With such a backlog of music due to limited blog time the past couple weeks, we're just going to offer a brief comment or two with the music as I do feel somewhat guilty that much of this has been sitting here so long. I've a couple artists/releases to spotlight and will do them up as separate posts over the weekend. I do want to thank all the bands, artists and labels that have sent music our way for being so patient while I've been so busy.• • • •
Swedish Indie/Psychedelic Rockers Southside Stalkers will have their second album out soon. but we've got the single Bones from it and it's a gas to listen to. Their music reassures you that groovy is still out there if you listen hard enough.Southside Stalkers •
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Pomegranates lead singer Joey Cook has teamed up with friend Sophia Cunningham and coming out as a solo artist with his first full-length as Firs. Titled Man In Space, it's a sweet listen that goes far beyond your run-of-the-mill pop with its lush songwriting.Firs: MySpace • Man In Space available via Lujo Records
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London's Livan has sculpted a musical monster: a mix of the raw industrial sounds of Nine Inch Nails, the guitar force of the Clash and the flashy showmanship of Davie Bowie. Straight from the depths of his own hardships and struggles Livan borrows from the best of these artists; the result is the pulsing, powerful Happy Returns, something that has the potential to put Livan square on the musical map where he deserves to be. Just terrific.Livan: Website • MySpace
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Night Horse will tour in support of the release of three split seven inch singles being released this summer. Their new single Choose Your Side reaffirms the critical acclaim the band is receiving for their powerful 70's classic hard rock sound. Without a doubt, one of the best bands out there in this genre and one of my personal favorites. Highly recommended.Night Horse: MySpace • Available via Tee Pee Records
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The electro-pop meteor that is Beautiful Small Machines breached our fragile atmosphere with the release of their debut EP, Robots In Love, on July 14th. If you begin to notice certain inanimate objects pulsing to a rockous dance-floor beat, please contact the band directly.Beautiful Small Machines: MySpace • Robots In Love EP available via iTunes
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Without a doubt, Manchester Orchestra has become a favorite to almost everyone that's heard their music, me included. They recently performed in-studio for the MySpace Transmissions series, and the video of I've Got Friends is here.• • • •
If Beautiful Small Machines music didn't snap you out of that pasty funk you may be in, allow me to thrust some music by one of New York City's best party bands, Forro In The Dark, at you and see if that doesn't get you going. Light A Candle is the album, September 29th is the release date, and you'll find your head is still attached. This band is having a good time with their music, and you're invited to the party.Forro In The Dark: Website • MySpace • Light A Candle available via the band's store
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Motel Motel features a gorgeous blend of alt-country and raspy folk rock created by five very gifted musicians. They've released a new song, "Cowboy," which was recorded over the winter and is a hint of what is coming in the future from the band. Their new LP, New Denver, was released last week and is garnering much-deserved rave reviews.Motel Motel: Website • MySpace • New Denver available via the band's store
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Boston indie-pop rockers, The Hush Now, will release their sophomore album, Constellations, on October 13th. The Hush Now made quite the impression with their debut self-titled release, easily climbing into CMJ's top-100 list, and earning the band comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and The Ocean Blue, and the band also received extensive airplay by the BBC.The Hush Now: Website • MySpace • Watch Pirate! for the release
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San Francisco's Trainwreck Riders new album The Perch was released back in May, but I waited until now to find out about it so this makes it an instant classic. Well, maybe not yet but their excellent hybrid country-rock-with-a-hint-of-punk sound sure sounds like it could be headed in that direction. The four-piece band exhibits complete musical diversity from frantic to sublime and Pete Frauenfelder’s voice handles the spectrum quite well.Trainwreck Riders: MySpace • The Perch available via Bompstore
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St Helens' debut album, Heavy Profession, will be released on July 28th. St Helens is an Australian experimental pop band with a definite lo-fi twist to their sound. An overall gritty sound gives their music a unique quality that is being attempted by more and more bands lately, but few succeed at it as well as this band has. The five-piece band features the vocals of Jarrod Quarrell and Hannah Brooks, and they go perfect together.St Helens: MySpace • Heavy Profession available via Dot Dash (Australia)
Forro In The Dark, very funky and catchy, also liked the tracks from St Helens and Beautiful Small Machines