CARDINAL-Hymns

Posted on February 2nd, 2012 by ekko

Cardinal, a duo from England, released their last and first album in 1994 and according to them it was brilliant. I never heard it. But I have been fortunate enough to have heard “Hymns,” their second album in eighteen years.

It’s indie rock and pop, with eclectic mixes of retro/1960s styles, with breathy vocals, written with precision and clarity. In other words, it’s from the “clean and pure” side of the indie tracks–not the rough and grungy one.

I’m diggin’ it.  And given their sporadic production history, I thought it appropriate to post this review on Groundhog Day!

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BEAR CAVALRY-Maple Trails

Posted on January 30th, 2012 by ekko

Solid indie rock. What does this remind you of? I hear a little bit of Bloc Party in here, but not in a derivative kinda way…

I dig it.

Maple Trails EP by Bear Cavalry

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WHISTLE PEAK-Half Asleep on Echo Falls

Posted on January 24th, 2012 by ekko

karate body

Music to be stoned to.  Not high, stoned.  Whistle Peak’s lo-fi Americana fits in well with bands like Yeasayer and Colossal Gospel–bands who take traditional elements and play them a little … Strangely.  Sometimes there’s an off-key accordi0n or a suffocated vocal.  It’s always a little bit whimsical, a little bit painful, and never, ever takes itself too seriously.  It’s music that’s willing to take a chance at failure, or at doing something radical and weird.  It’s never broad, but never narrow.

Hopefully, by the time you’ve read down to hear you’re confused and curious enough to give them a try.  But remember: This won’t make you skip or clap.  It’s the sound of contemplative paintings.

Scheduled for release February 14, 2012, on Karate Body records.

Whistle Peak, “Wings Won’t Behave” by karatebody

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RADIO BARONS-Teardrops (EP)

Posted on January 9th, 2012 by ekko

Brooklyn’s Radio Barons.  These dudes owe  debt to The Clash, but there’s no dishonor in that–there are many far worse bands to crib from.  Check ‘em out.

Get it free here.

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AARON POEHLER-You Had to Leave Your Mark

Posted on December 17th, 2011 by ekko

indie rock

Aaron Poehler hails from San Diego, and he’s just an honest writer/singer trying to get a bite.  Okay, I’m in.  The music on his second album, You Had to Leave Your Mark, is heavy, dense, full of hard driving guitar solos and power chords–like Rob Zombie without the pop-sounding backbeat.  Vocally, I’m hearing a little Nick Cave as well.  Anyway, I’m digging it.

Spray Vandalism

Accident of Birth

Buy or stream on Bandcamp.

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BATTANT-As I Ride With No Horse

Posted on December 15th, 2011 by ekko

“Garage electronica.”  That’s what Battant is.  Coming out of London, the “band” Battant make electroclash with a distinct indie/rock and roll edge.  I dug this record, but I’m having trouble finding much out about the band. Perhaps that’s because Joel Dever, the main creative force behind the band, passed away a few weeks before this album was completed.  Damn shame.

Buy/Stream here.

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TOP 10 INDIE EPs and SINGLES OF 2011

Posted on December 7th, 2011 by ekko

Here’s my list. Let’s do this.

10.  SCOUT-Pi

A sweet, simple EP.

Please Excuse Me.

sex me hard

9.  SELF SCIENTIFIC-Trials of the Blackhearted

An EP with Big K.R.I.T., Talib Kweli, Freddie Gibbs, Game….And the shit’s free?!?

8.  MOTHA FOLKIN’ SOUL-Self Titled.

Hilarious, rated X, irreverent, catchy and well-written.  Awesome debut.  Here’s the review.

Best Friends.

vomit

7.  GRYNCH-Timeless EP

“All I Wanna Do” is as good as “My Volvo.”  Word.

Get it here, free.

6.  KREAYSHAWN-Gucci Gucci

Pretty much as soon as this dropped, this Brooklyn chick got picked up by the Majors.  Let’s hope she’s got more in her than one song, a la Fannypack’s “Cameltoe.”

Turn the page for #s 1-5!

Read the rest of this entry »

Pages: 1 2

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ALABAMA SHAKES (EP)

Posted on November 17th, 2011 by ekko

Once upon a time, there was this amazing Rolling Stones soundalike band called the Deadstring Brothers.  I f*^%ing loved that band.  They’ve fallen off a bit, but those first singles they put out, and their first two albums, were absolute fire.

Alabama Shakes remind me of them.

Not only do they have a wicked cool Southern band name, but they play the blues like…Well, like nobody else I can think of.  And they’ve got a raw, powerful passion that recalls the greats of this genre: lead singer Brittany Howard delivers every line with the aching of rejection that recalls Janis Joplin; lead guitarist Heath Fogg blasts licks like John Popper; and the bass-and-drums of Zac Cockrell and Steve Johnson are tighter than the duo of the The White Stripes.

I know I can be prone to hyperbole, but this is the Greatest Blues EP Of The Year and one of the Best New Bands out there. Yeah, hype it. Take a listen to “Hold On,” below, and the live performance I added to prove my point and tell me I’m wrong. Go ahead. And I’ll ban your fucking IP address for having no taste.

Hold On

Just four measly bucks at bandcamp.  C’mon, dear readers, dig deep!

Here they are live:

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MAILBAG! Southerly and Yash Kapoor!

Posted on November 16th, 2011 by ekko

A couple artists I’m posting on ’cause I’m grateful for the submissions.

SOUTHERLY-Youth

First, Southerly, possibly one of the best-named bands I’ve heard in a while.  They sound…Southerly.  On Greyday Records which, like the band’s name, is a perfect label for them.  They sound like a grey, southerly day.  Dark, Americana indie rock.

Love the album cover, too.

Good stuff.

Suffer

All Abandoned

Do We Believe

YASH KAPOOR-Saight

Next up, Yash Kapoor’s “Saight” album.  I’m posting this with Southerly because they’re both kinda heavy and dark.  YK tends to be brooding, serious, with a purposeful flow.

St8 outta Vancouver.

Straight Control

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DAVID FORD-Ford 4.1 (EP)

Posted on November 14th, 2011 by ekko

David Ford is a throwback–in his own words, he’s just a “whiney little Georgia boy singing the blues.”  And with song titles like “Liverpool” and “Song For The Republican Convention,” he’s doing nothing to hide that fact.

His new EP is some great rock and roll. Makes me want to see him live. Which you can, by the way, below.

The EP is, apparently, the first half of what will be his fourth album–to be released next summer.

I’m digging it.

Get it for under five bucks at Amazon.

Here he is performing live:

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