The Dirty Projectors [Socialites Remixes]

The contrast between David Longstreth's deep strained vocals and Amber Coffman's delicate harmonics are what create the uniquely evident sound of The Dirty Projectors. While you can't have one without the other, I've personally always favorited the tracks that highlight Coffman's voice. Perhaps the track that captures the most honest and raw sound of her voice is that of The Socialites, a track off the bands most recent LP.
Since the album's release last summer, the track has been remixed by many different artists —birthing a small compilation of sorts. Each variation offers a different atmosphere, all of which I completely dig.

As long as Coffman's vocals are present... so am I. Take a listen.

 original song:

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Unknown Mortal Orchestra needs a new name. After the release of their debut self-titled album in 2011 the band gained an insane amount of attention in the blogosphere — attention that has only increased with the release of their sophomore album II earlier this month. And here I am to further escalate (however insignificant) the attention. 

Frontman Ruban Nielson grew up in New Zealand but relocated to Portland, OR with his former band The Mint Chicks. After the band broke up, Nielson started writing with Portland-based producer/bassist Jake Portrait and drummer Riley Geare.

[the secret is out boys and it's time to embrace your less-than-hipster status]

I would describe their sound as a late 60's abstract rock with thick bass and refined guitar parts —a mix of Tame Impala and the Black Keys. 

(((Help me influence the increasing irrelevance of their name >> take a listen below.)))

Also, take a listen to Nielson's solo acoustic session at Oregon Public Broadcasting:

ON AN ON

When a couple members of the band Scattered Trees decided to make like a tree and scatter, remaining members, Nate Eiesland, Alissa Ricci, and Ryne Estwing were left with a booked studio and some space to fill. A skeleton of it's former self, the group took the opportunity to build themselves back up to something even more substantial. The result: ON AN ON. Their new sound: dark electro beats and low synths put to flight above yearning vocals and tensile echoes.

Their debut album was just released on January 29th and I honestly love every track.

/ / w a i t / / l i s t e n / /

Now, Now [revisited]

After being introduced to their music while they were on tour with the Naked and Famous last April, I spent a month straight listening to Now, Now's music on repeat.
Their sound is a sort of dark indie rock with some electronic keys layered on top to add some lightness. The perfect mix of dark and light which reflects itself in their incomparably honest and personable lyrics. I've blogged about them before but I thought I'd revisit the band as I consider them to be one of my all-time favorites.

 Here's a shot I took of lead singer Cacie Dalager during their set at Bunbury Muisc Festival in 2012.

 I listed their album Threads as my number 1 choice for the Top Albums of 2012 for the IMPACT 89fm [student radio station at Michigan State University] and I highly recommend purchasing it if you haven't already.

For now, however, I just wanted to share the bands newest video for the opening track of their album, The Pull. The video perfectly visualizes the eary memory-recalling sound of the song and sets the tone for the entire album. I thought it was beautifully well done.

Local Natives

because I just remembered how excited I am about this.

Local Native's new album Hummingbird comes out on January 29, 2013 as if to say "happy new year! > here's an earful of infinite beauty". Yup, that's how excited I am.

The band's latest single came out in October and I've been jamming to it since. They just released the official music video yesterday – in case you missed it, here's "Breakers" assuring fans that they're purely capable of following up their seemingly irreplicable first full length album with something just as inventive.

Deep Time

The framework of human existence has not heard a  sound quite like this experimental pop duo from Austin.

Photo © Kaden Shallat.

Deep Time is the creative production and ever changing personality of singer, guitarist, and organist Jennifer Moore and drummer Adam Jones. Their most recent self-titled album came out this past July on Hardly Art out of Seattle. Every song on the album offers a similarly mesmerizing beat that is almost annoyingly catchy but undeniably delightful.

// this. video. //
     

The Soil and the Sun

The Soil and the Sun is a very talented band from the beautiful Great Lakes State. Their style is a blend of strings, keys, drums and elegant vocals — a gorgeous natural sound that is rich in complexity without sounding too complex (you know?). If you enjoy indie rock with lavish instrumentation this band is one that you ought to take a listen to.

The band's 3rd studio album "What Wonder is this Universe!" just came out on August 20th.
Listen to it in it's entirety and then buy it (because I guarantee you'll want to) here!

Recently the band performed an outstanding audiotree session. Check it out:

San Cisco

This West Australian indie rock band is well, awkward. In the good sense of the word?

But in all seriousness I dig their beachy vibes and playful twists on the average hooks.

listen.


watch and listen.

Imagine Dragons

Fuse a little pop with some rock, electronic, and alternative sounds — that's all it takes to Imagine Dragons. I know, right? mind boggling.

To get the full experience take a listen to some tunes by the group out of Las Vegas.

The band released their latest EP Continued Silence this past Valentines Day. Since then the band has received increasing visibility after their single "It's Time" was used in the trailer for "The Perks of Being a Wallflower".

Most recently, the boys are back in the studio working on their upcoming full length entitled Night Visions due out September 4th.

