Archive for the Indie Rock Category
 Kaddisfly is progressive rock, so be ready for a musical roller coaster when you listen to them. Kaddisfly will take you to many different places and musical levels, all in the same song. True Indie rock musicians, Kaddisfly started off writing and recording their music at home and in a local studio. They tour hard, travel far, and love to play as many concerts as possible while they are out on solo tours. After recently landing a tour with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, they moved on to a spot on the warped tour for a bit and can usually be found touring with other Indie bands trying to share their music with the world.
Their live performances are better than most major label supported bands, and they still maintain full creative control over their music. Their first two albums were recorded and released independently, then they worked with the small Indie label, Hopeless Records for the their album (the best album they have made to date) called “Buy our intention; we’ll buy you a unicorn”. They kept their status with Hopeless Records (and Subcity Records now) for the fourth and most recent album, Set Sail The Prairie.
They wanted you to be affected by music and they live by the standard “Write, Influence, Change, Live”.
It’s extremely hard to put this band in a single genre. Their refreshing music changes between an during songs includes everything from hard metal to electronica, screamo and emo, ambient and more. They are purely entertaining. The lead singer has excellent vocal control on both album and live settings and the rest of the band is also obviously passionate about their responsibilities and the instruments they play. I recommend “Manhattan Loves You”, “Akira”, “Osmosis in C”, “New Moon Over Swift Water”, and “Eres Tremulent”. If you want one particular album to purchase, I would again recommend and endorse Buy Our Intention; We’ll Buy You A Unicorn.
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 Modest Mouse has been around for quite some time (since 1993) with several impressive records under their belt. Modest Mouse has revovled around Isaac Brock (vocals, guitar), Eric Judy (bass), and Jeremiah Green (drums) with other members added to the most recent album. These guys make up one of the most mainstream and widely popular Indie bands around. Sure they have a record deal with industry mogul Epic Records, but their sound is what Indie is, even after all these years.
What sets Modest Mouse apart from other bands in my mind is their seeming lack of disinterest with their own sound. Much of their music has a sort of laid back and lazy feel to it, they use dissonance to their advantage and many of the lyrics are slightly colorful with some humor mixed in for good measure. It really doesn’t seem like these guys have to try very hard to produce their unique sound, but the very fact that people love them so much proves that they have done their homework.
Their newest album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, shows the maturity of sound that Brock, Green, and Judy have painstakingly developed. The first single “Dashboard” released from We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank is representative of the unconventional and at times irreverent Indie rock style that is Modest Mouse.
You’ve heard “Float On”, and “Ocean Breathes Salty” but seriously, I have too many favorite songs to list, so I’ll do it by album. Good News For People Who Love Bad News is an essential album for any Indie music collection. I also really like This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About.
If you like Modest Mouse, try: Wolf Parade, Califone, Spoon, and Bright Eyes.
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 Let me just say that when it comes to Indie music and especially Indie Rock, nobody does it better than the Canadians. Arcade Fire hails from Montreal, Quebec and is comprised of 7 band members including a husband and wife founding duo.
They have released two very successful albums, Funeral (2004) and Neon Bible (2007) and have received awards and nominations in the States and abroad. As far as Indie bands go, they are at the forefront with media coverage and popularity. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Arcade Fire keeps delivering what we all want to hear!
Arcade Fire has a very anthemic and epic sound and I promise that you will be tapping your foot or nodding your head as you listen. Their songs are typically a little bit longer (right around 5 minutes for many of them) and with a 7 member band, they are able to use a wide variety of instruments to really develop a full, rich body to their music.
“Wake Up” and “Rebellion (Lies)” from Funeral are sure to satisfy and I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, an organ INSTANTLY boosts the effective “coolness” of a band, check out “Intervention” from Neon Bible to see what I mean. I personally recommend Funeral for any Indie music lover’s collection, it’s essential.
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 Bloc Party. is a four-man British Indie Rock band that has really exploded onto the scene with a powerful and innovative sound. Based in London, the band played under several monickers before settling on their current name. The band has toured extensively and has two full-length studio albums, Silent Alarm and A Weekend In The City under their belt.
Be prepared for beats that move you into spasms and bass lines that make you want to shake what your mother gave you. Bloc Party. kind of has a techno feel but most of their sounds are produced by instruments. On a few of the studio tracks you will find looped in electronic sounds and if you’re really in to that sort of thing, you’ll love Silent Alarm Remixed and you’ll love some of the techno mixes that are floating around out there.
