Sunny Day Sets Fire

I've been wanting to post today's songs for a while now but never really got around to doing it. They come from a London based band called Sunny Day Sets Fire. And I gotta tell you, the name fits the band and their music style really well. They make the sort of happy-clappy, foot-tappy sound. It really sucks at times hearing a band when they are first starting out since they have so little material to hear. But its also a good thing knowing you are in on the ground floor for something that you just know is going to be great. I've seen Neutral Milk Hotel tossed around on some blogs talking about this band, but I don't really see the comparison that much. This band is good, but I for one don't toss around those three words lightly to compare anyone. Course, a friend one time got me to first listen to the Decemberists by saying they're the second coming of NMH, so who knows, lol? Anyways, today's tracks are good, really good. Enjoy!

MP3: Sunny Day Sets Fire - Wilderness

MP3: Sunny Day Sets Fire - Brainless (my fave, naturally!)

Join them on myspace and check out their homepage here.

Tap Tap

Tap Tap play that sort of sound that has been promoted pretty heavily by the blogosphere over the past year or so (re: CYHSY, Oh No! Oh My!, etc), but don't let that turn you off to just how good this band is (or those others for that matter, lol). Hailing from the United Kingdom, these boys make some seriously good songs that stay with you even after the song's over. I've found myself listening to this album almost non-stop since I got it, and putting 100,000 Thoughts on repeat for hours. Head over to their myspace to sign up as a friend and of course head over to Catbird Records and buy their debut album, Lanzafame, I guarantee it will eat up a good portion of your summer listening, promise!

MP3: Tap Tap - 100,000 Thoughts

Golden Bear

Today's post is one of the most dearest to my heart so far in terms of how important it is to me. Several months ago Golden Bear asked for my friendship on myspace, well with the deluge of friend requests I get from bands I don't always get the chance to take a listen as quickly as I'd like. As a matter of fact sometimes, the name or the biopic are usually all I go on as to whether to check out the site and approve said request or not. I was however definitely intrigued by their myspace photo of the band in what looks like monk's robes in a field, but still it took at least a few weeks before I got around to tracking down the 'Bear and finally listening to their sound. My first listen of them was definitely one of those moments where you hear something that you KNOW you are going to love just from the first chords that reach your ears. This six member group have a sound not unlike My Morning Jacket, maybe mixed with a slightly less weird Flaming Lips (a little, its there, I swear). That might be a bit trite to compare them to, since both Golden Bear and MMJ sort of mine that 70's classic rock vibe. But there's nothing wrong in that at all. In fact, one of the things I love most in music is hearing something that all at once sounds familiar and completely new at the same time. That's the sound that Golden Bear captures. Something based on familiarity but with enough freshness to make even the most jaded of indie hipster raise an eyebrow and rethink previously held notions about what music is cool and what isn't. Golden Bear's bio states "Galactic-Forest Rock", and I don't think there is an easier way to describe their sound. I gotta say with the number of bands today (MMJ, Hockeynight, Grandaddy) mining those arena rock bands of the 70's, it could be the start of an even bigger trend to come in the future. And that's a good thing. Golden Bear's debut full length drops next Tuesday on C-Side Records. Links for getting your own copy can be found there and while you're in a link-clicking mood, Golden Bear could use some more friends on myspace. Here's 3 songs from their self-titled debut.

MP3: Golden Bear - Lady Soul

MP3: Golden Bear - Santa Rosa

And my personal fave song so far from the album:

MP3: Golden Bear - A Reason to be Proud (so highly recommended that for me to say anything just delays your right-clicking and saving this sucker to your desktop so you know exactly where it is for when you load it on your mp3 player so you can listen to it and obess over this song all day and night like I do!)

Their myspace has an additional song that is well worth the trip to Slowspace, I mean myspace. The whole album is also up on C-Side Records for streaming, head over there and preview the album then cruise to the link at the bottom and get your own copy for self-gratification.

The Shins NEW live songs....

There's been a few new live songs from the Shins lately in their sets so I thought I would post the new ones so everyone has a chance to at least hear something of what the next album may sound like. The Shins have certainly been an unexpected success so far but then, 5 years ago I would never have thought DCFC would be a near household name for some people. Anyways, here's some of the newer songs from their recent show with Belle and Sebastian at the Hollywood Bowl:

MP3: The Shins - Circus Walk (Live 07-06-06)

MP3: The Shins - Phantom (Live 07-06-06)

MP3: The Shins - Australia (Live 07-06-06)


If you'd like to hear a better version of Circus Walk head over to Matt's blog youaintnopicasso for his post here. As a bonus here's James Mercer solo from the Moonshine Festival doing Won One Too Many Fights, which is actually my favorite of these and I simply cannot wait to hear the full band version of it.

