Posts Tagged ‘indie rock’

IV

REVIEW: The 1975 – ‘IV’

ARTIST: The 1975
ALBUM: IV
GENRE: Alternative rock
LABEL: Vagrant Records

The 1975 have been playing music since 2002, but they haven’t always been known by that name. They tested out a number of different names, before they finally settled on The 1975. It was inspired by a note hand written inside a book vocalist Matthew Healy found, which, coupled with some other writings on the previous owner’s descent into insanity and desire to take their life, struck a chord with Healy. IV will be the band’s fourth EP, and is the build up to the band’s first full length …

DiscoTeen66

STREAM: Disco Teen ’66 – Self-Titled (Album)

Connecticut surf punks (is that a thing?) Disco Teen ’66 have released their debut full length album. The self-titled release is out now on Seagreen Records and can be heard at their Bandcamp page. In the most unusual of release varieties, it is available for download at $3 and on a limited run of cassettes for $5. No vinyl, no CDs? Pretty unusual.

Overall, this release is still a creative and catchy mix from the self described “cotton candy rockers.” I know I enjoyed listening to the surf punk (that’s a thing). Stream it here after the break.

ana

MUSIC VIDEO: Anamanaguchi – “Endless Fantasy”

Who wants some pizza? Everyone’s favorite chiptune band Anamanaguchi have released a brand new music today for the title track of their latest album Endless Fantasy. You can check out the video by taking a look below the jump.

Portugal. The Man 2013

MUSIC VIDEO: Portugal. The Man – “Purple Yellow Red And Blue”

Following up on their previous bizarre video for “Evil Friends,” Portugal. The Man‘s music video for “Purple Yellow Red And Blue” couldn’t be any more off the walls. The song will be featured on PTM’s forthcoming album, Evil Friends, which will hit stores early into this summer through Atlantic Records.

The Oregon-based indie act has drawn together quite the following over the last several years, and their recent sets at Coachella really show that perhaps they may be on the verge of putting out one of their best records to date. Follow the jump to watch the music …

UTG Feature TTNG This Town Needs Guns

REVIEW: This Town Needs Guns – 13.0.0.0.0

Artist: This Town Needs Guns
Album: 13.0.0.0.0
Genre: Math rock, Indie rock
Label: Sargent House

Bands work out the kinks on the fly. There are no minor leagues for music making; if you can’t produce right away, you likely never get an at-bat. This Town Needs Guns have found a way around this: their debut album was four years ago, and before that, they had several EPs. This still seems like a huge leap from 2009’s Animals. I had nothing against Stuart Smith’s vocal or guitar work: math rock with emotional songwriting was always more than good enough for …

TheGuruFeature

REVIEW: The Guru – Go Easy

Artist: The Guru
Album: Go Easy
Label: Seagreen Records
Genre: Funk / Indie Rock

Most modern scene music is sad. It’s mostly emo music or music based around some form of punk rock, laced with emotions, with typical lyrics about break ups and heart break and ex-girlfriends and angst. Connecticut’s The Guru are not without their share of meaningful lyrics, but it’s not emo music by any stretch. The Guru are a white Earth Wind & Fire with Modest Mouse, Brock-era vocals and more indie songwriting. Their second full length, Go Easy, is their best release yet.

grizzly-bear---barbara_anastacio

REVIEW: Grizzly Bear – Shields

Artist: Grizzly Bear
Album: Shields
Genre: Indie, folk rock
Label: Warp Records

This album is quite infuriating. In the course of my listening, I’ve spun from abject hatred to mild indifference to partial enjoyment, then back to hatred and then enjoyment again. Basically, I’m not quite sure what to make of it. Every now and then I feel like it’s on the cusp of some magical musical inspiration, and then there are other times when I sort of come to and don’t even realise it’s been on. It is possible that my minimal familiarity with the band has contributed to …

The Early November In Currents Featured Image

REVIEW: The Early November – In Currents

Artist: The Early November
Album: In Currents
Genre: Alternative/pop-punk/indie
Label: Rise Records

After taking a prolonged (and premature) hiatus from the music world, The Early November mark their return with an album of beautiful highs and crushing lows. In Currents is clearly a labour of love, something sweet and deftly understated, though it waivers towards the end and becomes a little too forced to really convince. The album mixes grace with spirit and sumptuously interweaves classical elements and strings to add light to the main instruments. It’s a rewarding listen, although Ace Enders’ vocals can overdo it at times, but …

TheRoyalty_Doublej-0106

REVIEW: The Royalty – Lovers

Artist: The Royalty
Album: Lovers
Genre: Indie-pop/Indie-rock/Blues
Label: Victory

It’s been three long years since The Royalty have released new material. The El Paso five-piece have spent that time indulging in their love for indie-pop and Soul singers. After signing with Victory Records back in November, The Royalty has finally released their much anticipated sophomore album – Lovers. The charm of The Royalty is that they are able to take the emotion, the passion of Soul-Blues and translate it into some of the most sultry, infectious indie-pop.

kyoto

REVIEW: Kyoto Drive – The Approach

Artist: Kyoto Drive
Album: The Approach
Genre: Rock
Label: I Am Mighty Records

Birmingham four-piece Kyoto Drive certainly sound earnest and have launched themselves into their debut EP with gusto. Unfortunately however, there’s a little too much of the obvious to The Approach, a likeable but jaded foray into the much-vaunted pop rock genre. It’s good but not outstanding, and in a scene that’s relatively saturated with sound-a-likes it’s difficult to isolate anything here that lets them stand out. The band knows how to put together a moderately engaging track but this notwithstanding, there’s a persistently underdeveloped and underwhelming …

Jack-White-2012

Jack White Streams “Blunderbuss” A Week Ahead Of Release

In a valiant effort to turn people away from piracy, Jack White has unveiled a stream of his forthcoming solo album.

No matter how hard one hopes and prays, nearly every artist in the modern music landscape falls victim to leaks from time to time. Jack White has managed to keep his head above water longer than most, which is probably thanks in part to his unique release styles and promotional techniques, but his first solo record unfortunately found its way online over the weekend. Considering the album is meant to hit on 4/24, this leak is not too terrible, …

band__63879_zoom

Review: Band of Skulls – Sweet Sour

Artist: Band of Skulls
Album: Sweet Sour
Genre: Indie-Rock/Blues-Rock
Label: Electric Blues Recordings

It has been quite some time since Band of Skulls have released new material. Both the Friends EP and the live album Live on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic were released back in ’10, and since then the band has kept fairly quiet. Finally, the three-piece have broken the silence with their sophomore effort Sweet Sour. Like the title implies, the album is a bombastic blend of sludgy distortion and haunting melodics.