Greg Laswell

photo by AutumnDeWilde

In keeping with the singer songwriter theme for this week, I'm posting about an artist which I've compared to the previous two posts. Greg Laswell is a singer/songwriter from San Diego, Ca. His songs are very catchy and accessible, and have been featured in all your favorite TV Shows. His songs typically feature piano, acoustic guitar and ultra-hooky choruses. Learn more about his successful licensing career and failed celebrity relationship here.

Try
How The Day Sounds
Sing Theresa

Buy
Greg Laswell on Amazon

Ryan Ferguson

Ryan Ferguson is a singer/songwriter from the San Diego, CA area. He's mostly known for being in the wildy amazing indie rock band, No Knife. His solo stuff is more mainstream and predictable, but still very interesting and sincere. For fans of No Knife, Dominic Castillo, Greg Laswell and Satisfaction. His latest release, Only Trying to Help is available from Better Looking Records, and they have a couple of free MP3s as well.

Try:
Suddenly
Windshield

Buy:
Ryan Ferguson on Amazon

Dominic Castillo & The Rock Savants

Dominic Castillo & The Rock Savants are a band from Portland, Oregon who play a stripped down and raw, but intricate and thoughtful, style of rock. Catchy riffs and articulate arrangements abound! For fans of Satisfaction, Greg Laswell and Ryan Ferguson; among others.

Try:
I'm Not Listening
29

Buy:

The Sea and Cake

The Sea and Cake are a band which originates from Chicago, IL; featuring members Sam Prekop , Archer Prewitt, John McEntire and Eric Claridge. They play indie rock with a heavy jazz influence. Their songs are dynamic and interesting, and have mainstream appeal without the usual mainstream predictability.

For fans of Tortoise, Fujiya and Miyagi, Stereolab, Pinback.

Internets
Myspace

Try
On a Letter
Car Alarm

Buy

The Photo Atlas

The Photo Atlas is a band from Denver, CO that plays angular, technical dance rock. They take rock cues from bands such as At The Drive In and Cursive, while their beats and tempo make them super danceable and are reminiscent of Bloc Party, Moving Units, and the like...

Try
Electric Shock
Red Orange Yellow

Buy

Ra Ra Riot

Ra Ra Riot is a band from Syracuse, NY. They play an intricate, upbeat, dancey type of indie rock. With a blend of strings and contemporary dance rock, they stand apart from the typical.

For fans of Bloc Party, Arcade Fire, Los Campesinos, Vampire Weekend.

Try
Everest
Dying is Fine

Buy

Ravens & Chimes

Ravens & Chimes is a band from Brooklyn signed to Better Looking Records. They're a great indie rock band that mix dark, melancholy melodies with sharp and orchestral instrumentation. Their songs tend to lean toward the dynamic, with multiple tempo changes and volume control. Full of crescendo, their songs rise and fall like a sonic ocean.

For fans of Rogue Wave, Arcade Fire, Okkervil River, Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos.

Links
myspace
interwebs

Try
This is Where We Are
General Lafayette! You Are Not Alone

Buy

The Still Voice

The Still Voice is a band from Orlando, FL. Their songs are thoughtful and technical, melodic and chaotic. They blend aggressive, mathy attacks with soft and soulful moments. Passionate female vocals are layered over off time beats and dancey rhythms, creating interesting dynamics.

For fans of Mock Orange, Counterfit, No Knife, Thursday, etc.

Try
Tired Walls
China Glass

Links
Myspace
Interwebs

Throw Me the Statue

Throw Me the Statue is a band from Seattle, Washington that plays ultra catchy indie pop. They've been featured on Pitchfork, NPR and in a Rhapsody commercial.

For fans of Shout Out Louds, Rogue Wave, Cloud Cult and Belle and Sebastian.

Try
Lolita
About to Walk

Buy
emusic

Blitzen Trapper

Blitzen Trapper is a experimental folk group from Portland, Oregon. Last years Wild Mountain Nation album garnered them substantial critical acclaim and their latest release Furr (Sub Pop) received a two page feature in Rolling Stone.

With the resurgence in folk and alt-country music, Blitzen Trapper is sure to do pretty well. At times the vocals sound Bob Dylanish and the music is most comparable to Fleet Foxes, MMJ and Horse Feathers.

Try
Furr
Black River Killer

Buy
Sub Pop Minimart

Summerbirds in the Cellar

Photo by Skylar Reeves

Summerbirds in the Cellar are a band from Orlando, FL. They've been popular in Florida for a few years but recently have gotten more national exposure. This year they opened for R.E.M. at sxsw and a leg of the Faint tour.

