Showing posts with label Pop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pop. Show all posts

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Colour Coding- Perfect (Video & Free Download)

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There's nothing quite like the sound of youthful hope.

There's a certain buoyancy to the sound that instantly ignites a feeling of contentment and sends a blissful buzz throughout your body. This lovely feeling oozes out of the lead single, "Perfect", from Sydney, Autralia based indie-pop duo, Colour Coding. 


Wrapped in a blanket of silvery synths, fetching melodies, and an addictive whistling hook accompaniment, "Perfect" is a tender and addictive ode to puppy love. The single is from Colour Coding's brand new and self produced Proof EP; a debut exhibition of Tim Commandeur and Chris Holland's capacity for the catchy and propensity for pop.

Colour Coding is definitely for those with a sweet tooth, but it's hard for anyone not to smile and nod along with their "perfect" ode to innocent love.


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

This Week on BandSoup (3/5-3/19)

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Another week in the books and yet another week of great uploads here on BandSoup! Here are a few of the bands that you must hear according to an unanimous vote from the BandSoup blog team. Remember, new bands pop up on the site 1-5 times per day, so check back in with us. You might be missing out on your new favorite band!

* Click the band's name to hear their music.

We had a SXSW week last week, so here is a post with two weeks worth of our best new uploads.

Typhoon (Indie Rock)--  Check out our recent blog post for more info and videos. Typhoon's music has always been marked by complicated arrangements and careful orchestration. Live performances routinely involve 12 or more band members playing at once. "The group masterfully combines indie rock instrumentals and vocals with violins, percussion, hand claps, xylophone, horns and a choir of other instruments, making for inspiring and catchy songs." 

This Means Nothing in Mexico (Indie Rock/Pop)--  Vancouver trio that dares you not to groove to their single "Spirits" off of their brand new unveiling, Year of Thunder, now available as a free download.

Rogue Sounds (Instrumental Rock)-- Formed in the summer of 2008 to create more accessible instrumental music. The band currently resides in Anaheim, CA and has released 2 EP's, 2640 & Transmission. Most of 2011 was spent writing & recording 'Jupiter And Beyond The Infinite' which was released for free download/no minimum donation March 10th 2012.

Max & The Moon (Indie Rock/Pop)-- Max & The Moon's "Out of My Head" was our Soup of the Week last night. Check out the blog post and get your free download!

Coast Jumper (Indie Rock)-- Songs from their debut album, which is currently available as a "name your own price" download.

Literature (Indie Rock)-- Songs from the debut LP from Austin TX power pop madmen. Purchase here.

Tokyo Raid (Garage/Psych Rock)-- Serving up a ferocious, fuzzy, Rohyphenol-laced cocktail that fuels the bloody collision of neo-psychedelia, garage, post-punk and glam, San Francisco’s mercurial Tokyo Raid effortlessly pull off the difficult trick of being simultaneously iconic and fresh.

Equals (Instrumental Rock)-- "The densely layered songs all have their distinctive storyboard of moods and textures, each one a lovely surprise yet all five somehow melding together to form a cohesive, cinematic whole." Click here for a free download of their self titled EP.

Planet Asia (Hip Hop)-- New music from underground hip hop legend Planet Asia's latest record, Black Belt Theatre.

More awesome new bands/solo artists on the flip side!

Ben Rector- I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney Houston Cover)

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If there is one artist that proves musicians do not need major label aid to find success in the digital age, it's Nashville's Ben Rector. Rector pummels the iTunes charts with every release and has built an enormous fan following by doing what he does best-- sing and perform. Combining influences from John Mayer, Ben Folds, and Bruce Hornsby, Ben Rector is the multi-talented poster boy for the new era of digital DIY artists, where talent and close connections with fans reign supreme.


Here is a Whitney Houston cover that was recorded by Ben before her untimely death. Rector's latest album, Something Like This, is available now on iTunes and other online retailers.
Rector is a 24-year old nobody. He's never been on a label, he's never spent a dime on promotion, he's never been on national television, and he's literally topping the iTunes charts. There's no catch; just listen to the music. With a rich voice and skillfully crafted songs that both befall his age, it's no wonder he's no longer a secret. In a world where everything is only a click away, the opportunity for a uniquely talented artist to take off is unprecedented. And so is the success of this up and coming Singer-Songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.

