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
17 Jun
http://www.myspace.com/johannakunin
For fans of: Regina Spektor, Sarah Mclachlan
Stand out tracks: Fireflies, Hidden Systems
Location: Seattle, WA
11 Nov
Location: Los Angelas, CA
Record Label: Dangerbird (US and Japan)
Sounds Like: Lo-fi indie pop, The Dismemberment Plan
Recomended songs: Plans
The One AM Radio
2 Nov
Gavin Castleton has been a favorite artist of mine for many years. I first heard of Gavin as his role of keyboardist/half-singer of Providence based Gruvis Malt, which has been inactive since 2005. Gavin Castleton has released nearly 50 records to date with groups he has been a part of or as a solo artist. The entire discography can be viewed HERE . Gavin Castleotn has released seven solo records in the last four years as well as two with his band Ebu Gogo . Gavin maintains a blog . here , where he posts short stories related to his records, un-released audio, and documents the production of his upcoming release “Home”. After over two years of an unimaginable work on the album Gavin Castleton has released the first single from the album “Unparallel Rabbits” via his MySpace and I tunes. I strongly urge everyone to give this guy a listen, dig into his whole catalogue of work both solo and with bands.
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.
9 Oct
Check out the chorus to “A Thousand Eyes.” Seriously intense, rocking stuff. If their other songs were this good I’d say they could legitimately “save rock” (not that I think that’s a worthwhile pursuit). Label-mates with Allston Rock City-featured artist All The Saints. I like the singer’s voice. Not the most proficient guy in the world but he sounds like he means it.
Label: Touch and Go
Location: Long Beach, California
For Fans Of: Zombies, the 60s
Recommended Song: “A Thousand Eyes”
Check out Crystal Antlers on Myspace
How They Look:
Crystal Antlers is missing their “the cute one” member. Maybe their merch girl plays tambourine? These guys could take a lesson from Boy Crisis. They look like a bunch of goofs, which doesn’t match A Thousand Eyes or their singer’s voice. Not that I really care because the rest of their stuff hasn’t really struck me. Maybe I need to give them a harder listen.
Complaints:
Their other songs aren’t as cohesive or hook-y as A Thousand Eyes. Come on people, HITS HITS HITS!
