Vexed and Glorious

Emilie Simon

2007-06-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

Emilie Simon is a classically-trained musician from France. Her music combines orchestral sounds with pop (I know it sounds strange, but check it out!). She plays all of the instruments and sings on her records. She's released a couple of albums in the U.S., but most of her records are import-only. Check out her official site (in French) or her myspace page. Download "Fleur de Saison". Buy "Emilie Simon", "Vegetal", "March of the Empress", or "The Flower Book".

Mala Rodriguez

2007-05-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

Mala Rodriguez is a female rapper from Spain. She has a great sound. She's released two albums (Lujo Iberico and Alevosia) and will release a new one soon (Malamarismo). Buy Lujo Iberico or Alevosia.

Klaxons

2007-03-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

Klaxons is a band from London that includes band members Jamie Reynolds, James Righton, Simon Taylor-Davis and Steffan Halperin. Their first album is "Myths of the Future" and was released in January. They have an indie rock sound and are considered "New Rave" by some because they mix dance music with rock-n-roll. Check out their Web site (although it's pretty annoying) or their myspace page. Buy the cd.

Amy Winehouse

2007-02-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

Amy Winehouse is a singer/songwriter from England. Her sound is soulful and bluesy and she's a bit of a drunk. She's released two albums, but is just beginning to gain some airplay in the U.S. Check out her official site for some tunes and some news. Buy "Frank" or "Back to Black".

Kate Havnevik

2006-12-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

Kate Havnevik is a singer-songwriter from Norway. Her voice and music remind me a bit of Dot Allison's first record "Afterglow". Kate's debut album "Melankton" came out in October. She's friends with Imogen Heap and worked with Guy Sigsworth on the record. Check out her myspace page for current news and new tracks. Go to her official site for more information. Buy the album.

My Brightest Diamond

2006-11-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

My Brightest Diamond is mostly the music of Shara Worden, but there are several other musicians that help to make up the full sound of the band. Shara went to my alma mater, The University of North Texas. There's another alumnus in the band as well - drummer Earl Harvin. Their sound is difficult to describe, but Shara's voice is beautiful and there are lots of strings and piano sounds. I definitely hear a hint of Jeff Buckley's theatrics in her voice. Their album, "Bring Me The Workhorse" came out in August of this year. Check out their myspace page for tourdates, photos, and music. Also check out the video for "Dragonfly" on Pitchfork's site. Buy the album.

Joanna Newsom

2006-11-25T13:22:00.000-08:00

Joanna Newsom is a singer-songwriter/harpist from California. Her sound reminds me of CocoRosie with a bit of Toni Childs thrown in. Check out her official website for some tour dates and other info. Her new album "Ys" came out this month and, although it only has five tracks, it runs almost an hour. Buy the album.

Landon Pigg

2006-09-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

Landon Pigg is a indie rocker from Nashville. His influences include Rufus Wainwright, Radiohead and The Beatles. His first album "LP" came out in July of this year. Check out his official website for some songs and some news. Buy the album.

Paolo Nutini

2006-09-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

Paolo Nutini is a singer-songwriter from Scotland. He's definitely got the blue-eyed soul thing going for him - kind of like James Morrison, but a little raspier. His album "These Streets" came out in August. Check out his official site to download some songs and check out some tourdates. Watch him on Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show on Monday, September 11. Buy the cd.

Nerina Pallot

2006-09-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Nerina Pallot is a British singer-songwriter. She first came onto the music scene in 2001, but released a new album last year called "Fires" and it's excellent. Check out her myspace page which has some songs and her video for "Everybody's Gone To War". Buy the cd.

James Morrison

2006-08-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

Check out James Morrison's blue-eyed soul by going to his myspace page. You can also go to his official site and check out some videos and news. His debut album "Undiscovered" came out in July and he's definitely got a great sound. It kind of reminds me of the new Jamie Liddell record "Multiply". Buy the album.

Band of Horses

2006-07-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

Band of Horses is from Seattle and only has two members: Ben Bridwell and Matt Brooke. The band formed from the ashes of a band called Carissa's Weird. The band is kind of a combination of The Shins and Buffalo Tom (who are releasing their first album in 8 years next year). Their first album "Everything All The Time" came out in March and it's mostly quiet, sometimes loud, interesting indie rock. Check out their official site. You can download some songs and check out some tour dates. They'll be on David Letterman next Thursday, the 13th, so check 'em out. Buy the cd.

VietNam

2006-06-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

VietNam is a band that originated in Austin, but now calls Philly home. The band members are vocalist/guitarist Michael William, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Joshua Garrett, percussionist Mike Foss, drummer Chris Colley, and vocalist Kim Miller. Their debut EP "The Concrete's Always Greyer on the Other Side of the Street" was released last year and they're currently at work on their debut full-length in LA. Their sound is moody, down-tempo rock and it really reminds me of the defunct Australian band Automatic. Check out their myspace page. Buy the EP.

BTW, I'm going to France for a bit. I'll post when I get back. See ya!

Orson

2006-05-27T23:19:00.000-07:00

Orson is an awesome pop band from England. Check out their myspace page for some sounds and info. Go to their official site to get more stuff. I guess the debut album "Bright Idea" isn't out yet. How do I have it already? That's a secret. Buy "Bright Idea" as an import when it's released.

Matt Costa

2006-05-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

Matt Costa is from California and has worked with Tom Dumont (of No Doubt) and Jack Johnson. His debut album came out in March and showcases his folky rock sound. Check out his official site to listen to some tracks and watch some video. Listen to "Cold December". Buy the cd.

Wintersleep

2006-05-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

Wintersleep is a band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their music is alternative, hard-ish folky rock. Check out their official site for some sounds and some videos. Their first record came out in 2003 and they released another record in 2005. Buy the first or second untitled record.

