indie scent

iPod Game

2008-03-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

1. What does next year have in store for you? Battle Flag, Lo-Fidelity All Stars
-- Battles can't be good. Maybe I'll take some inspiration from this great line, though: "Got a revolution behind my eyes."

2. What does your love life look like next year? Don't Fake This, Chevelle
-- Wasn't Meg Ryan such a babe in "When Harry Met Sally"? I'm just sayin'.

3. What do you say when life gets hard? Float On, Modest Mouse
-- Surprisingly accurate for me, and the song is actually about rolling with life's punches. One of my favourites, in the perfect slot.

4. Song that reminds you of good times? Been Caught Stealing, Jane's Addiction
-- Oh, I love this one, both for the song itself and the memories. I was listening to this a lot in the early '90s, during a time when I cemented my closest friendships, and many of them were glued together by a shared love of music like this.

5. What do you think when you get up in the morning? Send the Pain Below, Chevelle
-- This is maybe just a little too close to home. I'm not a morning person, I haven't been getting enough sleep, and...yes, this one is exactly right.

6. What song will you dance to at your wedding? Dumb Animals, Handsome Furs
-- I guess a couple of these were bound to make no sense. I don't even know how this mediocre song made it onto my ipod.

7. Song that reminds you of your first kiss? Low Light, Pearl Jam
-- A great nostalgic song for me, and I guess low light is best for kissing...but I'm not seeing the connection.

8. Your favorite saying? The Night, Morphine
-- This is a double bummer because A) it makes no sense and B) listening to Morphine is always bittersweet for me.

9. Favorite place? Prisoners of War, Envy Corps
-- Had no idea this song was on my ipod, and it makes no sense here.

10. Most Missed Memory? And All That Could Have Been, Nine Inch Nails
-- I guess regret depends on memories, so this one kinda fits in a dark way. The way my memories are disappearing these days, I'm missing most of them.

11. What song describes your best friend? Day 1, Explosions in the Sky
-- Instrumental song, so can't read anything into the lyrics. Very steady, grounded, but rising to great heights. Hopeful and thoughtful, optimistic and beautiful.

12. What song describes your ex? Scum of the Earth, Rob Zombie
-- I swear I did not cheat the game to get this tidy little link-up. The last girlfriend I had before Tannis was the infamous Tabitha in Niverville, and she really was a serious piece of work...but this one would have been too harsh for all but the most hated exes.

13. Where would you go on a first date? Lights and Sounds, Yellowcard
-- To see a concert, maybe? Could be worse. Dating seems like a very abstract concept at this point.

14. Drug of choice? Twisted Transistor, Korn
-- Sounds like a decent street name for a top-notch hallucinogenic of some kind.

15. What song describes you? Ideoteque, Radiohead
-- If forced to choose, this might be my favourite Radiohead song, so I appreciate seeing it appear here with any connection to my personality...but it's a dark bugger, grim and claustrophobic.

16. What is the thing you like doing most? Fiddle and the Drum, A Perfect Circle
-- Playing music, perhaps? "Most" would be a stretch, but I do like it a lot.

17. The song that best describes the prime minister? Dragula, Rob Zombie
-- Those sunken eyes, the toothy fake-smile...I can see it. Stephen Harper's always creeped me out.

18. Where will you be in 10 years? Modern Love, Bloc Party
-- Sounds optimistic, future-focused...and love is always good. My favourite Bloc Party song by far, despite (maybe because it sounds exactly like Men at Work and I'm a child of the '80s.

19. Your love life right now? Night Windows, The Weakerthans
-- Such a gorgeous song, and really melancholy, but with a hopeful tone. It's definitely a look back to a better time, which is a temptation in this life stage, but I prefer to look ahead on this one.

20. What is your state of mind like at the moment? Losing My Religion, REM
-- A current spiritual crisis? Nah, but this type of over-analyzing introspection isn't too far off for my usual state of mind.

21. How will you die? The Great Beyond, REM
-- A slow slide into oblivion? Perhaps. "I'm looking for answers from the great beyond".

