Do You Hear What I Hear? Micachu Offers Up Delight For Your Ears

Micachu, aka Mica Levi, is a classically trained, British-born, indie experimental pop musician. She formed a band with Raisa Khan (keyboards) and Marc Pell (drums) called The Shapes, then released her debut fill length album, Jewellery, via Rough Trade Records on April 7th in the States. Their band page can be found here or on MySpace. Levi has been praised for her eccentric musical performance style. She "uses a modified guitar played with a hammer action called a ‘chu’ and a bowed instrument fashioned from a CD rack. She also uses improvised instruments, such as glass bottles or a vacuum cleaner." (http://www.roughtraderecords.com/micachu/1195/micachu-the-shapes)

Jewellery sounds like a quirky mix of noise pop scattered with electronica zooms, tinks, and dinks all the while incorporating catchy poppy hooks. "Lips" is a short groovalicious fuzz pop tune lasting only 1:20, just long enough to bob your head and tap your feet. In fact most of the first half of Jewellery is under three minutes. "Curly Teeth" is an indietronica track if I've ever heard one; however, it also falls in the realm of folksy pop (or freak folk) if you listen to the acoustic arrangement underneath. "Golden Phone" is more mainstream electronica with a funky handclapping edge, but even it has a distinct feel apart from what you may be used to. "Ship" sounds like 'video game sound'-infused, funky trip, britpop. "Just In Case" is another example of what seems like a simple acoustic track turned Micachu - the start and stop beat, the looped hip-hop inspired chorus backing, the lyrical quirkiness. "Calculator" is the lead single from this album. It can best be described as thrash acoustic indie pop with a "Tequila"-inspired hook that ends like a bad carnival ride.

Check Micachu and The Shapes out if and when they come to a city near you. You should be in for quite a show . . . and a musical epiphany as well!!

Take An Austrailian Walk On The Sun

The sound of Australian electropop duo Empire of the Sun feels like it's cut from the same alternative cloth as MGMT. The band creates an electronic pop rock sound all their own, modern and throwback at the same time. The CD release of their debut album, Walking On A Dream, was released today via Astralwerks Records.

"Standing On The Shore" starts off the groovy and catchy electrofied round of songs with a steady dance beat. The lead single and title track, "Walking On A Dream" carries on the dance party taking place in a 70's-styled living room with 1982 accents. "Half Mast" almost has bossa nova undertones accompanying the groovacity. All of the hooks on most of these songs grab you and get your body shaking. The five minute long instrumental track, "Country", slows down the party a bit, but in the way a trippy dance trance would. Other tunes worth a note are "We Are The People" and "Tiger By My Side".

If you're into the indie electropop sound, check out what Luke Steele (of The Sleepy Jackson) and Nick Littlemore (P'Nau) have done with Empire of the Sun. Dance your way to the album today!

Rockin' Around Tax Day!

Two big sounding indie rock releases today. Let's get right to the fun!

Silversun Pickups are a indie rock group from Los Angeles who have a shoegazing sound and lead singer who sounds like a less scruffy version of Billy Corgan. Swoon is the band's second full length album, released today on Dangerbird Records. Carnavas was released in 2006.

The mood is set right off the bat with the opening track, "There's No Secrets This Year". The instant awesomeness of this rockin', electromagnetic tune grabs your ears and wakes you up from your slacking slumber. However, the last minute or so of the 5 min, 33 second song slows down the pace in favor of an elaborate string-filled outro. Songs like "The Royal We", "It's Nice To Know You Work Alone", and "Panic Switch" (the lead single) continue the musical function of Swoon: hit 'em with that opening force of guitar and energy and groove throughout the duration, adding string instrumentation along the way. I also dig chill groove jam, a la Smashing Pumkpins, "Substitution". Critics of Swoon will say the formulaic nature and drawn out melodies of the album distract you from what you first may have liked about Brian Aubert's unique vocal stylings and forceful guitar work backed by Nikki Monninger's harmonic vocals and groovilicious bass. They may not be wrong. Only a few songs "fit" here; when your shortest track comes in at 4:39, you better bring supply something that keeps your interest in the remaining tracks. Swoon may swoon in that department. It's a respectable second effort, but sophomore slump is the right label IMHO.

