Archive for the ‘Media’ Category

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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White Hinterland begins North American tour tomorrow

Winter Hinderland / Courtesy of Dead Oceans, photo by Tod Seelie Casey Dienel — the 22-year old performing a unique combination of jazz and indie as White Hinterland and the subject of a previous MusicGeek.org spotlight — is set to embark on her North American tour tomorrow, kicking off with a performance in Boston. The tour ends with a three-day stint at SXSW, but the final regular tour date, March 4, will see the release of Phylactery Factory on Dead Oceans. Dienel is touring with Taken By Trees, with whom Victoria Bergsman, previously of indie-popsters The Concretes, has been performing.

Winter Hinterland – “Dreaming of the Plum Trees” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/dreamingoftheplumtrees.mp3]

Read after the jump for tour dates.

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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

Review: Rings – Black Habit

Rings / Photo by Kathy LoIt’s hard to classify Rings on first glance: This all-female band incorporates elements of experimental music, the modern pop tradition and Eno-inflected ambient, creating an ultimately unique style of music somewhere between the ranks of The Books, Broken Social Scene and Gorge Trio.

Invoking such diverse musical styles is difficult when creating experimental music, and Rings certainly managed to succeed in the matter. What’s interesting, though, is that these elements are not forefront endeavors; rather, a fair bit of examination is required to infiltrate the obscurity that surrounds the band and Black Habit.

Rings — “Mom Dance” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/mom-dance.mp3]

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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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