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!
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.
"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!
I’ve been meaning to get a review on Rilo Kiley up for a long time, it just took acutally seeing them live with Modest Mouse and Matt Costa to push me over the edge and make sure that I do all that I can to let you know about these guys.
Whether or not you have ever heard of Rilo Kiley as a band, you are probably familiar with some of the band members from other places, especially if you were born in the 80’s and grew up in the U.S. Lead singer Jenny Lewis was in The Wizard, a classic film for any kid who anxiously awaited the release of Super Mario Bros. 3. Lewis also contributed backup vocals to The Postal Service. Guitarist Blake Sennett (the guy with the red boutonniere in the photo) was on Nickelodeon’s Salute Your Shorts and Boy meets World. That’s right, you knew you recognized him from somewhere. Also, maybe you have heard of The Elected? That’s Rilo Kiley without Jenny Lewis.
Rilo Kiley is currently touring to support their most recent album Under The Blacklight. Their sound has changed a little throughout the years but they still deliver that relaxed Indie rock feel that has been their trademark. They’re a little more rock than folk and definitely worth a listen!
If you like Rilo Kiley, try: The Decemberists, Death Cab For Cutie, The Elected, Bright Eyes.
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.
"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.
I’ve been meaning to get a review on Rilo Kiley up for a long time, it just took acutally seeing them live with 
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