They Mean Us - instrumental, post-rock, indie

Hey been a while since last post but here is something pretty sick. These guys kind of remind me of Balmorhea. just regular band with some cello. They can have some progressive and math rock like moments but mostly just chill.



For more They Mean Us
myspace
last.fm

Friendship Lottery (2007)
download:mediafire

For the Stereo Impaired (2010)

download:mediafire

Noah and the Whale - indie, folk

I love this album here and I want to make it clear that it is this album in particular for I am not a huge fan of their first and most recent albums. I just feel that The First Days of Spring is a much more genuine piece and has more markings of artist behind the music but don't let that keep this note from keeping you from checking out the other stuff.

For me it was important to know that this is a concept album based on the end of the relationship between lead singer, Charlie Fink and Laura Marling, who went off to do a solo project. It was this painful experience for Fink that inspired this album. Fink also wrote and directed a short film for the entire album which is the video posted (and I must say that its a sweet idea and wish more artists would take time to do something similar). I don't expect you to watch whole but just hold in there for the first 7 minutes for the title track "The First Days of Spring".

The First Days of Spring - A Film By Noah And The Whale from charlie fink on Vimeo.

For more Noah and the Whale
myspace
last.fm
website

sounds like: fanfarlo, bon iver

The First Days of Spring (2009)

download:mediafire

favourite tracks:"the first days of spring","instrumental II", "Stranger"

also fun fact the band name came from the combination of the director Noah Baumbach and his film "The Squid and the Whale" which is a solid film and I recommend it as well.

Radical Face - indie, folk

this is from Ben Cooper one of the guys from electric president you can tell right away just from the vocals. This is a side project that gets away from electronics and keep it all most acoustical instruments(which I've always preferred).

one notedable things about this album for me are it can be atmospheric at times("welcome home" begins with the sounds of wind blowing around wind chimes, "along the road" begins with the the sounds of old creaking wooden structure) definitely music that helps puts a picture in your mind. I also really appreciate the drumming.

sounds like: electric president, seabear, freelance whales


For more Radical Face
myspace
last.fm

For more from ben cooper
Electric President myspace

Ghost (2007)

download:mediafire

Touch the Sky EP (2010)

download:mediafire

also looking forward to the family tree trilogy

Rooftops - math rock, progressive, instrumental

Another math rock band that I really like. I'd would say that Rooftops is alittle more easy listening compared to Bulletproof Tiger but nonetheless as good. I just get that the sense that everyone in this band is just really skilled. The upbeat music from the basic guitar/drum/bass with irregular and dynamic rhythms is how i would define this band. but be sure to note some of the variation such as gang vocals and the horn section which helps keep things anew.

similar artists: This Town Needs Guns, El Ten Eleven, Piglet, Bulletproof Tiger.

This video includes two tracks from the band. Be sure to check out both for a full idea of what this band is. Second song "Raft Easily" starts at the 1:00 mark.


For more Rooftops
myspace
website

A Forest of Polarity (2009)
(album art is in the video)
Download:mediafire

One negative thing about the band is it seems like they are no longing going. I'm not certain on that but they have seemed to be fairly inactive since April 2010 when they released "A forest of polarity" on vinyl. So yeah that sucks I was hoping to see more from these guys.

The Dodos - indie, folk, acoustic

The most distinctive feature of this band is the percussion style where the drummer plays on a drum kit without a bass drum, playing often on the rims of the drums, and also uses a tambourine taped to his shoe. This definitely gives them a unique sound.



For more The Dodos
myspace
last.fm
wedsite

sounds like: Born Ruffians, Department of Eagles, the Antlers, Bowerbirds

I've been meaning to get to other albums but Visiter (2008) has given me more then enough enjoyment be sure to check out "Ashley"

Visiter (2008)

download:mediafire

Sunfold - indie, rock, folk, alternative, progressive

I love this band. I wish it wasn't just a little side project by the guys from the Annuals (which is still a solid band) but what can you do. I guess the only you can do is to just enjoy what you got. I loved to listen to some of these songs while driving through the forest in Rondeau with the windows down. Just serene.

What I love about sunfold is it seems to have this kitchen sink thing going on but yet all the songs can be laballed under the same name. I also love the guitar work ("oregon", on this album just very melodic with a nice jazzy touch ("gnosis", "holding the charm") but they still find time to throw in other instrumentation which keeps things fresh.



For move Sunfold
myspace
last.fm

Toy Tugboats (2008)

download:mediafire

S. Carey - indie, folk, alternative

Here is S. Carey or "scary" which the project of Sean Carey. Found this because one of his songs was in an episode of House. Carey is actually actually part of Bon Iver and it would be safe to say there is some similarities in the music.



for more S. Carey
myspace
last.fm
website

All We Grow (2010)

download:mediafire

Sheep, Dog and Wolf - indie, folk, alternative

This here is Daniel McBride. Only 17 years old, took him 9 months of on and off work, learning new instruments on the way to complete this 5 track ep.

sounds like:some bon iver, beirut, owen pallet, sufjan stevens (I'm never very good at the "sounds like" section haha).

Anyway no download link. if you would like to download hit up his bandcamp page here. he's got a "name your price" thing going on there.

but first a taste...


I'm interested to see whats to come later from this guy.

The Bulletproof Tiger - math rock, instrumental, Canadian, progressive

Here is something a little different. These guys come from Windsor but play out of Toronto I believe. lots of finger tapping, irregular time signatures and rhythms but still catchy makes this stuff really interesting to listen to. Also i ways enjoy layered music where each time listening you can focus on a different player to see what individual parts make up the unique melodic and rhythmic clashing of the whole group.


For more The Bulletproof Tiger
myspace
last.fm

Stab the New Cherry (2009)
-couldn't find the album art

download:mediafire
sounds like: Piglet, This Town Needs Guns, Tera Melos

Big Scary - indie, folk, post-rock, alternative, rock

Just recently came across this duo from Australia. Kind of reminds me of another Australian group, The Middle East.



For more Big Scary
myspace
last.fm
website

-made an EP for each season for one year, each with 3 or 4 songs with style varied between each (Ex. Summer is much more indie rock while Autumn mellows out with a softer and slower style). All the songs were accumulated together for the LP
The Big Scary Four Seasons (2010)

Download:mediafire
Last.fm similar artists:
-Ball Park Music, Hungry kids of Hungary, Jonathan Boulet
For me they sound like:
-Some Patrick Watson, little of Bon Iver, a lot of The Middle East but style is varied which makes it difficult to pin it down
Favourite Tracks:
-Season titled tracks, "Thinking about you", "Hamilton"

If you like, there is a new album to look forward to.

Aidan Knight - Indie/Canadian/Singer-Songwriter/Folk

To kick off the return I'll start with an artist that I've enjoyed for a bit now but recently had a spark of interest after seeing this video done in the similar style as the influential Take-Away Shows.

AIDAN KNIGHT - Knitting Something NIce For You from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

For more Aidan Knight
myspace
last.fm
bandcamp

Versicolour (2010)




















Download:mediafire
Last.fm similar artists: We are the City, Said the Whale, Hannah Gerogas, Dan Mangan
Favourite tracks:"The Sun", "Knitting Something Nice"

Back with a change in mind

I going to start focusing on mostly music now and hopefully have a post a day.
For the most part I plan to share new music i find and like including download links. Links will not be mine.