Clutch -- Burning Beard

2008-02-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

Neil sent me this today, some seriously earnest heavy rockers. Shades of Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger. I love the energy and intensity of this stuff:

SXSW 2008 -- 20 Songs

2008-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

Oh, this poor neglected song blog. Since the demise of Webjay, I've lost my mojo for finding great new music and wanting to share it. But somewhere I saw a reference to the new SxSW site being launched, and every year it's got piles of amazing new (and free) music from the bands playing and promoting themselves at the festival. I poked around a bit and found 20 songs I really liked, cutting across some genres, but mostly with good melodies and some interesting experimentation:

Longwave -- No Direction
...a solid, polished indie rocker with just a hint of '80s pop in the vocals
Zykos -- Keep It Light
...meandering, mellow gem with beautiful strummed bass and heartfelt singing
Born in the Flood -- Anthem
...pretty, jangly verses building to an amazing and rollicking yelled chorus that gives me goosebumps
Say Hi -- Northwestern Girls
...straightforward indie-rock with a tight, focused sound and a cool chorus that is probably repeated a few too many times
Colour Revolt -- Naked and Red
...swaggers along with some neat twists and turns, a very nice mix of polished and raw, especially at the end where it kinda goes off the rails
Brazos -- Mary Jo
...hard to classify, but it's a great, authentic sound with a mellow vibe I really like
Bella -- Give It A Night
...a driving beat, perky synth, great female harmonies; what's not to like?
Duchess Says -- Black Flag
...I wasn't sure about this one at first with the early '80s synth-pop and Blondie vocals, but this might be the most fun on the list
Cloud Cult -- Chain Reaction
...complex, fascinating song from an incredibly talented band
WHY? -- The_Hollows
...a very interesting sound with a sort of spoken-word approach, growling bass and cool samples. Not sure what kind of music this is, but it's cool.
Son Lux -- Break
...innovative sound, maybe a bit disjointed, but beautifully layered
Edison Glass -- All Our Memories
...odd rock song that sort of careens all over the place, never getting too comfortable for long...pleasing, though
Pinstripe -- Closest Thing to Heaven
...poppy rock with a good beat and polished harmonies, not for fans of raw self-recorded indie
Parkas -- Filthy Rich Kids
...this one reminded me a bit of the Weakerthans, with a slower, down-home vibe and real warmth
Audrye Sessions -- Julianna
...maybe a bit emo; catchy, well-executed rock song
Magnet School -- Crush
...very cool song, quite dark with a wall of sound that doesn't overwhelm the vocals
Air Traffic -- Shooting Star
...super polished piano-rock a la Jack's Mannequin, if that's your thing
Search Rescue -- Fireflies
...solid mellow rock with great harmonies
Kate Bradley/The Goodbye Horses-Gold Body
...this one reminded me a bit of that fantastic Concrete Blonde album, maybe not quite so wonderfully dark, though
Basia Bulat -- In the Night
...not my usual style of music, but there's something compelling about the sweet vocals and retro backing music

Oh, and you can just grab the playlist if you want to stream them all online.

Pungent Indie Rock

2007-04-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

DJ Champion -- No Heaven (3.2mb from the band's page on the newly updated SXSW site)

There's not much in the way of variety, uniqueness or even anything resembling pre-written lyrics in this song. Seriously, the singer seems to just be wandering around belting out cool-sounding shit, mostly variations on the song's title. The same riff is repeated pretty much throughout the entire song as well, with only slight changes in volume and intensity. Boring drum machine loop. But the overall feel of the song is so danceable, so fun and so groovy that these criticisms would just be whining. The singer's sultry, bluesy yowling is the perfect match for the simplicity of the guitar riff -- the sound just works.

This video of a live performance of the song is really worth checking out too, unless you already saw them on the Junos (I missed it). Probably a one hit wonder, but you never know...maybe the band will survive after this bit of musical cotton candy has been consumed.