MP3: James Mercer - Won One Too Many Fights (live 10-10-04)

Since I am feeling frisky, re: inebriated, here's a song I think the band should cover for the next album that they did a few years ago on tour. This one you'll have to download to know what it is, cuz I am sneaky that way.

Extra special bonus:

MP3: The Shins - Super Secret Coversong

BOAT setlist

I've been meaning to post these scans for quite some time now, but here's the setlist for BOAT from the show with the Minders from the Towne Lounge on the 14th. I'll post the Minders one later as well as soon as I locate it.

The Electric Pop Group

Recently while downloading some tracks from Hello! Surprise! I ran across The Electric Pop Group. They are a three-piece from Gothenberg, Sweden composed of 2 brothers, Erik and Martin Aamot who sing and play guitar and Linnéa Nilsson on keyboards. So far their output consists of 4 songs on their website. They have that fairly typical Swedish guitar and keyboard pop sound, so fans of sites like Swedesplease and Dance to the Sun and the music they post about will like this, I am sure. Its really good and I recomend Popgirly very very highly. If you like Sambassadeur you'll like The Electric Pop Group. If they have anything actually released yet, I could not find it. Check out their site here and click under the music links for 2 additional mp3s. No myspace today so it may be a while before we can all join up as friends as I could not find one for them.


MP3: The Electric Pop Group - Popgirly

MP3: The Electric Pop Group - She's Playing With Your Heart

Ohm

I wonder if other bloggers ever procrastinate (re: agonize) on writing about a band because they think others have already posted on them or not? Ohm are yet another great Swedish group that I should have written about weeks ago but waited to for some reason. Ohm make electropop that simply makes my heart sing. Spoon is a song that stays with you long after the music ends. Being someone who listens to music obsessively and is always compulsively looking for that next great song or band that , just well, I don't know, completes them in a way. I gotta tell you, as a friend says, "It's hard out there for a pimp." And it is. Cuz that's what bloggers are really. Pimps. Not in a bad way, but in they way that you have to make that hustle, you have to produce something. You ahve to get out what it is you feel you have to make others see. And its not easy. Songs don't always jump out at people, sometimes you have to really, really try to make your point with the words you write. But sometimes, yes sometimes, its easy. Very easy. Easy because the band and the songs make it easy. Ohm just screams to be heard. Their music needs to be head. All I have left to say is that you need to download this song. Listen to it. Listen to is until you don't think you can any longer. Then it will be enough.

MP3: Ohm - Spoon Me

MP3: Ohm - Follow my Fate

Check their myspace here and their homepage here. Starfall, their debut album (though they've been around for almost a decade now) comes out in September and I am sure its gonna be worth the price of admission.

The School of (Wizard) Rock!

So since Harry and the Potters zipped through PDX along with Draco and Malfoys on their Nimbus 2000s this week (though I missed both shows) I've been delving into this growing world of bands with Harry Potter fixations. I would never have thought that this sub-genre would have so many adherents to it. But then again the Harry Potter books are quite popular, and I have to say, it seems to go well with indiepop bands. Any examination of these bands and this growing scene (dare I call it that?) would have to start with Harry and the Potters, so here goes:


MP3: Harry and the Potters - Song for the Death Eaters (my personal fave)

MP3: Harry and the Potters - Save Ginny Weasley

MP3: Harry and the Potters - The Blood of a Prince

Join Harry and Potters on myspace here and their homepage here.

Any good protagonist needs a good antagonist, maybe the same thing applies to bands like these as well. Draco and the Malfoys are up next with some songs told from the other side of the fence. I have to admit, I find the Dracos' lyrics a bit more entertaining than the Potters for some reason.

MP3: Draco and the Malfoys - Potions Yesterday

MP3: Draco and the Malfoys - Broomstick

MP3: Draco and the Malfoys - My Dad Is Rich

Befriend the Malfoys here and check their site here.

The Whomping Willows showcase another facet of taking the Harry Potter books and mixing in some awesome indie rock and pop with songwriting. This band is a bit rockier than the others at times, but good stuff none the less.