Rector released "Into The Morning" in February of 2010, and it quickly climbed to #5 and #10 on the iTunes Pop and Overall charts. In a year and a half, the record went on to sell 15,000 albums, and over 60,000 singles independently, due solely to word of mouth and consistent touring. Rector is no stranger to the road; he has toured incessantly the last four years, rapidly growing a legion of fans and selling out most dates on his previous two headline tours. This rapid growth culminated in the release of "Something Like This" on September 13, 2011. The record was the #1 Singer Songwriter album 5 minutes after its official release, it climbed above Lil' Wayne's "Tha Carter IV" to the #4 spot on iTunes overall album charts, bested only by Lady Antebellum's same-day release, Coldplay, and Adele.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Crozet

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2011 was quite a year for electronic and synthesized music as M83 and Cliff Martinez's work on the Drive soundtrack reignited mass worship of epic computer pop records. Now, in the wake of the subterranean explosion of bedroom chill wave and 80's influenced synth-pop, we are seeing numerous bands replacing their beloved axes with keyboards, midi controllers, and synthesizers, while attempting to capture the nostalgic noise that seems to be bringing generation x, the millennials, and the internet generation together. On top of rock and rollers experimenting with new sounds, this nostalgia-boom has also brought on a lot of copycats and flash in the pan laptop musicians that lack the musicianship of veteran artists like M83 and Toro Y Moi. This is proven with a few hours spent scouring synth laced sub-genres that lead you to many of the same sounds and samples floating over flaccid drums and over-worked vocals. Let's face it, there aren't many groups that can float with in the clouds with present gods of electronic pop music, but Crozet, a new duo out of Philadelphia that recently released their debut album We'll Be Gone By Then,  pack a divine punch strong enough to go toe to toe with their heavyweight competition.


What started out as a solo bedroom escapade of John Helmuth during his senior year of college eventually turned into a two-headed electronic monster with the addition of Sean Lee. On We'll Be Gone By Then, the duo masterfully blend gargantuan drums, luscious layered synths, dreamy guitar riffs, and reverb-soaked vocals into an ethereal enterprise of exquisite computer driven pop.

Crozet's tastefully crafted and sequenced records bleeds youth, romanticism, hope, spirit, and often sounds like a soundtrack to a futuristic Jon Hughes-esque coming of age film. I'm Lost, with it's blossoming guitar riffs and epic drums, introduces the introspective journey; Powerful tracks like Just Wait, Neon, and On the Line provide the rising action (obstacles, conflicts) with their grandiose arrangements and penetrating synth lines; Closed Shades and He's a Nomad provide the pace of the climax with a more melancholic vibe that's beautiful yet tragic and listens like a beach of sadness aching for a wave of hope to crash its shores; We Can See It provides the falling action (or the moment of final suspense before the dramatic conclusion) with its enthusiastic and hopeful spirit; and the title track, We'll Be Gone By Then, is the perfect accompaniment to the denouement-- the tear-jerking conclusion where our protagonist beats the odds, finds that the hard road was worth traveling for this outcome, and raises a fist in the air a la John Bender as we fade into black.

Crozet's well crafted debut shows signs of brilliance and a group that is far beyond their bedroom bandcamp counterparts.  We'll Be Gone By Then is a mature synth-pop record that shows Helmuth and Lee's knack for composing emotional and infectious pop records that will inspire, motivate, and invigorate a multitude of listeners and 80s babies.


Monday, March 12, 2012

Soup of the Week: Max and the Moon- Out of My Head (Free Download)

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Chino Hills, California based trio Max and the Moon are set to release their second EP entitled The Way I See on March 27th. Their highly anticipated sophomore effort is said to show the band's maturation into a songwriting entity and a collective that has learned to turn their large musical appetite into genre-bending feast for their audience. The Way I See features a bouquet of influences that include classical, jazz, pop, modern rock, and soul that has garnered them comparisons to early Coldplay and the beat-driven compositions of Passion Pit.


These boasts are immediately understood in the infectious, piano-driven pop parade of"Out of My Head", where Max and the Moon's forte of catchy harmonies and quirky beat propelled arrangements galvanize the rest of their arsenal. Max and the Moon were kind enough to release this Soup of the Week as a free download exclusively for the BandSoup audience, which you can download below and sit with before the release of their EP and accompanying series of videos. Stay tuned because beginning on March 27th the band will begin to release a series of short films/music videos, live performance videos, and an interactive web experience for their single "Lighthouse", which will be featured on the blog as they are released.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Green River Ordinance- Under Fire (New Album)

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Listen to Green River Ordinance on BandSoup 

Forth Worth, Texas' Green River Ordinance recently chopped their major label chains and decided to do it themselves. The success of their new album, Under Fire, is a testament to the band's talent, dexterity, and durability, as they climbed to the top ten of the iTunes album charts on release day and remain steady today at #27.

On the new record, GRO continues to flex their strong foundation of beautiful vocal harmonies, infectious instrumental arrangements, and sincere lyrics, but with an expanded repertoire of instruments including the banjo, mandolin, accordion, lap steel and upright bass. These instruments add a dash of folk and alternative country to their pop rock stew, giving the band more depth of flavor. 

Many comparisons are made with Green River Ordinance and other popular radio friendly bands like Train, Matchbox 20, and The Fray, but GRO's genre-morphing abilities give them an edge on the aforementioned. Your ears are now under fire.