Joshua Radin

2006-03-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Joshua Radin is a singer-songwriter that's been making the tv rounds lately. His music's been featured on "Scrubs" and "Grey's Anatomy" and he's made appearances on KCRW and Carson Daly. His sound is similar to Elliot Smith and Nick Drake, but a bit more upbeat. You can check out some songs if you go to his official site and launch his player. You can also listen to some tunes on myspace. Priscilla Ahn played with him on Carson and you can check out her myspace page as well. Buy "We Were Here".

Laura Veirs

2006-02-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

I caught the video for Laura Veirs "Galaxies" on Subterranean last night. I was looking through the downloads on the SXSW site and noticed the track there as well. Laura's from Seattle and her sound reminds me of Mirah, Citizens Here and Abroad, and Metric. Her voice reminds me a bit of Amy Milian from Stars as well. Her first record on Nonesuch came out in 2004 and it's called "Carbon Glacier". Her most recent one "Year of Meteors" is from August of last year. Check out her official site. You can listen to a sampling of tunes from her albums here. Buy "Carbon Glacier" or "Year of Meteors".

Kate Earl

2006-02-13T15:57:00.000-08:00

Kate Earl is a singer-songwriter from Alaska who currently lives in LA. Her sound is reminiscent of Nikka Costa, but with a little less edge. I originally heard her song "Someone to Love" on Grey's Anatomy and fell in love with her sound. Check out her official site to listen to some tunes, watch her live performance with Damien Rice and look at her EPK. Buy the cd.

Lady Sovereign

2006-01-16T20:57:00.000-08:00

Lady Sovereign is a rapper/singer from the UK. Her sound reminds me of M.I.A. and Ms. Dynamite. She's definitely funky and cool. Her debut EP is called "Vertically Challenged". Check out her official site for some sounds and videos. Buy her debut EP.

Fielding

2005-12-18T12:19:00.000-08:00

Fielding is a band from Long Beach and their music is indie/alternative rock. Their sound is reminiscent of Buffalo Tom. The band members are Kevin Poush, Aaron Bradford, Eric B., Beth B., and Adam F. Their self-titled debut album came out in October of this year. Check out their official site for more information. You can also buy the cd there.

Veda

2005-12-03T13:51:00.000-08:00

Veda is Kristen May, Jason Douglas, Drew Little, and Brian Little. Their sound is reminiscent of Sixpence None the Richer and The Sundays, but the vocals are a bit stronger. Their debut cd "The Weight Of An Empty Room" came out in July. Buy the cd.

Update: Veda has changed its name to Vedera. Check out their new myspace page. Thanks to Lexa Rosean for letting me know about the defunct links!

What Made Milwaukee Famous

2005-11-26T12:10:00.000-08:00

What Made Milwaukee Famous is a band from Austin, Texas, with a diverse sound. The band definitely borrows from the past few decades and their lead singer reminds me a bit of Jeff Buckley. The band is made up of Michael Kingcaid, Drew Patrizi, John Farmer and Josh Vernier. Their debut record, "Trying to Never Catch Up" was released in June of last year and you can listen to some songs at their official site. You can also check out their video there for "Selling Yourself Short" as well as buy the cd.

Sons and Daughters

2005-11-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

Sons and Daughters is a band from Glasgow, Scotland. Their sound is hard folk/rock with a female and male vocalist in Adele Bethel and Scott Paterson. They've been compared to Cat Power and Smog and there are definitely similarities. Their first record "Love the Cup" was released in 2003 is a tribute to Johnny Cash. Their most recent record "The Repulsion Box" was released in August of this year. Check out their official site for some photos and mp3s. Buy "Love the Cup" or "The Repulsion Box".

The Living Things

2005-10-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

The Living Things is a band from St. Louis made up of the three brothers Berlin: Lillian, Eve, and Bosh and Corey Becker. Lillian and Corey play guitar, Eve plays bass and Bosh is the drummer. Their debut "Black Skies in Broad Daylight" was produced by Steve Albini, famous for producing The Pixies, The Breeders, and Nirvana, among others. Their newest record is called "Ahead of the Lions" and it's a bit more hard rock than the debut. Check out their official site for some sounds and the video for their new single "Bom, Bom, Bom". Buy the debut or the follow-up.

Inara George

2005-10-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

Inara George is a singer-songwriter from LA. Her father is the late Lowell George from Little Feat, so she was surrounded by musicians as a child. She was a member of a great band from a few years ago, the now defunct Merrick, with Bryony Atkinson. Her sound is indie rock, but with a pop vibe. Her sound is sweet with lots of hooks. Her voice reminds me a little bit of Lisa Papineau from Pet. Check out her official site. Listen to "Fools In Love". Listen to the whole album at cdbaby.com. Buy "All Rise".

Ringside

2005-10-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

Ringside is Scott Thomas and Balthazar Getty. Scott does vocals and lyrics and Balthazar does most of the music writing. Their sound is predominantly indie rock, but doesn't really stick to one particular style. There are hints of dance beats and electronica in the songs. Their self-titled debut came out in April of this year. Check out their official website. Watch the video for "Tired of Being Sorry", directed by Joaquin Phoenix with a lot of cameos. Buy the album.

Tristan Prettyman

2005-09-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

Tristan Prettyman is from San Diego and has toured and collaborated with Jason Mraz and G. Love. Don't hold it against her though because she's really quite talented. I'm kidding, of course (about the G. Love part, anyway). Her debut is called "Twentythree" and it came out in August of this year. She's got a unique voice that reminds me of a cross between Fiona Apple and Ani DiFranco. Check out her official site. You can watch the video for "Love Love Love" or just listen to some tunes. Buy the cd.

Dungen

2005-09-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

Dungen is an alternative band from Sweden led by Gustav Ejstes. Their lyrics are in Swedish, but the sound is approachable even if you don't speak the language. Their music is reminiscent of '60s psychedelia, but in a good way. Their debut album "Stadsvandringar" came out in 2002. Their sophomore release "Ta Det Lugnt" was released in the U.S. in June and it's got some great tracks, including "Panda". Check out the video. Go to their official site. Buy the album "Ta Det Lugnt" or the debut which is being released in the U.S. next month.