Another indie rock sequel came out courtesy of Canadian electro rockers, Metric. The fearless foursome new wavers just released their fourth studio album, Fantasies, via Last Gang Records. Previous albums include Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003) , Live It Out (2005), and Grow Up and Blow Away (released in 2007 but originally recorded some time after the band formed in the 1998). Since 2006, I have grown to discover and love Emily Haines and the boys for their mix of synthpop, indie rock, and electronica. Fantasies brings a pop rock feel with it, but not in a way that is totally off base from their previous efforts.

Tracks like "Sick Muse", "Satellite Mind", and "Gold Guns Girls" continue the catchy, upbeat rockin' nature for which Metric is known. "Twilight Galaxy" contains that synthy groove present on previous albums. Lead single, "Gimme Sympathy" IS more mainstream poppy in nature. In it, Haines asks the eternal question: "Who'd you rather be: The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?". The answer for Metric might be "neither"; the band is quite content being who they are. The last jam on the album, "Stadium Love", sounds like an arena rock anthem for the indie music genre.

The gem of the album is the opening track, "Help I'm Alive". Metric started promoting this song late last year as it helped to hype up a vinyl release to help raise money for charity when it was leaked by overseas manufacturers. Radio stations around the world and in their own native Canada picked it up and began playing it on-air. The song took off and Metric became yet another victim of leaked material. No matter though - the group embraced the early sneak peak at Fantasies and recorded an acoustic version of "Help I'm Alive", available for free download at their website. The album version is smooth, electro rock performance featuring the sweet and delicate, yet powerful and forceful vocals of Emily Haines. The acoustic version highlights her voice even more.

Check both of the new releases out today!

Sweet New Indie Music Three Times Over

Three big albums came out today. First up is Portland punky popsters, The Thermals. "Now We Can See" is the first catchy, but 'more-down-beat-than-earlier-songs' single off the album of the same name (streaming now at their MySpace). "At The Bottom Of The Sea" is an awkward ballad offering from the album sitting at 5 mins, 43 seconds while all other tracks on Now We Can See come in under 3:36, falling in the punk tradition. The rest of the tracks on the album follow in the style The Thermals set forth since 2003-2004, including "You Dissolve". If you like "A Pillar of Salt" off their 2006 release, The Body, The Blood, The Machine, then you might get less than you desire from Now We Can See.

Together since the mid-1980's, The Tragically Hip from Kingston, Ontario, CA have been college radio favorites for a while. They play an aggressive form of R.E.M.- styled rock/alt-country music. The pop rock they produce is more rockin', less poppy. We Are The Same is their eleventh full album release, most of which have come out since 1996; it captures that light rock/alt-country feel in tracks like "Morning Moon", "Coffee Girl", and "The Depression Suite". The band is highly influential and popular in their native Canada, for good reason.

Last, but by no means least on the schedule of albums out today is Two Suns, the second full length album by Bat For Lashes, aka Brighton, England-based singer-songwriter Natasha Khan. Khan has been compared to the likes of Björk, PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, and Fiona Apple. The first single, "Daniel", incorporates elements of dream pop, synth pop, and ambient sounds while still producing a danceable beat. The video for the song gives you evidence as to why Bat For Lashes is immensely popular in the indie music scene, especially in the UK, ever since Fur & Gold was released in 2006.

Little bit of everything for ya today. Go out and get all three!!

Top Off Your Eggs With Some PB&J

Swedish indie popsters Peter Bjorn and John hit the mainstream music landscape in late 2006, early 2007 with the whistling phenomenon that was "Young Folks" off Writer's Block. Not many people may know that the quirky threesome have been together for 10 years. Their live shows get a lot of glowing reviews and for good reason; I was able to see them at Lollapalooza 2007 (not my video).

Out today is the new disc, Living Thing, off their label Almost Gold/Startime International. In this latest effort, they seem to want to bring hand clapping the same fame whistling received at their expense in the past because it pops up in almost every song along with sound sticks and synth. Some songs drag in mediocrity and musicality, but others find a way to make the syncopation work. This blend of lyrical content and sound production makes for one decent album. "It Don't Move Me", "Living Thing", "Lay It Down" and the lead single, "Nothing To Worry About" are standouts on this album. PB&J produce top quality indie pop here but if you weren't a fan after "Young Folks" died off, you may need some convincing to buy into Living Thing.