Over the decade-long journey from their first incarnation as kids in Fort Worth, Texas to the upcoming release of their latest album, Under Fire, Green River Ordinance has evolved steadily. The powerful five-piece’s message on their upcoming release evokes the challenges and triumphs of its members as they continue to grow personally and artistically. In 2007, GRO’s intensity and strong fan connection prompted EMI to sign them to Capitol Records. In 2009, Out of Our Hands, the band’s debut album shot to No. 10 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart and catapulted two singles, “Come On” and “On Your Own,” into the Top 40. GRO shared stages with Bon Jovi, Train, Counting Crows, Gavin DeGraw and other headliners; earned press coverage from CNN, Billboard and Alternative Press and got their music played on 56 network and cable shows along with three films.

And then, in July 2010, they walked away to start anew.

Working with producers Jordan Critz, Chad Copelin and Jarod Evans, GRO recorded Under Fire at studios in Texas and Oklahoma. For this album, the band wrote all songs built on a foundation of strong, solid, high-impact music – walls of guitar, hushed and intimate acoustic moments and rousing harmonized vocals. Their search to find and communicate answers will guide GRO through years to come, beginning with their Under Fire North American Tour beginning Feb. 29 in Houston. But wherever their explorations take them, Under Fire may be the star that charts their course.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

This Week on BandSoup (2/27-3/5)

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Another week in the books and yet another week of great uploads here on BandSoup! Here are a few of the bands that you must hear according to an unanimous vote from the BandSoup blog team. Remember, new bands pop up on the site 1-5 times per day, so check back in with us. You might be missing out on your new favorite band!

* Click the band's name to hear their music.

Films of Colour (Indie Rock)--  Films of Colour are Andy Clutterbuck (vocals), James Hatcher (guitar), Jack Allinson (bass/synths) and James Rees-Flynn(drums) who together create a sound of remarkable density that incorporates layers of synths and emotive guitars that draw comparisions with the likes of Foals, Arcade Fire vs early Bloc Party, Radiohead, aswell as shades of Miike Snow and Muse.

Ben Rector (Pop Rock)--  Ben Rector is an American musician based in Nashville, Tennessee. His most recent record, Something Like This was released in September 2011. Through word of mouth the record charted at #1 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart, and climbed above Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV to the #4 spot on iTunes,albums overall, bested only by Lady Antebellum’s same day release, Coldplay, and Adele. Rector’s songs have been featured on One Tree Hill, Drop Dead Diva, Pretty Little Liars, Teen Mom, ESPN SportsCenter, and ABC’s Modern Family fall promo.

Green River Ordinance (Alternative Pop)--  This fall season marks the 10th Anniversary of Green River Ordinance as a band. In 2009 and 2010, GRO saw tastes of much sought after success: 2 Top 40 radio singles, songs on over 20 TV shows ("So You Think You Can Dance", "The Hills", "The Young & Restless"), 2 music videos on MTV and VH1, tours with American Idol winners David Cook & Kris Allen, Goo Goo Dolls, Collective Soul, Train, Lifehouse, and many others. GRO's Original Song “Rise Up” was featured on the AT&T Team USA 2010 Winter Olympics Soundtrack alongside Mariah Carey, 3 Doors Down, Train, Rascal Flatts.

Midway Still (Alternative Rock)-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midway_Still

Run on the Sun (Indie Rock)-- After performing alongside megastars Bruno Mars, The Black Keys, Cee Lo Green and Mayday Parade, appearing on Howard Stern, and playing festivals such as The Bamboozle and Virgin Mobile FreeFest, Run On The Sun has proven themselves to be a band that’s worth hearing.

Shady Maples (Folk)-- Bay Area singer, songwriter and guitarist Owen Roberts and San Diego's beer brewing lap steel wizard Greg Peters formed Shady Maples in 2010 after touring California as a duo. The band's dynamic sound is soulful and gritty with hard hits and bone shivering melodies. Influenced by artists from Iron and Wine to Radiohead, Ben Harper, Fabrizio De Andre and Sam Cooke, their music does not sit comfortably in any one genre but bends between rock, americana, folk and latin.

Kid Jerusalem (Alternative Rock)-- Alternative quintet from Carmel, NY.

Wiretap Crash (Alternative Rock)--  Long Island, NY post-hardcore rockers.

How To Operate Your Brain (Alternative Rock)-- We saw stars. We saw spaceships. We heard songs of the ages and saw lights in the eyes of our enemies. Now we see nothing. We sit in a cave in the dark and revel at the sound of dust settling. 

Opaque Nature (Folk)--  Opaque Nature are a Midlands (Leamington/ Coventry) based band. We play our own brand of new folk/ alternative music, full of energy and hope as well as some more mellowed out intimate music. It has been described by Pete Donaldson as "blissed out folky loveliness, like Kirsty Maccoll and Jeff Buckley all rolled into one."

Georgiana Acchione (Classical)-- A beautiful rendition of Domenico Scarlatti - Sonata in D major L46.

