I thought Lost Lander‘s “Cold Feet” sounded familiar. The song appeared on this year’s PDX Pop Now! compilation. But there’s more. Lost Lander is the new band of Matt Sheehy and Brent Knopf (Ramona Falls, Menomena). “Cold Feet” has the sound f Knopf’s other band and his prior band, though a bit more restrained and calculated. Lots of vocal harmonies, precise percussion and intense instrumentation. Read More »Lost Lander: Cold Feet MP3
Acid House Kings are a favorite in the indie pop world. Their songs are some of the most upbeat, perfect pop you can find anywhere. To continue their excellence in everything pop, the band has teamed up with Television Personalities’ front-man Dan Treacy who lends vocals on Music Sound Better With You track “Heaven Knows I Miss Him Now”. Texas Bob of TV Personalities also lends his expertise on guitar.
Read More »Acid House Kings: Heaven Knows I Miss Him Now (Feat. Dan Treacy)
It’s all coming back completely full circle.  Folk music proves itself time and time again to be one of the truest influences in the musical world.  A touch of Americana blended with a grave sense of indie rock realism rarely turns out badly.  And in the case of Jesse Payne‘s latest album Buffalo and it’s kick off single “Take Me”, we might have possibly found the closest thing to perfection. With a sound that is just a little bit country, and a little bit folk n’ roll, Payne is a truly entertaining artist that is definitely not one to be overlooked when it comes to American splendor. Read More »Jesse Payne: Take Me MP3
Andrew McAllister has a few albums under his belt, but listening to his recordings under Conrad Ford might set you on a path for differing expectations. You see, Conrad Ford was a country music outfit, and his new project under the moniker Vanish Valley is far from that earlier style.
Read More »Vanish Valley: Races [Song Review] 
Released from the constraints of recording in apartments outside day jobs and the overall complications that stem from them, Twin Sister is poised to release their debut LP, In Heaven. “Bad Street” is the first single from the album and it finds the band expanding their creative capabilities wholeheartedly. Read More »Twin Sister: Bad Street MP3
Friendly Fire Recordings has always been good about seeking out and introducing the states (i.e. the U.S.) to great foreign… Read More »Regina: Unessa MP3
Amanda Mair is back with another single on Labrador Records. The song follows her debut on the label, “House”, as a danceable track packed with pop hooks. The new track is “Doubt” and it finds Mair continuing her surprising ability to craft a magical pop track filled with a maturity well beyond her young (16) age. Read More »Amanda Mair: Doubt MP3
There is a tribal element to the music of Savaging Spires. Tribal not in the sense of native music, but one more along the lines of tUnE-YarDs or Norwegian Arms. “Bending The Rules Of Time” is an audible vision quest, packed with peyote-inspired chant-like harmonies, an array of non-traditional instruments performed in what could be an impromptu campfire session held by the musically insane. Read More »Savaging Spires: Bending The Rules Of Time MP3
PAPA is the side project of Girls’ drummer Darren Weiss and their music fits well with the chill California sound of Weiss’ other band. “I Am The Lion King” is a track off the band’s new EP, A Good Woman Is Hard To Find. You can hear the track below; it has an edge to it, but it’s laid back. Laid back like you’d expect from a late August/early September anthem. It hints of the beach and summer. And, after listening to the entirety of the new album, I find it pretty easy to say that — albeit very good — it’s definitely not the best track on the EP! Read More »PAPA: I Am The Lion King MP3
Foosball tournament enthusiast Kevin O’Connor is back under the guise of Talkdemonic with his music-making cohort Lisa Molinaro. The duo has a new album in the mix, and thus a new song for public consumption. That song is “Revival” and it continues Talkdemonic’s steadfast style of somewhat always eclectic, ever loud and clever percussion-meets-strings instrumental genius. The song begins with a light guitar riff before O’Connor opens up on his drum kit and Molinaro adds her touch with eccentric electric strings. Read More »Talkdemonic: Revival MP3
