An Horse - Trains and Tracks

This Australian duo have released this track off their sophomore release "Walls". Their sophomore effort is accompanied by a more mature, refined sound while they still stay loyal to their roots of edgy indie pop.
They managed to crash their website for a full 12 hours when they announced recently this track was available for free download via their Twitter account. The power of social media must have been underestimated!

The duo play Bamboozle this weekend on the same stage as Gaslight Anthem so I am fully expecting them to gather some new followers and gain momentum.

Their album is currently available in stores and online. Its definitely worth a listen, quite enjoyable.

Marcus Foster - Tumble Down

Marcus Foster is a English folk artist who sadly remains fairly unknown and vastly under appreciated. He has two claim to fames - He is the ex-boyfriend of Singer-Songwriter Laura Marling and Robert Pattinson covered his song "Let Me Sign" for the soundtrack of that horrific creation of a "movie" we all know as Twilight.

Sadly for Foster, his career has started to gain some momentum in the shadow of Marcus Mumford and Co. How can he compete against the leaders of the Nu-Folk movement who not only dominate European music scenes but have taken it as far as to crack America, a feat which very acts ever obtain.

Foster is a true singer-songwriter who secretes emotion by the bucket load in his music, of ten his heartfelt vocal is strained due to him really pushing it out so much. This track is a humble, emotive effort which is backed by his a acoustic guitar and a strong drum beat which builds throughout the second half of the track. I can't help but remember the one and only Jeff Buckley when I listen to this track.

Listen to a the title track from his EP here:

American Babies - Dance All Night

This captivating single is taken from American Babies sophomore effort "Flawed Logic". This country ridden, two steppin, feel good jam is permeating old school country influences and I for one love it!  Tom Hamilton clearly grew up listening to that Honky-Tonk music of old times long gone but this Philadelphia outfit cross country influences with indie/folk melodies and it creates a fantastic summer tune which will please fans of all genres.

The album dropped recently on Engine Room Records and I for one can't help but savor this release and hope for bigger and better things for such a talented group!

The Head and The Heart - Lost in my Mind

This is Seattles next global folk icon in my opinion. This group recently signed to Sub Pop records. This Fleet Foxes inspired outfit are both musically and geographically similar to Fleet Foxes.  Lost in my Mind is a sure fire folk-pop classic with melodies similar to that often utilized by The Beatles back in their Heyday!

They are a band which know what their fans want and provide it in abundance. This group bring forth a true folk presence which is loyal to the originalities of folk music and puts merely a twist to the core of folk as it should be played.

I fully expect these guys to soar for the heights reached by Seattle counterpiece Fleet Foxes in the coming months.

I'm From Barcelona - Get In Line

This mass effort from 29 member swedish indie pop starlets "I'm From Barcelona" is a head bopping, chair shaking, jump up and down catchy pop gem. The first single off the album Forever Today released this month is a dance floor anthem if i ever heard one. The whole album is another classic swedish production ( Robyn influenced? i believe so with the indie synths approach).

This song is definitely one for those hot summer days, tons of funs and a definite hit on the European scene this coming summer!

Death Cab For Cutie - Some boys

 Ben Gibbard and co are back with the third track off their upcoming release "Codes and Keys" due for release on May 31st via Atlantic Records. This little gem is titled Some Boys and is quite the ambient pop tune. This song ventures towards Seventies Electronics as the band promised Rolling Stone about their upcoming release. However, Gibbard's sweet vocal melodies ensure that the band remain in that niche they have carved out for themselves while feeling out some new sonic territory instrumentally.

The Shins are back with a new untitled track!!

James Mercer is the front man of both The Shins and Broken Bells and last month he played a  benefit set at The Bagdad Theater in Portland, Oregon for a local school.  He was joined by Joe Plummer (The Shins and Modest Mouse) providing percussion. Mercer announced that The Shins were working on a new album and that this currently untitled gem "should be on there".

I can't help but be excited about this. I am a huge James Mercer fan and an even bigger fan of The Shins. When they released "Oh, Inverted World" way back in 2001, my life changed. They remain one of my all time favorite bands and even at the age of 12 when that record was released i still had a huge appreciation for it. To this day, Phantom Limb off their 2007 release "Wincing the night away" remains one of my all time favorite songs.The band will be back on stage for the first time since 2009 at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco from August 12-14th.

I am thoroughly excited by the prospect of the new album, hopefully more information is released about it soon!

The Decemberists - This Is Why We Fight

Today, Vevo got its hand on the new very serious video from Colin Meloy and Co. for their single,"This is Why We Fight". The track is taken from their latest album entitled; The King is Dead.

The video is a serious affair dabbed in hopelessness and scorn. It features Children and Young Adults dressed in old school military garb trouncing around a post-war battlefield with looks of desperation and hopelessness firmly planted across their faces. The video itself brings the passion and seriousness of the song forth with real prowess and emphasis on the serious undertones within this song.

The song itself is undoubtedly a political ballad but nonetheless remains a beautifully crafted strumming effort from an always reliable Decemberists outfit. Colin Meloy is as perfect as always in his vocal delivery.

The King is Dead remains a must have album for 2011!

Check out the brand new video at:

This Is Why We Fight

Noah's Ark Was A Spaceship - Warm Eyes

These guys are Nebraska's rising indie punk rock sensations. This track "Warm Eyes" is taken from their February LP, Hanga-Fang. NAWAS are one of the first artists on Conor Oberst's (Bright eyes) label, Saddle Creek Records.

