Three for Wednesday: Uniform Motion, Charlie Alex March, The Heligoats

Uniform Motion

Uniform Motion was first described to me as "our favorite Anglo-French illustrated indie folk band," and I suppose since I have no other Anglo-French indie folk bands to compare them to, they've become mine as well. But speaking less specifically, Uniform Motion has recently released a lovely album called Life that I think just about anyone would enjoy no matter the comparisons. The group's smooth and subtle sound isn't just easy on the ears, it's filled with soft hooks and engaging melodies that make the eight tracks of the record pass far too quickly. The delicate harmonies comprising opener "Saving Up For Sundays" and the more upbeat pop of "Roll Over" are two great examples of what makes this band and this record worthy of our time and attention.

Check out a video for "Saving Up For Sundays" below:

Saving up for Sundays from Uniform Motion on Vimeo.

MySpace


Charlie Alex March

"It's a beautiful glockenspiel and string-led instrumental that gently comes and goes in under three minutes. Delightful." So said David Bowie of one of UK musician/producer Charlie Alex March's previously released songs, and while I don't know which song it was, similar praise could appropriately be ascribed to much of March's full-length debut, Home/Hidden. Mixing cool electronic elements with warm strings and percussion, March creates relaxing, yet intriguing soundscapes over the 31 minutes of his new record. And while it's not, due to its subdued nature, an album that is likely to garner much attention this year, it's a shame that it will be overlooked by so many because the music is truly gorgeous. Highlights include the spacey, clap-happy "Cortot N° 7," it's majestic counterpart "Cortot N° 6" and the spare piano number "Son of a Joe."

Cortot N° 6 (MP3)

MySpace


The Heligoats

They've now been around for over ten years, but The Heligoats have kept a low profile for the entirety of their existence. Led by Chris Otepka, the band has taken various forms over the years, sometimes existing as a solo project for Otepka outside his former main gig, Troubled Hubble. I haven't heard their earlier material, but I can certainly recommend the group's latest, Goodness Gracious, a solid indie rock record with strangely compelling songwriting and hooks to spare. Whether playing earnest power-pop ("Fishsticks") or delicate balladry ("Goodness Gracious"), Otepka's even tenor voice and unique musical personality make for a winning combination and provide plenty of reasons to listen again and again. Ten years is far too long, don't let these guys go undiscovered any longer.

Fish Sticks (MP3)

MySpace

Three for...Friday: Golden Shoulders, Olafur Arnalds, General Elektriks

If you aren't too busy hitting the stores today for your Christmas shopping, check out these three fine artists/bands that may have escaped your attention thus far:

Golden Shoulders -

California indie-rockers Golden Shoulders are another of those bands that have flown under the radar for much of their 7-year existence. Their third album, Get Reasonable, has received more attention than their previous work, and for good reason, it's a solid rock record with slight retro leanings and an almost punk attitude that provides some undeniably great tunes. First single and opening track "Mountain" (available below) is a fine introduction that fits squarely in the middle of the band's sound. It's driven and rockin' one moment, then jangly and soulful the next, with singer/songwriter Adam Kline's scruffy tenor voice (like a rougher Brendan Benson or maybe that guy from SR-71) leading the way. In fact, Kline is really the only permanent member of this rotating cast - which at one time included the great Joanna Newsom - though it seems as if the band has congealed somewhat lately. But that hasn't stopped Get Reasonable from being an enjoyable varied selection of songs in which Kline shines brightest, creating unassuming yet compelling highlights like the spacey ballad "Golden States" and the power-pop track "Unconcerned Is Not Impressive Anymore."

