M. Ward

Despite the fact that I am in love with She & Him, I most recently come to appreciate M.Ward as a solo artist.  I recently watched the indie flick, "The Go-Getter" and the soundtrack of this film has been one of the best I have come across in a long while, hands down.  Most of the songs on this soundtrack are done by, M.Ward.  A fun little fact is that Zooey Deschanel and M.Ward met on the set of this film, hence came their project, She & Him.  Song on this films such as, Vincent O'Brien, Outta My Head, Fool Says, and Carolina are so very personal, intimate, and most importantly relatable.  M. Ward has that raspy, coffee-shop mellow voice that perfectly accent his indie folk sound.  I have come to the assumption that as you get older you acquire a taste in music, and M. Ward is definitely that acquired mature sound.  And I will be the first to admit that country is not my forte, but my taste in music has changed over the years and M.Ward has that dash of country that transforms his folk sound.  Check out his albums Transfiguration of Vincent, Transistor Radio, Post-War and his newly released Hold Time.  And if you want a taste of his country-folk check out End of Amnesia.  M. Ward truly has the ability to devise tracks that would perfectly accent a road-trip, or that lone drive that we all so love to take from time to time.

if you get a chance check out this film! Soundtrack can be described in only one word, beautiful.

This Is Ivy League

So I pretty much grew up on Simon and Garfunkel, my dad would put 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' on repeat.  So when I think of my youth, mellow male A-cappella is somberly embedded into my head.  Of course I have a special place in my heart for classic artists such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys, but Simon and Garfunkel significantly reminds me of the days where responsibilities and stress hardly existed.  This Is Ivy League definitely has that modern mellow Simon and Garfunkel/Beach Boys sound but alternatively twisted into indie-folk.  The male entwined vocals accent each other with pitches never colliding but perfectly in sync.  Their self-titled album is the epitome of a soundtrack that perfectly accents a sunny California day.  And of course, being born in raised in good ole Cali, I have come to form a appreciation of music that reminds me of home sweet home.  This Is Ivy League, intricately mixes mellow male vocals with pleasantly summer-sweet melodies you could of sworn was ripped right out of the 70s and modernly twisted to fit our music era!  Bliss, that is all I have to say...

Dear and the Headlights

So, if you haven't yet caught on to my pattern, I'm writing about some of the smaller artists that will grace the stages of Coachella's vast white tents.  They may not be smaller artists per say, but maybe more underground to some of you readers who are just getting familiarized with this blog.  I like to view many of my posts as like music journal entries of artists or bands that I am into at a particular time, and my stance of how they effect me on a daily basis.  As I discussed many times before, music is my form of therapy.  Music sparks certain feelings within us whether it may be happy, sad, lonely, or content.  There is a vast variety of different emotions music envelops within us.  I hope that many of the artist I suggest you listen too can maybe/somewhat move you in the same ways they do me.  Like, "Dear and the Headlights" as I mentioned before are one of the bands attending Coachella that is a definite 'MUST-SEE!'  One major asset this indie-rock band acquired is strong vocals.  Sometimes artists use different mediums to make their work stand out to attract listeners.  Many use their composer talents to devise great instrumental music, while others with less talent can use sex appeal.  Dear and the Headlights' vocals alone make their work gosh darn amazing! Their latest album, 'Drunk Like Bible Times' is just a perfect collection of celebratory tracks you can't help but sing-along to.  Hopefully they will vocally move you to appreciate their free-flowing essence.   

Noah and the Whale

Yes, a fellow band on the upcoming Coachella line-up.  I am not too keen with the line-up this year, I was expecting that extra cherry on top of my indie sundae.  Not that there aren't great performances lined up like Paul McCartney and The Cure, but the most significant thing missing are many of the great smaller indie artists that would have made Coachella a more complete package.  Fortunately Coachella will be graced with the presence of Noah and the Whale and folk band from the UK.  They aren't necessarily one of the 'bigger' artists expected to perform in the desert heat, but they are definitely an artist that I am looking forward to see.  They sort of remind me of a cheery campfire band with acoustics that compliment the crackling of a bonfire that you just cannot help but sway your head cheerily side to side and  clap along with.  Vocals are very deep and masculine but balances effortlessly with the twinkling strums of the guitar and back-up female vocals.  They are raw, and do not hide behind special effects that can potentially stir them away from their organic aesthetic.  Check our their latest self-tiled album and assure you that in no time your head will succumb to the cheesy side to side sways.  It's okay, let it happen... ;)

Castledoor

You can never settle for artists that are more or less mediocre. Music lovers, such as myself crave bands and artists that are they whole package. I yearn for catchy songs with attractive vocals that are pleasing to ears and soul. On the quest in finding artists that can be considered 'love at first listen,' Castledoor is definitely a band that you cannot bypass. A unique factor I find in this band is that they totally have that commercial/mainstream sounding vocals but with independent acoustics and poetic lyrics that perfectly compliment each other in forming that package our ears hunger for. 'Follow the Dove,' released in 06' set the guidelines to aid their lush sound. Their latest EP, 'Til We Sink' is such a teaser sharing only 4 track. But, we should never forget that good things do come in small packages!