Sia

2005-09-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Sia Furler is from Australia and was one of the vocalists on the last Zero 7 record. I recently wrote about Tina Dico, who's also on the record. Sia sings the song "Somersault". Her solo debut "Healing Is Difficult" came out in 2002. Her sophomore effort came out in February of last year and it's got some great songs on it. It's called "Colour the Small One". Sia went from Adelaide to London after some success with the Australian band Crisp. She did some backup vocals for Jamiroquai and got the attention of Massive Attack and Zero 7. Check out her official site. Take a look at her performance of "Somersault" on Jimmy Kimmel Live (with Tina). Buy "Healing Is Difficult" or "Colour the Small One".

Untitled

2005-09-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

Not enough time. Too much music. Vacation and work. New songs on sidebar.

Copeland

2005-08-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

Copeland is Jon Bucklew, Bryan Laurenson, James Likeness and Aaron Marsh. They formed in Florida in 2000 and have released two albums to date. Their sound is definitely poppy, but with an indie edge. Check out their official site for some news, photos, etc. Buy "Beneath Medicine Tree" or "In Motion".

Augustana

2005-08-16T18:21:00.000-07:00

I heard Augustana for the first time in June. I really liked the song, but forgot about the band. Then, they played the video on 120 Minutes last night and I remembered the song and how good it was. They're definitely alt-country which I totally dig. They remind me a little bit of Old Pike, a band that's no longer in existence, but was also a bit melancholy and melodic. The band started in Illinois in college and was quickly signed to a record deal. Check out Augustana's official website for news, sound clips, and tour dates. You can also check out the video for "Stars and Boulevards" there. Pre-order the album.

Tina Dico

2005-08-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

You probably haven't heard the name Tina Dico (sometimes spelled "Dickow") before, but I bet you've heard her voice. She's one of the many female vocalists on Zero 7's latest record "When It Falls". She sings the song "Home" and has a truly beautiful voice. Check out her performance of the song from Jimmy Kimmel Live. While you're there, check out another Zero 7 track that Tina sings back-up on called "Somersault". Tina's from Denmark and her debut cd "In The Red" came out there in July. It's not out in the states yet, but will be released this fall. Check out her official site for news and music. Buy the ep "Far".

Morningwood

2005-08-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

What a dirty, fun band! Morningwood is Chantal Claret, Richard Steel (from Spacehog), Pedro Yanowitz (from the Wallflowers), and Japa Keenon O (from Cibo Matto). I saw the video for "Jetsetter" last week and I'm hooked. Check out their official site for more info. and downloads. They also have a myspace profile with some songs on it. Buy "New York Girls/Knock On Wood". Their debut cd comes out in the fall. Look out for it!

Freezepop

2005-07-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Freezepop is a Splashdown-related band that's a lot of fun. Kasson Crooker from Splashdown is The Duke of Pennekoeken in Freezepop. Also in the band are Liz Enthusiasm and The Other Sean T. Drinkwater. They formed in 1999 originally as a side project for Kasson while the Splashdown thing was still a possibility. Check out their official website for some news, music, pictures, etc. Their first album was released in 2001 and is called "Forever". "Fancy Ultra Fresh" came out last year and is an updated version of the new wave sounds of the '80s. Buy "Forever" or "Fancy Ultra Fresh".

Zuco 103

2005-07-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

Zuco 103 is a band based in the Netherlands, but features a Brazilian vocalist named Lilian Vieira. The other two members of the band are Stefan Kruger and Stefan Schmid. The two Stefans take care of drums and keyboards, respectively. The band released their debut in 2000 and it's entitled "Outro Lado". The music of the boys and Lilian's vocals work beautifully together. Their second release "Tales of High Fever" was released in 2002 and their latest release "Whaa" comes out on August 2nd. Check out their official site in English. I must admit, it's a terribly confusing format, but maybe you can get something out of it. Listen to a couple of interviews/performances on Morning Becomes Eclectic. Buy "Outro Lado", "Tales of High Fever" or pre-order "Whaa".

RJD2

2005-07-17T19:10:00.000-07:00

RJD2 is Ramble Jon Krohn. He was born in Oregon and makes mostly instrumental music with a hip-hop slant. He released his first album in 2002 entitled "Dead Ringer" to great critical acclaim. He followed up that record with "Since We Last Spoke" in 2004. Check out some videos and sounds on this site. The video for "1976" is particularly good. Comparisons have been made to DJ Shadow, who is definitely the definitive hip-hop instrumentalist, but RJD2 is one to watch. Buy "Dead Ringer" or "Since We Last Spoke".

B.C. Camplight

2005-07-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

B.C. Camplight is Brian Christinzio and he's from Philadelphia, PA. He's 25 years old and his debut cd "Hide, Run Away" is being released tomorrow. His songs are fun pop and also strange which makes sense considering his bout with mental illness just a few years ago. Check out his official website. Buy the cd.

Bell X1

2005-07-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

Bell X1 was formed from the remains of Juniper, Damien Rice's first band. The band is comprised of four members, Paul Noonan, Brian Crosby, David Geraghty, and Dominic Philips. The purchase of Polygram by Seagram International is the cause of Juniper's breakup in 1999, but Bell X1 is a fine result of that debacle. Their newest album "Music in Mouth" comes out tomorrow and was produced by Nick Seymour of Crowded House, one of my favorite bands. Check out their official site for more info. Listen to their appearance on "Morning Becomes Eclectic". Buy "Neither Am I" or "Music in Mouth".

