Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Spotlight: The Buddyrevelles | Indie group releases new music video

The Buddyrevelles / Courtesy of Fanatic PromotionThe Buddyrevelles have a sound that is situated somewhere between indie pop and post-rock — a wonderful combination, if you ask me. They’ve just released a video for “The Foreigner,” a song that’s destined to at least cause a few toes to tap incessantly, and that’s really the goal, isn’t it? The tracks posted below were released on Don’t Quit by Solitaire Records. Read after the jump for the video.

The Buddyrevelles — “I Dream of Rodney” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/thebuddyrevelles-idreamofrodney.mp3]

The Buddyrevelles — “Moods” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/thebuddyrevelles-moods.mp3]

The Buddyrevelles — “The Foreigner” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/thebuddyrevelles-theforeigner.mp3]

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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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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: The Feminists | Vancouver-based pop rock band to release third LP tomorrow

The Feminists / Courtesy of Killbeat MusicThe Feminists, a pop rock group reminiscent of mid-1990s power pop — but clearly holding a style they’d like to call their own — will release their third full-length tomorrow, Feb. 5. The album, Can’t Scream Loud Enough, is being self-released by the group.

“21st Century Ghost,” posted below, is a fairly simple, straightforward pop track, but don’t mistake that for a lack of quality: there’s something nice about the guitar pop this Vancouver-based band is producing.

The Feminists — “21st Century Ghost” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/02-21st-century-ghost.mp3]

The Feminists online

Spotlight: Power Pill Fist | Experimental outfit set to release new album, Kongmanivong

Power Pill Fist / Courtesy of Graveface RecordsIt’s not often something comes along that is actually experimental: Power Pill Fist creates a unique combination of hearty synthesizers and, well, more synthesizers for a sound recalls noise rock, chiptune, industrial, ambient, and so much more. Power Pill Fist, though, isn’t for everyone — not all people equally enjoy being sonically assaulted when they listen to music. I, on the other hand, find it interesting and a nice break from the more gentle, relaxed music we typically spotlight here. A selection of tracks (five of them, to be precise) is posted below for your listening enjoyment or exploration. You pick.

Power Pill Fist will be releasing Kongmanivong on February 23 in the U.S. on Graveface Records. Kongmanivong is available for pre-order on Power Pill Fist’s Web site.

Power Pill Fist — “Chuckanut Drive” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/chuckanutdrive.mp3]

Power Pill Fist — “Mashed Potato Legs” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/mashedpotatolegs.mp3]

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Spotlight: Dawn Landes | Female folk artist to embark on month-long tour

Dawn Landes / Courtesy of Sneak Attack MediaDawn Landes, a Louisville, Kentucky native, performs a certain seductive bluegrass-inflected folk-indie style. Her second album, Fireproof, is set to be released on March 4 via Cooking Vinyl. Landes will be embarking on a month-long tour of the eastern United States starting Feb. 6. Dates are posted after the jump.

“Bodyguard,” posted below, is a nice introduction to the style being exercised by Landes; holding up against the influx of female indie artists doesn’t seem something this musician will find much trouble with.

Dawn Landes — “Bodyguard” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/01_bodyguard.mp3]

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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