Posts Tagged ‘indie rock’

Spotlight: The Helio Sequence

The Helio SequenceThe Helio Sequence of Portland, OR, have recently released their highly anticipated third album Keep Your Eyes Ahead a few days past – January 29th. The band is made of two; Brandon Summers, guitar and vocals, while Benjamin Weikel takes control of drums and keyboard. This indie pop/rock duo give us rich ambient atmosphere, as such in the title track “Keep Your Eyes Ahead,” with wonderfully flavored lyrical tone to guide us through. Also noteable are the acoustic, more folky tune of “Shed Your Love,” and “Broken Afternoon.” The Helio Sequence are currently touring the United States, with European dates to show after April. Full tour dates will be listed below.

The Helio Sequence — “Keep Your Eyes Ahead” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/keep_your_eyes_ahead.mp3]

The Helio Sequence — “Blood Bleeds” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/blood_bleeds.mp3]

The Helio Sequence — “Everyone Knows Everyone” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/everyone_knows_everyone.mp3]

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An interview with Say Hi, who released a new album today

Say Hi / Courtesy of Sneak Attack MediaEric Elbogen of Say Hi (previously Say Hi To Your Mom), who, today, release The Wishes and the Glitch, answers a few questions from MusicGeek.org regarding the new album, working with David Bazan and John Roderick, and more. Read after the jump for more of the interview, tracks from The Wishes and the Glitch, and links to purchase music from the group. Say Hi were previously the subject of a MusicGeek.org spotlight.

Say Hi — “Northwestern Girls” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/sayhi_northwesterngirls.mp3]

What’s the geekiest thing you did during the recording of The Wishes and the Glitch?

Well, cooping up in a bedroom full of music equipment for six months for twelve hours a day is pretty geeky, don’t you agree? I got nothing else.

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Spotlight: Head of Femur | Eclectic indie pop group prepares for new album’s release

Head of Femur / Courtesy of Planetary GroupHead of Femur, a wonderfully orchestrated indie pop group, will release their new album, Great Plains, on March 25 on Greyday Records. The LP, their third, is a tightly constructed pop record with a flare unique to the group. The passionate songwriting embodied by the group can be heard in the trumpets, the multi-part harmonies, and the jangly, twee-inflected guitar work: This isn’t some one-off, pointless project. Head of Femur pulls influence from C-86, The Flaming Lips, The Smiths, The Beach Boys, The Beatles — the usual greats, really; touches of legendary pop writing make a distinctive presence on Great Plains, and that’s sure to set this outfit apart.

Head of Femur — “Isn’t It a Shame” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/12-isnt-it-a-shame.mp3]

Head of Femur — “Jetway Junior” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/04-jetway-junior.mp3]

Spotlight: American Music Club | Veteran group readies album, North American tour

American Music Club / Courtesy of Merge RecordsAmerican Music Club, who released their first album in 1985, are preparing to release their ninth full length album, The Golden Age, on Merge Records. The album is set to be released on Feb. 19 in the US and Feb. 4 in the UK, on Cooking Vinyl. Posted below is “All the Lost Souls Welcome You To San Francisco,” an exquisitely crafted indie pop track that holds a certain amount of energy beneath its mellow demeanor.

American Music Club — “All The Lost Souls Welcome You To San Francisco” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/sanfrancisco.mp3]

Read after the jump for purchase links and North America tour dates beginning in April.

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Spotlight: Panther

Panther / Photo courtesy of Kill Rock Stars, photo by Ingrid RenanPanther’s thumping dance-funk-indie-rock (on a more funky side of the spectrum than, say, The Faint; rather more in the vein of !!!) is a thing to behold. With a sound that ranges in influence from Tower of Power to Pavement, these two guys (Charlie Salas-Humara, of The Planet The, and Joe Kelley, of 31 Knots) produce engaging, interesting music that’s liable to induce dancing, or something a little like it. “Puerto Rican Jukebox” and “Violence Diamonds,” both posted for listening and download below, are excellent examples of the band’s addicting style. Panthers will be releasing 14 KT GOD on Kill Rock Stars on Feb. 19.

Panther — “Violence, Diamonds” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/violence-diamonds.mp3]

Panther — “Puerto Rican Jukebox” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/01puertoricanjukebox.mp3]

Purchase 14 KT GOD from Kill Rock Stars

Spotlight: Hammer No More The Fingers

Hammer No More The Fingers / Courtesy of Fanatic PromotionThe three-piece Chapel Hill, N.C.-based play an energetic sort of indie rock. Hammer No More The Fingers, seemingly inspired by a plethora of progenitors to more recent indie rock trends, released their self-titled debut EP on Power Team Records On Nov. 16, 2007. The group, with their Pavement-inflected style, provide something that’s been missing in prominence from the indie scene: unabashed energy and attitude that doesn’t end up woefully over-the-top.

Four tracks are posted below for listening and download: “Black Harmony,” “Fall Down Play Dead,” “O.R.G.Y,” and “Vodka Grasshopper.” The tracks all exhibit the flare with which Hammer No More The Fingers approaches their unique brand of indie rock.

Hammer No More The Fingers — “Black Harmony” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/black-harmony.mp3]

Hammer No More The Fingers — “Fall Down Play Dead” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/hammernomorethefingers-falldownplaydead.mp3]

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Spotlight: The OaKs

The OaKs / Photo by Steven TaylorThe OaKs, a band steeped in humanitarianism, are preparing to self-release their upcoming album, Songs for Waiting, which will be released on March 4. Posted below is “Masood,” a track based on personal experience during frontman Ryan Costello’s experience in Afghanistan, is a well-produced pop-rock track with some genuine feeling behind it.

The OaKs — “Masood” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/theoaks-masood.mp3]

An interview with Chairs in the Arno

Chairs in the Arno Chairs in the Arno, a synth-driven indie pop band in the vein of Barcelona, answer a few questions from MusicGeek.org regarding their music, their future, and the reception of their release, File Folder. Chairs in the Arno have previously been the subject of a MusicGeek.org spotlight.

Chairs in the Arno — “Size Thirty” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/chairsinthearno-sizethirty.mp3]

You seem to occupy the same general music area as, say, Barcelona and Sprites. How much affinity do you hold to them, and how influential were they in your musical development as a group?

Jeff Excell and Becca Hsu: We are all really big fans of Barcelona. No other band was making such simple but genius synth-pop music. Their singer, Jason Korzen, who later went onto form the Sprites, basically made it seem “ok” to write lyrics about simple and enjoyable things. I would say they had quite an impact on the making of all our music. A couple years ago, Jason made a comment about how we were his “new favorite band” on MySpace. I think we all freaked out about it and almost peed our pants with excitement. Barcelona and the Sprites are WAY underated.

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