MuteMath

2005-07-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

MuteMath is Paul Meany, Darren King and Greg Hill. They formed in New Orleans and have a great alternative rock sound. So far, they've only released an EP entitled "Reset", but it really shows promise. Their full-length record should be coming out sometime this year. Check out their official site for tour dates, news, etc. The official site bio talks about how MuteMath formed from the ashes of a band called Earthsuit. Check out a fan site that hosts mp3s and videos of the old and new band. Buy the EP.

Adem

2005-06-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

Adem Ilhan is categorized as a British pop singer whose music is more indie than pop. His debut solo album "Homesongs" was written, performed and produced by him and has been compared to M. Ward and The Decemberists. Check out his official website for news and other such sundries. Buy "Homesongs".

Autolux

2005-06-19T14:32:00.000-07:00

Autolux is from Los Angeles and their music is very indie rock. They've been compared to bands like My Bloody Valentine and Lush and you can definitely hear the similarities. However, they make their own sounds and don't steal too much from their idols. Their debut record "Future Perfect" was produced by famous rock producer T-Bone Burnett, of all people. Check out some video at their official website. If you're a member of myspace, check out their profile and you can listen to some songs from the record. Buy "Future Perfect".

Venus Hum

2005-06-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

Venus Hum is a trio comprised of vocalist Annette Strean and multi-instrumentalists Kip Kubin and Tony Miracle. They formed in Nashville and released their debut album entitled "Big Beautiful Sky" in April of 2003. Their sound is hard to describe because each song captures a different mood/energy. Annette has a playful and experimental voice and their music is definitely all over the map. Check out their official website for some news and info. about the band. Go to this fan site for some downloads. Buy "Big Beautiful Sky" or go to their official site to buy their newest EP "Songs For Superheroes".

Brandi Carlile

2005-06-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

Brandi Carlile is from a small town in Washington. She was recently signed to Columbia Records and played SXSW in March. She has an absolutely beautiful, slightly twangy voice. She writes the songs and plays guitar and twins Phil and Tim Hanseroth play bass, guitar and also write. Check out some photos and tour info. at her official website. Buy the cd.

The Redwalls

2005-06-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

The Redwalls are from Deerfield, Illinois, and play rock-n-roll music. Their first album "Universal Blues" came out in 2003 and their newest record "De Nova" will be out this month. They're definitely inspired by British Invasion bands of the 60s, but they have their own sound. Check out their official site for some mp3s and news. Buy "Universal Blues" or pre-order "De Nova".

Azure Ray

2005-05-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

Azure Ray is made up of Orenda Taylor and Maria Fink, who used to be members of Bright Eyes. They started working with Eric Bachmann of Crooked Fingers in 2001 and released their self-titled debut cd that year. Their music definitely has an indie sound with soft female vocals that can get rockin' at times. Check out their official site for some info. about the band and some song downloads as well. Their newest album came out in late 2003 and is called "Hold On Love". Buy the self-titled debut, "Burn And Shiver" or "Hold On Love".

Team Sleep

2005-05-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

Team Sleep is a side group comprised of Chino Moreno of Deftones and his childhood friend Todd Wilkinson. DJ Crook is also in the band and their self-titled debut has contributions from Mary Timony from Helium, Mike Patton from Faith No More, and Melissa Auf Der Maur whom I previously posted about. The music is moodier, more obscure and definitely softer than Deftones. Check out their official website. You can launch the player and listen to some tracks. Buy the cd.

The Dead 60s

2005-05-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

The Dead 60s are an alternative rock band from Liverpool, England. They have a punk sound, but punk doesn't mean what it used to. These guys are just rough and ready. They're not necessarily creating anything new or rebelling against anything in particular. The music is good though. Check out their official site. Buy their self-titled debut.

Long-View

2005-05-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

Long-View is an alternative rock band from Manchester, England. Their debut cd "Mercury" has some great songs on it. They sound a bit like one of my favorite bands, Catherine Wheel. Check out their official Sony website for some music, news and tourdates. Go to their British site for some videos and pictures. Buy "Mercury".

The Blue Van

2005-05-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

The Blue Van is a rockin' band from Denmark. They're on tour with Hot Hot Heat right now and they just released their album last month called "The Art Of Rolling". They're pretty standard indie rock, but they've got really catchy songs and fun lyrics. Check out their Danish website for some song samples, photos and the cool video for "Revelation Of Love". Check out their American website for more cool stuff. Buy "The Art Of Rolling".

I Am Kloot

2005-05-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

I Am Kloot is a trio from Manchester, England, that makes pop songs. Their new record "Gods And Monsters" came out in April. The second self-titled album was produced by Ian Broudie from The Lightning Seeds. Remember them? The sound is nothing like the light, dreamy pop of the Seeds, but darker, more real. I particularly like the husky voice of the lead singer John Bramwell. Check out their official site for some sounds, news and videos. Buy "Natural History", "I Am Kloot" or "Gods And Monsters".

M83

2005-05-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

M83 is another electronica band from France. The band used to be the duo of Nicolas Fromageau and Anthony Gonzalez, but Nicolas left before recording the third album "Before The Dawn Heals Us". Their music is mostly instrumental, but there are some interesting vocals used on the newest record. Check out the official website for some tracks and videos. Buy "Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts" or "Before The Dawn Heals Us" (their self-titled debut isn't available).

Nizlopi

2005-05-08T19:18:00.000-07:00

Nizlopi was at SXSW this year. They're from Birmingham, England and combine soulful vocals in the vein of David Gray and Van Morrison with some heavy bass and electronic sounds. The band is actually the duo of Luke Concannon and John Parker. Luke sings and writes lyrics and John plays a mean bass. Check out their official site. You can hear some songs and learn a bit more about the band. Buy the cd.

The Stills

2005-05-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

The Stills are a great band. I fell in love with "Still In Love Song" the first time I heard it, and all of the songs on their debut album, "Logic Will Break Your Heart" are wonderful. They're from Montreal and have been friends since they were twelve. Their sound is indie rock, but there's something about Tim Fletcher's vocals that make their sound very unique. Check out their new video for "Love and Death". You can stream the whole album here. Buy the cd.

