Mimi Murmur, a young band out of UK, pedal a mix of indie, pop and folk music. Citing influences such as Florence and The Machine, Kate Nash, Laura Marling and Marina and The Diamonds, the duo just doled out a bunch of piano-driven demos, which you can stream via SoundCloud.
Maria Mena released her version of "Mitt Lille Land", a nod to the devastating terror attack in Norway. She had this to say: "i'm devestated! i love my country and my heart breaks for everyone involved and affected by last night's tragic bombing and shooting in oslo and at utøya. please take good care of eachother! ♥ maria." [link]
Above is a video tribute with the song.
Our thoughts are with our Norwegian friends during this difficult time.
SneakPeek is one of those mysterious bands that you occasionally come across. They have no website, MySpace nor YouTube, just a Bandcamp page that tempts the listener to take a shot at their music.
Hailing from Echo Park, California, SneakPeak is a female-fronted lo-fi/garage/grunge/psych band partially made up of former members of The Willowz. If reverb-soaked guitar riffs and grungy sounds are right up your alley, visit the band's Bandcamp page for some goodies. Also, the band is currently recording a seven song EP that is set to release this summer, so keep them on your radar as well.
Franc Cinelli aka Goodtimes Goodtimes is a purveyor of good music. This, perhaps, can be attributed to his musical background. He grew up with his mother's vinyl collection of Bruce Springsteen, The Police, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd and Bob Marley. As an adult, he plied his trade at countless shows in the UK before he made enough songs to release his first record, Glue.
Released last November, Franc's second, self-titled record sees him doling out a solid collection of folk, country and blues, drawing comparison to the legendary Bob Dylan. The album emanates a warm feel, just the kind of music you'd like to put on when you are reminiscing about the past or just shooting the breeze. I love how the harmonica and guitar-strumming builds up in "Point One", and the vocals in the background just lend a breezy and carefree feel. "Fortune Teller Song" is another song of note: It's a perky, straight-up character-driven song, a nod to 'the man who tells stories at the fairground'.
P.S. At the time of this posting, Franc just announced that he won't be playing under the Goodtimes Goodtimes moniker anymore.
Stream: Goodtimes Goodtimes - Goodtimes Goodtimes
Here is a list of 25 songs (arranged in alphabetical order) that I was infatuated with in 2009. The rule was that I could not pick songs from the same artist or album twice, and it was a really tough call at times. Nonetheless, making this list was a rewarding process.
Anyway it's Christmas Day today, so happy holidays to all of you! I will be back soon with my list of favourite albums.
1. A Fine Frenzy - "Elements"
"Elements" picks up where One Cell in the Sea left off. In my opinion, this introspective number is the clear standout on Alison Sudol's sophomore effort. A booming bass first sets the tone, and Sudol comes on and weaves her tale of melancholy and heartbreak. The song builds into a crescendo, slowly but surely, and around the 1:50 mark when you are awash with emotion, the floodgates finally give way.
Previously I couldn't comprehend the immense appeal of Animal Collective's "My Girls". And then the unthinkable happened. One fine day, I finally got the song, and it sounded pretty mesmerising indeed! That said, while I will probably never understand the allure of Merriweather Post Pavilion, or the rest of AC's material for that matter, "What Would I Want? Sky" stole my heart. Perhaps it is one of their more accessible songs -- less confounding, more comprehensible, just genuinely delicious indie-pop.
4. Arctic Monkeys - "Crying Lightning"
Alex Turner is as much of a wordsmith as he is a purveyor of relationships, and he displays his mettle on "Crying Lightning", one of the Humbug's most bold tracks with rocking guitars and a wickedly dark theme.
5. Bat for Lashes - "Daniel"
"Daniel" is, at once, both melodic and atmospheric. Coupled with Natasha Khan's lyrical prowess, the song literally engulfs you in its sheer beauty.
6. Bon Iver - "Blood Bank"
Never have I heard anyone sing about the blood bank in such a fascinating manner.
Tracyanne Campbell and her brethren have crafted an undeniably catchy pop number.
8. Dirty Projectors - "Stillness Is The Move"
While the rest of Bitte Orca was just meh for me, "Stillness Is The Move" was a real grower. Combining elements of R&B and African music, the song sounded oddly familiar yet refreshing and unique at the same time.
11. Florence and The Machine - "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"
Florence Welch shows us why her album is aptly titled Lungs -- this lass has the chops to carry this amazing folk pop song with finesse. When the chorus rolls in, you let loose and do a little shindig.
"Cable TV" is delivered in a lo-fi, straightforward manner layered over with handclaps and beats. Interestingly, the end result tantalizes your palate.