That's Just Rank

2007-03-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Two Ton Boa -- Cash Machine (4.5mb mp3 from the band's SXSW '07 page)

Another bass-heavy beauty here, with two full minutes of twists and turns -- jazzy, bluesy grooves, odd electronic clicks and beeps, and a singer alternating between lounge singing and spitting yells -- before it builds to a truly wonderful sort of pop-harmony chorus. After 30 seconds of that pure genius, it drops right back down into the cool weirdness of the first two minutes. If it ended there, I probably wouldn't have given it a second listen, but thankfully they gave us a second chorus to hook us forever.

The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)

2007-03-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

This is an old song already, and all the buzz on these guys is about their new album, which I've been really into lately. But there's a sort of unbridled passion and total intensity in this performance that gives me goosebumps: The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies) on the Much Music Awards.

Heavier Aromas

2007-03-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

31Knots -- Man Become Me (5.2mb mp3 from the band's site)

Although not a heavy song in the metal vein, there's an incredible, raw intensity here that can only be called heavy. Fantastic drumming, aggressive bass work that you can actually hear, some cool repeated guitar lines with distortion when it matters, and a seriously angry dude hollering. Fans of Tool will appreciate the mix here, I think.

It's not all rage, though -- the quiet parts of the song are simple and smooth, giving you a breather before you get knocked on your ass again. Then in the last minute, things go totally off the rails. This isn't particularly accessible music, but it's worth sticking with them until you can really appreciate it.

That's Just Rank

2007-02-22T17:50:00.000-08:00

Three More Shallows -- Night at the Knight School (3.1mb mp3 from the band's SXSW '07 page)

This is admittedly pretty weird stuff, and I won't pretend that's it for everyone. But if you're looking to be challenged by your listening a bit, I think a Night at the Knight School might be just what you need. It veers from sing-song fairy-tales in the first minute to frantic synth-driven chaos at the halfway point, then mellows out with a great melody and odd lyrics that stick in your head:

at the knight school, knight school
you doodle and you draw
anything, anything
except what you're taught
you got a bad tooth, bad tooth
so you clench your jaw
and you concentrate, concentrate
on the achin'
'cause it's keepin' you awake

We Don't Care About the Young Folks

2007-02-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

Sorry, odd post with no mp3 and breaking the usual format, but I've had this song stuck in my head for months. The off-key whistling is the culprit, I think. If you dare, check out the wonderfully simple video for Young Folks from Peter, Bjorn & John. I couldn't get into the rest of the album, but this song is brilliant.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-11-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

Snowden -- Anti-Anti (5.3mb mp3 from the band's label page)

While not as interesting as Kill the Power on their earlier EP (which sadly they've taken down from their site), this is still an excellent tune. The crisp drums, sing-songy "oh-oh-oh-oh"s and jangly guitars in the intro make you wonder if it's going to be fluffy pop, but then the slightly distorted bass hints at more intensity to come.

The unique vocal style uses somewhat monotonous melodies (oxymoron?) that end up sounding more pleasing than they should be. After a disjointed break halfway through, the last minute really gets rolling with more distortion and a sort of chanted, repeated, and mostly unintelligible chorus -- nice, focused noise.

Smells Mellow

2006-11-01T11:24:00.000-08:00

Laura Veirs - Galaxies (3.3mb mp3 from her SXSW Showcase page, which will likely disappear shortly)

This might sound like straight-up pop at first, but there's a certain depth here that makes it worth paying closer attention. I bet Sheryl Crow wishes she could craft sparse little beauties like this. There's always something interesting going on -- spacey, warbling keyboards, plinking piano bits, or reverbed guitar feedback floating behind the scenes -- but the singer's wonderful voice and a simple, softly distorted guitar line carry things through from beginning.

