Audio Sweet Tooth

10 Bands You’ve (probably) Never Heard Of… But Will Love.

JP — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:49:47 +0000

These 10 bands all of the potential of taking off this summer. Check them out in your area before the public catches on.

Cymbals Eat Guitars
The Everyday Visuals
Takka Takka
French Kicks
The Swayback
The Electric Soft Parade
Whitley
The Oxford Collapse
The Brave Little Abacus
Thick As Thieves

Coconut Records – Davy

JP — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:29:29 +0000

You might recognize that mug from indie friendly films by Wes Anderson and Anand Tucker, but Jason Schwartzman’s talents go beyond the big screen. Back in the day, he was the drummer for Phantom Planet, but as his film career grew, he began to focus on acting. Luckily for us he missed making music enough to do some solo work and two years ago graced us with the initial release from Coconut Records, Nighttiming. His Follow up album “Davy” is an eclectic mix of songs that would fit perfectly within the style of films he tends to star in.

Highlights Include, “Any Fun“, “Wandering”, and the records first single “Microphone”:

Reviewed Reviews:

AWMusic

Silent Sound Waves

PopDose

Helpful Links:

Home Page

MySpace

last.fm

Upcoming Tour Dates:

None.

Check out “Microphone” here:

Handsome Furs – Face Control

JP — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:36:32 +0000

The Handsome Furs are an indie rock band from Montreal, Canada comprised of husband/wife duo Dan Boeckner, from Wolf Parade and Atlas Strategic, and his wife Alexei Perry. The music features Dan playing guitar over heavy synth drum machine beats manufactured by Alexei. The couples sophomore album “Face Control” paints a picture of post-Soviet Russia as dark and drippy and has deep political undertones of which I have not fully comprehended. One thing is for sure though, this record matches the cover art. BAD ASS.

Highlights Include, “All We Want, Baby, Is Everything“, “Legal Tender”, and the records best track “Thy Will Be Done”.

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

04/08/09 London, UK
04/08/09 Canterbury, UK
04/08/09 Rotterdam, Netherlands
04/11/09 Paris, France
04/12/09 Brussels, Belgium

Clip of The Handsome Furs playing Thy Will Be Done:

Ronald Jenkees – Self Titled

JP — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:44:25 +0000

In hip-hop there are few if any viable caucasian producer/artists, Eminem and RJD2 are two of the most popular. Today I can proudly add a 3rd face to the Mt. Rushmore of White Hip-Hop. Everybody this is Ronald Jenkees. Ronald Jenkees, this is everybody. In his Self Titled debut album, Ronald shows that musical composition comes more from the heart and ear, than from the pen and paper. In his production video’s it is clear this man loves what he does, and for good reason, he’s incredibly good at it. This white boy has got the funk.

Highlights Include, “Rocky Remix“, “Almost Undamaged”, “Super Fun”, and the greatest beat every written “Derty”.

Reviewed Reviews:

RustyLime

CD Baby

AdamP

Helpful Links:

Home Page

MySpace

YouTube Profile

Upcoming Tour Dates:

None.

Clip of Ronalds Producing/Improv/Badassness:

Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords

JP — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:04:09 +0000

Honestly, what’s there to say? The Self-Titled album is a great collection of songs, but they failed to add the two best songs from the show: Bret You’ve Got It Goin On and Cheer Up Murray. In fact the only reason I am talking about this CD is to have an excuse to post the videos of those two particular songs. Still worth the purchase, clever song writing and groovy music.

Highlights Include, “Think About It“, “Inner City Pressure”, “Business Time”, and the Gangsta-Folk anthem “Mutha’Uckas”.

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

5/07/08: NYC, NY
5/09/08: Washington, DC
5/10/08: Ann Arbor, MI
5/11/08: Milwaukee, WI
5/13/08: Minneapolis, MN

Clips for “Cheer Up Murray“ and “Bret, You’ve Got It Goin On“:

Tapes ‘N Tapes – Walk It Off

JP — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:24:31 +0000

Got an itch for some good old antsy indie-pop? Look no further than Walk It Off, the sophomore release from Tapes ‘N Tapes. Following up on their critically acclaimed The Loon, the boys from Minnesota have pushed their sound forward. The group falls under indie-rock, see: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, but this genre is amorphous and TNT are doing a lot with a little in the world of lo-fi, hi-quality pop. Their unique blend of visceral pinging guitars and semi-electronic musical ether is definitely worth checking out.

Highlights Include, “Le Ruse“, “Blunt”, “Conquest”, and the power track “Hang Them All”.

