24 Jul
Highly original. I hear too many influences to compare them to any band in particular. All of the songs on their Myspace page sound like singles, and each has a slightly different sound from Screamo-Pop/Post-Hardcore (”Games”) to devastatingly hard and in-your-face Rock (”Solvency”).
For Fans of: The Used, Billy Talent
1 Jul
For fans of: Ladytron, Wallpaper, Mstrkrft, that Dead Prez song at the beginning of every Chappelle’s Show episode
Stand out track: LBG (Little Booty Girl), Jerk It
Location: Toronto/Montreal, Canada
26 Jun
http://www.myspace.com/hooray4earth
For fans of: Failure, Muse, Pavement, someone’s garage in the late 80s
Stand out track: Take Care, How Are You Here?
Location: Boston, MA
17 Jun
http://www.myspace.com/johannakunin
For fans of: Regina Spektor, Sarah Mclachlan
Stand out tracks: Fireflies, Hidden Systems
Location: Seattle, WA
10 Nov
Label: Kemado Records
Location: Brooklyn, NY
For Fans Of: Led Zeppelin
Recommended Song: “Shame”
28 Oct
Speaking of Tennessee, check out Hello Spencer. Ambient, shimmering guitars. Energetic drums. Singer kinda sounds like a mature Dustin from Thrice (minus the screaming). One hit away from being a hit band.
Label: Unsigned
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
For Fans Of: Mute Math, Dredg, Open Hand, National Skyline
Recommended Song: “Compromised Time”
17 Oct
Label: none
Location: NYC
For Fans Of: Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, National Skyline
Recommended Song: “Daylight”
The song “Daylight” is an epic rock production that you have to hear. Jean-Philip Grobler, a South-African-turned-Brooklynite, is writing incredible music. He has a touring band but unfortunately he’s holed up in South Africa right now working on visa complications.
16 Oct
Delicious dark rock.
Label: The Militia Group
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
For Fans Of: Silversun Pickups, Stateless, Nine Inch Nails (maybe), dark things
Recommended Song: “The Dirtiest Queen”
Complaints:
The singer has a cool voice, but it’s too reminiscent of Maroon 5, not human or relate-able enough.
What They Look Like:
Kinda famous. Maybe not famous enough. I can’t really tell who the “front man” is in their pictures. In this picture above, for example, the two guys on the right are more qualified to be front men than the guy closest to the camera.
12 Oct
This may or may not be an accurate depiction of the band National Skyline.
National Skyline is hard to pin down. Between Myspace and a Wikipedia entry, I’m not really sure who they are, what label they’re on, where they live, etc. From what I’ve seen of Myspace comments, the band is mainly a guy named Jeff Garber.
Just listen to “Pack Up.” It’s a really cool, ethereal pop song. Kinda reminds me of U2’s “Beautiful Day” but with a much less pretentious singer. One of his songs was featured on The Hills or some such show a while back.
Label: Adventure Broadcasting Recording Co.
Location: L.A.
For Fans Of: Failure, My Bloody Valentine, commercials for The OC
Recommended Song: “Pack Up”
Complaints:
Another song, “The Last Day” is just lame pop cleverly disguised by echo effects.
11 Oct
Nurses is on my short list of favorite new bands (along with Whitey and Sol Seppy). These guys are prolific songwriters. They could be the [some old guy I don't like] of our generation. All they have to do is somehow apply their talent to this confusing social climate we’re in right now. Their songs remind me of wolves howling in a dark northwestern forest. With log cabins.
Label: Sargent House
Location: Portland, Oregan
For Fans Of: Fleetwood Mac, Fleet Foxes, Fleetity Fleet Fleet (…),
Recommended Song: Lita, Techicolor (both of which can be downloaded free off their Myspace player)
Complaints:
None yet. Even their band name is pretty cool.
What They Look Like:
A bunch of hippie lumberjacks.
