Sea Wolf (a.k.a. Alex Church) is currently in heavy rotation on my playlist. I know that I have found a good band when my wife asks, “Who was that?” after each song on the album. I think that she thinks it’s Sea Wolf each time, but she’s just not sure.
Sea Wolf was my pick for best new artist of 2007. These guys are making some of the best new Indie music out there, a fusion of rock, folk, and melancholy blues that I just can’t get enough of.
Sea Wolf’s sound is versatile enough to be fresh and unique song after song, while Church’s vocals weave the common thread throughout each album. The band released their first full-length album in 2007 called Leaves In The River and I highly recommend it.
Favorite songs include “You’re A Wolf”, “Black Leaf Falls”, “Black Dirt”, and a song for your Valentine’s Day playlist - “The Garden That You Planted”. If you like Sea Wolf, try: The National, The Great Northern, Okkervil River, and Beirut.
Here’s the music video for “You’re A Wolf” from Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low.
Portugal. The Man is absolutely worthy of mention on this or any other Indie music blog.
These guys are from Alaska and I was curious to know whether or not any other bands I know of are from Alaska. A quick query on Google for list of bands from Alaska took me to www.alaskasbestbands.com and sadly, Portugal. The Man did not make the list, (Jack Johnson’s Quartet did make the list and no, it’s not that Jack Johnson.)
These guys have been able to reinvent their sound over and over again. Waiter: You Vultures! (2006) was a conglomerate of electronic and rock elements with a progressive twist. The bands frequent use of drum machines and other synthesized sounds were a trademark of that album. Church Mouth, Portugal’s latest release is much more traditional rock, with an almost Black Crowes-esque southern rock feel to it. The band cites Dirty Sweet and The Butchers and the Builders as influences.
I haven’t seen these guys live but I hear that their shows are pretty mind-blowing. Now how about some music?
So if you have been paying attention to my Last.fm profile, you would have seen this post coming. Every once in a while, I get on a Sigur Rós kick and I just let myself get lost in their music for a few days.
Hailing from the nordic northlands of Iceland, Sigur Ros is no stranger to international success. The band has released several solid albums including ( ), Takk…, and most recently, Hvarf-Heim. Their music contains elments of ambient sound, shoegaze, and rock. Many of the songs are very epic both in feel and in length. The vocals are sung in a made up language loosely based on Icelandic that leaves the lyrics to the listener’s imagination, though the music does enough to convey the intended emotion. Also worthy of note is that guitarist Jón Þór Birgisson is one of only a select few who often plays his guitar with a cello bow in true Jimmy Page fashion!
If you like Sigur Ros, try: Mogwai, Radiohead, The Album Leaf, Broken Social Scene, Efterklang
Sigur Ros’ music videos are truly works of art. I chose this one because of how well the video complements the feel of the music. This is “Glosoli” from Takk…
Tobias Fröberg is awesome. Honestly, I don’t know much about this guy other than that he is an Indie folk singer/songwriter from Sweden who has toured with Jose Gonzalez and that his music is a really worthwhile.
As I sit here listening to him, I really can’t figure out why Tobias Froberg isn’t more of a household name among Indie music lovers the world over. His melodies are fun (the kind that usually get you to sing along before you even know the words) and his vocals are moody. His songs are mostly, if not all, based on his acoustic guitar. If you think folk and you just won’t be disappointed.
I think the thing that I like most about Mr. Froberg’s music is his versatility. When he wants to be happy and upbeat, as in “When The Night Turns Cold” he does it convincingly and when he wants to be all sappy and lovey dovey, he does it with the best of them.
Froberg has released two albums, For Elisabeth Wherever You Are and Somewhere in the City. Somewhere in the City is an impressive release, one of those very complete and well-constructed albums that you can listen to all the way through over and over. Have a listen and see for yourself.
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).
One of the great things about 
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