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

4/30/08: Birmingham, AL
5/02/08: Autin, TX
5/03/08: Denton, TX
5/04/08: Dallas, TX
5/06/08: Tuscon, AZ

Music Video for “Hang Them All“:

The Dodo’s – Visiter

JP — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:27:01 +0000

Born of the same acoustic backed lo-fi pop as Ruby Suns and Adem, San Francisco based duo, The Dodo’s, latest release “Visiter” (3/18/08) uses smokey voices backed by a rockin 6-string and a focus on deep pounding drums rather than splashy cymbals, to create an original hardcore sound. The best way to describe the sophomore effort “Beware of Maniacs” is to imagine Death From Above 1979 loving their parents and writing an album with an acoustic guitar rather than a overly distorted bass. The duo seems to hone their skills, and although not much musically has changed in their latest release, it seems to be a good thing.

Highlights Include, “Jodi“, “Walking”, “Paint the Rust”, and the mind numbingly catchy, “Fools”.

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

5/02/08: Los Angeles, CA
5/14/08: San Francisco, CA
5/19/08: San Francisco, CA
6/24/08: Portland, OR
6/25/08: Seattle WA

Music Video for “Fools“:

Horny Vampyre – Untitled

JP — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:23:39 +0000

Once in a while I’m just gonna talk about a band that will be releasing a record soon. In this case it’s a debut record from Dover, NH based Horny Vampyre and it’s gonna be “off the heezy”. Apparrently all these two wanted to do was create songs to dance to. Let’s hope it starts a revolution.

Please do yourself a favor and listen here:
MySpace

Here is a Clip of one of their basement shows:

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Perishing

JP — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:28:35 +0000

In sub-pop it easy to lose a band in the shuffle, after all, it seems catchy melodies featuring soft spoken singers are a dime a dozen these days in the indie-pop genre. However, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin seems to have been able to cleverly avoid getting lost in the wide open sea of sub-pop with an obscure reference to the former President of Russia as a name. On their latest record, “Perishing” (4/8/08), these kids from Missouri have nailed the indie-pop genre with a slew of songs featuring witty lyrics backed by catchy distorted guitar licks. It seems to be a slight departure from their debut album, “Broom“, and sounds as if they have studied the Elephant Six Collection and really brought that calming melodic sound made famous by Beulah and Of Montreal. No sophomore slump here.

Highlights Include, “You Could Write A Book“, “Dead Right”, “The Beach Song”, and the eery pop anthem, “Think I Wanna Die”.

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

4/18/08: Toronto, ON
4/19/08: Montreal, QC
4/20/08: Allston, MA
4/21/08: Brooklyn, NY
4/22/08: New York, NY

Music Video for “I Think I Wanna Die“:

Johnathan Rice – Further North

JP — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:29:32 +0000

Ok, so I know Johnathan Rice’s latest release “Further North” (9/10/2007) is about 8 months old, but since I saw this guy live in December, it has taken 9 spots out of my “Top 25 Most Played” in iTunes. The album is the sophomore release from the beau of Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, who shares the mic with Johnathan on the duet “End of the Affair”. Each song stronger than the next, the album opens up with Johnathan attacking his 6 string with a vigor not heard since the early days of R.E.M., and ends with the crooked love song “It Is Best To Keep It All Inside”. Please do yourself a favor and get to Johnathan Rice, and fast.

Highlights Include, “Further North”, “End Of The Affair”, “It Couldn’t Be Me”, and Johnathan as Roy Orbison incarnate on, “What Am I Going To Do”.

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Last.fm

Upcoming Tour Dates:

6/05/2008: Pomona, CA
6/06/2008: Phoenix, AZ
6/07/2008: Tucson, AZ
6/09/2008: Dallas, TX
6/10/2008: Austin, TX

A live version of “It Couldn’t Be Me“:

Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow & Blue

JP — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:36 +0000

It’s about time we talk about the best band north of the border. On “Red, Yellow, & Blue” (3/03/2008) Toronto product, Born Ruffians have released the most original alt-pop album of the year. Their innovative sounds stem from deep bass lines, machine gun drum beats, and all the “oh’s and ah’s” a music lover can stomach. The inherent ability to fuse lo-fi rockabilly with 60’s pop rock seems to be a sound that this trio has nailed down, and thank God for that. Keep an eye out on the tour schedule, rumor is these guys put on a hell of a show.

Highlights Include, “I Need A Life”, “In A Mirror”, “Red, Yellow, & Blue”, and perhaps the greatest song ever written, “Hummingbird”.

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

4/14/08: London, ON
4/17/08: Hamilton, ON
4/18/08: Ottawa, ON
4/19/08: Kingston, ON
4/24/08: Montreal, ON

Music video for “Hummingbird“:

Headlights – Some Racing, Some Stopping

JP — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:07:29 +0000

I-57, from Champaign to Chicago, seems to be a hot bed for alternative music lovers these days. Headlights, a 3-6 piece band, depending on the day, was born and bred in Champaign along the I-57 strip. The newest release from the group, “Some Racing, Some Stopping” (2/19/2008), features a super smooth sound that fans of Rilo Kiley andSaturday Looks Good To Me will come to love. The heart and soul of midwest alternative music is heard on this album thanks to the help of members of fellow Champaignians(?) Shipwreck and members of Wisconsin product Decibully.