It's the MOST wonderful TIME of the year!!!

Spring is around the corner and just in for the indie music-conscious individuals' "most wonderful time of the year"!  Hipsters, hippies, and celebs travel from far reaches of the country to attend this very event.  COACHELLA, the infamous music and art festival held in Indio, California.  Ok, I have to admit that I would not label myself worthy enough to be called a Coachella veteran, since last year was my 1st year going but I do have enough experience to let you know that if you attend you will have the time of my life.  Yes it is held the middle of the desert, yes it is blazing hot, and yes all three days in the desert sun may not be your idea of fun.  But, I assure you the Coachella experience is all very very very much worth every penny spent on the overpriced tickets.  This year they are offering a payment plan for the tickets to accommodate to all of us suffering from the economy at an all time low.  Some of the highlights from last year include; hearing one of my favorite songs Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve live, watching Prince party like it's 1999, hearing Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety, and watching amazing performance by Cold War Kids, Manchester Orchestra, Rilo Kiley, TV on the Radio, Deathcab, SIA, Kate Nash, Rogue Wave, Shout Out Louds, The Bird and the Bee, Yelle, Justice, MIA, and so many more that I can't think of at the moment.  I apologize for my constant rambling, there is really no words to really give my experience justice.  All, I am saying is GO even if it is just once, but I do warn you due to the amazing time you will have it will become an annual must-go event!

The Comas

Time progresses despite our wishful thoughts of a life with no responsibilities and where constant carefree behavior is acceptable. Nowadays I find myself listening to a lot more psychedelic indie-pop, and I am starting to think that my suddenly attraction to tripish music may be rooted behind my need for escape from my routine lifestyle of school, work, and home. The only thing that makes my day less dull is LA traffic. Well, it's not that I enjoy the sluggish bumper to bumper commute, but I do love cruising to my mixed CDs and ipoddle. The Comas have that special psychedelic power pop sound that makes my long drives tolerable. Their latest album from 07, 'Spells' and their past album 'Conductor' both swirl through power melodies that is potent enough to hit every sense. Vocals echo throughout poppy chords and eccentric zumms that is perfectly balanced to maintain their indie sound. These two albums are devised especially to make your daily commute or leisure cruising a highlight of the day. So embrace them!

Seabear

I am always a fan of albums you can play when drifting off to slumber land, especially on those nights where we are wired on a caffeine buzz, have fluttering eyelids, and counting sheep ain't doing the trick.  Seabear, a multi-instrumental indie-folk band from Iceland embellishes chill and relaxing harmonies that is soothing to the mind and soul.  Their latest album, "The Ghost That Carried Us Away," puts out a lethargic yet beautiful collection of songs.  Unfortunately, I am one of the individuals who from time to time is struck by an insomnia- driven conscious coma.  Seabear's tracks can act as a sleep-aid to ease the mind of constant anxiety and stress.  Their album's acoustic melodies help my wandering mind twinkle in and out of consciousness.  So those restless late nights where you have school or work early the next morning, yet you are still up browsing through myspace/facebook or watching infomercial garbage just stop and let Seabear be your nightly sleep remedy!

CLINIC!!!

The drug era is alive and kickin among the youth of our society.  As unfortunate as it may sound experimentation is a custom that younglings surely celebrate, no matter how much the media publicizes the dangers of drug use.  We have all seen the many commercials that enforce the negative and stupefying effects drugs have on society, yet we are all still glamoured by potential euphoria and escape drugs can bring.  But, are there really alternatives to drugs that alter our state of mind without the deteriorating our bodies? I believe that music can have 'somewhat' of the same effect as chemically altered substances.  Don't believe me, listen to CLINIC.  I am not really a fan of experimental music, but Clinic meshes a psychedelic and experimental sound with spectral vocals that touches every part of your musical pallet.  Their latest album "Do it" is vitally unpredictable with every song sounding different than the first.  Clinic are masters at devising unusual melodies that give off a natural high to the ears without the harsh effects to your brain or you wallet.  So sit back, relax, and let Clinic take you on a mind-altering yet sober trip!

The Bicycles

Yes, it is a new year, and what does a new year bring us?  Well, the new year will bring us thousands of new released albums artists take so much time, effort, and creativity to construct.  So for my first post of the new year I would like to start out with a band that perfectly assembled an album that captures the motto of good ole fashion fun! The BICYCLES!!! I think to myself from time to time what the whole thinking process bands undergo to devise a practical name with a good ring to it.  Sometime you can tell the genre of a band by their name because most indie bands come up with something witty or dainty.  You can tell this foursome struck gold with their name because with the name 'The Bicycles' comes the assumption of kookiness and fun.  Their indie pop is sugar coated with sunshine and rainbows.  Okay lets not kid ourselves, music with constant enthusiasm can drive one insane but I promise The Bicycle's latest album "Oh no, It's Love" is chemically balanced with righteous hooks, pleasant melodies, and sweet vocals.  Oh and did I mention that each song in the album basically is about two minuets long in length.  So we can weed out the boredom factor.  Ok lets simplify the reasons to listen to this band...The Bicycles, sugar-coated, kooky, sunshine, rainbows, FUN... Need I say more?