Mountain (MP3)

MySpace


Ólafur Arnalds -

I recently discovered Icelandic artist Ólafur Arnalds at almost exactly the time when I found out about fellow Icelander Ólöf Arnalds (who I featured recently over at In Review Online). The two names were so similar I did a double take, but the musicians have very differing styles and both are excellent. Ólafur Arnalds is a multi-instrumentalist that has apparently been involved in a variety of projects over the years, but currently creates beautiful instrumental music under his own name. His latest, a short album entitled Found Songs, was released a song at a time on Twitter with artwork from fans contributed through Flikr, a neat gimmick but one that isn't nearly as impressive as the music itself. Arnalds' intricate yet mostly simple neo-classic arrangements are striking, with delicate piano and stirring strings serving as his primary compositional elements, at least on this album. From the solitary piano of opener "Erla's Waltz" to the hopefully-hued violin duet "Ljósið," Arnalds casts a spell of quiet contemplation that consistently conveys more emotion than you might expect possible from such a restrained style. Truly beautiful.

Ólafur Arnalds - Ljósið (Official Music Video) from Erased Tapes on Vimeo.

MySpace

General Elektriks -

Listening to the latest album from General Elektriks, Good City for Dreamers, it's not immediately clear that the project is the work of one man named Hervé “RV” Salters, a French national with a thing for vintage keyboards and danceable pop tunes. His sophomore effort is an eclectic mix of synth-rock, funk and R&B that sounds like it would have of necessity been inspired by more than just one man's musical influences. A look at his list of favorite albums - ranging from The Beatles' Revolver to The Beastie Boys' Check Your Head to Marvin Gaye's Here My Dear - may give his far-reaching approach some context, but the breadth of styles RV comes up with on Good City is head-spinning. There's groovy white-boy funk ("Take Back the Instant"), drowsy psychedelic ballads ("Cottons of Inertia"), and bits of dark retro-pop ("Rebel Sun") that somehow combine to form a whole that's still consistently satisfying. In addition to RV's signature keyboard playing, he uses string and horn arrangements, electric guitars, and even - on "Helicopter" - a children's choir to give life to these fun, fresh tunes. Definitely recommended for those indie kids who prefer the more dance-inspired side of the genre.

Take Back the Instant (MP3)

MySpace

Review: Hockey - Mind Chaos (* * * *)

Portland dance-rock band Hockey may be new to the scene, but they've already covered quite a bit of ground. They've toured on either side of the Atlantic, appearing on both the Jools Holland show and Jimmy Fallon, and created all sorts of well-deserved buzz on early singles like the infectious "Too Fake." After hearing a few tunes from the band, I was excited to get my hands on a copy of their debut album - Mind Chaos - which was recently released and mostly delivers on the sizable amount of hype with a healthy dose of both understated electro-funk and guitar-fueled punk-rock. The two genres blend together smoothly and with some excellent results, showing Hockey as a confident and talented bunch of newcomers that will probably appeal to indie kids and the more radio-friendly crowd as well.

The aforementioned "Too Fake" begins the album on perhaps its highest point. It's the perfect example of how well the band's LCD Soundsystem via The Clash style can work, with some simple digital programming under an equally simple guitar/drum/bass attack and singer Benjamin Grubin's appealingly cocky croon that grabs hold during the song's explosive chorus. Throughout the record, Hockey's frontman remains appropriately in the spotlight, spouting too-cool lines like "I've got too much soul for the world" and "I stole my personality from an anonymous source/and I'm getting paid for it too/I don't feel bad about that" with stylish casualness at times and eager sincerity at others, usually finding the perfect balance between the two. That's not to discredit the band, who keep it mostly straightforward but with the right hooks in all the right places, making tracks like the 80's pop groove of "Song Away" and the gospel-meets-funk of "Preacher" (just to name a couple) so fun, danceable, and impossibly catchy.

The album's more diverse second half doesn't quite coalesce like the first five tracks (which are all great), but even the songs that feel a bit out of place - like the folky "Four Holy Photos" - succeed well enough not to merit a serious complaint, especially considering the general strength of the 11 tunes comprising this solid debut. Hockey is off to a fantastic start with Mind Chaos, a fun and fresh rock album with punk energy and pop intelligence. It almost seems too easy to love, too obvious or simple perhaps, but even after spending some serious time with the album, I can't help but feel that this pleasure is anything but guilty. Definitely expect to be hearing much more about these guys soon.

