Ode To The Big Sea

 
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indie

 

Fleet Foxes

Their self titled album has just been released.

Inevitabley they will be compared with the Beach Boys because of their fantastic harmonies.

These guys are really good.

Check this acoustic number 'Oliver James'...

Filed under  //   folk   indie  

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Tom Baxter - Skybound

Tom Baxter is British singer-songwriter and an artist in the purest sense.

Tom created 10 pieces of artwork, one for each track on his album 'Skybound', to help him raise the funds needed to promote it and release it independently.

He's soulful, acoustic (on occassion) and I guess you could say he's like James Blunt or Jack Johnson, but that would be doing him an injustice.

Filed under  //   indie  

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The French Kicks - Swimming

The French Kicks are a New York-based indie rock band. 'Swimming' is their fourth full length album, released in May earlier this year.

They're often described as a post-rock mod pop band... whatever that means.

All I know is they're melodic, laid back and great to listen to.

Here's them playing a live acoustic set. They start with 'Carried Away' and around 4 minutes in they play the more down tempo 'Love In The Ruins'...

Filed under  //   indie  

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Nouvelle Vague

Nouvelle Vague are a great band to put on for summer chilling. They do acoustic cover versions of classic 80's pop songs with a bossa nova vibe.

They've released two albums: The self titled 'Nouvelle Vague' (2004) and 'Bande à Part' (2006).

Their version of Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' is probably one of their best...

Filed under  //   indie  

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The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement

The Last Shadow Puppets are a newly formed band and side project by Arctic Monkey's lead singer, Alex Turner. "The Age Of The Understatement" is their debut album released earlier this year.

Alex takes on vocal duties, as you'd expect, and he's rounded up a couple of mates to help him out, oh and the 22-piece London Metropolitan Orchestra for good measure.

The Last Shadow Puppets' sound is definitely unique - the energy of the Arctic Monkey's combined with a a full ocrchestral accompaniment works absolutely brilliantly.

Here are a couple of youtube vids, the tracks are only a couple of mins long so i've posted two.

The next single to be released off the album is called "Standing Next To Me"...

But don't be tricked, this album has all kinds of different sounds. Here's "The time has come again" which is probably my favourite...

Filed under  //   indie  

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M83 - 'Saturdays = Youth'

If you like the 80's synth pop sound you'll like M83.

"Saturdays = Youth" was released just last month but you could easily believe it was released over 20 years ago.

The album ranges from upbeat indie rock to chillout, with everything in between.

The track that really got me hooked (and I still can't get enough of it) is 'Graveyard Girl'. It's accompanied by an excellent '80's feel' video as well...

Filed under  //   indie  

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Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country

Camera Obscura are a Scottish indie band. Their sound is a mixture of folk and pop, yet many of their tracks feature full strings, organs, trumpets and pianos.

'Let's Get Out of This Country' was released in 2006 and it still sounds fresh and is great to listen to.

This is the opening track on the album 'Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken'...

Filed under  //   indie  

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Johnathan Rice - Trouble is Real

'Trouble is Real' is one for fans of people like Ray LaMontagne, R.E.M. etc.

It's easy going 'indie folk'. I like it because it's a got a good mix of sounds; plenty of acoustic moments with full strings contrasting with more uplifting numbers.

As ever it's easier for you to listen than for me to describe...

Filed under  //   folk   indie  

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Panda Bear - Person Pitch

Last year Panda Bear released 'Person Pitch', an album that received massive critical acclaim.

It will remind you of the Beach Boys but not because it's a rock album. The sound is all about clever sampling, loops and repetition.

It's warm, hazy, haunting, spacey and experimental, yet impossible to truly describe.

You will hear nothing else like it.

It is genius.

Filed under  //   indie  

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The Maccabees - Colour it in

The Maccabees' have recently released a new version of their album 'Colour it in' which was first out last year. I'd not actually heard it before so it was all brand new to me.

What a great find.

Fast, energetic, indy rock. Much in the same vain as Bloc Party. In fact I think they have toured with them.

The tracks are short and to the point, there's no messing about. Loads of catchy lyrics and riffs without the cheese factor.

Well worth a listen.

Filed under  //   indie  

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