Lady Gaga exploded into mainstream consciousness this year with her peculiar outfits and some irresistibly addictive songs. "Paparazzi" was one of those tasty and cheeky morsels she dished out. I thought the music video looked like a scene out of some super sleuth movie. If Gaga wanted to announce her arrival with this, well, no doubt the superstar of the new decade has arrived.
15. Little Boots - "Remedy"
In "Remedy", Little Boots aka Victoria Hesketh chirps: "Dancin' is my remedy, remedy, oh", making it hard to resist the urge to get up and boogie. Hesketh is a talented electropop musician in her own right and can give Lady Gaga a run for her money.
16. Metric - "Gimme Sympathy"
Metric has always straddled the fine line between indie and mainstream. "Gimme Sympathy" continues in the same vein, appealing to listeners between both ends of the spectrum. It's intriguing to hear Emily Haines namedrop the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in this song.
17. Miike Snow - "Silvia"
"Animal" seeped into cyberspace earlier this year, but "Silvia" was the one that grabbed my attention. Perhaps I have a thing for tales of love and lost, and "Silvia" pretty much encapsulates these feelings. The song starts off slow and gears up with synths into a full-blown electropop number.
18. Neko Case - "People Got A Lotta Nerve"
Indie songstress Neko Case wowed everybody with "People Got A Lotta Nerve". This immensely likable number mixes melodic pop with alt-country, and its rousing chorus makes for the perfect sing-along song.
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was arguably the breakout album for Parisian rockers Phoenix in 2009. Lead single "1901" was an exuberant, poppy number that impressed common listeners and music critics alike.
Even though Kanye West rained on her parade, there was no stopping Taylor Swift and her runaway hit "You Belong With Me". This infectious pop song is tightly produced without being overly cheesy or childish like some baloney you hear on mainstream radio today.
Death Cab for Cutie has recorded a song, "Meet Me On The Equinox", for the upcoming New Moon Soundtrack. The track is the first single off the album. Though I don't really care much for the movie or the Twilight series, the proposed soundtrack absolutely intrigues me. Alexandra Patsavas, the music supervisor for the film, lets on that Thom Yorke, Bon Iver and Band of Skulls will most likely appear on the soundtrack. The track list will be released soon, so keep yer fingers crossed!
October marks the return of Norway's feted indie folk pop duo Kings of Convenience. Yes, the boys are back with their third official album, Declaration of Dependence, and they are calling it their most mature album yet. I love the stripped down beauty of their music and can't wait for the new album to be released. In the meantime, enjoy the video for "Boat Behind".
Ah. Metric's new album, Fantasies, is finally available for pre-order via their their official website. Those who pre-order through ilovemetric.com will get an immediate digital download of 3 tracks: the album version of "Help, I'm Alive", the acoustic version of "Gimme Sympathy" and a cover of Pink Floyd's "Nobody Home". Hardcore fans may purchase the Limited Deluxe Edition (limited to 500 copies) for an exclusive download of "Waves", a brand new studio track not available in any other package. The Limited Deluxe Edition comes with a whole lot of other goodies like VIP Fan Passes and personally signed autographs from all band members.
Singapore's annual music festival will be back in town from 13th - 22nd March, and as usual, there is a little something for everybody. Recent addition N.E.R.D. will be joining the mix, along with headlining acts like George Duke, Brad Mehldau Trio, Indigo Girls, Battles and The Cinematic Orchestra. There are also indie favourites like Psapp and of Montreal.
For a full list of performing artists, check out Mosaic Music Festival's official website. MP3s available below are from music publication XLR8R and the respective artists' and labels' official websites.
There are some who stick to their tried-and-tested formula of making music, for fear of alienating their core audience. There are others who veer away from their original path, but eventually screw up their sound.
The YYYs' upcoming LP It's Blitz! is sonically different from its predecessors, the garage-punk debut Fever To Tell and the indie-rock follow-up Show Your Bones. It is an electro-disco-dance rock fest, a gorgeous combination of synths, guitars, drums and vocals (courtesy of the very charismatic frontwoman, Karen O). This new record sees them partnering long time producers Dave Sitek (of TV on the Radio fame) and Nick Launay, along with new names like Greg Kurstin (The Bird and the Bee), and Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone (TVotR).
The whole album is tightly packed with a mix of pulsating melodies and subdued tunes. Nick Zinner works his mojo, proving he is equally deft with the synths as he is with the guitars. Brian Chase is the ever-reliable drummer, and Karen O -- oh, what can I say -- is a truly versatile singer who yelps and whispers and does everything imaginable (with her voice, that is) on all of the 10 tracks.
You can read a detailed, track-by-track description of the album here. "Soft Shock" and "Dragon Queen" are my current favourites, but grant me a few more spins and I bet I will fall in love with It's Blitz! in no time. You would too.
Can't get enough of Bon Iver? Well, Justin Vernon and his band released a four track EP today titled Blood Bank, and you can stream the entire record via MySpace.