No matter what kind of mood you’re in, Bloc Party. has something to intensify that mood. If you’re feeling sappy and lovey-dovey try “I Still Remember” or “So Here We Are”. If you want something to get your blood pumping try “Banquet”, “Hunting For Witches”, or “Helicopter” and you won’t be disappointed. If you’re one of those music lovers that likes to listen out on the fringes, try “The Prayer” (it’s got a nice TVOTR feel to it).
This probably isn’t the first place that you have heard about Bloc Party. but if it is, do yourself a favor and pick up one of their albums.
If you like Bloc Party. try: TV On The Radio.
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 I don’t really know why I am so surprised by Okkervil River. Maybe it’s because they are from Texas (I don’t know of another Indie band from Texas, especially a band this amazing! Post a comment if you know of one), maybe it’s because the band has an organ (I am of the opinion that adding a rock organ to a band instantly increases it’s awesomeness), or maybe it’s because they write really solid Indie Rock. Whatever the reason, they are refreshingly good.
Their sound is a good mix of Indie Rock with some elements of Indie Folk infused throughout and laced with hauntingly mellow vocals and lyrics. I kinda hate to use the word “country” in any post, but the overall feel from lots of Okkervil River’s songs is kind of that of a backwoods bar band, very deliberate and dark.
Okkervil River has released some really great albums, (you really need to hear Black Sheep Boy) and they plan to release a new album in August. The band has also announced its Fall ‘07 tour schedule which you can check out on their website. Also, the band will release The Stage Names on Aug. 7th.
I’m also thoroughly impressed that so many of Okkervil River’s songs are available free for download…
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So I moved in to a new place over the weekend and I had some time to listen to a couple of albums, one of them was Cowards & Robbers by the Cold War Kids. These guys have kind of already broken onto the scene and they are playing their super cool Indie Rock infused with a bad case of the blues. Their sound is very simple and totally broken down to the basics, they have a pretty normal setup with guitar, bass, piano, and drums.
The vocals coupled with the piano are really what sells me on this band. Lead singer Nathan Willett has a tone that strikes deep, his voice is really what makes this band unique.
Cold War Kids have already played before a national audience a few times (Letterman and Kimmel) and have proven to have a sound that will stick around for a while. If you haven’t heard them, you need to check them out. My favorite songs is “We Used To Vacation” (the video for the song is featured in this post). The break down as the chorus comes in is just awesome. Other notable songs are the single “Hang Me Up To Dry” and “Hospital Beds”.
If you like Cold War Kids try: Spoon, Okkervil River.
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 Brand New is most commonly described as being Rock or even Alternative Rock but has roots in New York local hardcore. Even though they’ve been around since 2000 the band gained widespread appeal with the album “Deja Entendu” which is French for “Already Heard,” probably a play on Deja Vu, “Already Seen”.
Their greatest strength is their song writing. Lyrics are easy to hear, understand and beg to be sung along to. Most songs have a quiet build up with a satisfying speed up and blow out. The explemplar of their style would be the song “Sic Transit Gloria.” The title is taken from the latin phrase “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi” which means “thus passes the glory of the world.” Check out the media after the jump for a listen.
If Brand New has a weakness, it is their live shows. They seem to have a hard time keeping in time and playing well with each other. They are worth a listen and have great music for guitar and bass players to learn.
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It’s really hard to put into words how I feel about Sufjan’s music but I guess that’s just it, his music makes me feel, it’s emotional.
Sufjan is talented on some pretty rad instruments, most notably the banjo. He also plays the French horn, the guitar, various woodwinds, the drums, and the piano. Not only is he proficient on the instruments that he plays, but he is also able to write music that truly highlights the sounds of each instrument.
Sufjan Stevens is given credit for his part in the reviving folk music in the Indie realm. He has also set a very lofty goal of producing an album for each of the 50 nifty United States. He’s done Michigan and Illinois and we already enjoy loads of good music.
If you like Sufjan Stevens try: Andrew Bird, Tobias Froberg, and Jose Gonzalez.
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Kaddisfly is progressive rock, so be ready for a musical roller coaster when you listen to them. Kaddisfly will take you to many different places and musical levels, all in the same song. True Indie rock musicians, Kaddisfly started off writing and recording their music at home and in a local studio. They tour hard, travel far, and love to play as many concerts as possible while they are out on solo tours. After recently landing a tour with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, they moved on to a spot on the warped tour for a bit and can usually be found touring with other Indie bands trying to share their music with the world.
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