The na-na-nas in the last minute probably shouldn't work, but they somehow wrap things up just right. After getting hooked on this song, I believe that galaxies really can pour down your cheeks and flood the street.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-10-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

Silversun Pickups -- Well Thought Out Twinkles (3.2mb mp3 from the band's label)

This band must get sick of being compared to other bands in the modern rock canon, but I do mean it as a serious compliment when I say that they remind me of earlier Smashing Pumpkins with occasional nods to the Pixies. Not in a copycat way, but with good solid influences and their own twist on them.

Things get started here with a chunky, almost bluesy groove that downshifts into the verse, then returns with a sort of classic-rock vengeance later on. I didn't really warm up to the song until I had heard the excellent break at the half-way point a few times -- such a thick, tight sound with a chugging bass line, a spacey keyboard floating along behind, and then growing intensity and distortion as things get rolling again to finish things up. This is fantastic rock, and I can only imagine how amazing they'd be in concert.

That's Just Rank

2006-10-02T16:01:00.000-07:00

S -- Falling (5.5mb mp3 from the band's label page)

This category is reserved for weird songs, ones nobody should really like immediately. Fans of Bjork will probably catch on to this tune pretty quickly, though. The transitions between sections are often abrupt and jarring, going from frantic minor-key intensity to near-silence and techno blips without warning. It's so worth overcoming the listening challenges, though -- at 2:24, you think it's over, but then the last minute builds up to a beautiful, soaring sort of chorus that still gives me goosebumps a year and a half after I first started putting it in playlists. So maybe the category isn't quite right...nothing rank about this.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-09-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Cloud Cult -- Living on the Outside of Your Skin (4.3mb mp3 from the band's site)

With a loose, wandering sound a bit like Wolf Parade, this song might evoke a rawer, more indie version of Radiohead. Great pop hooks lurk beneath, but they don't necessarily reach out and grab you right away. Interesting organ lines and jangly percussion float around almost aimlessly, but the song gets more focused and intense, building up with haunting, distorted guitars and a chorus with loose harmonies that meander through your mind for days afterwards. The vocals are mostly chanted and doubled up, but without the usual overpolished production, as if a few guys are sitting around practicing together. The effect is wonderful -- this is one of the few songs that makes me want to go get the whole album immediately.

Pungent Indie Rock -- Catfight

2006-08-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Catlow -- Number One (2.4mb mp3 from Boompa) VS Metric -- Combat Baby (3.2mb mp3 from Better Propaganda)

A new feature here on Indie Scent that I'll probably forget to repeat, but I thought it might be fun. I love both of these songs, so there's no real loser, but I'll admit to rooting for Catlow as the indie underdog(cat?). I'd like to hear more smart, upbeat girl-fronted rock like this.

I'd be surprised if anyone thought Emily Haines wasn't awesome, and I think Combat Baby is a decent representative of Metric's best rollicking indie rock. It's fun and flawless, with enough attitude to keep it from getting old. In the other corner, we've got a relative newcomer from the other side of Canada with a similar sound. With just a touch of the Breeders, and maybe evoking a bit of Luscious Jackson with a driving bass rhythm, Number One thumps its way into your head and refuses to leave.

I leave it to you, loyal reader(s) to decide: who wins this catfight? Give both a listen and leave a comment.

Smells Mellow

2006-08-10T11:06:00.001-07:00

Raised by Swans -- Violet Light (2.3mb mp3 from the band's site)

You'd think the slow pace in the intro of this song would have you nodding off before the vocals arrive, but don't give up too soon. The arrangement of the guitars is almost symphonic, blending acoustics and electrics with layered reverb into a rich, contemplative sound.

Just past the halfway point in the tune they strip it down to near silence, with the singer's high, whispery notes keeping things going, and then building it back up to a soaring chorus. This pattern is repeated to wonderful effect, and then they fade it out quietly for almost a minute, showing great patience that challenges us to stick with them to the end. Beautiful.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-08-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

The Constantines -- On to You (5.3mb mp3 from the Sub Pop)

I'm not entirely sure why I love this song so much. Piano touches and an a capella chorus usually has me hitting skip in a hurry, but it really works in this mid-tempo rocker. Gruff, blue-collar vocals might remind you of an angrier Bruce Springsteen, and insistent drumming, growling bass and some intense, distorted guitar work create a solid backbone for a gorgeous rock 'n roll love song.

