outlive indie with me
indie music cycles fast, we'll cycle fasterWe’ve Moved!
For better or for worse, I have moved this blog to make this site (hopefully) more useful for you. Check it out here!
Artist of the Day – Lisa Mitchell
Artist: Lisa Mitchell
Style: Indie/Folk/Pop
Mood: Upbeat/Mellow/Soft
Contemporaries: Kate Miller-Heidke, Josh Pyke, Sarah Blasko
There is something about soft vocals and light acoustics that I like. The simpleness and clarity? Perhaps. Lisa Mitchell is all about that in her new album titled Wonder, which is bold, delicate, energy-filled, mellow, simple, and complex all at the same time. I got hooked on Valium (a track in this album) right away with its soft tones and lyrics that shows maturity way beyond the 19 year old singer/songwriter that she is. Oh, and she placed sixth on Australian Idol 2006! Dont let that throw you off.
Song Recommendations: Neopolitan Dreams, Valium, Coin Laundry
Artist of the Day – Say Hi
Artist: Say Hi
Style: Indie-Pop/Lo-fi Rock
Mood: Upbeat
Contemporaries: Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, Stars, Momus, The Beatles, Interpol
Say Hi, formerly Say Hi to Your Mom, recently released their album Oohs & Aahs filled with calming beats and bright acoustics reminiscent of sounds from The Postal Service (a fav!) and The Beatles. Primarily the brainchild of Eric Elbogen, the one man band offers familiar rhythms and rhymes to that of past artists, but with unusual/bizarre themes such as vampires and robots. Now producing music more about matters of the heart, Elbogen plays with eclectic instruments from horns and strings to shakers and drum machines that makes the music fun and enjoyable for a listen.
Song Recommendations (now with links!): Northwestern Girls, Let’s Talk about Spaceships, Sweetheart Killer
Cover this!
I’m a huge fan of listening to song covers on youtube. There is so much talent out there! I’ll post my favorite covers up here once in a while. Here is a cover of the Rosi Golan song Hazy, feat. William Fitzsimmons. Enjoy!
Artist of the Day – William Fitzsimmons
Artist: William Fitzsimmons
Style: Contemporary Folk
Mood: Mellow
Contemporaries: Iron & Wine, Joshua Radin, Elliot Smith
So soothing, you can slip into a coma listening to it. Try not to, however, or else you’ll miss the amazing songwriting. Fitzsimmons is a singer/songwriter born to two blind parents, both of whom were living-room musicians. Their passion for music and musical talents did not fail to pass on. His new album The Sparrow and the Crow is a gentle mix of folk-rock and soft acoustic that is simple, yet beautiful.
Song Recommendations: Passion Play, Everything has Changed, It’s not True
He is also featured in Rosi Golan’s Hazy.
Artist of the Day – Phoenix
Artist: Phoenix
Style: Indie Rock
Mood: Upbeat
Contemporaries: Tahiti 80, Spoon, Darkel, Zoot Woman, Cassius
Phoenix, a French alternative-rock band out of Versailles, revives that 80′s thumping percussion beats and synth sounds that take you back years and years. Nostalgia aside, their newest Album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix provides uplifting tracks that, at the very least, will keep you tapping your feet until your calves sore. May be their song 1901 says it best — ”Counting all different ideas driftin’ away/Past and present they don’t matter.”
Song Recommendations: Lisztomania, 1901, Rome, If I Ever Feel Better
Artist of the Day – James Yuill
Artist: James Yuill
Style: Folktronica
Mood: Upbeat
Contemporaries: David Gray, Jeremy Warmsley, Tunng, Wild Beasts
James Yuill blends together an odd-couple of traditional acoustic and modern digital sound, perhaps joining the best of Folktronica (others in genre: Goldfrapp, Patrick Wolf, Animal Collective). Influenced by the likes of Radiohead and the Chemical Brothers, he joins the band of progressive song writers that never disappoint in giving us something new and different to listen to. Count on being pleasantly surprised. Song Recommendations: No Surprise, This Sweet Love