Anna Nalick

2005-05-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

Anna Nalick is not only interesting to me because she's a talented singer/songwriter, but also because she worked with Eric Rosse on her debut cd. Eric's a producer who worked with Tori Amos and Two Loons for Tea. Her debut called "Wreck of the Day" is right up my alley. It came out on April 19th. Check out her official site for some sound samples and news. She was also highly influenced by Blind Melon and worked with Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith from the band. Buy the cd.

Melissa Auf Der Maur

2005-04-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

Melissa Auf Der Maur is a rock goddess. She played bass in Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins which means she put up with the gigantic egos of Courtney Love AND Billy Corgan. She released her first solo record last year entitled "Auf Der Maur" and it kicks ass. She's not the best singer in the world, so if you're really into vocals, you probably won't like it. Her voice is definitely good enough to carry the songs where they need to go. Check out her official site for news about the new record (link to interview at Billboard), music, and videos. Buy "Auf Der Maur".

Acceptance

2005-04-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

Acceptance formed in Seattle, WA, and they make alternative rock music. The music is good and the singer has a great voice. I particularly like the new single "Different" from their new record "Phantoms". You can listen to it at the purevolume website. Their official site has tons of info. and interesting things. Check out Netscape Music for some more tracks. Buy their first EP "Black Lines To Battlefields" or the major label debut "Phantoms".

Regina Spektor

2005-04-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

Just a little rant - Can someone please tell me what's wrong with the phrases "Blaze the Blaze" and "Purple Haze". Kids who don't know anything about pot won't know what it's referencing and those who do aren't going to smoke more because M.I.A. is singing about it. Give me a break!!! Okay, on to the real stuff. I'm going to start posting songs from new releases as bonus tracks on the left sidebar for your downloading pleasure. Today I've got new ones from New Order, Amerie, and Ben Folds.

Regina Spektor is originally from Russia, but currently lives in New York. She plays piano, writes and sings. She's known as an anti-folk artist, whatever that means. I just think she's a talented female singer/songwriter with some cool quirks. Her major-label debut "Soviet Kitsch" came out in September of last year and is a collection of songs produced by Gordon Raphael, who's done some work with The Strokes. Go to her official website for news and a peek at her video for "Us". Buy the cd.

Phoenix

2005-04-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

Phoenix is from France and I've heard many comparisons to Air. I don't particularly hear it, but they're on the same label and did some touring together, so I guess it's an easy comparison. They are a soft pop band that has a really interesting sound. You can watch some videos or go to their official site for news and extras. Their newest studio album "Alphabetical" has some standout tracks on it as well, such as "Everything Is Everything" and "Run Run Run". Buy "United", "Alphabetical" or their new live album "Live 30 Days Ago".

Wakefield

2005-04-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Wakefield is reminiscent of one of my favorite new-ish bands OK Go. The boys in the band are from Maryland and one of the members used to be in Good Charlotte. Don't hold that against them, okay? They released their first record "American Made" in 2003 and their sophomore effort "Which Side Are You On?" is coming out in June. It's alternative rock/pop if you're into that sort of thing. Check out their official website to listen to some songs on their player. You can watch the video for their new single "C'Mon Baby" there as well. Buy "American Made" or pre-order "Which Side Are You On?".

Aqualung

2005-04-20T21:41:00.000-07:00

Aqualung is Matt Hales, a British singer/songwriter with a voice that is amazingly similar to Thom Yorke of Radiohead. In listening to the new record entitled "Strange and Beautiful", I was struck by this, but also struck by the fact that I didn't find the music or vocals derivative. "Brighter Than Sunshine" is the first single off of the third album by Aqualung and it's quite a strong pop/rock-n-roll song. It's featured in the new Ashton Kutcher/Amanda Peet movie "A Lot Like Love". Go to Aqualung's official site for some information and multimedia. Buy "Aqualung", "Still Life" or "Strange and Beautiful".

Martha Wainwright

2005-04-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

Martha Wainwright has been impressing me for years as her brother Rufus' backing vocalist. Rufus is a very talented singer/songwriter and I always thought Martha added a lot to his performances. Something about the brother/sister harmonies, I think. Martha's just released her first full-length self-titled album and it really shows off her talent as a singer/songwriter in her own right. You can check out her very limited official website, or take a look at a fan site. Buy the cd.

Tracy Bonham

2005-04-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

I've loved Tracy Bonham ever since her first record called "The Burdens Of Being Upright" came out in 1996. You might remember the hit single "Mother Mother" from that album. She released another record in 2000 called "Down Here" which is also excellent. Her new cd "Blink The Brightest" comes out on May 10. Check out her official site for audio and video. Her music is rock-n-roll and pop and she has a very distint voice that I love. She's a native of Eugene, Oregon, but spent quite a bit of time in Boston and went to the Berklee School of Music there. She's classically-trained on violin and also plays guitar. Buy "The Burdens Of Being Upright", "Down Here" or pre-order "Blink The Brightest".

Brendan Benson

2005-04-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

Brendan Benson's been releasing music for almost 10 years, but he's only been able to put out 3 cds. His debut "One Mississippi" was partly co-written with Jason Falkner (of Jellyfish and the Grays) and he ran into label troubles before and after the record was released. He released his sophomore debut "Lapalco" 8 years later in 1992. His newest record "The Alternative To Love" came out in March of this year. There are some outstanding tracks on the new record. He's definitely got the power pop thing down pat. He reminds me a bit of Sondre Lerche in his poppier songs and Elliot Smith in his more thoughtful tracks. Go to his official website to listen to some tracks. Buy "One Mississippi", "Lapalco" or "The Alternative To Love".