Update: One song of their newer album has also caught my fancy with a similar vibe: Soon Enough (4.6mb mp3 from their label's band page).

Heavier Aromas

2006-07-31T10:44:00.000-07:00

Flyleaf -- I'm So Sick (3.4mb mp3 from the band's site)

I suppose that if these guys are opening for Korn, it's a serious stretch to consider them indie. The singer also sounds enough like Avril Lavigne to make any self-respecting indie rock fan reject this blog forever...but hear me out. You'll know in the first 19 seconds whether this rocks your socks or not -- 18 seconds of distorted bass with pretty minor-key female vocals (a la Evanescence), and then suddenly all hell breaks loose when the main guitars and drums kick in with a scream of doom.

This is very slick hard rock, carefully crafted and probably focus-target-market-grouped, but damn it's catchy. I appreciate the fact that they didn't give in to the urge to add some awful Linkin Park rap interludes; the only thing close to that territory is some dudes in the background doing that cheesy overdubbed screamo yell in the last half-minute, but despite their best efforts, it doesn't wreck the song.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-07-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

Pinback -- AFK (4.8mb mp3 from Toolshed Media)

This odd mid-tempo tune meanders along thoughtfully, then builds up to a thumping crescendo with quirky chanted vocals. Although I don't hear much bass, I did notice that the drumming is outstanding. Fans of Modest Mouse will be easily hooked, but this is no copycat band -- the sound is unique and varied, holding up after many repeated listens. Difficult to classify, hard to ignore.

Smells Mellow

2006-07-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory -- Coyotes Song (2.7mb mp3 from lovable label Mush Records)

The folksy-country shuffle and repeated Elliott Smith harmonies of the first couple of verses could easily carry this song through to the end with style, but then in the last minute things get truly brilliant. The shift is subtle, but the main vocal line changes and more instruments join the fun -- chiming reverb on the guitars, some sweeping strings -- all without overwhelming the genius of the simple melody. This is beautiful, smart musical joy.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-07-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Wintersleep -- Jaws of Life (7mb mp3 from the band's site)

I can be overly nostalgic at times. This one takes me back to Pearl Jam's Ten, which came out around the time I was graduating high school. Ten defined the poppier side of grunge, and was enormously popular, so I suppose it's totally uncool to admit loving something that sounds like it 15 years later. Anyway, this maritime band can't be faulted for having a great singer who sounds a bit like Eddie Vedder did before he started worshipping Neil Young and blowing out his vocal chords.

The other songs I've heard from Wintersleep have a more modern indie-rock vibe, mellower and with less distortion, and Jaws of Life starts out that way too before building things up with a huge, growling guitar that also props up the chorus admirably. They really nail the loud-quiet transitions, almost erasing the song at the two-minute mark before ascending again to the heights of the arena-rock anthem.

Heavier Aromas

2006-07-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

Rise Against -- Everchanging (5.2mb mp3 from their old label's site)

I hadn't heard anything from these guys until I explored the amazing Fat Wreck Chords mp3 page and collected the best stuff in a Webjay playlist. Like most of the label's sounds, this has punk roots, but more earnest and maybe closer to something popular like the Foo Fighters. Fast pace, but tight and melodic, with a nice edge to it. The last minute rocks out into full anthem mode -- crank it up.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-07-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

Division Day -- There is No Telling (5.7mb mp3 from the band's site)

This strikes me as introspective music. It's melodic and accessible, but with more depth and complexity than you usually hear in this style. The drumming might almost be called frantic, and they throw in a couple of tempo changes and quieter parts keep you paying attention. Great vibe.