MP3: The Whomping Willows - I Killed My Owl

MP3: The Whomping Willows - Your Flying Car

The Whomping Willows are looking for new friends here.

Last but not least today is the Hermione Crookshanks Experience. This one gets my vote just on the band name alone. The fact that the songs that Kristin writes are entertaining and quite good just makes it all the better. I think S.P.E.W. Anthem is my favorite as it makes me laugh outloud.

MP3: The Hermione Crookshanks Experience - Ronald Weasley

MP3: The Hermione Crookshanks Experience - SPEW Anthem

Check out her myspace to become a friend and hear some more tunes here.

Check all of the bands' myspace accounts for a few additional songs for download if you like what you heard, go buy some albums and help out the Wizard Rock Movement.

Bands from the Seashore

Since I've so much stuff I would like to post on and I don't want like 10 posts for one day, I figured I would group a bunch of bands I've been listening to under a common theme today. First up is bands who name reflects something from the seaside.

The Hermit Crabs asked me to befriend them on myspace a while ago and I've been meaning to post about them ever since. They are a four piece out of Glasgow, Scotland and craft some very fine indie pop. Goodbye My Friend is off their forthcoming album.

MP3: The Hermit Crabs - Goodbye My Friend

Next up is Hello Seahorse! who call Mexio Ciy home. I've listened to their album ...And the Jellyfish Parade several times this week already and I like it more and more each time I hear it. I highly recommend taking the time to search out this band and their music. Its the perfect soundtrack for a summer day by the pool or while you're at the beach. Join them here as a friend (where you can stream some more songs as well) and check out their homepage here where you can get their album (its under construction at the moment sadly).

MP3: Hello Seahorse! - Multicolor

MP3: Hello Seahorse! - Palacio Original

The Hussys

I found The Hussys while surfing some forums today and took the poster's hype with a grain of salt. But his praise was not complete hyperbole. The Hussys sort of remind me of Morningwood in a way. Sort of in that we're straddling the fence between a really poppy radio friendly (corporate) sound and a sort of almost indie rock one (though they've released both of their EPs on their own Fat Cheerleader label). And that's not a bad thing at all. They have a really infectious sound and will probably deserve the massive airplay they'll receive in the future from more great singles such as Napoleon Dynamite. Its a great song that gets stuck in your head and forces you into singing along with the chorus. I love the drums and synths in this one and Fili, the singer's voice is so sweetly perfect with the lyrics. I foresee great things coming from this Glaswegian sextet in the future. Head over to their myspace and check out some more songs off their first release and another from the EP Napoleon is from. After you've become their friend stop by their site and pick up their first 2 releases.

MP3: The Hussys - Napoleon Dynamite

Wolfgang (the Robot!)

So my new friend Dave noticed my post on Math the Band and turned me on to his great new label Hypnote, one of the bands he has signed to said label is electro-indiepop (outfit? solo project? the website makes it hard to tell) Wolfgang. The bio on myspace gives the background of our robotic protagonist, Wolfgang who was a robot created with human emotions 25 years ago in teh 80's who was destined to experience unrequited love (but aren't most of humans destined for that as well?, sigh...). I have really enjoyed the songs up on myspace already and look forward to more from this robot in the future. Recommended for broken-hearted lovers of 80's synth pop only!

MP3: Wolfgang - Not in Love Not True

Show this robot some love here and buy into some 80's nostalgia that is worthwhile here!

Everytime I say Wolfgang I picture River Phoneix's scientist father from The Explorers, lol. Such a great movie, sigh....

M. Ward

Well, today's been so full of new music that I had to skip school just so I could listen to it all. And I didn't even get really listen to that much new stuff. You see I've been listening to the new M. Ward album all day today. I love it. Its good, really, really good. Good in the same way that kitties and puppies and kisses and sunny days are good. Its made me giddy and hyper, and solemn and regretful and all sorts of other things. In short, its been amazing. It has been exactly what I needed. I've not been in the best of moods lately (I have been "Strugglin' with the Devil..." as a friend puts it. I'll admit, I like M. Ward sort of like I like Iron and Wine; sometimes the songs remind me of why I obsess over music so much, other times, they just do not fit my mood or thoughts and don't really do much of anything for me (not entirely true, but you get my meaning). But for some reason, call it the alignment of the planets or stars or just the fact that sometimes, for brief moments at a time, life makes sense. I don't know. Whatever the reason I love this album and I feel the need to share some of the songs that made my day. "To Go Home" has been burning up my iRiver since it was first leaked, but "Magic Tricks" has made my day. Maybe I like them mostly due to what's going on in my life at the moment, I dunno. As it is, these and the others found on Post-War just simply rock (though sometimes in a quiet way). Check out the M. Ward myspace here and visit Merge here for some pre-order action.

