Hundred Waters

Hundred Waters is a five-piece experimental indie band from Gainsville, Florida. With inspiration coming from a wide range of genres from all over the world, the group creates a sound that is best described as art rock - an intricate weaving of vocal harmonies, keys and synths, drums, and flute and horn improvisation. In August 2012, this multi-instrumental group was the first indie act signed to Skrillex's OSWLA label.

The music video created for their song thistle is an incredible stop motion video produced by Martin Allais.

These studio sessions are as aesthetically pleasing visually as they are musically:

West Ghost!

the newest mixtape from K.flay is finally here!

West Ghost finds K.flay at her very best - the most mature, refined, addictive tracks I've heard from this lady so far.

 "life is just what circumstance has given you"

Micachu and the Shapes

Experimental act out of the UK headed by classically trained multi-instrumentalist Mica Levi or "Micachu". Together, Micachu and the Shapes create a particularly unconventional (grimey pop) sound which is the result of some homemade instruments and a wealth of creativity behind them.

c h e c k. i t.





The bands most recent album NEVER was released this past July. The band released a video for each song on the album, which you can find at the bands site (the coolest band site i've ever seen) here.

Peter and Kerry

This London duo formed when Tape Club Records labelmates Kerry Leatham and Peter Lyons decided to collaborate on a six-track EP in 2011.

"Clothes, Friends, Photos EP" received quite a bit of buzz on blogs, radio stations and zines. This attention led the two to continue collaborating in an effort that would eventually produce the indie pop duo's first full length "La Trimouille" released on July 16th.

Mahogany Session:

First track off La Trimouille:

  

  

just when i thought they couldn't get better i found this cover of Amerie's "One Thing". taking me back...

Ellie Goulding

After special ordering her album Bright Lights from the UK in 2010 it was quite clear that I had become addicted to Ellie Goulding's music. The first thing that caught my attention was her voice: light and delicate but still holding a course quality around the edges; it was unlike any voice I'd heard before. Even more unique is the amount of control she has over it. The second thing? her lyrics: intricately metaphorical while remaining personable and honest. Third thing, she is an incredibly talented musician and songwriter. Plus, the girl is gorgeous.

From an acoustic folk background Ellie eventually found herself in the electronic pop genre after connecting and collaborating with electronic producers such as Starsmith who went on to help produce her debut album Lights that came out in the UK in March of 2010. After the release of her album Lights in the US in 2011, Ellie continued to tour in support of an album that was a year old back in the UK and her older fans had to await the release of her second studio album. Well, soon the wait will be over. Goulding just announced the October 9th release of her follow-up entitled Halcyon.

 

I've always appreciated the intimate quality of her stripped down acoustic sets. It's what got my attention to begin with and what continues to hold it.

Here are a few examples:

My favorite Ellie song performed mic-less:

"You can fall if you want to It's just a matter of how far. You've treasured your home town but you've forgotten where you are"

Daughter

I had Daughter on a playlist somewhere a few years back, I believe it was their song "Landfill". I remember finding the song stuck in my head and eventually picked up my guitar to learn it. With every new track the London trio has put out since I feel the same poetry and beautiful intimacy that captivated me back then take hold once again.

Watch the watchlistentell session of their song "Medicine" and feel it for yourself:



and the amazing sessions performance of "Youth:



you must also listen to the fore mentioned —I like this raw video of a live performance a lot because you can really hear the sentiment in her delicate voice. It's beautiful.

New Album Releases

A double dose of electronic indie pop released today: woahhh.


Passion Pit//Gossamer

Personally, I am not the biggest fan of the bands follow up album. It just seems to me that the framework is missing. Lead singer Michael Angelakos' captivatingly personal lyrics are just hidden behind sub-par sounds and his efforts to continue playing off his high pitched voice. The album is about half and half for me. But hey, I definitely think it's worth a listen.

That being said here is one of the songs that I do like:

Purity Ring//Shrines

Okay, so I already knew half the album as it is previously released songs and I've already raved about the consistency of the hits produced by this band. I can honestly say that after listening to the rest of the album I am still just as impressed with Purity Ring's ability to produce a hit every time. My favorite new track off the album:

Dirty Projectors

This indie rock band produced their first album all the way back in 2003 and since that time has shuffled through a total of 23 different members at different times; needless to say Dirty Projectors has been through many changes over the years but what remains the same is the consistency of their talent and creativity.

The band just released their 8th studio album Swing Lo Magellan yesterday!!

Listen below to the first single off the album "Gun Has No Trigger":



Also, check out the band's 2012 Record Store Day release  — a tune called "You Against The Larger World".


A little over 5 years ago, the band did A Take Away Show for LaBlogotheque. I love this video because it really displays that talent and creativity I was talking about earlier:

Exitmusic

It's been a long time coming on this post...but this is a indie dream pop duo you wont want to miss out on. A bit dark and formidable, lead singer Aleksa Palladino's trembling voice wrestles with the honesty and intimacy of her own lyrics as husband Devon Church fills the space with echoing guitar parts, droning bass and synths.

