Tag Archives: elvis costello

Trendspotting: SF Bands You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of – Part 3

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Geographer

San Francisco-based Geographer have that lush baroque pop sound that draws lots of comparisons to Andrew Bird and Arcade Fire. Their new album Innocent Ghosts released this summer and is getting good attention.  Listen to Can’t You Wait:

 

 

Girls 

This is my favorite San Francisco indie rock band at the moment.  Their debut album, Lust for Life, is one of the contenders for the 2008 SF Weekly Music Awards.  We’ll find out later this week if they take the prize.   I’m so intrigued by lead singer, Christopher Owens, in both his personal style and vocals.  He’s got all the qualities of an eccentric rock star and sounds like Elvis Costello to boot. Featured is the track Hellhole Ratrace. 

 

 

 

 

The Heavenly States 

Oakland-based The Heavenly States is also a contender in the 2008 SF Weekly Music Awards in the Indie Rock category.  Their vibe is wholly different with a pure, straight up rock sound reminiscent to The Hold Steady. Take a listen to ‘Lost in the Light‘ from their self-produced album Delayer.

 

 

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Girls vs. Women

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Here are two tiny bands I’m hot on at the moment – which also makes for a clever post. Both have albums releasing this week, have nary a female band member to speak of, but do have lots of them gracing the covers of their albums.  

Girls hail from San Francisco and just released their debut album, Lust for Life. Each track has a distinctly different sound, which makes it difficult for me to put a label on this band; but it does give some clarity to their self-described music category – Tropical/Gothic/Thrash.  On several tracks, however, the lead singer’s voice does remind me of Elvis Costello. Featured is the track Hellhole Ratrace. Be sure to download the free track ‘Lust for Life‘ on RCRD LBL.

 

Women are a Canadian group (two of them brothers, actually) with their self-titled debut released July 8 on Flemish Eye Records.  I was very pleased to learn that Chad VanGaalen produced this album, of whom I’m a big fan.  He recorded the album in his basement on old tape machines and ghettoblasters.  To say their sound is lo-fi is an understatement. Featured is the track Black Rice.

 

Get this album free via eMusic’s 50 Free MP3 Promo

buy it at insound!

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