Arch M – 21st Union
This up and comer from South London calling himself Arch M has been enthralling me lately with his lo-fi aesthetic. His EP cassette, Mountain Tan Commericials, is available for free download here, and his full album Moon Tan should be released on the Cavern label some time soon.
Check out the track 21st Union. So nice.
Not to be confused with Deerhunter, which I used to do early on, Deerhoof definitely falls into that category of local ‘experimental’ bands. Like most bands in this genre, I usually have one of two reactions – 1) the band is being weird for the sake of being weird or 2) I’m intrigued by the tension created by the music’s unexpected shifts and dissonance. Deerhoof falls into the latter category for me.Listen to ‘Offend Maggie’:
I don’t know much about Oakland-based girl band, Dreamdate, other than their tunes are short, catchy and make me feel good. And at the end of the day, isn’t that all that matters? Listen for yourself and see.
Listen to ‘Why Don’t You Make Me’:
San Francisco-based Film School is just the kind of psych/garage rock, newgaze sound I like. Listening to them is like a game of ‘Name that Tune’ or early 90s musical influence – The Jesus and Mary Chain… My Bloody Valentine… New Order. Whatever the case, it all sounds good to me. Even better live.
Listen to ‘Two Kinds’:
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Artist: Ra Ra Riot
Album: The Rhumb Line
File Under: Indie Pop
Recommended if You Like: Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend
Featured Track: Under Ghost Rocks
The best way I can describe Syracuse-based Ra Ra Riot is Arcade Fire meets Vampire Weekend – upbeat rhythms layered over rich orchestral-based melodies. And their live shows, with their huge ensemble cast, are raucous and infectious – just like Arcade Fire. If you like either of those bands, it would be worth your while to give Ra Ra Riot a listen. They were the darlings of SXSW this year and are fast becoming a critics choice for 2008 as well.
‘The Rhumb Line’ is the band’s first LP and a tribute to the recent drowning of band member, drummer John Pike, who co-wrote most of the lyrics for their debut album. The title of the album, ‘The Rhumb Line’, is fitting in both its nautical theme and meaning – a term for the constant course a vessel takes in a give direction. Which is what the remaining band members have had to do.
See them live tomorrow, September 24, at The Rickshaw Stop or watch the video for, ’Ghost Under Rocks’:
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Artist: Sam Champion
Album: Heavenly Bender
File Under: Classic Indie Rock
Recommended if You Like: Pavement, Stephen Malkmus, Built to Spill
Featured Tracks: Jealous Shakes, Be Mine Everyone, Dead Moon
Are you a Pavement fan? If not, stop reading this RIGHT NOW. I’m sorry to say we can no longer continue this relationship. If you are, you’re gonna like the latest release, Heavenly Bender, from the Brooklyn-based quartet, Sam Champion. Steeped in lo-fi, garage-rock jams, their sound may be a little too Wowee Zowee for the non-Pavement aficionado, but for me it’s the perfect combination as bands like Pavement /Stephen Malkmus represent everything I like in Indie Rock music – crunchy guitar jams sandwiched between sweet harmonies. My indie rock PB&J. That and I like the band’s sense of humor. Check out their promo video below.
Listen to ‘Dead Moon’:
Listen to ‘Jealous Shakes‘:
Listen to ‘Be Mine Everyone’:
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I’m in a 70s bohemian state of mind at the moment. All I want are wide leg jeans, vintage print blouses and great big sunglasses so I can look at the world through yellow-tinged lenses and feel like this. Luckily there’s a new crop of lo-fi, AM Gold music to match my mood. Enjoy my Sunshine Daydream. To get the MP3 file, sign up for the OCMD Mixtape newsletter.
Austin-based White Denim seriously rock. They have a stripped down Stooges/White Stripes vibe that just feels really good. They’ve been releasing new videos to their forthcoming LP, Exposion, due out November 3. Until then, you can check out their EP, Let’s Talk About It, available on eMusic and RCDLBL.
Shake, Shake, Shake video:
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My Canadian lo-fi hero, Chad VanGaalen, has a new album due out September 9 entitled, Soft Airplane. And considering how much I loved his prior releases – Skelliconnection and Infiniheart – I fully expect this album to be on the top of my list for 2008.
Chad also helped Flemish Eye label mate, Women, record their debut album this year with his signature lo-fi style. Another album I adore.
Here’s a track from Soft Airplane, ‘Willow’.
I’ve been a long time fan of UK-based, Clinic. They fit right in there with my Brit Rock fascination. And the fact that they perform all their shows in surgical masks only adds to their eccentric allure. They have a new album out, ‘Do It!’ – their fifth album. Here is the new video for the track ‘Tomorrow.’
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Yay! I’m in New York. So happy to be here and looking forward a fun weekend of music and friends. Another anticipated performance for me this weekend is experimental group Animal Collective. Their 2007 release, Strawberry Jam, was critically acclaimed. Here’s a new video for Water Curses off the same titled 12″ released this year.
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The countdown to the All Points West Festival begins! Dubbed as the Coachella of the East Coast (hardly, but I guess you have to start somewhere), I’m really excited to participate in this inaugural NY event this weekend- albeit just for one day. Of course the highlight will be Radiohead. But with Kings of Leon opening? Not too shabby, I say.
Kings of Leon have a new album, ‘Only by the Night,’ due out September 23. They’ve been sampling new tracks on their MySpace page that sound really good. They released Crawl for download recently. Today they premiered Sex On Fire. Not a bad anthem.
Follow this link to Sex On Fire