MP3: M. Ward - Magic Trick

MP3: M. Ward - To Go Home

Shows, Shows, Shows (and some mp3s)

So the Minders was a smashing success for me. BOAT played and were awesome as well. A show like that can make you really realize how lucky you are to live in a city like Portland. I can say I had one of the best nights out yet in the city and made some great new acquaintances along the way. Tomorrow, I'll have the chance to see the Minders yet again, as they are playing a free show with Quasi and another local PDX band, Pseudosix at Portland City Hall of all places. I asked Martyn at the show how this came about and he replied that he was unsure exactly how as well. Weird. The show was a blast though, and I am anxiously looking forward to tomorrow, and hoping that the sound system will be a bit better there. I will post some scans of the setlists from BOAT and the Minders when I get the chance to borrow a scanner from work, lol. Anyways, some songs first from Pseduosix and then one from Quasi.

MP3: Pseudosix - Under the Waves

MP3: Pseudosix - Treacherous Ways

MP3: Quasi - The Rhino

Check out Pseudosix's homepage for some tracks from their forthcoming album, and join them here as a friend. While you're at it, click the link for Quasi as well and show your support for indie couples who rock.

The Doldrums and How to Get out of them...

So I've pretty much been lax the last few weeks on posting anything. I've started dozens of posts and do intend to finish them, but I just haven't felt inspired enough to post anything until today. Wow. That's all I can say about today's post. In case you don't recognize the guy in the photo, it is one Graham Smith of the late (great) Kleenex Girl Wonder. KGW has always held a near-mythical status for me, somewhere on the level of a NMH, a GbV, or even of say, The Pixies. Now, of these three bands KGW owes allegiance to Guided By Voices the most. Graham's recording of Ponyoak in his dorm room in the lo-fiest (is this even a word???) of lo-fi studios (his computer, lol) harkens to a modern day digital age Bob Pollard than anything. the fact that his songs are AMAZING like Mr. Pollard's is only icing on the cake. If you do not own Ponyoak I suggest heading over to Ebay or even better to March Records (though the album is out of print at the moment) and checking out the digital downloads currently available from their zerooneinfinity label. To showcase how much of a freak I was back in the day for KGW, I dropped something like 40 dollars for the Ponyoak Bonus EP which was an import form Japan at the time. That was the first thing I ever purchased online, lol. Seeing Mr Smith appear alongisde Barcelona at the Galaxy Hut in Arlington, VA has been one of my fondest concert memories. The Peach (or was it Pear, I don't remmber anymore) beer they were serving there made that night all the more special.... For your listening, here's some of the songs up on Graham's myspace. Download these and head over there to become a friend.

MP3: Graham Smith - HDTV

MP3: Graham Smith - High Tech Computer

The Bridge Gang

Today I've got some great poppy punkish indie rock courtesy of the Bridge Gang. They are a three piece band out of London. They've only got a 7" out as of yet and some demos, but they show a lot of promise already, another 7" lis due out this August. An ep this year would set the second haf of this year on course for sure. Check out their myspace account (where I am sure you know what to do!) and of course visit their homepage here. Hopefully at some point you'll be able to pick up their 7"'s from Brille Records soon as well.

MP3: The Bridge Gang - Blue Sky Grey (very highly recommended)

MP3: The Bridge Gang - Pangs of Guilt

The Wombats

The Wombats are just one of the many bands that I owe my discovery of to blogging, and specifically to one blogger's podcast. I first heard Derail and Crash off of Sean's excellent site, 3Hive. Its one of those songs that just screams to be put on repeat for several hours (and I have, of course, lol). Its probably also one hell of a song to drive too. I wouldn't know though, I do not own a car anymore. Anyways, the Wombats are not to be listened to lightly without at least an hour to spare. You'll need that long to take in just how unreal this song is. It's that good. I promise. Check their myspace here and their homepage here and drop some chiclets on their merchandise here so you can finally say you're one of the cool kids (or, if you already are one of those, on the fact that these guys just plain rock). Here's some songs for you to synchronize to your digital lifestyle:

MP3: The Wombats - Derail and Crash

MP3: The Wombats - Patricia the Stripper

MP3: The Wombats - Moving to New York