David Ryan Harris

2005-04-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

David Ryan Harris has been around a long time, but he came out with a new cd last year and it's great. His sound is very soulful and funky pop. Check out his official website to listen to some tracks. He has worked with Dionne Farris who was in Arrested Development and because of his work with her opening for the Dave Matthews Band, he's also done a bit of work with them. You can buy the cd from his first band Follow for Now. His first solo cd, which is self-titled, is great, but it's no longer being made, so you have to buy it here. He also did some work with a band called Brand New Immortals. Their record called "Tragic Show" which was released in 2001 is wonderful. Buy "Tragic Show" from Brand New Immortals or the new solo cd "soulstice".

Endochine

2005-04-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

Endochine reminds me of Radiohead and Remy Zero (and maybe a little Jeff Buckley). They're kind of poppy, but with a hint of emo. They're based in Austin, Texas, and you can listen to tracks from "day two", their newest record, at their website. Check out this review of their album "i" for a better description of their sound. Buy the cd.

Trespassers William

2005-04-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

Trespassers William is a new find for me. They were signed by Simon Raymonde's (of Cocteau Twins) Bella Union label in 2002 and I'm surprised that I didn't hear of them back then. They're great in a lush and dreamy kind of way. Anna-Lynne Williams sounds like Aimee Mann, but the music is definitely more in the vein of Mazzy Star. I'm not a huge fan of Aimee or Mazzy Star, so there's a chance you'll like them even if you don't like their music. The band's from California and have made two records so far, "Anchor" and "Different Stars". Check out their official site for news and some song samples. Check out their appearance on KCRW from last year. Buy "Anchor" or "Different Stars".

Blue Merle

2005-04-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

I have to thank my friend Kyle for this one. Blue Merle is a new band from Nashville that pulls sounds from Counting Crows, Coldplay and even Nickel Creek (so much so that you might have deja vu listening to some of the tracks). They're certainly not unoriginal though. With all of these influences, they manage to come up with a sound of their own. Check out their official site for some tracks and other info. They'll be opening for the Dave Matthews Band on a couple dates this summer and are also touring this month around the country. Buy the cd.

Aero Wave

2005-03-30T18:54:00.000-08:00

Leslie Sisson is the only member of Aero Wave as far as I can tell. It's certainly not easy to find information about this band, so I could be completely wrong. Check out the website and you'll see what I mean. Talk about cryptic! The music's great though - electronic with sweet female vocals. The combination reminds me a bit of Mirah and her voice reminds me of Angie Hart (of Frente and Splendid). You can download 4 tracks from the site and see for yourself. I don't know about any release dates, but I do know that they played SXSW on the 16th and possibly are looking for a record deal. You can check out her other project The Killing Fields. She's also apparently a member of a roller derby team and goes by the name Rolletta Lynn. Interesting!

Louis XIV

2005-03-25T15:30:00.000-08:00

Louis XIV is from San Diego. Their music is very glam, dirty and rock and roll. They released their debut cd on the 22nd and it's called "The Best Little Secrets Are Kept". They are comparable to The Rolling Stones, Adam Ant and The Kinks. The album is fun and silly. Their sound is surprisingly British-sounding. Check out their official website and you can launch their player. Buy the cd.

Bloc Party

2005-03-25T14:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry about posting so sporadically lately. I started a new job last week and have been so busy that I just haven't had time. To make up for it, I'll post two new bands today. The first one is Bloc Party. They're from England and are influenced by The Cure and Joy Division, among others. Their sound is indie pop in the vein of those '80s bands. Their debut record "Silent Alarm" was released on the 22nd. Check out their official website for some information and some MP3s. Buy the cd.

Fiona Apple

2005-03-21T21:24:00.000-08:00

I've been so into the new Fiona Apple record the past couple of days that I'm going to post about her today. I can't imagine that you've never heard of her, but I'll give some background anyway. Fiona's originally from New York and has been playing piano since she was 8. She's a singer/songwriter with a very mature sound. She's 27 now, but got signed to Sony at the age of 18. She released her debut "Tidal" in 1996. Shortly thereafter I saw her in concert and met her briefly even before I listened to the record. She had a pretty huge hit with "Criminal" and gained some notoriety for some things she said in reference to her newfound celebrity. "When The Pawn ..." was released in 1999 and it's even better than "Tidal" (even thought it didn't sell nearly as well). Her most recent album was completed in May of 2003 and it's called "Extraordinary Machine". It's all over the internet and the newsgroups because Sony won't release it. Read about the fan response at Free Fiona. You can go here to download all of the tracks. If you only get one song, get "Not About Love" because it's the best track (although they're all good). Buy "Tidal" or "When The Pawn ... ".

Carina Round

2005-03-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

Carina Round is a singer/songwriter from England and has toured with David Gray and worked with Ryan Adams. Her sound is more indie rock in the vein of PJ Harvey than most of the female singer/songwriters that I listen to. Her voice is definitely the most important instrument on her only record, "The Disconnection". It was released in March of last year. If you go to her official website, you can listen to some more tracks from the record and read a bit more about her (although the news is a bit outdated). Buy the cd.

CocoRosie

2005-03-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

CocoRosie is a band made up of sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady. They're definitely progressive and experimental, so if you don't like that kind of thing, you won't like their music. The debut cd, "La Maison de Mon Reve" (the House of My Dream), was released in March of last year and I think it's great. It was recorded in Paris and combines lots of different electronic sounds with super-high vocals (Billie Holiday-style) and interesting beats. You can listen to some songs at their website. Buy the cd.

Julieta Venegas

2005-03-14T21:24:00.000-08:00

Julieta Venegas is a Mexican singer who currently lives in Los Angeles. I first discovered her on the "Amores Perros" soundtrack album. It's one of my favorite movies, and I loved the score as well as the music selection for the film. She contributes "Me Van A Matar" and, if you rent the dvd, you can see the video for it. She definitely has a more contemporary pop sound and is not the typical Mexican singer/songwriter. She cites David Bowie, Prince, and Suzanne Vega as some of her influences. She's released three albums and all are great, particularly "Si". Her website is in Spanish, but it's not hard to figure out how to download some song samples. Buy the "Amores Perros Soundtrack", "Aqui", "Bueninvento", or "Si".