The couple's debut album "Passage" was released May 22nd on Secretly Canadian and has gained some attention in the indie scene — even vogue did a write-up on the band; check it out here.

NPR also posted their album up for a First Listen and snagged them for a Tiny Desk Concert.

Take a look:

Fear Of Men

Fear of Men offers a dreamy indie pop sound that sets the tone for a breezy summer. Basically sending good vibes all around and with a name like that —what's not to like?

The group is made up of two gals and two lads from London/Brighton, England who have been releasing demos on different labels since early 2011 and just released their newest EP "Green Sea" a couple days ago.

Fear of Men is currently supporting Best Coast on tour in the UK!

 

Rubblebucket

Rubblebucket is kind of like an onomatopoeia for the kind of music this band produces: everything mixed into one.
This band out of Brooklyn combines trumpet, sax, trombone, multiple percussion instruments, guitar, bass and vocals to create an ultra unique sound —mixing styles of indie, pop, dance, jazz, and funk.

The music alone is enough to keep you interested, but see one live performance and you just may be hooked.

  

 

 

Metric

Metric is an Canadian indie rock band that formed in Toronto in 1998. Needless to say they have been around the block and back again. Today marks the release of their fifth studio album entitled "Synthetica".

My thoughts? Leader singer Emily Haines continues to write the most intimately metaphorical lyrics that are perfectly placed upon beautiful piano parts. While seemingly flawless in their raw form these songs are all the more addicting in their electronic alternative state that the band sculpts them into.

Watch the music video for the single "Youth Without Youth":

Get More: Metric, Youth Without Youth, Music, More Music Videos

 Also, check out the band's Mahogany Session including songs off their new album:



  

new K.flay

need i say more.

Purity Ring

So far, I have loved everything this Canadian electronic indie pop duo has produced. Purity Ring is a mix of hip-hop beats with indie synths and vocals.

Their first studio album "Shrines" is set to be released on July 24th, 2012 off Last Gang Records.
Until then, enjoy their first single off the album -"Obedear" and some of their other tracks:

The track that originally got me hooked:

Tanlines

Tanlines is an experimental indie pop duo out of Brooklyn, NY. Their first full length album Mixed Emotions was released on March 20, 2012. If you like dancing to feel good melodies this is the band for you.

The band's single Brothers is sweet and airy just the way Spring is supposed to feel:
Tanlines "Brothers" by tanlines

Also, a single from a while back that still gets me like the first time:
Tanlines - Real Life by endgueltig

SNOWMINE

SNOWMINE is a 5 piece indie rock band from Brooklyn full of ambient echos and unique arrangements of guitar, bass, keys, drums and synths. I dig them and I think you should too.

Download their full discography for FREE here!


Curfews by SNOWMINE

The Hill by SNOWMINE

Chet Faker

Chet Faker > Melbourne, Australia


Ambient echos of keyboards and layered vocals, there's just something about this song...

Best Coast

In honor of the beautiful weather that we've been having in Michigan, and my inability to pay attention in my class right now because of it — I give you a band with sounds like your hand floating on air out your car window on a sun-filled summer day.

I know what you're thinking: that's what I need right NOW. I'm sure most of you have heard of them before, but Best Coast never really gets old. West coast Best Coast, is made up of two musicians based in LA: singer/songwriter and badass guitarist Bethany Cosentino and multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno.

The duo's second studio album entitled "The Only Place" is due out May 15th. Until then check out the first single and title track:

The most epic set of my young adult life involved Best Coast playing in a downpour at Lollapalooza last summer... since that time I've kept my sights set on the next time they roll on by what I consider the best coast. (the midwest best)

Watch their 2011 Lolla set:

Young The Giant

First off, I apologize for it being so terribly long since my last post; I have been making some ridiculously exciting life plans in the past month that are just starting to come together (sorry this statement must stay a bit elusive or else I'd be writing a long drawn out thing that no one wants to read, kind of what this is becoming anyway..)


This post is dedicated to an incredibly talented group of musicians out of Irvine, California, Young the Giant. The indie-rock band released their first studio album in 2010 — claimed the 3rd best rock album of the year by Amazon.com and claimed the all time best by.. myself.

First off, lead singer Sameer Gadhia's vocals alone are beautifully addictive. Add the band's personable lyrics, incredibly upbeat and catchy sound and you have a seemingly perfect mix of rock and pop.








Young the Giant also had some of the coolest album artwork of 2010.
Wondering who designed it? I was too. So I did some research. All the designs were created by Invisible Creature, a design and illustration studio out of Seahurst, WA. Visit the site here and check out some of their other projects.

Before you go, watch the band's "In The Open Sessions" video of their song Every Little Thing.



I'll be at their show in Detroit on February 28th, anyone else?

Foals

remember when I told you i love Brits...

Foals is an indie rock band out of Oxford, England.
The more I listen the more the musicianship and creativity of this band amazes me.
Check out the bands live session at BBC Radio 6.







I'm looking forward to hearing some new tunes from these guys in 2012.