Heavier Aromas

2006-07-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Lagwagon -- Falling Apart (3.6mb mp3 from their label's site)

This rollicking two-and-a-half minutes of punk-ish rock smells a bit like teen spirit, which is fine by me. These guys have apparently been around for 15 years, but this song is from 2003. Expect thick walls of distortion, quieter interludes, aging-Ozzy references, pounding drums, and all kinds of change-ups to keep things interesting. Lyrics about our bodies deteriorating in old age really shouldn't be this much fun.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-07-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Head Like A Kite - Noisy at the Circus (3mb mp3 from the band's label)

Perhaps not the most original sound, but any fan of Tegan & Sara or the Breeders will probably love this (which reminds me that I haven't linked to any T&S yet, for shame). It's very perky, with simple, head-bopping guitar chords forming the backbone of the song, and catchy girlie vocals keeping things fun. Maybe a touch of the Pixies, but more pop and less Frank.

Smells Mellow

2006-06-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

Stars of Track and Field - With You (3.4mb mp3 from the band's SXSW page, which won't last long)

The sparse verse with breathy male vocals and single repeated guitar notes don't prepare you for the brilliance of the chorus in this tune. It's the simplest, prettiest melody, and a higher voice joins in to harmonize with beautiful results, transforming it from a sort of indie rock ballad into pure, shimmering pop. I hadn't ever heard of the band, but in a perfect world, songs like this would translate into fame and fortune.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-06-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sushirobo -- Rat or Mole (3mb mp3 from their label page)

Are you the rat? Are you the mole? Good luck luck getting the chorus out of your head after a couple of listens to this quirky number. Nice thick bass line, offbeat drums, odd spoken verses, and unique guitar-produced noise -- it's smart, fun and just experimental enough to keep you curious.

Heavier Aromas

2006-06-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

30 Seconds to Mars - Attack (2.5mb mp3 from UNCLE promo)

With layers of vocal harmonies and glistening walls of distortion throughout, many indie fans would probably consider this too slick and overproduced. I don't care. I'm a sucker for great production values and it makes little difference to me whether these guys can pull off their sound live. The only really bothersome thing is that me liking this means I probably haven't truly moved beyond the days of being a fan of Skid Row. I've thought about this more often lately, realizing that the new emo-pop-punk-rock stuff I'm hearing now isn't that different from Def Leppard's Hysteria era, complete with gang-harmony vocals and sappy ballads about lost love, while still somewhat attempting to rock out. Sheepish nostalgia aside, this is a worthy tune.

Smells Mellow

2006-06-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

Great Lake Swimmers -- Various Stages (3.8mb mp3 from the band's SXSW2006 page, which won't last)

Banjo, harmonica and a lazily strumming guitar -- I've never been a Neil Young fan and this doesn't tend to be my style. I'm not a big lyric geek either and songs about manic depression wouldn't usually turn my crank. BUT, this is a truly top-notch song from a talented Canadian indie band. I think it's mostly the smoothness of the singer's voice, and the meandering melodies. Melancholy lines stick in your head for days after the second or third listen, along with the repeated opening, I have seen you in various stages of undress. I have seen you through various stages of madness.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-06-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

End of Fashion -- Oh Yeah (2.7mb mp3 from the band's SXSW2006 page, which won't last)

Sometimes I take music too seriously, so I picked this song for the pure fun, in honour of the start of summer. It's got that loose, upbeat, mid-tempo vibe best characterized by Weezer's best stuff, including the thick power chords used to prop up a simple hollered chorus that wouldn't have felt out of place on Pinkerton. Again, fun.

That's Just Rank

2006-06-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

Uncle John & Whitelock -- Baghdadi (4mb mp3 from the band's site)

Like most songs in this category, this one will hurt you at first...actually, you might never truly embrace it. But I seriously adore this brand of raw intensity and nothing else chugs along quite like it. In the last minute, they nearly go completely off the rails after shifting up a gear in a wondefully sloppy tempo change. Worth repeated listens, if only to hear the singer's whiskey-and-smoke growl.

