Briefly:
Florence + The Machine “Shake It Out”: unabashedly bombastic! Big ups for bringing it to my attention to my cousin Amber Caparas, a talented singer/songwriter in her own right (click HERE)
All Mankind “Simple Desire”: U2-influenced and lovely
Founds “Gypsy Horse”; Brisbane Australia sextet evokes Siouxsie And The Banshees by way of Taken By Trees
mailman john “Stop This Song”: just when the creepy tale get’s interesting, they “Stop This Song!!”
Mates of State “Maracas”: this band has gotten very slick in the 5 years since I first heard them….why it’s called “Maracas,” IDK…
Fallulah “Only Human”: yet another Scandinavian chanteuse, this one from Denmark. Has that hiccup that calls to mind Martha Davis of The Motels
Wild Flag “Romance”: a female indie supergroup, representing Sleater-Kinney, the Minders and Helium. 80’s-ish garage.
St. Vincent “Cruel”: much bouncier and more lively that her trippy “Surgeon,” which I also loved.
Remi Nicole “Rock N Roll”: an old one, from 2007, cuz it hit me just the right way…..
French Films “Convict”: quintet from Finland puts “French” in their name and sounds like California surf music.
Matt & Kim (w/ Soulja Boy and Andrew WK) “I’m a Goner”: you had me at Matt & Kim; now I have a fave Soulja Boy song and a favorite Andrew WK song!
ZakeE “Snakes”: he’s a DJ, so he “remixed” the ‘ish out of his own track. Give it a try or two.
Blitzen Trapper “Astronaut”: people think I’ve lost my mind; I didn’t like this 70’s country rock in the 70’s, but this Portland, OR six-piece soars.
Birdy “People Help The People”: a cover of a song I didn’t know with an angelic vocal by an unknown 15 year old. not unknown for long.
Gotye w/ Kimbra “Somebody That I used To Know”: this song tells a story like a movie, and now I want to see the movie! Kimbra triples an already great song.
Feist “How Come You Never Go There”: Feist. ’nuff said.
Ryan Adams “Chains of Love”: the most prolific recording artist of our time revisits his alt-folk/country origins…..
Cameras “Defeatist”: Joy Division -> Interpol -> Editors -> Cameras (from Australia)
Long Lost Sun “Right Light”: yet another boy/girl electronic duo, this one from South England. She sounds like Ellie Goulding, not a bad thing….