MySpace

Three for...Thursday: Zoos of Berlin, Netherfriends, Nancy Elizabeth

Zoos of Berlin -

Detroit quartet Zoos of Berlin may only have one full-length album under their belt - Taxis - but they have the sound of a band with much more maturity and experience. Their brand of indie rock has an almost elegant, stately feel to it - incorporating elements of jazz, soul, and classic pop - though the band is more than willing to up the tempo and volume when the occasion calls for it. The boys have a solid debut on their hands that they recorded, produced and released themselves this year - from which I recommend the driving "Black In the Sun Room," the lengthy, multifaceted "Juan Matus" and the disco-esque "Electrical Way" to start. The smooth blend of influences and ideas on Taxis results in an album that's often subtle but quite dynamic and consistently intriguing, with plenty to be discovered upon multiple listens. Definitely give these guys a shot.

Zoos of Berlin, "Black in the Sun Room" from Adam Lonczynski on Vimeo.

MySpace


Netherfriends -

Also new on the scene are Chicago psych-pop trio Netherfriends, whose new EP, Calling You Out, was released earlier this year. It's difficult to really describe or classify the group, though they touch on elements of freak-folk, noise-pop, and even a little of the Caribbean vibe that's been going around recently. Their six-song EP shows an ambitious and energetic band with the talent to pull off their almost casually experimental sound stuffed with various guitars, percussion and synth under singer Shawn Rosenblatt's off-kilter tenor voice. There are a generous amount of excellent pop moments on the album, including the anti-pervert song "Really?," which bounces between busy guitar and drum attacks and moments relative calm with little more than vocals to propel the song forward (think early Animal Collective). My other recommendations would be the messy, tribal "Nunya" and the especially melodic closer "Don't Invite Me."

Daytrotter Sessions Concert (highly recommended!)

MySpace


Nancy Elizabeth -

British singer/songwriter Nancy Elizabeth might not be on your radar yet, but I'm thinking it's only a matter of time before we all start hearing much more about her. Her strong, emotional voice and songwriting style put her somewhere between Natasha Khan and Joanna Newsom, though she's certainly got a sound all her own. Her sophomore album, Wrought Iron, was released recently and has given me a welcome introduction to this talented songstress. First single "Feet of Courage" is probably the best showcase of her talent and appeal - a slowly building number that features soft tribal percussion and Elizabeth's haunting voice as the primary instruments while other subtle establishments work their way into the gentle climax. Most of the album follows a similarly restrained pattern that rarely gets loud or complex, but even on the most delicate and sparse of songs ("Ruins," for example), Elizabeth manages to captivate.

Nancy Elizabeth - Feet Of Courage from Leaf Label on Vimeo.

MySpace

Motel Motel cuts new video, offers free tunes

From their debut album, New Denver, Motel Motel have recently finished their video for the first single entitled "Coffee." The band's rustic alt-country sound serves as an interesting backdrop for the dark, eerie Adam and Eve tale that unfolds during the video's five minutes, which you can see below.

Motel Motel - Coffee (Official Video) - dissentfilms.com from Matthew Murphy on Vimeo.

Also, if you haven't previously been introduced to the group, you can download "Coffee" below as well as a non-album cut, "Cowboy." Both are excellent songs and should give you a good idea of why their debut has been so well-received. The band blend earthy folk with indie rock in a way that makes me think you'll be hearing much more about them in the future, so you might as well take the time to hear them now. If you need more info, check out MySpace or the band's recent Daytrotter Session which is fantastic.

