Raphael Saadiq's recent winter release, The Way I See It, is as close to a nostalgic old soul road trip as you can get. Not wanting to retrofit an established sound, Saddiq just makes great sound even better. He'll be touring for the entire month of March; should be a show well worth the admission.mp3:
Raphael Saadiq: Website • MySpace • Wiki • Buy The Way I See It
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If you like David Bowie or Talking Heads(who doesn't?), you're sure to like San Francisco's Dubious Ranger. Featuring a tingy mix of dance-punk, acid-rock and prog, their new album Uneasy Truce at the Watering Hole is a freakout on a CD. The album is scheduled to hit the streets in the spring, and the booty-shaking starts shortly thereafter!mp3:
Dubious Ranger: Website • MySpace • Watch the band's store for the release
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We recently had a mention of Ft. Lauderdale's Love, She Wrote, one of my favorite new discoveries of 2008. And lo and behold, they went and got themselves included on Episode 12 of the Low Slung Podcast. This episode also features music by a couple of stout UK bands, SundaySchool and I Have Clones. I guess when you make good music, people are bound to found out!• • • •
Brooklyn just keeps pumping out good bands. The latest one whose music found its way here is Peephole, and you can hear the Bowie influences in their music. If the track Children's Show can somehow get the airplay it deserves, there's no telling how far this band will go. A very good sound.Peephole - mp3:
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Introducing Red Riders, a four-piece band from Sydney, Australia charged by anybody who pursues creative ventures with little regard for their future health or wealth. Their inspirations draw from the wide open sounds of mid-late 80s Australian bands like The Go-Betweens, The Triffids, some Icehouse, and The Church. A love/hate relationship with Sydney and living in a haunted country that's always doing its best to get rid of you also plays a role in what you will hear and see. The shared track is from 2006's album, Replica Replica.mp3:
Red Riders: Website • MySpace • Buy Replica Replica
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Hamilton, Ontario's The Rest will release their second album, Everyone All At Once, in April. I've read numerous reviews after learning about this band, and each of them raves about the inspiring nature of their music. I've also had a chance to listen to the entire album, and it stands alone in its grandeur and unique composition. Some of the best music I've heard thus far in 2009; highly recommended.mp3:
The Rest: Website • MySpace • Watch the band's store for the release
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Seattle's Ivan & Alyosha(lead vocalist Tim Wilson-formerly of Izabelle-and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Carbary)have been creating and performing their brilliant pop-rock brand of music since 2007 and will be releasing their debut album, The Verse, on February 24th. Tracks such as Easy To Love, a Lennon-like stomp that is exquisite in its simplicity, should allow the duo to jettison their flying-under-the-radar status quickly.mp3:
Ivan & Alyosha: MySpace : Watch Cheap Lullaby Records for the release
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Columbus, Ohio's Ryan Smith's music finds middle ground between the far reaches of the indie landscape and the familiarity of pop radio. MTV2 and ThePalestra.com have both recently produced video features about Smith. His latest album, I Just Want To Feel That Way, was recently released and is six chapters of stories, dreams and experiences travelling along an unassuming back road featuring Ryan's excellent vocals. The entire album is available for free on his MySpace page.mp3:
Ryan Smith: Website • MySpace
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Our Friends at When You Awake have a pair of great Valentine's Day mixtapes for you, featuring a spread of musicians like Ron Wood, Vetiver, Animal Collective, Stars and Aphex Twin to name a few. Even without the theme it's a great playlist of music. As we like to do, we'll tease you with one track; the rest is waiting for you here.mp3:
Red Riders are awesome live. If anyone else is heading to SXSW, check them out!