Brazilian Girls

2005-03-13T19:13:00.000-08:00

Brazilian Girls is a band that's neither made up of Brazilians (they came together in New York, but are of different nationalities), nor is the band made up entirely of girls (there is one girl in the band). The band combines many different genres and the songs are written in many different languages. Their self-titled debut came out in February of this year and it's excellent. Check out their official website for some songs and some live video. I saw them on Jimmy Kimmel a couple of weeks ago and they performed "Don't Stop". Buy the cd.

Van Hunt

2005-03-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

Van Hunt is from Atlanta and is a mix of old-time soul singers and contemporary r&b crooners. He reminds me of Prince with a dash of Sam Cooke and a bit of Maxwell. His self-titled debut was released last February and got a bit of airplay, but not enough. You can listen to clips of all of the songs at his official website. Also, check out videos for "Dust" and "Down Here In Hell (With You)". Buy the cd.

Happy Birthday to my friend Toddy!!

Lori McKenna

2005-03-10T21:54:00.000-08:00

Lori McKenna is from Boston and she's another female singer/songwriter. She's definitely got a folky, alt-country kind of vibe which I love. She kind of reminds me of Patty Griffin (check out clips from "Flaming Red" here), who is one of my favorites. Her third record, released in May of last year, is called "Bittertown" and it's got some great tracks. Go to her website to download some sample songs and a featured track. Buy "Paper Wings and Halo", "Pieces of Me" or "Bittertown".

Carla Werner

2005-03-07T20:59:00.000-08:00

Carla Werner's originally from New Zealand, but spent her adult years in Australia. She's another female singer/songwriter with a beautiful voice. Her debut record "Departure" was released in July '03. It's a moody piece of work that's not meant to be listened to when you're looking for something upbeat. Check out some snippets at her Sony page. Her official website is in transition right now, but hopefully will have lots of interesting stuff on it soon. Buy "Departure".

Robinella and the CC String Band

2005-03-06T21:37:00.000-08:00

Robinella and the CC String Band is an interesting group of country musicians led by Robinella Contreras. She has a wonderful bluegrass voice that complements the musicians well. Check out some songs from their self-titled major-label release at their official website. They're from Tennessee and have been together for several years, but the album came out in the middle of 2003. If you like a mix of genres including country/blues/bluegrass, you'll like this band. Buy the cd.

Amos Lee

2005-03-03T15:26:00.000-08:00

Amos Lee is a singer/songwriter from Philly with a soulful sound. His self-titled debut cd came out this week. He was on David Letterman last night and he sounded great live. He'll be on The Tonight Show on March 23rd, so watch it. Check out some songs with his media player or visit the official website and poke around. Buy the album.

Keri Noble

2005-03-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

Keri Noble's another female singer/songwriter with a beautiful voice (there's a pattern here, I know). She's from Detroit and some reviewers compare her to Sarah McLachlan. I agree with that, but she's definitely darker and sadder than Sarah. Her debut record "Fearless" was released last March. Check out her official website for her digital song player and a video for "Talk To Me". Buy "Fearless".

Kathleen Edwards

2005-03-01T21:18:00.000-08:00

Kathleen Edwards is a singer/songwriter from Canada. Her music is very much in the alt-country vain of Whiskeytown or Neko Case. I really enjoyed her full-length debut "Failer" and her newest record "Back to Me" comes out today. I'm watching her on David Letterman right now. Check out her official website for some news and photos. The multimedia section isn't up right now, but should be soon. Buy "Failer" or "Back to Me".

The Bravery

2005-02-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

The Bravery has been getting a lot of exposure lately - and it's well-deserved. Their sound reminds me so much of the '80s alternative rockers that I loved so much, but it's definitely not derivative. Check out their official website for some multimedia. The record doesn't come out until the end of March. Pre-order the self-titled debut.

Amel Larrieux

2005-02-24T21:08:00.000-08:00

Amel Larrieux's been around for a while (you say her last name "larue"), but I don't think she gets enough attention, so I'm posting about her anyway. She started in a band called Groove Theory who I remember fondly from the mid-'90s. The band was comprised of Amel and Bryce Wilson (from Mantronix) and made some great tunes on their self-titled album. Amel's had two solo records and the most recent one, called "Bravebird", came out last January. She has a very soulful, beautiful voice and really can span several octaves. Check out her website for some songs and videos. Buy "Groove Theory" or Amel's "Infinite Possibilities" or "Bravebird".

The Exies

2005-02-23T21:05:00.000-08:00

The Exies are an L.A. alternative rock band that caught my attention when their third album, "Head for the Door", was released last November. You've probably heard the catchy first single "Ugly", because it's been all over the place lately. Check out some audio/video at their website. Buy "The Exies", "Inertia" or "Head for the Door".

Koop

2005-02-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

Koop (otherwise known as Magnus Zingmark and Oscar Simonsson) is a duo from Sweden that makes jazz music tinged with electronica and hip-hop. It certainly makes an interesting combination. They have help from vocalists Cecilia Stalin and Yukimi Nagano. Check out some videos at their official site. You can hear some tracks from "Waltz for Koop" at the Palm Pictures site. They've actually been around since the late '90s, but they've only released two albums. If you like what you've heard, buy "Sons of Koop" or "Waltz for Koop".

Res

2005-02-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

Res is another one of those artists that mixes genres very successfully. Her music is a combination of rock, r&b, soul, and hip-hop. She worked with Doc (of Esthero fame) on her debut album "How I Do" and will hopefully be coming out with a follow-up very soon. The songs are mostly about love, but she's a little less obvious on some tracks, which is a welcome change. Check out her website for some oldish news and some multimedia. Buy the cd.