Coffee (MP3)

Cowboy (MP3)

New Death Cab for Cutie video: Little Bribes

From their recent EP, Open Doors, Death Cab for Cutie have released a video for the upbeat single "Little Bribes." The unique, stop-motion video was directed by Ross Ching, a self-proclaimed Death Cab fan who apparently made the video himself, posted it on his website, and caught the attention of the band who loved it so much they decided to make it the official music video for their song. It's certainly worth a look, so check out the link below.

Little Bribes (video link)

Also, here's a list of tour dates you might be interested in:

July 5 - Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
July 11 - Greek Theatre - Berkeley, CA
July 12 - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino - Reno, NV
July 13 - Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre - Salt Lake City, UT
July 14 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
July 16 - Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC
July 17 - Edgefield Manor - Troutdale, OR
July 18 - Marymoor Park - Redmond, WA
July 19 - Marymoor Park - Redmond, WA

Review: Black Moth Super Rainbow - Eating Us (* * * 1/2)

Psych-pop group Black Moth Super Rainbow bring their hazy, vocoder-heavy rock style back again with Eating Us, the follow-up to 2007's bizarre folk album, Dandelion Gum. The band is known not only for their musical uniqueness but also for their eccentric performances and stage names (Power Pill Fist, Father Hummingbird, etc) which add another level to the group's strange mystique. It's not all just fancy tricks and gimmicks, however, BMSR create some truly interesting and compelling music and while Eating Us may not impress as thoroughly as their earlier work, it contains some very strong material within its twelve tracks.

Eating Us seems to have been made, quite intentionally, to defy most pop music conventions. Verses and choruses blend together if they occur at all, songs stick to simple structures that occasionally go nowhere, and rarely is there a strong hook, instrumental or otherwise, to be found among the record's 35 minutes. Still, the whole project is strangely compelling and fascinating as much because of the BMSR's odd musical identity as the album is in spite of it. The first half of the record is clearly the more consistent and engaging, starting with the relatively more substantial "Born On A Day The Sun Didn't Rise" and "Dark Bubbles," the former of which is among the tracks that follow a slightly more familiar song structure. My personal favorite is the pleasantly psychedelic "Twin of Myself," in which sparkles with layers of synths and keys and is perhaps the album's most immediate moment.

By the end of Eating Us, some of the songs may start to feel a little redundant, though the excellent, banjo-led "American Face Dust" gives the back end a much-needed kick. After a few spins, it's easier to differentiate the tracks and to enjoy the subtle, hazy style that Black Moth Super Rainbow has made all their own, so take the time to get familiar with the album if you really want to get the most out of it. Check out the material below for an album preview:

Download: "Born On A Day The Sun Didn't Rise"

Watch the interactive video: "Dark Bubbles"

New and Notable: Suckers

Suckers, the New York-based experimental rock quartet, have been making some big waves recently after releasing their self-titled debut EP a month or so ago. If you haven't been introduced by now, I imagine you'll start to hear much more about these guys in short while as they've got much of the blogosphere all worked up with their adventurous and delightfully strange electro-rock sound. The group is led by Quinn Walker, who a friend of mine has constantly insisted made one of 2008's best records, though all four members sing and play a variety of instruments. I've been hearing some '2009's MGMT' type of comparisons being made, and while there certainly are some stylistic similarities, Suckers are charting their own twisted pop music path that's just as compelling as any new band to come along this year.

The four songs of Suckers feature a variety of synthetic and organic instrumentation all wrapped around joyously delivered and emotionally charged vocals. The tracks generally shy away from outright danceable rhythms behind the melodies, instead they wind around constantly shifting tempos and stylistic transitions that keep the music consistently surprising and entertaining. Lead track "It Gets Your Body Movin' " slowly builds momentum with blaring horns, crashing cymbals, and muted guitar until it erupts in a cacophonous mess of instruments, while "Afterthoughts & TV" bounces along gently and melodically with the occasional burst of noise to shake things up. Personal favorite "Chairs" closes the EP with group chants and sparkly piano in an enjoyably bizarre rock tune.