Also out today is the physical disc for the Yeah Yeah Yeah's It's Blitz!. You must hear this music. If you haven't already heard "Zero", "Heads Will Roll" and "Dull Life", now's your chance! Check out my review of the album before you venture out and pick it up.

'Hazards' of Being The Decemberists

Portland, Oregon's The Decemberists became indie stalwarts long ago, but what they accomplish with Hazards of Love is something worth of notice taking. The previous releases from The Decemberists, including Her Majesty and Picaresque, which followed a similar pattern: elaborate storytelling, conceptual in nature, but on a less ambitious scale, to bring about open interpretations of the albums' meaning behind the interaction of the characters to the setting within the album itself. The progressive, yet throwback sound and detailed instrumentation of Hazards of Love has to be audibly ingested in one sitting to fully appreciate what the band is trying to do. Some tracks land on your palate better if you know from whence they came . . . the previous song. Lots of transitional filler is in place here to keep the pace of this "love story" going.

This concept album outlined by 60's and 70's vibes is slightly more drawn out than previous releases in that the melodic nature of the songs stays on par throughout the telling of the story. "The Hazards of Love" series of songs, four to be exact, follow the story of William and Margaret and their love journey together. "Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)" and "Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)" [spoiler alert!] are the highlights of this series. "The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid" is the folksy, harpsichord-led narrative tune that sets up the meeting of Margaret and William in a forest where William is turned from a fawn into a handsome young chap by Margaret's interest in him. "The Rake Song" is the first single of the album and is only one of two or three that could stand apart from the pack as a successful, indie pop single. The song's tells of the mauling of the married protagonists' surviving "pest" kids by their father, William, who places his wrath upon them after one child caused him much grief and sorrow as a result of his bride's death during the birth of another kid, who also died. Confused? Horrified? That seems to be the point.

Whatever you may think of The Decemberists, you can't say they're unoriginal. Fans who were fans before The Crane Wife, their last full length release in October 2006, will enjoy the ride this go round. If you are just coming into the band, you may wanna listen a few times through Hazards of Love to "get it". Thus are the dangers of thinking big.

The Decemberists - Hazards of ... Playlist

Blissful 'Blitz!' Clears A New Path for Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Whatever you may read (in just about every kind of publication right now) about the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs' album, It's Blitz!, know this: I have gone out of my way to avoid reading any blog, review, or musical analysis of It's Blitz! as well as hearing any verbalization regarding the new material since it has been leaked earlier this month. I wanted to decipher for myself the surprise I felt when hearing the new songs for the first time. As a result, listening to a legal download of the entire album now allows me to interpret their "sound". So follows my impressions . . .

Karen O, Nick Zinner (r), and Brian Chase (l) are the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but their newest batch of tunes doesn't fall in line with what you may be used to from the garage/dance punk outfit also capable of engaging in expressive lyrical content. The days of Fever to Tell are over . . . at least for now.

The new found direction of the band comes about as a result of the trials and tribulations all musical acts experience when you have creative differences, personal growth, and of course, natural progression of the music and the scene itself. Since moving to L.A. in 2004, Karen O has gotten the much needed "rest, relaxation, and space" she spoke of in a recent interview with Spin. This "space" allowed the band to stay together and what came out of the relocation of one of the band mates across the country was Show Your Bones, a more mellow collection of songs from the no-less energetic trio, released in March 2006. After an EP of songs the YYY's played live, but as yet remained unreleased in Is Is came out in the summer of 2007, what did the band have left to offer? It's Blitz.

"Zero" is the first track off the new album and the first single 'purposely' released for mass consumption. Upon first listen, my heightened anticipation and excitement went from a tense state to total immersion in the sound. It took me exactly four listens on satellite radio over the course of a few days to accept that yes, this was in fact the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and yes, Karen O can still vocalize unabashed sonic sex even if it is primarily over heavy synth and a lack of garage guitars backing her. It's not like we had never heard the YYY's do electronica before [see Is Is]. "Heads Will Roll" takes the electro rock/dance feel even further, but has a darker, new rave appeal to it. Thanks to Kayne West, we were all able to hear this track on the 21st of February before it was meant to be heard, thus forcing the release date of It's Blitz! up by a few weeks to March 31st. As a fan of doing things legally, but appreciating hearing new music whenever I can hear it sooner, I was conflicted over that fact until the digital album became available a couple of weeks ago.

Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Soft Shock" is a nice blend of the new electro rock style and the melancholy nature of songs like "Dudley" and "Turn Into" off Show Your Bones. "Skeletons" sounds like a passion project piece that doesn't quite hit the mark; although, props are in order for incorporating the Zinner's keyboards prominently and in a way that highlights the haunting vocals of Karen O much in the same vein as Zinner's guitar did on "Maps" off Fever to Tell. "Dull Life" is the perfect number five track for this album of 10 if only that it almost separates It's Blitz! into a synth heavy, bouncy first half from a subdued, introspective second half. "Dull Life" does a good job of bridging the two sounds the Yeah Yeah Yeahs now have established: garage, art punk and electro rock dance - the old and the new.

Soft Shock - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Dull Life - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Shame and Fortune" is a Zinner guitar influenced, electronic chill groove while "Runaway" is more genteel in nature and features the narrative of a relationship stylings of Karen O, at which she has proven to be so good at. We also get to hear Brian Chase's pacing on drums for one of the first times on the album in this tune. The groovy disco punk jam, "Dragon Queen", comes bopping on by next and makes you wanna clap along to the funkiness.

Dragon Queen - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Hysteric" has become a favorite of mine if only because it reminds me of how many times I've listened to Show Your Bones and songs like "Cheated Hearts" and "Way Out". Karen chimes in with another quotable lyric here: "Flow sweetly/Hang heavy/You suddenly complete me". The song makes you take notice once and for all that this band has versatility and cannot be pinned down by a single change in key, or keyboard in this case. Rounding out the album is "Little Shadow". Featuring an acoustic guitar in the lead-in, this track shines as an outro song should: melancholy, reflective, epic, and calming.

Hysteric - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

It's Blitz! does not simply continue the trend of indie rockers turning in their cords for keys. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have come to a place where they want to share the experience of their new found direction with the fans who love all of the previous music released. The best thing about It's Blitz! is that it allows fans of the band to continue hearing the band. If you have seen them live, as I have been privileged to do, you know the tracks on It's Blitz! will satisfy greatly the bouncy, lyric-yelling, Karen O-gawking attendee in you. Listen with prejudice and alleviate that bias with the bliss of It's Blitz! when it is released in physical form on March 31st.

The 80's Are Back! At Least In London . . .

More new music worth checking out today comes via London indie rockers, White Lies. To Lose My Life . . . was released in disc form today (tracks were previously available via digital download). These moody, synth rockers from London developed a sound more in sync with Harry McVeigh's purposeful voice after originally banding under a more poppy note as Fear of Flying.

The self-titled track recalls 80's synth pop with a modern indie feel much in the same manner as She Wants Revenge and Interpol. "A Place To Hide" features McVeigh's range more prominently, while "Unfinished Business" includes a church organ to frame the lyrical flow of the song. All the tracks on To Lose My Life . . . feel as if British indie rock has rediscovered its new wave/rave roots. "Farewell to the Fairground" combines old and new in the bouncy, yet rockin' sendoff message tune. Remember the dance music you can rock to? You have it here again with White Lies.

Ride the Wavves

Indie rocker and San Diego's own Nathan Williams performs under the title Wavves. He has released his second full length album, Wavves, available today. All I can say about Wavves' lo-fi/noise/art indie rock is that you might be sorry you didn't check their newest album out. "So Bored" and "California Goths" are among the more comprehensible tracks on the disc, but don't let the lack of clarity deter you. If your game is distorted sound, finding out what "beach goth" sounds like, and lots of bouncing up and down, Wavves may be the collection of tunes for you.

Music That Is Good Looking and Grrreat!

Pun intended in the title on both fronts, today's new releases need to be on your mind and indieface.

Straight outta Montreal, Handsome Furs represent the indie music mecca that is Sub Pop Records well with their second album, Face Control (out today). Icelandic music journalist and guitarist, Haukur S Magnússon, has ever so delicately given a description to the music one might experience on Face Control, as shown on the band's home page: "The songs on Face Control often cast us as the young lovers in the shadow of the system, plotting their escape, revelling in their freedom as the shackles tighten around them. In the past, freedom may have meant jumping a barbed wire fence, or crossing a treacherous ocean or burning desert. On Face Control Handsome Furs show us that in our modern age escaping these constraints has simultaneously become easier and more complicated. While it once meant hanging on, it now means letting go, and drifting off, refusing to participate in the structure that shapes and dominates so many lives, eschewing traditional values, opting instead to make up their own ways" (Magnússon also interviews the band for The Reykjavik Grapevine).