Dikembe (Alternative Rock)-- Gainesville rawk.

Flip Cassidy & The Junkyard Gospel (Folk)-- The Reverend Flip Cassidy is a rusty man who plays rusty songs on rusty guitars. The Junkyard Gospel is a howling, raging acoustic sound bellowed forth with a voice like a rusty saw blade. His solo performances are known to be highly energetic and infectious, surprisingly loud, and have even caused rippling, whiskey-induced fervors in audiences, fellow performers and bartenders alike.

Giraffage (Electronic/Instrumental)--  "...A blissful blend of dreamy and ethereal fluttering sounds sprinkled with glitchy effects, quirky drums, and beautiful vocal samples. This is definitely some of the flyest damn music around. Listening to the album is akin to dancing on a cloud while drinking the magic fermented nectar of wood sprites."

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Challenges- Going For Bronze (Video)

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Challenges is a pop-punk band fronted by lead vocalist and founder Corey Maynard, lead guitarist/backup vocalist Brian Dempsey, guitarist Danny Massei, bassist James Tripaldi, and drummer RJ Sumblin. This is their latest DIY video from their forthcoming EP entitled Our Honest Opinion.


Check out our past coverage of the band here and stay tuned for the release of their new EP.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

This Week On BandSoup (2/20-2/27)

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Another week in the books and yet another week of great uploads here on BandSoup! Here are a few of the bands that you must hear according to an unanimous vote from the BandSoup blog team. Remember, new bands pop up on the site 1-5 times per day, so check back in with us. You might be missing out on your new favorite band!

* Click the band's name to hear their music.

Leatherbag (Indie Rock)--  Leatherbag is an American power trio from Austin, Texas. After relocating to Austin from Houston in 2005, Leatherbag was formed by songwriter/guitarist, Randy Reynolds. The band's new and final form finds Drew Emmons wired on bass and Danny Blanchard wild behind the drums. The band has performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and at the SXSW Music Conference.

The Foot. (Alternative Rock)-- Hailed as one of Denver's top rock acts, The Foot. entered the national scene at New York City's CMJ 2010. Urb Magazine declared them "one of the 15 acts you wish you saw at CMJ" alongside such acts as Das Racist and Two Door Cinema Club. After making several swings across the country, playing some of the most prestigious venues at home, and playing with some of the most respected artists on the national stage, The Foot. has begun work on a series of EPs, the second and third which will be released in early Spring 2012. 

Funktion (Funk/Hip Hop/Jam Band)-- Funktion, the 7-man band based in Kalamazoo, MI, delivers their blend of funk-rock and soul with a hip-hop beat.

IG88 (Electronic)-- Branden Clarke, otherwise known as IG88, would maybe like to fool you into believing that he and his buttons are buried somewhere in between a spray of ambient elation and the sands of a remote desert planet – but there’s something else here. Something tangible and soulful, something raw and quick. Something like the full breath of a thunderhead, the shards of sparks following a blunt and sonic hit to the nail on the head.

Acid Baby Jesus (Garage Rock)--  ABJ represents the future of heavy psych'n'roll from an isolated, ancient civilization. Combining the ruthless elements of American outlaw roots music and celestial glam rock, like fellow deconstructionists Demon's Claws, "LP" suggests the Rolling Stones at their wearied best, with the electrifying hi-jinks of Brian Eno bulldozing the swagger into the darkest corners of the cosmos.

James London (Singer Songwriter/Folk)--  Hailing from Portland, Oregon, James London’s debut EP, “Where Do We Go From Here,” soars with memorable melodies and complex, layered arrangements. From the lush, spacioussplendor of the opening title track, to the moody ... swaggering conclusion of “Bad Seed,” the songs onthis record provide a shimmering, sometimes psychedelic, sonic landscape in which to get beautifully lost.

Beecher's Fault (Alternative Rock)--  In their first year, Beecher’s Fault has become a key player in the local music scene of Astoria, NY. The pop/rock band has played an impressive amount of shows at prominent NYC venues that include The Bitter End, Sullivan Hall, and Pianos. Though only a trio, their live performance has frequently been described as a “wall of sound” that captivates audiences as they light up venues with an energy that is more akin to that of a six-piece ensemble.

Mofo Party Plan (Indie Pop)--  It's fancy and "Dancy".

Muffler Men (Alternative Rock)--  Muffler Men is a power trio from Ghent, Belgium with an alternative rock sound that leans towards stoner rock.

Louder Space (Reggae Rock)--  Louder Space formed in San Luis Obispo, CA on October 5th, 2011 when bassist Oren Ben-Joseph and drummer Philip Tyler joined up with singer Chris Kaye and guitarist Clayton Daly. Meeting each other at a party, the group instantly connected on similar music tastes and the desire to jam together. Since then, the group has been rocking out and working hard to make new exciting music.

