Before we bombard you with tons of great music, a couple of our blog friends have new homes. If you are a follower of Whiteray's excellent blog, Echoes In The Wind and Swiss Chris' equally well-done Music of the Moment, please take a moment to update your links. We won't go into why they moved, let's just say some people take their jobs way too seriously. Even though you never really left, welcome back!• • • •
The kickass music is by Pittsburgh's 28 North, four guys that can flat slam some music together. Featuring some rockous classic rock with a jamming feel to it, 28 North has only been together a little over five years but they've have an over-100 song catalog to their credit. The band's new album, Mystery, is loaded with their influences of The Beatles, The Band, The Allman Brothers, and Led Zeppelin are evident. This is a fantastic band; this is a fantastic album. If you ears yearn to hear music like this, without a doubt this is your band. Highly recommended, a definite must-have in any music collection.28 North: MySpace • CD Baby has Mystery
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The lovely Julie Peel released her debut full-length album, Near the Sun, earlier this week. Previously featured on compilations including Just Like Heaven (a tribute to the Cure), Gigantic (a tribute to Kim Deal), Dig for Fire (a tribute to the Pixies), and Cinnamon Girl (a tribute to Neil Young), this is her first solo full-length release. Julie's lo-fi, guitar-driven pop is driven by her influences that include Aimee Mann, Beth Orton, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, and their impact is not hard to discern on Near the Sun.Julie Peel: Website • MySpace • Near The Sun available via American Laundromat Records
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Swedish duo The Sweet Serenades have released their new album, Balcony Cigarettes, in Sweden, Germany and Benelux, but you don't have to go over there to hear a sample from it. The band, consisting of Mathias Näslund and Martin Nordvall, is getting great reviews for the album and the track is a follow-up to the previously released single Mona Lee that shot up the music charts like Rosie O'Donnell chasing a Twinkie. A very high-energy infectious sound you can't help but like.The Sweet Serenades: Website • MySpace • Balcony Cigarettes available via Leon Records
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One of the best unsigned bands on the planet, Red Cortez, has an EP out and it further proves what a great band this is. A very popular supporting act-they were personally asked for by Morrissey and have also toured with Stephen Malkmus, The Mother Hips, The French Kicks, Black Mountain and Matt Costa-they will be on tour almost every night through the beginning of November. Their new EP, Hands To The Wall, is out now and they are supporting it by opening for yet another great band, The Airborne Toxic Event.Red Cortez: Website • MySpace • Hands To The Wall available via the band's website
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The shimmering guitars and breezy sound come courtesy Built To Spill's forthcoming release, There Is No Enemy. Over three years in the making and featuring Doug Martsch's uncanny vocals and the previously mentioned guitars, the ingredients are in place for an exceptional album which is due for release on October 6th. Beautifully complex and exquisitely written.Things Fall Apart (stream-right click, save as)
Built To Spill: Website • MySpace • Watch the band's store for the release
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Codes In The Clouds is a cinematic post-rock quintet from the UK. They recorded their North American debut album, Paper Canyon, in just 5 days but you'd never believe that from the exceptional quality of the music. There's always been something about this type of music that I've always liked, perhaps because it seems to me like a combination of angelic meets armageddon. Or maybe because it seems to go well with outer space. In any case, this great band is touring the UK and Europe with another great band, 65daysofstatic, in what has to be a hell of a show. Highly recommended.Codes In The Clouds: MySpace • Paper Canyon available via Erased Tapes
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Something that not only sounds good and makes you feel good, but is part of something good. Grammy-winning producer/engineer/filmmaker Mark Johnson founded Playing For Change on the simple idea that the world can be connected through music. Starting in Santa Monica, California, Mark captured a performance of Stand By Me by legendary street blues singer Roger Ridley, then took the show on the road. In New Orleans, he put headphones on Grandpa Elliott, who harmonized with Ridley's soulful rendition of the song. And he didn't stop there. Using innovative mobile technology and travelling the world, they filmed and recorded more than 100 musicians, largely outdoors. Each captured performance created a new mix in which essentially the artists are all performing together, albeit hundreds or thousands of miles apart. So far, the project has raised funds resulting in the building of two schools in South Africa and one in South America.Playing For Change • Keb Mo's Website •
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Another unsigned band creating a buzz with their unique brand of dark pop is New York City's Starcode, whose self-released debut album Hum earned major airtime on over 100 college radio stations across the country. Featuring crescendo-like choruses and spacey synths, Starcode likely won't stay unsigned for long as their brand of music teeters on angst-free but still carries a modern message by way of a softer sound. Excellent guitars, excellent harmonies. And no, it's not Billy Corgan. It's better.Starcode: Website • MySpace • CD Baby has Hum
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