Smells Mellow

2006-06-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

Liz Durrett -- The Mezzanine (2.7mb mp3 from her site)

Can a song be too short? With breathy vocals this sultry, two minutes seems like a tease. Sparse instrumentation plunks along beneath the harmonized melodies and you wish it would just go on and on.

Heavier Aromas

2006-06-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

Arcwelder -- Do Something Right (4mb mp3 from the label's site)

Raw, grungy rock that evokes older Soundgarden and other Seattlelites of the era. I'm a sucker for any good melody in a chorus, and this one really yodels along, introducing some memorable flow after a chunky, random verse and bridge that simply repeats the title of the song. It's dark, but somehow without taking itself too seriously. Released in 1999 on their last album, it makes me wish they were still recording.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-06-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

October Guard -- Nightmare Patrol (3mb mp3 from the band's site)

I'm a sucker for thumping bass guitar and chiming, reverby guitars, so this fits the bill. A soaring chorus provides the payoff and sticks in your head long after you've forgetten any words from the verses. Thanks to CBC Radio 3 for the introduction to this two-and-a-half minutes of indie-rock goodness.

Smells Mellow

2006-06-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Rose Melberg -- Golden Gate Bridge (1.8mb mp3 from Double Agent Records)

So yeah, I suppose I'm hopelessly biased in my love of Rose's music. We've been listening to her new album a lot and enjoying it immensely. I so agree with this interpretation of the review the album received from Pitchfork. I'll resist the urge to call the review's author an asshat (oops) and just assume he was having a bad day, since I can't imagine why he'd have a vendetta against Rose. There may be no better illustration of the uselessness of music critics -- why give the guy a forum to slag someone's personal expression and something other people love? Knowing how hard Rose worked on the album and how challenging it was for her makes it feel like only malice could compell someone to attack the results.

Anyway, this song is older, but it still provides a gorgeous soundtrack for reflective moments. You can listen to her newer stuff on her MySpace page.

That's Just Rank

2006-05-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

McLusky -- Without MSG I am Nothing (2.7mb mp3 from better propaganda)

Distorted bass, an odd snake-charmer guitar line, chanted and yelled vocals, obscure and disturbing lyrics -- this is not the most accessible tune. It's also pure, total genius and deserves a second (ok, third or fourth) chance after you reject it the first time. The only disappointing thing is that the band already broke up years ago. I hate it when that happens.

Heavier Aromas

2006-05-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

Finch -- Letters to You (3.1mb mp3 from their label)

With a lost-love theme and perfect harmonies in the chorus, this could be considered emo -- the only thing that rescues it from any wussy classification is a huge guitar sound, an angry edge to the singer's voice and seriously pounding drums. This isn't new -- I've been enjoying it for a couple of years now -- but the quality stands up to repeated listens.

Smells Mellow

2006-05-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Pleasant Grove -- Impossible (4.1mb mp3 from their label)

Generally I'd say that six minutes is too long for any song, but I'm willing to make exceptions when they sound this great. Right from the blippy-bleepy intro through the quiet-guy singing and echoing guitar lines, multiple bridges and breaks...the vibe is just wonderful.

Pungent Indie Rock

2006-05-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

Super Love Attack -- Hero (3.8mb mp3 from their label's site)

I'll admit it -- I fell for this one almost entirely for the simple, sliding three-chord riff that opens up the intro, then chugs along later at important points in the song. With an anthem's vibe and perhaps some added distortion, it might evoke Nirvana or the Pixies, but the vocals are too weird to really consider those comparisons. The sound is so loose and unpolished that it might be a late-night jam crackling with alcohol-fueled energy. Anyway, it might take a few listens to really appreciate this beauty.

Smells Mellow

2006-05-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

Sia -- Breathe Me (4mb mp3 from her SXSW page, which won't last long)

This achingly pretty song should send shivers down the neck of even the scariest, hairiest headbanger. It probably doesn't technically qualify as "indie", and might even be accused of living in Dido or Nelly Furtado pop territory, but seriously...just listen to it and try to convince me that her quiet, cracking (almost mumbling at times) voice doesn't win you over.