The Ready Aim Fire! (Synth Pop)-- Synth-driven indie rock from Walnut, CA.

Kung Foo Grip (Hip Hop)-- Eff Is H & Greg Cypher. Two MC's making that fresh coast hip hop that never gets old. Relevant, independant, & definitely dope! Lyrical, classic, hungry, and versitile.

Zombie Western (Instrumental Rock)-- The aptly named Zombie Western is a four piece instrumental post-rock band based in Waco, TX. The band's influences are clearly apparent in their music, their name, and the intensity of their performances. The careful blending of the dramatic elements of film with the subtlety of layered instrumentation come together to create their textured sound.

Tea Cozies (Garage Pop)--  Steeped in garage rock and british indie, Tea Cozies take influences from guitar-driven pop bands as Blur, Elastica, and the Pixies.

La Palma (Instrumental/Modern Jazz)--  Modern Jazz, soundscapes, and classical instrumental music.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

This Week on BandSoup (2/6-2/13)

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Another week in the books and yet another week of great uploads here on BandSoup! Here are a few of the bands that you must hear according to an unanimous vote from the BandSoup blog team. Remember, new bands pop up on the site 1-5 times per day, so check back in with us. You might be missing out on your new favorite band!

* Click the band's name to hear their music.

Death Rattle (Electronic/Indie Rock)-- Check out our blog post featuring a free download and Death Rattle music video. Heavily influenced by Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and Fever Ray, Death Rattle splashes their dreary innards over what sounds like a futuristic factory machine hard at work. The femme fatale on the mic glides over the industrial synths and pounding percussion perfectly, as the grinding, seductive bass drives her kiss of death into the heart of your cortex.

Skyways Are Highways (Alternative Rock)-- After ten years and a handful of demos under their belt, Skyways are Highways have officially recorded their debut double single of the same name.
Mixed by ARIA award winning Producer & Engineer, Steve James (www.steve-james.com), whom has spent the last ten years investing his time in Skyways Are Highways, so much so it seems like Steve is another arm of the band. Check out both singles on the main site.

Saint Jude (Rock)-- Check out our recent blog post featuring Saint Jude's latest video and free downloads. 

Orange Grove (Reggae Rock)-- European based Reggae rock band that have been around for over ten years but are about to release a special project unlike anything they have released before. Stay tuned.

Quiet Hounds (Indie Rock)-- Some sounds just command the ear when created with honest pursuit; such is the case with Quiet Hounds. These are gentlemen of various talents unexpectedly united with the unabashed desire to produce pure, authentic music with only spontaneity as a guide. Stepping out of familiar cages and unleashed to create something that had been stirring within for quite some time.

Patrick Davy & The Ghosts (Rock)-- Patrick Davy and The Ghosts are a three-piece group from Detroit, MI. Their music is influenced by Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, Ryan Adams, and Crosby Stills and Nash. Whether they are performing electric or acoustic, the music remains a blend of crafted, artistic melodies and powerful fundamental rock grooves. The Ghosts have a number of recordings and are now expanding beyond their hometown.

Patrick Dodd Trio (Blues Rock)-- Often compared to Albert King, Marc Broussard, Johnny Guitar Watson and Mississippi Fred McDowell, Dodd's soulful style is a fiery mix of passion, melody, rhythm and soul. He is the bridge between the roots of blues music and the contemporary influence of southern rock, roots and jam music.

Bob Dean (Alternative Rock)--  The title of their debut album describes it best "Volcanic Music" Bob Dean have set out to create something new in the Manchester music scene. This international 5-piece have been gigging for just over a year, they have been praised for their explosive live performance and have been compared to The Mars Volta, Muse and Coldplay with hints of classical and Icelandic influences.

The Province (Pop Rock)-- Female fronted pop rock band from Hermosa Beach, California. Their new album Skeletons & Keys was released last week.

The Golden Troubadours (Acoustic/Folk)-- The Golden Troubadours are a dreamlike acoustic band from Nottingham who write unique soulful songs with shades of flamenco, folk, soul and blues performed with passion and feeling, which leave the heart-strings lovingly played.

Tensei (Hip Hop)--  The Chicago based production crew, Tensei, is comprised of Simple X and Midas Wells. The two met in college at Southern Illinois University with a shared love for hip hop and together formed the group Tensei, meaning 'heaven star' in Japanese. This EP brilliantly showcases Tensei's production style, forfeiting traditional use of samples and instead, using live musicians to create and produce their tracks.

Whales in Cubicles (Indie Rock)-- New band out of London.

The Soviet (Indie Rock)--  Check out Doug Foley's Hot One of the Week/Interview with the band.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

60 Second Review: Ben Crane

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Having spent a little over a year as a manager in this crazy industry, it still boggles my mind when I hear amazing artists that aren’t as acclaimed as they should be. Ben Crane is absolutely deserving of all the fame he has yet to acquire. This California singer/songwriter offers up a sound comparable to the likes of Andrew Jackson Jihad and Bob Dylan, which can be heard on his first full length record, Hay Fever. This bedroom/classroom recorded album does not disappoint and features an eclectic and delightful mix of new age folk laced with pop sensibilities.