Pretty deep, huh? If the symbolic nature of the new Handsome Furs music doesn't grab you, simply allow yourself to hear the electro rock sounds they produce on Face Control. "Talking Hotel Arbat Blues" has more of a rockabilly feel to it, almost reminiscent of Eddie and The Cruisers - On The Dark Side. However, this track shys away from the electronic taste of songs like "Legal Tender", "Evangeline", and "White City". These three songs cleanly blend indie rock with darkwave dance beats. The lead single, "I'm Confused", offers up a bouncy, upbeat diddy for your 80's loving self. Indulge in your dancing pleasures with Handsome Furs and pick up Face Control.

On the indie pop front, Brooklyn's own Bishop Allen have a nice sound going for them. They fall somewhere in between a more rockish sounding version of indie pop and melodic strumming alternative rock. On their latest album, Grrr... (also out today), Bishop Allen prove they can live up to the comparisons to The Kinks, Bright Eyes, and Spoon which the major music mags have bestowed upon them. Most of the tracks on Grrr... clock in under three minutes. They are catchy, head-bobbing tunes that feel happy-go-lucky, but are revealed to be much more than they appear. "The Ancient Commonsense of Things" reflects this idea perfectly. Other standouts include "Dimmer" and "Rooftop Brawl". The message behind most of these tunes is often one the listener can relate to. Bishop Allen does a good job of shedding light on common ideas and experiences with a romanticized approach. Check out their MySpace and look for them out on tour now.

Getting Irie With Bell X1

Learn the name: Bell X1. If your don't know Irish indie stalwarts Bell X1, you need to insert them into your indie music catalog. They're back with a supercharged sound to accompany some past personal favorites in the popular, more subtle singles "Rocky Took A Lover" and "Eve, The Apple of My Eye" off 2004's Music In Mouth.

Bell X1 have a new synth-infused album, Blue Lights on the Runway, out today that'll make you bounce ("The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella"), groove out ("Amelia" and "The Great Defector"), and reminisce about 80's pop ("A Better Band") and 90's alt-rock ("Breastfed") all at the same time! They also show vast range in the hauntingly sweet ballad, "Light Catches Your Face". All ten tracks on the disc can be considered semi- to all-out epic, but not in a way that distracts the ears from the song's intent. Get the new stuff and enjoy the happiness you will feel all throughout your body.

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10

Follow this link to enjoy all the tracks from Blue Lights on the Runway on your listening device of choice.

Live Music Best Served Hot . . . and Black

Critics love the Black Lips. You can see it here (Spin Magazine), here (All Music Guide), or even here (Entertainment Weekly). What made them stand out as they first entered the scene at the beginning of the "Aughts" is also what keeps them going. On their latest effort, 200 Million Thousand, Black Lips merge no frills lyrics with the distinctive hippy garage rock sound they are known for.

If you haven't heard Black Lips perform live, here's a taste of what you're missing in "Bad Kids". Also check out 2007's Good Bad Not Evil and 2003's Black Lips! for one of the most distinctive sounds in indie rock today.

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10

Indieface Band to Watch: Gentleman Reg

Fusing catchy pop-rock hooks with melodic tones and an electro rock feel, Gentleman Reg is indie rock at its best. Throw in a mellow, acoustic jam and an upbeat, bouncy dance number here and there, and this band might be all you need for a busy week ahead.

Gentleman Reg is actually the work of Toronto singer-songwriter Reg Vermue on vocals and guitar, while featuring performances on his latest album from Greg Millson (Great Lake Swimmers) on drums/percussion, as well as Elizabeth Powell (Land of Talk) on backing vocals and Kelly McMichael on piano/keys. Out next Tuesday (February 24th) is his first release, Jet Black, off the same Canadian label, Arts & Crafts Records, that produces such indie stalwarts as Broken Social Scene and Feist, as well as need to know bands like Land of Talk, The Dears, Stars, and The Stills. This will be Gentleman Reg's fourth album in total, his first full length release since 2004's Darby and Joan.