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:

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:



  

The Maccabees

The Maccabees are an indie rock group out of South London, England. Their most recent album Given to the Wild is killer; with songs full of echoing vocals, thick bass and trance-like synths — all adding to a dreamy vibe. I can't dream enough.

Watch the recently released video for their song "Went Away":

Also, take a listen to the BBC live lounge recording of their song "Child", one of my favorites off the album:

Of Monsters and Men

Been meaning to blog about these guys for a while; Of Monsters and Men is a six piece indie folk pop band all the way from Iceland. Their debut album My Head is An Animal released in the US on April 3rd, 2012 is nearly flawless. The cohesive blend of lead singers Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Raggi Þórhallsson soft voices gently lie across a stitching of acoustic threads that build up to create a more complex rock sound. The clarity of their vibrant lyrics and chants are sure to have you singing along.

Maybe you have already heard their first single "Little Talks", here's their performance of it on KEXP radio:

I 'love love love' this song:

 

Perhaps my favorite tune on the album is "Lakehouse"

Record Store Day 2012!

Happy Record Store Day music loving peers!
Today marks the 5th anniversary of the day created to celebrate the artful expression of music and to support independent record stores across the world! Make sure to hit up your local record store today — you may be able to snatch a limited edition vinyl/cd of your favorite artist or catch some live in store performances.

My personal list:

      ⦊ Of Monsters and Men Into the Woods EP (10" lp)

      ⦊Trans Records first two signings Now, Now and The Lonely Forest will be featured on a limited edition split EP. (7")

    
 _______________

       ⦊I may snag this album as well, Tegan and Sara's recent live album Get Along in a limited edition white vinyl.

To view the official list of Record Store Day exclusive releases here!

Now, Now

Now, Now is undoubtedly my new favorite band; an indie rock/alternative trio out of Minneapolis, MN made up of singer, guitarist, keyboardist Cacie Dalager (25), drummer Bradley Hale (25), and guitarist, singer Jess Abbott (20).

Now, Now @ the DAAC in Grand Rapids, MI April 07, 2012                      photo © Hélène Dryden

The band was formed after Dalager and Hale met in highschool marching band. Originally known as Now, Now Every Children but has since shortened their name in an attempt to embrace change over time.

Abbott moved from her home state of Maine to Minnesota in the summer of 2009 to join Dalager and Hale. From the sound of things, she seems to have complimented them flawlessly.

Last year, the group signed to Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla's newly formed Trans Records out of Seattle. Just this past March, the band released their latest album Threads which I have not stopped listening to since getting my hands on it less than a week ago.

Dalager's soft vocals and vulnerable lyrics are perfectly placed on top of droning synths, playful keys, complete with textured drum beats and guitar riffs.

I could go on forever, but as I find so often the music speaks for itself...

The band stopped by Michigan State University recently to play a set at 89fm The Impact, the student-run radio station. Check out their in-studio performance of "Separate Rooms":



Watch the official music video for "Dead Oaks":



Also, check out the band's live performance of "Thread" on the 89.3 The Current:

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

HIGHLIGHTED ARTIST: From Indian Lakes

This past Monday I awoke to find a few strange men sleeping on my Coops living room couch. Turns out they were a group of musicians from California. Their tour manager is long time friends with one of my roommates and they needed a place to crash for a few nights while playing some shows nearby.

This talented group of young men go by From Indian Lakes, hailing from Yosemite Valley, California. Their style could be described as alternative rock full of refreshingly distinctive lyrics and creative change ups.

Besides being incredibly talented and good looking these guys are well-rounded, friendly, and compassionate individuals and I think that is reflected in the music they produce. Take a listen and decide for yourself:



A big thank you to lead singer Joey Vannucchi who took a minute to answer some questions I had for the group:

Q: How did a group of friendly, good looking, talented young gentlemen such as yourselves get together?

A: thank you! I started tracking some demos in the mountains and i needed musicians for shows eventually when it turned into a band situation. I grew up with Justin and Rick and we all played in different bands together so it worked out well. Chris was in a band we did a tour with and when we needed someone he was an obvious choice. Kyle is from Nashville and he came on for this tour.

Q: I love the simplicity of your band name — how did you go about choosing it?

A: originally I had titled the project songs from Indian lakes, but that's much too long for a band name. It's where I was recording songs at the beginning.

Q: How would you describe your genre/style of your music?

A: we are a rock band at heart I think. Sometimes a very quiet one, sometimes louder. Organic as possible.

Q: As I know, you guys are in full-on tour mode: What is your favorite thing about touring?

A: I love playing live. It's my favorite thing to do. Playing to different people every night and having a different experience with each crowd.

Least favorite thing?
A: It can be very unhealthy. When you are taking what you can get and trying not to spend money your food choices can really catch up with you.

Q: What do you want fans to get out of your music?

A: something real and organic. I believe in music as art and I hope ours can stir some emotion in people.

Q: What do you get out of your music?

A: I think it is a way to stay sane for me. I tend to be slightly introverted and awkward. I need some way to get it all out just like anyone else I think.

Chet Faker

Chet Faker > Melbourne, Australia


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