The sounds and influences on this album are all over the place and Ben shows how talented he is by playing a myriad of instruments. My favorite tracks were the album's opener, Summer 99, a clap your hands and stomp your feet kind of track that makes you wish you immediately knew every word so you could sing along; Terracotta Heart, a nice ballad-like break from the first two up-beat tracks on the album; and the short two minute acoustic closer, The Captain’s Last Words, a perfect way to bring the album to a close and tie it all together.

If you are already on the search for a perfect summer album, look no further.

- Matt Bergeron


Ben Crane on Facebook

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Yawn Worth Yelling

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A Yawn Worth Yelling is a five piece band out of San Jose, California made up of the multi-talented Tyler Boyd (lead vocals/guitar/percussion), Brayden Deskins (lead guitar), Johannes Heine (bass) , Taylor Stover (drums), and Joey Pisacane (lead vocals/guitar). On top of mastering their main roles, all members serve as back up singers because the band likes every yawn and every yell to have multiple layers and depth, as heard on their acclaimed debut EP, 1,000.


1,000 is an interesting record mainly due to the fact that the band is apart most of the year in different universities across the north pacific. Oftentimes, the band writes and records their material separately, sending bits and pieces of ideas to each other over the internet, until they can all meet up and turn the fragments into a complete song. "Their biggest challenge", according to lead guitarist Brayden Deskins, turns out to be unnoticeable and almost unfathomable considering the cohesiveness of their debut EP.

Combining influences from Maps & Atlases and The Dear Hunter, AYWY switches from smooth to spry at the drop of that hat and executes each mood seamlessly. The band is young and green, but after listening to the first two tracks on the EP (1,001, Actually and This Inherent Omniscience), their talent, melodies, and mature songwriting abilities take over and the musical experience takes over the inexperience. Just imagine if they had more time together.




1,000 is now available as a free download. The band is rumored to have a full length album currently in progress.



Tuesday, January 24, 2012

This Week on BandSoup (1/16-1/23)

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Another week in the books and yet another week of great uploads here on BandSoup! Here are a few of the bands that you must hear according to an unanimous vote from the BandSoup blog team. Remember, new bands pop up on the site 1-5 times per day, so check back in with us. You might be missing out on your new favorite band!

* Click the band's name to hear their music.

Colour Coding (Indie Pop)-- Together, Chris Holland and Tim Commandeur make Colour Coding.
They cut their musical teeth in Gold Coast pop band Operator Please and now these two cousins have embarked on their own musical venture. This is their first infectious single from their upcoming EP, Perfect.

Animal Empire (Indie Rock)-- A progressive rock band from Rhode Island that just finished their new record "Complicate the World" which is now available.

Crozet (Chill Wave/Electronic)-- Crozet is a computer-based bedroom project started by John Helmuth while he was living in Philly finishing up his senior year of college. John added Sean Lee to the mix and now the band builds cities made up of dreamy synths, reverb drenched vocals, and hard hitting drums.

A Name Unheard (Indie Rock)-- Click here to check out our 60 Second Review.

Blue Sky Black Death & Nacho Picasso (Hip Hop/Dope Hop)--  Ethereal production Blue Sky Black Death team up with Seattle MC Nacho Picasso on their second album, Lord of the Fly, now available as a free download. Nacho is the new generation MF Doom for dopers and goons. One liners for days.

Fort York (Folk)-- Fort York, a 5 piece folk band from Toronto, grew out of a handful of fortunate circumstances. There was a house on Brunswick street in Toronto with a small lamp-lit basement filled with old sleeping bags and bike parts. We cleaned it up and made it into a cozy practice space. The house had a back deck on the 3rd floor too, with an ample supply of exposed nails and rotting wood. That’s where we were able to write a lot of the songs on this album.

Days of Rae (Folk Pop)--  As a challenge to ourselves, an offering to our wonderful supporters and in general a really fun project; Days of Rae will be writing, recording and releasing one single each month throughout 2012. We will be distributing each song completely free of charge on as many social platforms as we can think of.

Vultures of Venus (Electro Glam Space Rock)-- This Melbourne band take inspiration from seedy and speedy urbanity to create their unique brand of Electro Glam Space Rock. There is a sense of fearlessness to the sounds and themes that is rare to find in an Australian band. Their energetic performances are influenced by some of the starkest, most danceable and lascivious music of last century.

Backburner (Hip Hop)-- What Backburner refers to is a diverse conglomerate of creative individuals who concern themselves with hip-hop spread throughout various areas of Canada.

Dirtybird B. (Instrumentals/Hip Hop/Electronic)-- Two songs off of Nor Cal hip hop producer Dirtybird B's new album, Hard Work in Paradise.

