The Suburbs from Arcade Fire

With their loyal following in the indie music scene, I've been recommended Arcade Fire multiple times. Their music has come up in my radar from time to time. But until now, I never sat down and just listened to a whole album by them.

They certainly aren't a new band and their sound is what I think of when I think of indie music. The Suburbs is an album about just that, the suburbs. It presents a feel that's only present if you're familiar with suburban life. It certainly isn't an album I've been craving or waiting for. There are songs you'll find that are easy to connect with. There is a whole phase in the album that feels like it's your summer soundtrack, but forget that (if you're ready to) they've packed the album with some cool end-of-the-summer music as well. 

 

The album really didn't hit me in any way, it played through smoothly yet didn't ask for replays or I didn't feel like I should be listening to it again. What did you think?

Tagged 365 album review arcade fire indie the suburbs

The Way I Fell In, The Morning Of's 2010 Release

The best experiences are those that come by surprise and often never expected. The better a band's production, the more likely they will sound like a grown up band and maturity is a sign of knowing the industry in some fashion or another. I've heard all songs released on EPs and full-length albums by The Morning Of since their first EP. They're a pop rock band with piano-esque sound and a saturday morning approach to music.



The Way I Fell In is certainly a result of utter surprise. I wasn't anticipating anything from The Morning Of aside from a national tour, which is still expected. It still doesn't register to me that this band is the same one I heard back in 2007. They have a build up process, they start a song with a slower, mellow sound and built it up with guitars and the bass kicking in precisely to elevate the piano from a backing instrument to an overture toward the chorus. "Cobwebs And Cables" reminisces the quickly passing summer along with an emo touch in the lyrics. Eventually, leading into "The Time It Takes To Grow" and becoming an album that will finish up your summer with a lot of memories. It also brings in an additional instrument (a harmonica) for a further folksy sounding production. And if you're familiar with The Morning Of, their unique two-vocalist lyricism is one thing that's very attractive. If they're not able to pull through with both vocalist, the song doesn't make it. And surprisingly both, male and female, vocals sound trained thus far. One song in particular that caught my attention is "I Know You Know" which actually sounds more R&B than anything else to my ears, Jessica Leplon did a dope job on it!

Apart from the lyrics hinting toward a good morning, a great yesterday, and an anticipated tomorrow, The Morning Of make the album a twine of lyrics and sound into a sound that's very rare and original in this overtly hipster-fascinated world. There potential is still more than this but this is of course better than their previous records, and at the end of the album, that's what really matter. If improvement isn't present in the album, than it's usually worthless. 

If I had to recommend one album for your summer listening, this album would be it. It contains lyrics, sounds, and a feel for a happy and rememberable summer. 

Tagged cobwebs and cables indie pop rock the morning of the way i fell in time it takes to grow

Animal Collective's Album Cover is a trip

Just listen to the song and look at the cover, it will trip you out. 

Initially, I didn't enjoy the album but it's one moody album I can't get rid of from my library. The cover's for their latest album, Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Tagged album cover animal collective indie merriweather post pavilion

How The Industry Filters Money

The music industry is a very dynamic world, it doesn't really matter how much you sell or how popular you are. The only thing that really matter is who owns your music. Check the infographic.

Tagged indie industry infographic labels music

Listening to The Features after a live performance...

I got to see The Features perform live in San Francisco. I actually went to see Manchester Orchestra but along with two other bands, The Features were opening up for them. The band hasn't received much traction around the States and their type of music isn't very dominant in pop. Their whole tour was along with MO and the other bands. The band performs insanely well live. 

The album I checked out is called Some Kind of Salvation which is their latest full length album. It's well done and I like the sound of most songs. No complains about how they put it together. I recommend listening to the album all the way through because it's very connected (not in the concept album fashion).

It's a strong point to note that Kings of Leon are starting to imprint albums from the Midwest and Southern music scenes and The Features' Some Kind of Salvation was their first album of choice. This will give them a push toward the more dominant indie scenes. 

Day 60 (album 65)
Tagged folk indie kings of leon manchester orchestra rock san francisco some kind of salvation the features

Banjo or Freakout's Upside Down Makes a Great Debut EP

Upside Down by Banjo Or Freakout  

Upside Down at first looks like almost every other indie EP out there. Banjo or Freakout were discovered by me on accident while I was listening to Radiohead covers. Yes, I've been obsessing over Radiohead covers and this is what's happening. Moving along, the EP does a great job of giving new listeners something un-boring. First, there's not one song that sounds like another. Even though similar instruments, they all tend to give 'em a great push to sound different. Banjo or Freakout sound like a very indie version of psychedelic rock plus some experimental instruments. 

Day 52
Album 56
Tagged banjo or freakout EP indie upside down

The Dodos - Visiter [Day 4]

I'm the biggest fan of the word "dodo" and when I heard about these guys back in 2008, I really wanted to check out their music. Sadly, I was just ignoring their music until today. The Dodos are from San Francisco, CA. They're indie at its best, in my opinion. These guys make some good music and some redundant too, after one album I'm surely going to listen to the others.

Visiter is their second full-length album. I haven't heard any of the material from any of their other albums so I can't say anything about 'em. There latest album came out in September (2009). If you've heard Visiter, drop a comment!

No song for this one.

Tagged 365 indie music the dodos visiter