Good stuff below to download and stream, so get a free song and check out the videos to hear more from this legitimately exciting band.

It Gets Your Body Movin' (MP3)

It Gets Your Body Movin' (Live Video)

Easy Chairs (Music Video)

Suckers on MySpace

Hockey to re-release "Mind Chaos" this summer

Hockey, a four-piece dance-rock band from Portland, are getting set to re-release their debut album, Mind Chaos, this summer after having self released the record last year. The group's infectious pop sound takes the funk and danceability of classic soul and pop music and combines it with synths, drum machine, and a gritty rock 'n' roll attitude that make songs like the first single, "Too Fake," such a compelling listen. These guys seem poised to conquer the indie scene, so do yourself a favor and get familiar with them now.

You can watch the video for "Too Fake" below and you should head over to the band's MySpace to hear a few more tracks. Also, check out this article on guardian.co.uk in which Hockey are quite literally listed as the next big thing.

Too Fake (Video)


The band are heading overseas to conquer Europe after a few dates in California:

4/14 - Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA *
4/15 - The Loft @ UCSD - San Diego, CA *
4/16 - Cellar Door - Visalia, CA #
4/17 - Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA #
4/24 - The Roundhouse (MTV "Camden Crawl") - Camden, UK
4/25 - Bristol University - Bristol, UK *
4/27 - Manchester Academy 2 - Manchester, UK *
4/28 - Wulfrun Hall - Wolverhampton, UK *
4/29 - Waterfront - Norwich, UK *
4/30 - Forum - London, UK *
5/1 - Southampton University - Southampton, UK *
5/2 - Digital - Brighton, UK *
5/3 - Custard Factory - Birmingham, UK *
5/5 - Leeds Met University - Leeds, UK *
5/6 - Studio 24 - Edinburgh, UK *
5/7 - OMU - Glasgow, UK *
5/8 - Red Room - Nottingham, UK #
5/11 - Black and White @ Plug & Play - Reading, UK #
5/12 - Clwb Ifor Bach - Cardiff, UK #
5/13 - The Cellars - Portsmouth, UK #
5/14 - The Great Escape - Brighton, UK #
5/16 - The Great Escape - Brighton, UK #
5/24 - Sasquatch Music Festival @ The Gorge - Quincy, WA
6/11 - Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival - Manchester, TN

* w/ Friendly Fires
# Headlining date

Silversun Pickups preview new album, unveil video for "Panic Switch

Though it's become much easier these days to get an earlier-than-intended listen to most big albums, it's been nice to have a legal way to preview some of this year's most anticipated releases. Silversun Pickups have thankfully allowed their upcoming album, Swoon, to be available to hear in its entirety at MTV's The Leak this week, leading up to the record's April 14th release date. From what I've heard so far, the wait has been worth it.

Also, though I'm sure you've already been listening obsessively to the first single, "Panic Switch," the colorfully claustrophobic video is now up, which you can see below.

Cursive's "From the Hips" video

Cursive has recently put up their video for "From the Hips," which you can see below. The song is one of my favorites from their new album Mama, I'm Swollen, and I think the video is worth a look too:




Oh, and here's some tour dates starting in April:

APR. 24 ST. LOUIS, MO THE FIREBIRD
APR. 25 MEMPHIS, TN HI TONE
APR. 26 NASHVILLE, TN MERCY LOUNGE*
APR. 27 BIRMINGHAM, AL BOTTLETREE*
APR. 28 PENSACOLA, FL SLUGGOS*
APR. 29 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL*
APR. 30 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL*
MAY 1 ATLANTA, GA VARIETY PLAYHOUSE*
MAY 2 CARRBORO, NC CAT'S CRADLE*
MAY 3 WASHINGTON, DC BLACK CAT*
MAY 4 STATE COLLEGE, PA THE STATE THEATRE*
MAY 5 PITTSBURGH, PA DIESEL*
MAY 6 DETROIT, MI MAGIC STICK*
MAY 7 MILWAUKEE, WI TURNER HALL
MAY 8 MINNEAPOLIS, MN FIRST AVENUE
MAY 9 CHICAGO, IL BOTTOM LOUNGE
*with MAN MAN

Great Lake Swimmers release new LP tomorrow!