Highlights Include, “Market Girl”, “Skeleton Man”, “Get Your Head Around It”, and check out Erin Fein’s smooth vocals on “Cherry Tulips”.

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

4/18/08 Urbana, IL
5/03/08: Milwaukee, WI
5/16/08: Evanston, IL
5/22/08: Chicago, IL
5/23/08: Pontiac, MI

Music video for “Cherry Tulips“:

The Whigs – Mission Control

JP — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:09:09 +0000

The latest release from The Whigs, “Mission Control” (1/22/08) features lead man Parker Disperts’ growling vocals over a alt-rock record that force feeds you hook after hook. Joined by producer Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliot Smith) the group seems to hit all the right chords on a record that makes you excited about the capabilities the young trio has yet to harness. I was lucky enough to catch The Whigs open up for chicago favorite, The Redwalls, and these guys have an unbelievably full sound. When I walked in I heard a 6 piece band, but when I got a closer look, I saw there were only 3 guys on stage.

Highlights Include, “Like A Vibration”, “1,000 Wives”, “I Got Ideas”, and instant calssic “Right Hand On My Heart”

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

4/11/08 Clemson, SC
4/12/08: Columbus, OH
4/19/08: Statesboro, GA
4/23/08: Louisville, KY
5/01/08: West Palm Beach, FL

Music video for “Right Hand On My Heart“:

The Apples In Stereo – Electronic Projects For Musicians

JP — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:18:33 +0000

Electronic Projects for Musicians(4/01/08), the bonus, demos, and foreign hodge-podge release from the elder statesmen of alt-rock, The Apples In Stereo, is a stellar compilation from top to bottom. Described by some as jangly-melodic pop, TAIS choose to appease those who thought they strayed to far from their roots in their 2007 critically acclaimed record, New Magnetic Wonder, by putting together an album of unreleased goodies. In a triumphant return lo-fi, hi-quality alt-pop, TAIS successfully compile a list of songs that stick in your head long after the listening is through.

Highlights Include, “Shine (In Your Mind)”, “The Golden Flower”, “The Oasis”, and the irresistibly catchy “Onto Something”

Reviewed Reviews:

Helpful Links:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

~~none.~~

Fan Video for “Shine (In Your Mind)“

Elf Power – In A Cave

JP — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:23:22 +0000

Athens, Georgia’s own Elf Power hammer through the oft traversed alt-rock territory in their latest release(3/25/08) “In A Cave”. Those who know and love Elf Power will thoroughly enjoy their newest record. Some of the strongest song writing of the bands lengthy career takes place on the latest release. But if you’re expecting musical growth or a change of pace from the group, look elsewhere. Certainly though, this consistency is what makes Elf Power such a substantial and lasting presence in the music industry. The gang continues to bang out power songs for the alternative crowd and fans of Wilco and Of Montreal will fall in love with the album immediately. Definitely recommended.

Highlights include, “Paralyzed”, “Fried Out”, “Spiral Stairs”, and the soon to be college anthem “Quiver and Quake”

Reviewed Reviews:

Pitchfork

Pop Matters

AV Club

Helpful Links:

Home Page

Myspace

Last.fm

Upcoming Tour Dates:

4/03/08 Durham, NC

4/04/08 Harrisonburg, VA

4/05/08 Philadelphia, PA

4/06/08 Boston, MA

4/07/08 New York, NY

Elf Power video for “Never Believe”:

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

JP — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:45:19 +0000

Brooklyn via Wesleyan College product, MGMT, is the first big “blow up” of 2008. From relatively unknown in late 2007 to the hottest alternative band in a just a few months, the young duo have played all over the country pushing the recent (1/22/08) release of their newest album, Oracular Spectacular. In what truly is a non-descript genre, MGMT, seems to excite and invite listeners from dance trance to alt-rock and pretty much everything in between. Their music can best be described as electro-glam-alternative rock, but such a broad description still seems unable to embody the genre breaking music heard on the record.

Highlights include, “Electric Eel”, “Kids”, “Time to Pretend”, and the epic trance-rock ballad “Pieces of What”
Reviewed Reviews:

Pitchfork

MetaCritic

Prefix Magazine

Helpful Links:

Home Page

Myspace

Last.fm

Upcoming Tour Dates:

4/13/08 Burlington, VT

4/15/08 Ontario Canada

4/17/08 Tempe, AZ

4/21/08 Seattle, WA

4/22/08 Portland, OR

MGMT perform “Time to Pretend” live on Letterman: