MOONCAKE-Acoustic
They’re Russian!
But there’s so much more to this beautiful, powerful album of acoustic instrumentals. And me, I usually hate instrumentals. They’re usually boring. But Mooncake know exactly what they’re doing.
The album is billed as “post rock,” but honestly I’m not sure what that even means. I hear some soaring prog rock here (especially since there’s a song title that references Arthur C. Clarke), and there’s wonderful use of violin so there’s a little “classical” rock, but there’s nothing cliché about this record. Nothing mainstream, nothing conventional, and certainly nothing bound by genre.
If you’re turned off to these kinds of projects, don’t be. This is easily one of the most wonderful records I’ve heard in a while. You can buy it in all kinds of formats on Bandcamp.
Here’s a video.
JORDAN CARP-Slam Pig
I don’t know what the fuck is up with this album, but it’s terrific. “Let’s Have a Three-Way” sounds like Interpol (but not lyrically: “You said donkey punch! Let’s have a three way!”). “Mister Hipster,” who has all kinds of records, still in their shrinkwrapped sleeve, and whose “screenplay is always in the final stage,” is like a darkly cynical Jonathan Coulton. “Lost At Sea” is an odd song with shades of Peter Gabriel. In fact, a lot of this sounds a little like Peter Gabriel mixed with Coulton. And a little Elvis Costello. He compares himself to Elvis in his press stuff, and I can go with that. Anyway, I am absolutely loving it.
I love the lyrics on “Victim of Life:” “I know you only have one eye/It makes it hard to see me…I still think it’s funny you’ve only got one eye.” And “Cheap Trick,” which is mostly just a chant: “I tricked you into loving me!” I can relate to so much here.
I know it’s only January, but it’s the best thing I’ve heard all year. And yes, Mr. Carp, you can quote that out of context and just include everything after the “but.”
And he gave us permission to give you the entire album!
I’m not gonna, though, because you really oughtta buy it and support this guy.
What I will do, is give you a “best of” the record.
Victim of Life
http://soundowl.com/embed/2k7w
http://soundowl.com/embed/2k7v
Download Jordan Carp Cheap Trick
http://soundowl.com/embed/2k7u
Download Jordan Carp Mister Hipster
And here’s a vid of him live at the Lizard Lounge, doing a cut from an earlier album.
SAD LITTLE MEN-I'll Be the Octopus
Sad Little Men=Indie rock with great lyrics and vocals, bursting out of Portland, Oregon, with a fantastic sound. And apparently it’s just two guys. I guess when you’ve got an amazing drummer, you can sound big with just a little band.
I’m truly lovin’ this.
http://soundowl.com/embed/2erb
Sad Little Men I’ll Be the Octopus
AMORE DE DIAS
Amor de Días (“love of days”) have released their debut album on Merge Records. I’ll pretty much post about anything Merge puts out. AdD includes members of The Clientele and Pipas, and the music is beautiful, complex chamber pop. My only complaint is that the whole albums sounds whispered. With a lead singer willing to push and stretch his voice, these guys would be tremendous.
Stream the full album here.
Check out a video:
RIVERBREAKS-Get You Right
I can’t seem to stop listening to The Riverbreaks, “Get You Right,” a strange hybrid of Americana and experimental indie pop that emphasizes tight songwriting over musical showmanship. There’s no real blazing guitarwork or overpowering vocals–there’s just a team, a band playing together, straight outta D.C.
I can’t believe these guys played The Iota, right in my backyard, and I missed ‘em! Check out a couple songs below, and I bet you’ll dig ‘em, too……
Get it cheap at Amazon.
Download The Riverbreaks DKT
The Riverbreaks DKT
Download The Riverbreaks Piedmont
The Riverbreaks Piedmont
RAE SPOON-I Can't Keep All Of Our Secrets
Here’s one that almost made my best of 2011 lists. In fact, I think I’ll tag it accordingly, even though it just didn’t edge out the competition.
Rae Spoon, formerly of Saved By Radio, operates out of Montreal and makes mellow indie electronica that recalls the best non-dance Sinead O’Connor tracks. I guess I’ll mention taht Rae is transgendered because all the press releases say that–but I don’t see how it matters. The music is what matters. And it’s tremendously deep and soulful–something rare for electronic music, frankly.
Download Rae Spoon Ghost Of A Boy
Rae Spoon Ghost Of A Boy
Download Rae Spoon Are You Jealous Of The Dead?
Rae Spoon Are You Jealous Of The Dead?
Here’s Rae covering “All the Single Ladies.”
(NOT) THE TOP 10 INDIE ALBUMS OF 2011
I already posted my top 10 albums of 2011 list. These here? They’re the next ten, the runners up, numbers 11-20, whatever you wanna call it. They just ain’t the top 10 indie albums of 2011. Just damn close.
I must listen to between five and ten new records every week. Times that by 52 and you get…A shitload of records. About 15% of those get a review or a mention on my site. Those get tucked away in a neat little “2011″ playlist on my iPod, which I listen to from time to time throughout the year. If you survive the year, you get to be a candidate for my end-of-the-year “Best Of” list. If you survive the candidate selection, but don’t get on the list, you may get to go here, on this list, the “bubbling under” ten.
10. CyHi the Prince-Jack of All Trades.
Fantastic mixtape from the ATL.
9. Edubble-Written Thursdays.
I can’t believe this guy is still underground. Get it here.
8. Imaginary Cities-Temporary Resident.
A totally beautiful record.
7. Rademacher-Babyhawk.
These guys never do no wrong. Check ‘em out on Bandcamp.
6. Javelin-Canyon Candy.
Alt-country electronica. Wild. Check it out here.
5. Death Grips-Exmilitary
Angriest album of the year. Motherfuckers sample Arthur Brown, too. Is this industrial rage? Rap? The hardest rock you’ve ever heard? Or just some insane preacher with a backbeat? No idea.
Get it free here, but don’t say I didn’t warn you: This is an extremely disturbing record.
4. Ultramods-Underwear Party. A little farther down, you’re gonna read that Kurt Vile is the new Lou Reed. Well, Ultramods are the old Lou Reed singing in the modern day: Odd, rap/rants about life in the digital age. Check it out here. Entire thing was recorded on an iPad.
3. Papoose-Law Library.
It’s a mixtape of raps about various felonies–defining them, discussing them…Witty, and smart. You find a link here.
2. Kurt Vile-Smoke Rings for My Halo (+So Out Of Reach EP).
Kurt Vile is the new Lou Reed, no shit. Not only did he release a great album this year, but he followed it up with an EP of outtakes that were just as good…And even delivered a cover of Springsteen’s Downbound Train!
You can buy the set here.
The Creature (from so out of reach)
1. Colin Hay-Gathering Mercury.
The man’s been pumping out amazing songs for three decades, and he’s still brilliant. Is it blasphemy to say I like him better than Bob Dylan? Probably. But I don’t care.
THE 10 BEST INDIE RECORDS OF 2011
There was some real good indie rock this year. But, surprisingly, there was a ton of good hip hop as well. Usually there’s a few rap records on my list, and the rest are rock. But 2011 was a good year for rap. Truly. Every year, folks complain about how there’s not good hip hop anymore, and usually they’re right. But this year is an exception.
Even the major labels managed to get a few things right. Eminem and Royce knocked it out of the park. Kanye and Jay-Z’s album didn’t suck as hard as it could have. Granted, it avoided creative, deft lyricism in favor of slick production, and generally wasn’t about anything, but it was fun to listen to. It was like potato chips: Temporarily filling and fun to eat. The Beastie Boys’ record was better–not the best they’ve done, but better than you’d expect. Couple that with strong releases from Pusha T and Royce Da 5’9″, and that’s about as good as it gets for releases on the major labels–albums that have to make money also have to avoid surprises, so it wasn’t that bad.
But we’re not really about that, are we? This site is all about independence from the RIAA; freedom from commercial bondage; and getting the name of the little guy out there. So what was good on the indie front this year? Lots. So many, I can’t keep it to a top 10 list.
And soon I’ll be posting the runner-ups, too, so if you’ve already got these but you want to get some new tunes, make sure you don’t miss it. Now, hit the break for my list.
(more…)
TOP 10 INDIE EPs and SINGLES OF 2011
Here’s my list. Let’s do this.
10. SCOUT-Pi
A sweet, simple EP.
9. SELF SCIENTIFIC-Trials of the Blackhearted
An EP with Big K.R.I.T., Talib Kweli, Freddie Gibbs, Game….And the shit’s free?!?
8. MOTHA FOLKIN’ SOUL-Self Titled.
Hilarious, rated X, irreverent, catchy and well-written. Awesome debut. Here’s the review.
7. GRYNCH-Timeless EP
“All I Wanna Do” is as good as “My Volvo.” Word.
Get it here, free.
6. KREAYSHAWN-Gucci Gucci
Pretty much as soon as this dropped, this Brooklyn chick got picked up by the Majors. Let’s hope she’s got more in her than one song, a la Fannypack’s “Cameltoe.”
Turn the page for #s 1-5!
FAMILY LUMBER-Look to the Sidelines (EP)
Have you ever heard anything like Family Lumber before? Yes. Does that mean it’s not worth checking them out? Hell to the No. It’s indie rock–the kind you expect to hear when you hear the term–but it’s done extremely well. Heavy texture, lead vocals that tend to hide in plain sight, strong songwriting, relentless guitar licks, a little quirkiness…
Amazon’s got it for under four bucks. How can you go wrong with that? Wait! I know! You could get it at Bandcamp for a buck less!
Or, you could a song for free….