The entire album is currently playing on Gentleman Reg's MySpace page. Some of my personal favorites include the percussion intro and beachy feel of "To Some It Comes Easy", the melodic strumming and head-moving tune, "You Can't Get It Back", and the club-pumping, dance diddy that is "We're In A Thunderstorm", but the whole album doesn't seem to disappoint; find out for yourself! The band will be making it's presence known at SXSW this year in Austin so check them out if you can!

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10

Music Making A Difference

New Releases - Feb. 17, 2009

If you need a reason to listen to M. Ward, you may be missing the point. He can make a difference in your mood and your attitude towards your daily interactions. M. Ward has been praised highly by critics for his dazzling guitar-strumming and singer-songwriter style. His latest effort, Hold Time, continues the earthy, acoustic love fest with which he has reeled so many admirers in. The riff heavy love song "Never Had Nobody Like You" features Zooey Deschanel (his She & Him counterpart). "To Save Me" is more upbeat than some of the other tracks on the new album, but still reflects the introspective nature M. Ward dishes out in his music. "Fisher of Men" is a rockabilly, alt-country diddy that sits heavy on the soul much like the guitar licks and lyrics of "Oh Lonesome Me" featuring Lucinda Williams.

After signing with Merge Records, M. Ward released Transfiguration of Vincent in 2003, Transistor Radio in 2005 and Post-War in 2006. His fourth Merge album is out this Tuesday.

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10

In saving the world, one song at a time news:

Ready to make a difference just by enjoying some good indie music? Red Hot Organization, an international charity focused on HIV/AIDS related awareness and fundraising, will release Dark Was The Night on 4AD Records this Tuesday. The compilation was produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner from Brooklyn indie rockers The National and John Carlin, founder of the Red Hot Organization. This album is not only well worth the cause it supports, but the artists and bands alone are stellar! Some of my personal favorites are Fiest and Ben Gibbard's cover duet of Vashti Bunyan's "Train Song", the brief, but beautiful, "Die" by Iron & Wine, and Spoon's bouncy tune, "Well-Alright". Here's the complete track list:

Disc One:
1. Dirty Projectors and David Byrne, "Knotty Pine"
2. The Books featuring José González, "Cello Song"
3. Feist and Ben Gibbard, "Train Song"
4. Grizzly Bear, "Deep Blue Sea"
5. The National, "So Far Around the Bend"
6. Yeasayer, "Tightrope"
7. My Brightest Diamond, "Feeling Good"
8. The Kronos Quartet, "Dark Was the Night"
9. Antony and Bryce Dessner, "I Was Young When I Left Home"
10. Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner, "Big Red Machine"
11. The Decemberists, "Sleepless"
12. Iron and Wine, "Die"
13. Grizzly Bear and Feist, "Service Bell"
14. Sufjan Stevens, "Blood"

Disc Two:
1. Spoon, "Well-Alright"
2. The Arcade Fire, "Lenin"
3. Beirut, "Mimizan"
4. My Morning Jacket, "El Caporal"
5. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, "Inspiration Information"
6. Dave Sitek, "With a Girl Like You"
7. Buck 65 remix featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti, "Blood Pt. 2"
8. The New Pornographers, "Hey, Snow White"
9. Yo La Tengo, "Gentle Hour"
10. Stuart Murdoch, "Another Saturday"
11. Riceboy Sleeps, "Happiness"
12. Cat Power, "Amazing Grace"
13. Andrew Bird, "The Giant of Illinois"
14. Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch, "Lua"
15. Blonde Redhead and the Devastations, "When the Road Runs Out"
16. Kevin Drew, "Love vs. Porn"

Please go purchase this benefit album to support the cause of the Red Hot Organization. Your ears will thank you!

Overall Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (for all the talent!)

Folk Over Your Ears to Canada!

Today's indie music galaxy includes a brand of folk music ranging the likes of Jenny Lewis to M. Ward to Fleet Foxes. Canada represents nicely with The Acorn, who play an "experimental" sect of this kind of folksy acoustic indie pop. The Acorn hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The evolving project of a band currently consists of Rolf Klausener, Jeff Debutte, T. Jeffrey Malecki, Pat Johnson, and Howie Tsui. They first made a name for themselves in a mostly instrumental tribute to the Outaouais region of Canada with an album called The Pink Ghosts in July 2004.

