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!