This is very good news that you hopefully have heard by now, but for the unaware, Great Lake Swimmers have a new album out tomorrow entitled Lost Channels. The record is a followup to the band's excellent 2007 release, Ongiara. The new single, "Pulling on a Line" is an extremely infectious alt-folk tune with banjo and mandolin adding a sweet touch to frontman Tony Dekker's world-weary tenor voice. You can check out the video for the song below.

Keep an eye out for Great Lake Swimmers on tour in support of their new album, tour dates below as well.





Great Lake Swimmers Lost Channels US Spring Tour 2009:
Mar 31 - Seattle @ The Tractor Tavern
Apr 01 - Portland @ Doug Fir
Apr 03 - San Francisco @ The Bottom of the Hill
Apr 04 - Los Angeles @ Spaceland
Apr 05 - Tucson @ Plush
Apr 07 - Austin @ Stubbs Bar-B-Q
Apr 08 - Denton @ Hailey's
Apr 10 - Atlanta @ The Earl
Apr 11 - Asheville @ The Earl (all ages)
Apr 13 - Charlottesville @ Gravity Lounge
Apr 14 - Washington @ Black Cat
Apr 15 - Philadelphia @ Johnny Brenda's
Apr 16 - Northampton @ Iron Horse Music Hall
Apr 17 - New York City @ The Bowery Ballroom
Apr 18 - Cambridge @ The Brattle Theater
Apr 20 - Newport @ The Southgate House
Apr 21 - Chicago @ Schubas
Apr 22 - Minneapolis @ 7th Street Entry
Apr 23 - Madison @ High Noon Saloon

Still Flyin' preps new album, adds tour dates

San Fransisco's Still Flyin' is less of a band and more of a mob, a group of fifteen (or more) musicians led by Sean Rawls that redefine the term party-rock. The group have a new album on the way, entitled Never Gonna Touch the Ground, which will be released April 21st. You can download "The Hott Chord is Struck" below, an electrifying, danceable groove with a bit of a disco streak featuring horns, layers of percussion, and a slinky bass line. You can also see the video for the equally great "Good Thing It's A Ghost Town Around Here." If the rest of the album is this solid, I imagine we'll be hearing quite a bit about these guys around the blogosphere soon.

The Hott Chord is Struck (MP3)

The band also have a tour starting tomorrow, dates below:

3/18 @ 7pm - Austin, TX Ms. Bea's / Todd P & NY Noise Party
3/18 @ 11:30pm - Austin, TX Club 1808
3/19 @ 5:30pm - Austin, TX Red House Pizzeria / Music For Listeners & Moshi Moshi Party
3/19 @ 2:40am - Austin, TX Ms. Bea's Yard (Thu. Night / Fri. Morning)
3/20 @ 2:45pm - Austin, TX Home Slice Pizza
3/20 @ 1am - Austin, TX The Independent
3/21 @ 1:10 - Austin, TX Side Bar / 40 Watt Party
3/21 @ 3:15 - Austin, TX Lamberts
4.3.09 Brooklyn NY Union Hall
4.4.09 Boston MA PA's Lounge
4.5.09 New York NY The Cake Shop
4.6.09 Philadelphia PA Johnny Brenda's
4.7.09 Baltimore, MD Zodiac
4.8.09 Columbus, OH Carabar
4.9.09 Lexington, KY Al's Bar
4.10.09 Chicago, IL Abbey Pub
5.8.09 Sacramento, CA Blue Lamp
5.9.09 San Francisco, CA Cafe Du Nord

New Winter Gloves video for "Let Me Drive"

Montreal-based quartet quartet Winter Gloves have released a new video for their tune "Let Me Drive." I'm not much of a music video junkie, but this one by director Benjamin Weinstein, is worth a look. You can view the video in all of it's flip-book glory below.


Winter Gloves - Let Me Drive from Paper Bag Records on Vimeo.

The band was originally started as a solo project of singer/songwriter Charles F., but Winter Gloves soon evolved into a four-piece group that includes Pat Sayers (drums), Vincent Chalifour (synth) and Jean-Michel Pigeon (guitar/glockenspiel). The band have a new album, entitled About A Girl, due out on March 24 through Paper Bag Records.

M. Ward previews new album, Hold Time

NPR started streaming M. Ward's entire upcoming album, Hold Time, last night at midnight ET!

Of course you should check it out.

Because it's awesome, that's why.

Seriously, though, go listen.

You can also still hear Andrew Bird's upcoming Noble Beast, and NPR will have Animal Collective's latest there next week (though chances are you've heard it already). So make sure you check back here or there often to get the latest.

Lastly, check out M. Ward's video for the song "Hold Time."

New Artist/MP3: East Hundred

This five-piece band from Philadelphia are composed of brothers Brooke and Will Blair (on guitars and drums, respectively), Brooke's ex-girlfriend Beril Guceri singing, and the Blairs' good friends David Sunderland on bass and Susan Gager on Keys. It looks like a recipe for inter-band drama, and it was, as Brooke and Beril broke up midway through making the group's first album, Passesnger, to be released this week. Fortunately for them (and for us), "rather than derail the recording process...the resultant heartache and awkwardness produced a flood of new material and what was intended to be a minor EP soon became a full-fledged album," according to the band's bio.

The nine tracks on East Hundred's debut LP range from straightforward alt-rock tunes like opener "Slow Burning Crimes" and "Dear Blue" to the more delicate, indie shoegaze sound of "Sigh and Wave." The album has some great moments, especially "Autopilot," with its excellent mix of shimmering guitars and Guceri's clear, strong vocals and the haunting, meloncholy closer, "Afterlove." The band definitely have a knack for writing melodic pop rock tunes that grow with each spin. Get yourself introduced by downloading "Slow Burning Crimes" below and make sure to check out the video as well.

Slow Burning Crimes - MP3

Slow Burning Crimes - watch the video


Track listing for Passenger:
1. Slow Burning Crimes
2. Plus Minus
3. Deadpan
4. Autopilot
5. Pony
6. Along The Way
7. Dear Blue
8. Sigh And Wave
9. Afterlove

Music Video - Butch Walker - The Weight Of Her

"The Weight Of Her" is the first single from Butch Walker's most recent release, Sycamore Meadows, a great singer/songwriter record I reviewed a couple weeks ago. The video for the song follows Butch as he is held hostage by a sexy gas-station robber played by Taryn Manning. Though I'm not usually all about music videos, this is a surprisingly charming and fun story backed by an even better song. Check it out below:

New Artist: Ed Laurie

I briefly mentioned Ed Laurie a few weeks ago, but he's recently popped up on my radar again. This guy has some serious potential and for folk fanatics (like myself) he's an artist worth looking into. Check out this cool widget that gives you the opportunity to listen to a song, purchase the album, etc.



Also, here are a couple videos you should take the time to see.

"I See No End" (Video) on Imeem

"Meanwhile In The Park" (Video) on Death + Taxes

New Single: Annuals - Confessor

I realize that the album has already dropped, but for those of you who haven't heard the Annuals first single "Confessor" from Such Fun, you should check it out here. It's a melodic, breezy tune with great harmonies and dynamics.

Confessor - Annuals (MP3)

Also, while music videos aren't generally something I get excited about, Annuals take a different approach, using their songs as the background for animated stories. Here is the video for "Confessor;" you should also check out the video for "Sore" on the same YouTube channel.

Confessor - Annuals (YouTube video)