They play a dreamy and layered brand of music, with technical and dancey percussion. If you don't believe me, check out this quote from Rolling Stone: "The layer-upon-layer-upon-layer rock of Summerbirds in the Cellar's ethereal vocals, blasting guitar, marching drums, and serene synth lines is enough to make me scream, cry, and bellow into the night, thanking God, Jah, Allah, and Yahweh for the opportunity to bear witness."
- Rolling Stone

Try
Strange Answers
Wicked World (Move Softly)

Buy

Aushua

Aushua is a band from Orange, CA. They play a sincere and nostalgic brand of pop/rock. It's super accessible without being homogenous, or watered down. They're gaining a lot of popularity in the Orange County and Los Angeles area. They will probably be huge in no time.

They're kind of hard to lock down any comparisons to. There are hints of 80's english and irish rock, early U2 and Echo and the Bunnymen definitely come to mind, especially on their track Soldier Boy. Perhaps a dash of Love and Rockets... perhaps.

Try
No Harm Done
Stained Glass Blues

Buy
emusic
Amazon

The Veils

The Veils are a London based band, fronted by lead singer/songwriter Finn Andrews. - I didn't write that, that's straight from their wiki page. What I will write about them is that they create a lush, dreamy soundscape both musically and vocally. At times they're reminiscent of Ours.

They're mellow, melodic and melancholy. Alliteration quota fulfilled.

Try
Vicious Traditions
Lavinia

Buy
emusic

Astronautalis

Photo copyright © Annie Ray, AnnieRay.net.

Astronautalis is technically a "rapper", but that's really selling him short. While his freestyles are awe inspiring, Astronautalis' style, in my opinion, is more what I'd call shoegaze or indie rap. Some of the tracks off Mighty Ocean and Nine Dark Theater remind of Modest Mouse, with spoken lyrics. Not all the songs are "rap", he makes successful attempts at singing, or using melody in his unique singing style.

On his new album Pomegranate, his experiments with instrumentation and singing have blossomed. Full of layered horns and organs, interesting imagery through creative lyrics, and great production, this third album will hopefully propel him into the semi-stardom he deserves.

Try
The Wondersmith and His Sons
Trouble Hunters

Buy
Emusic
Eyeball Records

Foals

Foals are a band from the Oxford England, signed to Sup Pop. They play a dancy, mathy style of indie rock. The guitar work is technical, the drums are super dancy and they even have horns for f*cks' sake! Highly Recommended.

For fans of Minus the Bear, Bloc Party, Mystery Jets, and Moving Units.

Try
Cassius
Balloons

Buy
Emusic
Sub Pop Minimart

Satisfaction

Satisfaction is a band from my hometown of Costa Mesa, CA featuring Mike Rosas of Headfirst and Smile. They play a nostalgic kind of rock, bordering on seventies pop, with the modern sensibilities and hooks of Mike's previous band, Smile. The vocals are great and the production is solid.

Try
So We'll Just Take the Night
Feel So Stupid

Buy
Both EPs are available on their myspace page here.

Graham Wright

Graham Wright plays keyboards in Tokyo Police Club and has just released a solo album called "The Lakes of Alberta".

His songs are soft and pretty with layered acoustic guitars and thoughtful lyrics. A definite departure from TPC, and definitely worth the listen.

Try
Canmore Hotel
The Lakes of Alberta, pt. 1

Download the Album

The Jealous Sound

The Jealous sound is a band from Los Angeles that features memebers of Knapsack, Sunday's Best and Jawbox. They play a lush, melodic and thoughtful style of indie rock.

After a five year delay, they've released an EP called "Got Friends". The EP includes 3 new songs and 2 remixes, one by Jimmy Tamborello of Postal Service/DNTEL fame.

Try
Anxious Arms
Got Friends

Buy
Got Friends - emusic
Got Friends - iTunes
Got Friends - Amazon (for JB)

Bill Murray & Jenny Lewis

If you are someone "in the know", or know someone "in the know", or more likely: know someone who knows someone "in the know", then you've already heard this rumor. If not, let me tell you that allegedly Bill Murray and Jenny Lewis were, and maybe still are, sexing.

I heard this rumor about a month or so ago and have not found any evidence of In flagrante delicto, but he definitely followed her around the country while she was on tour with Conor Oberst. There are many accounts and sightings of the two together.

If there's any truth to the rumor, that's awesome. It's really none or our business, but Bill Murray is a stud and quite possibly the funniest man alive. Jenny Lewis is ok too I guess.

I was going to post Bill Murray covering Roxy Music from the Lost in Translation soundtrack, and a Rilo Kiley song, but I decided I'd rather post these two gems from the Rushmore soundrack. Enjoy.

Try:
Cat Stevens - The Wind
The Creation - Making Time

Buy:
Rushmore Soundtrack at Amazon.com

The Secret 6

The Secret 6 are a band from Long Beach CA, featuring James Killington from the Killingtons. They have a new CD out called Close Enemies and they also have a song on the Penelope soundrack.

For fans of The Killingtons, obviously, but also for fans of My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, Catherine Wheel, Seam, etc.

More information on them can be found here: http://www.myspace.com/thesecret6

Try:
Familiar
Comeback

Buy: