Archive for the ‘Artist Spotlight’ Category

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

Matthew Montgomery

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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February 3, 2008 Tags: ,
Posted in Artist Spotlight, Downloads No Comments »

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

Matthew Montgomery

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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February 2, 2008 Tags: , , ,
Posted in Artist Spotlight, Downloads, News No Comments »

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

Matthew Montgomery

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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February 1, 2008 Tags: , ,
Posted in Artist Spotlight, Downloads, News No Comments »

Spotlight: Panther

Matthew Montgomery

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

January 31, 2008 Tags: ,
Posted in Artist Spotlight, Downloads No Comments »

Spotlight: Hammer No More The Fingers

Matthew Montgomery

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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January 30, 2008 Tags: ,
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Spotlight: These United States

Matthew Montgomery

These Unitd StatesThese United States, a Washington, D.C. based group, release their debut album, A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden, on March 4. The band, who occupy a vaguely psych folk musical domain. “First Sight,” posted below, is replete with engaging electronic influence; it holds attention with almost-breathy vocals and a bouncy demeanor.

These United States — “First Sight” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/firstsightbytheseunitedstates.mp3]

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January 29, 2008 Tags: ,
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Spotlight: Reed KD

Matthew Montgomery

Reed KD / Courtesy of Fanatic PromotionReed KD, a northern California-based act with a refreshing indie-centric folk-bluegrass-pop style and a penchant for vocals that sound at least a smidgen influenced by Elliott Smith, are set to release The Ashes Bloom on Feb. 12. The album will be released on Dirty Laundry Records. The two tracks posted below, “Empty Bottles” and “Even If I,” are well-written, well-timed pop songs, and they’re certainly worth an attentive listen.

Reed KD — “Empty Bottles” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/empty-bottles.mp3]

Reed KD — “Even If I” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/even-if-i.mp3]

(more…)

January 28, 2008 Tags: , , , ,
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Spotlight: The OaKs

Matthew Montgomery

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]

January 27, 2008 Tags:
Posted in Artist Spotlight, Downloads 1 Comment »

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