This is one of the best tunes of the year so far and its obvious that 90's alternative music such as Sonic Youth and The Pixies thoroughly influenced every facet of this Omaha outfit.

Look out for big things from these guys this year!

Check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/noahsarkwasaspaceship

Live video:

The Wombats- Anti-D

A guilty pleasure of mine ever since "Lets Dance to Joy Division" are back with a ballad (of sorts), a tune produced by these guys could never  be classified as a true ballad but its an indie pop ballad ...i suppose.
They use a clumsy metaphor for being a "Human Anti-Depressant". The song itself is coupled with strings and anthem-like attempted vocals. In the long run, the song is not an anthem, it lacks power and gravity to achieve such heights. It remains however a catchy, witty and true to their nature indie-pop tune. It's not a song which grasps or amazes me but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on in the car either. A solid effort, hopefully the next album brings more depth or The Wombats may have fell off the wagon.

Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair

Alex Turner and Co released their new single "Don't sit down 'cause I've moved your Chair" off their June 7th release date album; "Suck it and See" earlier on today. The track is available to download digitally right now!
The single will be released in hard copy on May 30th.

The track is not in anyway like their bangin' anthems of dancefloor mania from their debut release but this track shows us the usual witty lyrics of Alex Turner at their finest. As always, the song oozes personality, swagger and utter poetic sophistication. Their is a reason this man is widely considered one of this generations greatest lyricists.

The track has a nice tempo too which builds throughout the song and overall its destined for chart topping success as always. In fairness, Alex Turner could moan and grunt for 3 minutes and still sell records.

Enjoy the track  below:

Art Brut - Lost Weekend

Lost Weekend is the first offering from "Brilliant!Tragic!", the latest album from German/British Indie outfit Art Brut. The single is officially released on May 16th and the full-length album will follow suit one week later. Art Brut are renowned for their unique talk-singing approach to music.

This single is very different to the usual heavy talk-rock which Eddie Argos is more associated with. In this simple love song, he has switched it down to an almost whisper. It is quite unusual but at the same time its effect and fits the theme of a love song more so than a heavier vocal would.

Overall, I like the song but hope the whole album does not stick to this vocal style

Check out Art Brut at: http://www.artbrut.org.uk/

Justice - Civilization

This thumping club anthem, first featured in a popular Adidas Commercial a few weeks and now we finally have the full track version. This French outfit are the Sultans of the electro scene, and have been for a long time. This track "Civilization" is going to be banged out in clubs all over the world for the Summer of 2011! The single officially dropped on April 4th.

Check this French duo out at: http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous

Here is the full single:

But, don't ignore the Adidas commercial which is loaded with global superstars from the sporting world:

DEATH CAB for CUTIE - Home Is A Fire

One of my all time favorite bands have just dropped this track "Home is a Fire" off their new album, Codes and Keys, due for release May 31st on Atlantic Records. I have been listening to Ben Gibbard with both Death Cab and The Postal Service for many years and this track seems more similar to his work with Postal Service than it does Death Cab. However, i am still a huge fan; there is very little that Mr.Gibbard can do wrong in my eyes. As always, their is a beautiful rhythm to the song combined with his unique songwriting style and (the postal service like) electronic beats to bring the whole concept together and create as per usual, a great tune. For me, this is one of the most anticipated releases of the summer and this song, along with previously released the tourist only reaffirms that feeling. Roll on May 31st!

 Check them out here: http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/

  DEATH CAB for CUTIE - Home Is A Fire by ATL REC.

Dry the River - No Rest

This indie folk outfit hailing from the United Kingdom are no Mumford and Sons wannabe's, they bring their own vibe and personality to their music. They are one of the few indie folk groups around who could dream of scaling as high as Marcus Mumford and Co. The band gained a lot of hype following performances at SXSW with many critics taking a liking to their distinctive front man's vocal tone.

This song "No Rest" is an upbeat number which escalates from a soft, gentle introduction to a heavier thud which only brings forth the youth and personality of these guys.

This group will be touring the festival scene throughout the summer and are definitely a must-see in my opinion.

Check them out at : Dry the River

Walk the Moon- Anna Sun

These guys are fresh off absolutely killing it at SXSW, definitely one of the bands most hyped after their performance down in Austin. These guys craft chirpy, agonizingly catchy lyrics that you cant help bopping along with from start to finish. This single is taken from their self-released 2010 LP "I want!I want!". If these guys keep dropping gems like this they are destined to dominate the indie pop scene for years to come,  even if they are from Cincinnati which has produced nothing special in the indie scene to date.

Watch out for these guys in the coming months: http://www.myspace.com/walkthemoonband

Metronomy- The Look

The Look is the second release from the follow-up album "The English Riviera" which is due to be released on April 11th, 2011. This has elevated Metronomy from a middle of the road, nothing special group to a top notch, headliner act. As typical, the music seems to flow effortlessly, the melodies are particularly joyous and the lyrics are as soft as ever.

This album is a must hear!

A combination of stop frame animation, bemused pigeons and dodgems make the video equally as captivating.

Friendly Fires- Live Those Days Tonight

Friendly Fires will be releasing their Second Album entitled 'Pala' via XL Recordings this coming May. They preceded the album with the release of thing bangin' dance floor tune. Full of energy, tenacity and the swagger always associated with this group its a welcome return to the scene for Friendly Fires.

Friendly Fires remain pioneers for dance pop worldwide and I predict this song to be the sound of the Summer!

Check them out here: http://www.wearefriendlyfires.com/