Slothrust (Grunge)--  "Slothrust is the perfect soundtrack for brooding on a gloomy day and would be a good way to psych yourself into finally telling your boss to go fuck himself (please exercise caution for the latter). Melding clean, bluesy guitar riffs with lo fi, scratchy vocals, the trio from Bronxville is strangely reminiscent of Morphine... only not really."

The Dysfunctions (Alternative Rock)--  Sydney band that presents a fresh collection of post-modern rock anthems that revive the beloved guitar sounds of the 90s with a 2000s electro edge.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Hot One of the Week: Friends Edition!

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This week has been a busy one and now I am set to take on another semester here at school. Music is a huge part of my life and I thought I would let you guys get to know me a bit more. In order to help you understand me, this week’s edition of I Can Feel A Hot One will showcase a few of my friends who you can hear on BandSoup!




First, I would love to introduce an indie-prog-rock band that began playing together last year at the University of New Haven. Vitamin Sun, a 4-piece consisting of sophomore music students, takes influence from The Mars Volta, Local Natives, and Sufjan Stevens among many others. With Kyle Hamel on vox/guitar, Wyatt Simard on guitar, Chris Restaino on bass/vox, and Josh Merhar on drums, these guys tear through some intricate time signatures and let the creativity of their music flow. Within one song they can be both insanely technical and passionately groovy. They have so much potential and will continue to grow with time. I strongly suggest finding them on BandSoup and giving them a try!





Another friend of mine who deserves some recognition and attention, which she is already getting, is Samantha Frost. Quite frankly, her voice is the opposite of her last name. Her smooth, jazzy voice is easily adapted for jazz, blues, Broadway, and pop. Her warm timbre will make you feel as if you are sitting in front of a fireplace listening to the radio as if in the days of old. Check out her version of “Nobody’s Fault” on BandSoup, it’s one of her first recordings. She is a lovely young voice and will do great things soon enough. Check out her website here.


Thanks and have a great week!

-Doug Foley

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Diamond- Don't Lose Your Cool EP (Free Download)

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Birthed through binary communications and garage recordings, Diamond was born in bedrooms scattered across Baltimore, Richmond, and Chicago. Despite their disconnected locations, this energetic quartet made up of 90's alternative raised skate kids deliver one hell of a sophomore EP full of catchy and endearing melodic rock in the same vein as Jimmy Eat World and Weezer.


Don't Lose Your Cool will please both the nostalgic and new era of alt-pop fanatics. The nods to the past and the present collide cohesively and provide a flawless pop rock experience that not many have been able to pull off in recent years. Oddly enough, a couple of the band's core members come from hardcore rock backgrounds (former members of Trapped Under Ice and Down To Nothing), but mask their upbringing in an ocean of happy hooks and radiant riffs that will roost in your head for days after listening.



Diamond may be diamonds in the rough now, but I have a feeling that will soon change. They are radio ready, adept, and accessible. If this EP is just a peek into what the band can accomplish long term and in full length, Diamond could be forever.

Photo by Luke Williams

Monday, January 16, 2012

This Week on BandSoup (1/9-1/16)

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Another week in the books and yet another week of great uploads here on BandSoup! Here are a few of the bands that you must hear according to an unanimous vote from the BandSoup blog team. Remember, new bands pop up on the site 1-5 times per day, so check back in with us. You might be missing out on your new favorite band!

Click the band's name to hear their music.

Elos Arma (Indie Rock/Indie Pop)--  High energy dysfunctional pop from a refreshing young quartet who manage to avoid nearly all of the horrendous clichés that often accompany their kind of commercially-oriented rock.
Jim Dead (Alt. Country/Folk)-- Check out our "Hot One of the Week" blog post featuring Jim Dead.

PMs Better (Indie Rock)-- A young and bouncy rock band from Lyon, France that sings in English. The band, barely out of their teens, already have three EPs under their belt full of catchy, melodic indie rock jams.

Barricades at Night (Alternative Rock)--  The latest track from the Huntsville, AL based band in preparation for their first full length release.

Monsterface (Alternative Rock)--  If you’re into face shattering grunge rock, then Monsterface is your new band. Their song structures are similar to The Sounds of Animals Fighting or Fall of Troy.

Acollective (Indie Rock)-- Acollective is the resonating echoes of quacking ducks in a sealed room, a dual-headed machine of construction-yard-nihilism consuming everything in its path, from banged-up Folk to burned-down Middle-Eastern-Funk, breaking hips and shaking hearts along the way. 

Rosas (Pop Rock)-- Rosas is the story of Damon Goodridge’s search for the elusive love that breezed in and out of his life one memorable Spanish evening. That chance encounter inspired a sound that reflects the euphoria, bewilderment, optimism and wistfulness only known by one who has loved and lost.

