I sit here listening to a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Antony and the Johnsons and I feel calmed by the hauntingly beautiful voice of Antony Hegarty. I’ve been a fan of these guys for a while and I must say that they are one of the few bands to cover this song that actually do it justice (in my humble opinion anyway).
Hegarty was born in the U.K. and moved to the U.S. as a teen. His voice is truly one-of-a-kind and I like it a lot. There aren’t many singers out there that can pack as much emotion into their voice as Antony can. Have a listen and see for yourself!
The band has released 2 albums, Antony and the Johnsons and I Am A Bird Now with a release entitled The Crying Light due out autumn 2008.
Favorite songs include “Fistful of Love“, “Hope There’s Someone“, and “Cripple and the Starfish”. If you like Antony and the Johnsons, try: Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Bjork, and Rufus Wainwright.
Here’s a live video of Antony and the Johnsons playing “Fistful of Love”. I like the studio version of this song better because the horns give it that big band type of feel, but this is pretty rad too. Enjoy!
Golden Opportunities is a collection of 9 songs (mostly covers) recorded while on tour from 2006-2007. The album is currently offered in mp3 form @ 192 kbps. I’m not sure how long this album will be available, so get it while you can. Enjoy!
I know that some folks are just dying to hear what Mariah Carey wants for Christmas this year, but that’s not you, right? It’s not me either!
Last year I ordered Sufjan Stevens: Songs for Christmas for my wife and now Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without it. Songs for Christmas is a 5-disc box set representing 5 years of home recordings from Soof with some of your Christmas favorites and several original tracks. This year the set is priced under $20, talk about a perfect gift for your Indie-loving friends. My favorite song is Mr. Stevens’ version of “Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing”.
Here are a couple of free mp3’s from Sufjan’s Stevens: Songs for Christmas to tide you over until your get it for yourself:
One of the great things about Indie music is that it constantly redefines itself and makes you stretch.
I’m just going to throw TV On The Radio out there and you can do what you’d like with them. TVOTR is pretty hard to stuff into just one category; they are a fusion of Indie rock, hip-hop/electronica, and a cappella. I couldn’t even really compare them to anyone, you’ll just have to take a listen for yourself and you’ll see what I mean when I say that it makes you stretch.
TVOTR is a Brooklyn-based quintet that has released two full length albums. I lived in NYC for a few years and their music kind of reminds me of walking down Grand Concourse on a summer day listening to the buzz of the Bronx. The first song I ever heard by these guys was "Staring at the Sun" from Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (2004). It’s my favorite TVOTR song to date. Also, try "Wolf Like Me," the first single from Return to Cookie Mountain (2006).
Band of Horses has an uncanny ability of getting their songs stuck in my head. I’ve never been one to remember lyrics and more than half the time I don’t pay enough attention to pick out the words anyway, but these guys are catchy. These South Carolina-based Indie rockers have released two albums in the last two years, Cease to Begin (2007) and Everything All The Time (2006), and they are doing a lot of things right.
Band of Horses has a simplified Indie rock sound with a simple setup: guitar, bass, and drums. The thing that really sets them apart in my mind is the very recognizable voice of Ben Bridwell (think Built To Spill). They build a sort of anthemic hollowness around Bridwell’s vocals that is never too elaborate nor too loud but intensifies just enough to make the music interesting.
I usually don’t like to admit it when the songs that I like from a particular band are the same songs that have been released as singles, makes me feel as if I’m only listening on the surface or something. Anyway, my favorite songs by Band of Horses are “Is There A Ghost?” and “Lamb Of The Lamb (In The City)” from Cease To Begin and “The Funeral” and “Our Swords” from Everything All The Time.
The Shepherd’s Dog by Iron & Wine has been released. The sound is a little less mellow than some of Sam Beam’s past work.
This album follows more along the lines of "Woman King" than it does "Love And Some Verses". A little bit more rock than folk, but never too far from it.
"Wolf Parade is like a retarded dog with four heads. At any given time, three of the heads are sleeping." -Wolf Parade’s Dan Boeckner in the Montreal Mirror.
I saw this quote up on Wolf Parade’s Myspace page and couldn’t help but pass it along.
Wolf Parade is one of many Canadian Indie rock bands, but they do a lot of things right. For some reason, there is a humorous element in Wolf Parade’s music. Don’t get me wrong, their music rocks, but the combination of Spencer Krug’s (Sunset Rubdown, Swan Lake, Frog Eyes) voice and the synthed out guitar rock make for a goofy sound.
It’s been too long since these guys have released an album, Apologies to the Queen Mary was released in 2005 and Wolf Parade was before that. Here’s one fan who’s hoping that Krug will spend some more time on this project!
I can’t quite remember how I first stumbled upon Fujiya & Miyagi, but I do remember that I once I did hear them, they were the only band I listened to for at least two weeks.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t like techno. I do, however, really like electronic music. I’m not really sure that I could properly draw the distinction between the two but my general rule of thumb is that if it sounds like it could be on Dance Dance Revolution, it’s techno and I don’t care to much for it. Fujiya & Miyagi DO NOT sound like they could be on DDR.
A band that references one of the single most important influences of my childhood in it’s very title has quite a bit to live up to in my book. Thankfully, F&M get the job done. Transparent Things, the first full length album from F&M, is full of very fun electronic pop that really makes you want to dance. The lyrics are funny and playful; it’s happy music and I love it and I think you will too!
One of the great things about 
Band of Horses has an uncanny ability of getting their songs stuck in my head. I’ve never been one to remember lyrics and more than half the time I don’t pay enough attention to pick out the words anyway, but these guys are catchy. These South Carolina-based Indie rockers have released two albums in the last two years, Cease to Begin (2007) and Everything All The Time (2006), and they are doing a lot of things right.
The Shepherd’s Dog by Iron & Wine has been released. The sound is a little less mellow than some of Sam Beam’s past work. 
"Wolf Parade is like a retarded dog with four heads. At any given time, three of the heads are sleeping." -Wolf Parade’s Dan Boeckner in the Montreal Mirror.
I can’t quite remember how I first stumbled upon Fujiya & Miyagi, but I do remember that I once I did hear them, they were the only band I listened to for at least two weeks.
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