sophmore album in the form of “Breakers.”  Now, with only a few more weeks to go until the release of Hummingbird, Local Natives have officially released another single called “Heavy Feet.”  While this song lacks some of the intensity of the last single, it’s just as passionate and full of luscious harmonies.  Lyrically the song seems to be about that perfect drunk night.  The night without blackouts or vomit but full of memorable moments of drunken insight and romance.  Check out the song below and look for the album January 28th.

-M. Kauf

 

Local Natives – Heavy Feet

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December 2, 2012 Matthew E. White – Will You Love Me [Video]

Matthew E. White’s debut album was truly one of the most unique and best albums of the summer.  It’s combination of New Orleans jazz and powerful rock combine beautifully, especially on the song “Will You Love Me.”  The song begins quietly enough, with White crooning to the beat of his own moans and groans and soft piano.  He asks for love, something to fill his lonely days.  As the music builds, the question becomes less timid and more sure and strong.  Love becomes his anthem in this chorus “only love can do that,” as horns blair his statement and choral voices chime in to help.  The video helps explore the song in a new way, mostly featuring footage of the singer performing the song.  But it is this simplicity which truly brings forth the strength of the song.  Check it out above

-M. Kauf

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November 19, 2012 Battleships – To You

After releasing some stellar debut singles “In Retrospect” and “Your Words,” Syndney band Battleships are back with their 7-song mini album To You.  While it features these singles, there’s so much more to the album than a few key songs.  The opener “Another Way” lures with a steady snare and a chorus of voices ranging from deep somber lows to wailing highs not unlike Tom Yorke or Ryan Karazija of Low Roar.  Some songs ooze with reverb while others like “Inside” simply rock with walls of distorted guitars.  All around the album is very solid and it really sounds like the band tried for a well-rounded collection rather than a few hits and mostly filler.  Check out a couple of tracks below and, if you like what you hear, give the new album a listen.

-M. Kauf

 

Battleships – Another Way

Battleships – In Retrospect

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October 16, 2012 The Rebel Light – Goodbye Serenade

The Rebel Light is a DIY Los Angeles Group full of gutsy spirit and passion.  Their self-titled debut, due out October 30th is full of modern pop sensibilities mixed with such eclectic 70s sounds as T. Rex to Todd Rundgren to 80s new wave acts.  They pay homage to the past while bringing in their own upbeat sound.  Above is their self-made music video for their single, “Goodbye Serenade.”  In many ways, the song commemorates the past and where it has led up today; taking the past not as something that has been, but as something that had led us to where we are now.  Piano waltzes along with a xylophone as horns sway in this powerful song.  Check it out above, and go here to download.

-M. Kauf

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September 15, 2012 Woods – Bend Beyond (Album)

The Brooklyn folk-rock band, Woods, is back again with their new album, entitled Bend Beyond. This album is a must listen for those self-proclaimed indie-rock hipster types. Filled with soothing polished folk songs that you’d come to expect and some lo-fi garage jam that livens the mood, this band still has it, given their first album was in 2006. Yet, here is the best part. The album hasn’t even come out yet and it is streaming for FREE over at Spin.com. There you go, hipsters, get at it before everyone else. Listen to a standout track, “Cali in a Cup”, below and make sure to stream the whole album here.

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August 21, 2012 Frightened Rabbit – State Hospital (Video)

Frightened are set to release their latest EP soon and last week they released one of the tracks called “State Hospital.”  Yesterday they released a video to accompany the triumphant song.  While the video is admittedly very depressing until the last shot, the music keeps you going all the way to the end.  Check it out above, see the tour dates below and look for State Hospital in the coming month.

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July 16, 2012 The XX – Angels

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The xx has just released their first song since their widely admired 2009 self-titled debut. The song is called “Angels” and if you have been on any music news blog today, then you have probably seen something about it. You know it is definitely worth a listen. The XX developed an iconic style of electronic guitars and sweet vocals on their first album and with Jamie XX’s, the group’s producer, recent rise in the electronic scene, I can expect a great evolution of to that style, which I am anxiously awaiting on the group’s new album. Entitled Coexist, the album will be released on September 11th in the US and the 10th internationally. Listen and listen again to the track below! – D. Gold

Hit the jump for The xx’s tour dates…

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July 8, 2012 Delicate Steve – Positive Force

Delicate Steve is the name of the one man band which is soon to release his sophomore instrumental rock album, Positive Force, on Tuesday (July 10). Combining fuzzy slide guitars with the many sweet drums and vibes of world music, this album creates an easy listening atmosphere that transports one to another world and is perfect for a chill summer’s afternoon. Delicate Steve’s music can be compared to Ratatat’s mellow electric guitar waviness, but with emphasis to more worldly instruments and larger landscapes. The album is currently streaming at NPR and across his many musical friends’ facebook pages and I strongly recommend you take a listen. Sample his first single, “Africa Talks to You” below and hit the jump for concert dates. Enjoy! – D. Gold

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