Alice Sweet Alice (Alternative Rock)--  As one Kansas City reviewer described Alice Sweet Alice's music: "Take the turbulent undercurrent of Joy Division, add edgy guitar-synth crunch and hooks ala Garbage, drop in the haunting post-punk of Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees, a dash of Love and Rockets psychedelics, and polish the whole mix with angst-meets-curious inclinations inspired by The Cure's rhythmic urges. Something like that with a twist.”

Slow Suicide (Acoustic/Ambient)--  Dark, creepy, instrumental acoustic rock.


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Hold Your Horses!- 70 Million (Video)

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This is a little old, but what an AWESOME video from Hold Your Horses! Artsy folk and former Art History students will smirk a little.


"A wink at art history as band members playfully reconstruct famous paintings in an off the wall lyrical interpretation all their own."

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

This Week on BandSoup (1/2-1/9)

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Another week in the books and yet another week of great uploads here on BandSoup! Here are a few of the bands that you must hear according to an unanimous vote from the BandSoup blog team. Remember, new bands pop up on the site 1-5 times per day, so check back in with us. You might be missing out on your new favorite band!

Click the band's name to hear their music.

Diamond (Alternative Rock) --  Heavily Influenced by 90's alternative music, Skateboarding, and girls, "Don't Lose Your Cool" is now available for digital download.

Surgeon (Post-Rock/Instrumental) --  Check out our album review.

Diggs Duke (Neo-Soul) --  As if they are synonymous, Diggs Duke's music blends a limber voice with winding horn lines and electric guitar passages.

Blaise Paisel (Indie Rock) -- Led by the sultry vocals of Alie Richardson, Blaise Paisel is a five piece band out of the UK that might remind you a little of The Cranberries.

Gypsy Ray (Reggae/Rock) -- Gypsy Ray is a rock band from Vancouver, BC. Consisting of James, Shawn, DJ, and Andrew, these men use various musical influences of reggae, funk, indie and alternative genres to create the eclectic sound they have today.

Rare Monk (Alternative/Indie Rock) --  Check out our blog post.

Innobushu (Electro/Instrumental) --  Chicago native Innobushu - real name Herry Utama - has been slowly building a cult following over the past few years via a series of self released projects, garnering acclaim from the likes of Joe Kay (Soulection) amongst others in the process. FreeForm Records are now pleased to present Innobushu's newest offering: Distraction EP.

Hold Your Horses! (Polyphonic Pop) -- Hold your Horses! is a franco american seven-headed, fourteen-handed, polyphonic monster from Paris. Meshing, with the know how of proverbial idiot savants, rock and pop, wood and brass, the voices of boys with those of girls with those of foreign calls.

Import/Export (Indie Rock) -- Soft rock, Alternative, Western Swing. A song about stupid young people, naivety, and mid-summer scotch.

Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters (Rock) -- Rock and roll from Limerick, Ireland.

Black Swan White (Synth Rock/Electro) --  Black Swan White is pulsing, beating and pounding the way into a new era of dance music. The influence behind it all ranges from 80's new wave to electro house, from punk rock to industrial rock, and it even has its share of soul and pop music.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Achoo! Bless You- Coming Home (To You This Christmas)

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Sydney, Australia's Achoo! Bless You made one of my favorite Christmas tunes on our compilation in Coming Home (To You This Christmas). This simple yet endearing folk-pop record is sweet, infectious, and highly accessible for all music fans. Check out Ross James Tipper and Ashleigh Steel do a wonderful live version of the track in the video above.


Friday, December 16, 2011

Broken Bricks- Pop Song (Video) and Little Fugitives Free Album Download

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Broken Bricks consists of Marlon Chaplin and Luke Kuplowsky, both songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, fleshed out by Joey Clement on bass and backing vocals and Matt Duncan on drums and percussive duties. What brought these two together can best be described as serendipitous; an impromptu jam session after an unexpected meeting in their highschool hallway--Chaplin with guitar in hand, Kuplowsky wielding his harmonica and as the story goes, "no one spoke, they only played". From that day forward they began writing and playing as Broken Bricks. 

Over the last few years, the band has gained a lot of notoriety in Canada for their highly energetic and infectious live shows. This "can't miss" act hailing from Toronto engage their audience with catchy, brit-pop influenced rock and roll infused with unadulterated garage glamor and endless instruments.


Their 2011 record, Little Fugitives,  has solidified the band's already stellar reputation as one of Toronto's best new indie rock acts. The eight track album reveals the band's impressive arsenal of sound that enthusiastically jumps from pop to modern indie rock to acoustic without confusing the listener. After indie rock fans hear the album's opener, "Pop Song", and feast their eyes on the accompanying visuals, Broken Bricks will undoubtedly be used to build their cities of playlists and mixtapes for years to come.

Little Fugitives is still available as a free download, so head on over to Broken Bricks' bandcamp page and exchange your email for a piece of Northern pop rock.

 
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