After moving over to a Canadian indie stronghold label in Paper Bag Records, The Acorn first released the Tin Fist EP in November 2006 ("Dents" is spectacular) then Glory Hope Mountain in October 2007, which they say is “part biographical narrative, part surreal fairy tale", in hopes of reaching a wider range of listeners. The album stands as a primarily acoustic piece of indie flavored folk music aimed at honoring Klausener's mother. "Flood Pt. 1" and "Crooked Legs" are excellent tracks to gauge your level of interest in the band. The flavor entering your ears will cause you to bob your head along or reflect openly on the movement you feel within your being. This is what good indie folk is supposed to do.

Newly out this Tuesday (February 17th) is an all-live compilation featuring "hard-to-find" tracks, older demos of LP songs, and a couple of blog radio, in-studio performances. Heron Act is for fans of The Acorn who have not had the opportunity to hear them live, but want to experience the folksy goodness any way they can. Keep an ear out for their live shows coming back to the States after they complete a winter UK tour.

Pop! Goes The Indieface

It all started on the Internet. Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You is the second act in her rise to indie and mainstream pop fame after the release of her 2007 debut LP, Alright, Still. The new album combines influences from jazz to dance to a bit of country. Produced by The Bee (Greg Kurstin), It's Not Me, It's You once again features Allen's witty, yet biting lyrics all packaged in a cutesy electro-britpop present. The lead single, The Fear, reviews Allen's own insecurities about fame and relationships in general with a catchy dance beat. Other must hears include the hoedown-inspired, "Not Fair", the mellow but introspective, "I Could Say", and the self-explanatory, "F*ck You". The album was released this week.

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10

On the indie pop tip:

Also worth checking out is Brooklyn's own Matt & Kim's new joint, "Daylight", off their album, Grand, which came out last month. I had the good fortune of seeing Matt & Kim at Lollapalooza 2007 when they were asked to fill in for CSS who had missed their inbound flight from NYC. I was one of maybe 100 or so peeps that dropped by to listen on their impromptu side stage performance (they had previously played earlier that morning). Having heard their music before, I stayed to enjoy a raucous two-piece indie pop-rock powerhouse deliver some of the most memorable songs I experienced that summer. And this is a big PJ fan talking here; I remembered Matt & Kim when all I wanted to hear was Vedder belt one out!

Take some time to discover Matt & Kim if you haven't already. Their live performance (THE show I saw) will captivate you!

Can I Get A Hand Clap?

New music from The Bird and The Bee (The Blue Note Label Group) means new ways to chillax for indie pop music lovers. The first time I heard Inara George sing over Greg Kurstin's musical backing, she asked me to give it up for her ("please"), put my hands in the air, and then, if I knew what was good for me, shake it like I just don't care. I'm glad I answered the call!

Luckily, we get to do just that all over again (See "Polite Dance Song" below). Not much has changed for the joy producing, jazz-influenced, indie pop duo from Los Angeles. Their new release, Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future, comes out on Tuesday. The title previews the overall direction of the tunes on the 2nd full length effort from George and Kurstin.

The first single, "My Love", features prominent hand clapping alongside the distinctive pop sound first introduced on their self-titled debut album. The ethereal feel of Inara George's voice meshed with Greg Kurstin's lighthearted keyboarding and hooks deliver a catchy, retro-infused, hip-mover of a song. "You're A Cad" also demonstrates this hook connection, quite literally in fact. Another song from the album, "Ray Gun", features an ambient mix of electropop blips and bleeps that accompany the 70's soft rock persona of George. "Love Letter To Japan" sounds like it could be used in a commercial for a new personal robot named "Kitano", in a good way. "Witch" also stands out as a smokey, come-hither track as George shines lyrically while a older Bond, James Bond-ish atmosphere is created in the process.

By also including "Polite Dance Song", previously featured on the September 2007 Please Clap Your Hands EP, and "Birthday", also found on March 2008 One Too Many Hearts EP, the band has launched a well produced full length album which in turn showcases some of the best of a few EP's released over the last couple of years. Those new to the band will appreciate these inclusions.

Overall Rating: 7.5 out of 10