Nikka Costa

2005-02-17T11:50:00.000-08:00

Nikka Costa has a beautifully soulful voice. You've probably heard the song "Everybody Got Their Something" because it's been popular in commercials and movies. Her official website is pretty sparse now because she's working on her second major-label album, "can'tneverdidnothin" and it'll be updated when the record comes out. You can check out her EPK which has some snippets of new songs and is a pretty cool look into her personality. Buy "Everybody Got Their Something" or pre-order "can'tneverdidnothin".

The Damnwells

2005-02-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

The Damnwells remind me of one of my favorite alt-country acts from the '90s, Old Pike. Old Pike is no longer together, but if you've ever heard of them, you know that they were great. The Damnwells have an Americana vibe, which is definitely one of my favorite genres because of its mixing of different sounds. Their debut album came out in October of 2003 and it's called "Bastards of the Beat". The song "Sleepsinging" is definitely my favorite and you can listen to a piece of it, along with a few other tracks, at their official website. Buy "PMR + 1", an early EP, or "Bastards of the Beat".

Frou Frou

2005-02-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about doing a post about Frou Frou lately and eshan finally made my mind up because he's got a link to Imogen Heap's website. I'm sure everyone will recognize the song "Let Go" from the Garden State Soundtrack. The Frou Frou album that song comes from is called "Details" and every song is excellent. I recommend you visit the website to hear more tracks. Frou Frou is comprised of Imogen and Guy Sigsworth (who must be brilliant because he's also worked with Bjork). The album came out in 2002 and really didn't get much attention in the U.S. until the song was chosen for Garden State. Imogen is also a great solo artist and, according to her website, is releasing an album this year. There are also a lot of Frou Frou videos there. I remember when "I Megaphone", her solo debut and only other recording, came out, I was knocked over by her amazing voice. Buy "I Megaphone" or "Details".

Ian Brown

2005-02-14T21:02:00.000-08:00

Ian Brown's been around forever; he was the lead singer for one of my favorite '90s bands, The Stone Roses. His solo career hasn't gotten a lot of attention in the States, but his records are great. His third solo record in particular, "Music of the Spheres" which came out in 2001, has 10 strong tracks, including "Stardust" and "Whispers". Check out his official website for some sound samples and videos. He's also on the new UNKLE single called "Reign". The video is super cool. His new album "Solarized" comes out next Tuesday. Buy "Unfinished Monkey Business", "Golden Greats", "Music of the Spheres" or "Solarized".

Goapele

2005-02-13T21:33:00.000-08:00

Goapele is a singer from Oakland with an amazing voice. Her debut, "Even Closer", came out in 2002. She's definitely in the R&B/Soul genre, but has a distinctive sound. Her website has the whole album to stream plus the video for "Closer". Her second release is soon to be out and it's called "Change It All". Buy the cd.

M.I.A.

2005-02-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

M.I.A. is a new artist from London. She's originally from Sri Lanka and her real name is Maya Arulpragasam. Her sound is a mixture of dancehall and rap like you've never heard before. She certainly reminds me of Dizzee Rascal and seeing as how they're both working in London, that's no real surprise. Her album is called "Arular". You can poke around her website and check out some audio and video. Buy the cd. Happy Birthday to Chellee!!!

Gemma Hayes

2005-02-09T21:24:00.000-08:00

Gemma Hayes is from Ireland. Her debut cd "Night On My Side" came out in the U.S. in April of 2003 and it showcases how great the female singer/songwriter can be. Gemma has an intriguing voice and she knows how to craft a catchy hook. The record is a combination of electronic and folk sounds and is a bit reminiscent of Beth Orton. She's working on her second release and it should be out in the next couple of months. If you need confirmation from a cooler source, check out Uncle Grambo's ringing endorsement. Go to Gemma's official website for some audio/video. Buy the cd.

Ms. Dynamite

2005-02-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

Ms. Dynamite is a kick-ass MC/singer from the U.K. She won the Mercury Music Prize in 2002, but not many people have heard of her in the U.S. If you need comparisons, she reminds a little bit of Lauryn Hill, but with more of a reggae sound and definitely funkier. You might have heard "It Takes More" because they played the video on MTV way back when. She's coming out with a new album in the next few months - apparently she took a bunch of time of to have a baby. I'm excited to see what she's got in store. Go to her website to find out a little more about her. The Forum has more up-to-date news and if you're really into her sound, register so you can get some MP3s. Check out the first single from the new record called "Judgement Day". Buy the cd.

Hem

2005-02-07T21:46:00.000-08:00

Hem are a great band with a soft and southern kind of sound. They're not country, but they sound like they come from the country. They're from New York and have a kind of Americana vibe. Their debut "Rabbit Songs" is great and they released their second album "Eveningland" last October. Check out some MP3s at their website. Buy "Rabbit Songs" or "Eveningland".

OK Go

2005-02-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

What a fun and goofy pop band OK Go is. I was taken by their infectious hooks and silly sensibilities. Check out some videos at their website. You might have heard the song "Get Over It" because it was a minor hit in 2003. The rest of the cd is just as catchy and I think all of the songs are great. They're from Chicago and their manager is one of the Johns from They Might Be Giants. Their new record is coming in July of this year. They're also going on tour again starting this month. Check out the dates. Buy the cd.

Jolie Holland

2005-02-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

Jolie Holland was a founding member of The Be Good Tanyas, but I find her solo work to be much more interesting. She has a very folky kind of sound with a deep, resonant voice. You can listen to some tracks on her sound page or stream the album "Catalpa". I have some tracks from the unreleased new Fiona Apple record and think that Fiona's new sound is very similar to Jolie's. Buy "Catalpa" or "Escondida" by Jolie Holland.