So after what might have been the lamest almost Nor’easter to ever hit us, I have something to bring your spirits up from the no snow days blues. We have new Eagulls, Speedy Ortiz, and Have a Nice Life. Check out the reviews from New Music Committee below.
** = Push * = Recommend
| ARTIST | ALBUM | DESCRIPTION | LABEL |
| Eagulls* | Eagulls EP | Killer post-punk with ferocious vox, tight instrumentation and cool grooves. Sticks to the genres sound well – nothing too new but still catchy. RIYL: Holograms, Weeknd | Partisan Records |
| Have a Nice Life* | The Unnatural World | Post-rock; post-metal. Great post-rock album. Very concise, and creates a great atmospheric vibe. RIYL: Godspeed, Joy Division | Flenser Records |
| Speedy Ortiz* | Real Hair | Jagged alt-rock with 90’s sounding guitars. Killer guitar work with very audible vocals. This group rules and is very accessible. Rec #1,2,4 | Carpark |
| Band of Horses | Acoustic at the Ryman | Combines indie acoustic with a country twang. Try #2,4,10 | Brown Records |
| Beauty Heart | A. Kanute’s Comin’ Round | Similar to Animal Collective, Jagwar Ma, or Fool’s Gold. Tropical, warm, jittery, psych-pop. | Nusic Sounds |
| Bigtree Bonsai | Awoken | Catchy indie rock with classic vox and encapsulating folky melodies. Produced by some big names and the quality shows. Try #1,2,6 FCC #9 | Self-Released |
| Daytona | Daytona | For indie rock/pop. Lots of harmonizing vox. Strong percussion, interesting guitar jam sections. FCC Clean. Tr#1,2,7 RIYL: Local Natives, Vampire Weekend | Ernest Jennings Record Co. |
| Dum Dum Girls | Too True | A faster-paced, higher tempo work than previous entries. Less lo-fi and more rock. Try #2,6 | Sub pop |
| Gardens &Villa | Dunes | Flutey filled synth pop. Good sound but songs tend to blend into one another. #2,3 | Secretly Canadian |
| Gem Club | In Roses | Minimal, ethereal piano and strings. Relaxing and somber going for an emotional effect get somewhat bland. | Hardly Art |
| Gunther Doug | Gunther Doug | Reverb-y garage rock with a small hint of country. Try #12,4 FCC Clean | Self-Released |
| Illum Sphere | Ghosts of Then and Now | Downtempo electronic with soulful vocal samples. Piano and other live instrumentartion dispersed throughout. RIYL: Bonobo, Burial FCC Clean | Self-Released |
| Juan Wauters | North American Poetry | Singer-songwriter from NY. Reminds me of a cheaper version of Daniel Johnston. Acoustic songs. | Captured Tracks |
| Lee Bannon | Alternate/Endings | Jungle/drum n bass inspired bass music – venry atmospheric at points with chopped up vocal samples, then is amped up with a break beat. Try #1,4,6,7,9 | Self-Released |
| Lovelife | XXX | Very techno poppy. Fast paced mildly autotuned vox. Most songs backed by a strongdrum beat. Try #3,4 | Self-Released |
| Mayors of Liberty | Dream On | Bluesy alternative vibe, but the slow vox and bland instrumentals sort of turn me off. | Brick Lane Records |
| Mogwai | Rave Tapes | Smooth post rock with a great feel of electronic music. Easy listening. | Sub pop |
| Mt. Royal | Mt. Royal | Unique female vox over driving and heavy indie rock instrumentals. FCC Clean. Try #1,3,4 RIYL: Beach House, Wild Belle | Never Better |
| Neil Finn | Dizzy Heights | Art rock. Sounds like a softer version of Spoon. Prominent, nicely layered vocals. Try #2,6,8 | Lester Records |
| New War | New War | Post-punk that’s pretty dark and moody. Sharp instrumentation and bold vox. | ATP |
| Orthy | E.M.I.L.Y | Low key synth pop with some dreamy textures. Rippling synths and strong beats Try: #1,3 RIYL Cut Copy, LCD Soundsystem | Dither Down |
| Pigeon | Selttle In | Brisbane electro pop/dance. This groups music is brilliantly diverse, blending old and new electronic sounds, both funky and heavy. Try #1,2,5 | Self-Released |
| PT Walkley | Shoulders | Happy/upbeat complete with background singers and fanfare trumpets. Rock that’s a little over the top. | Bathing Suit Records |
| Snowmine | Dialects | Dreamy pop rock with 80’s synth inspired electronics. Interesting dynamic high vox. RIYL: Bear In Heaven, Beach House | Mystery Buildings |
| The Districts | The Districts | Generic indie rock with normal jangly guitars and groggy vox. RIYL: The White Stripes, The Strokes | Fat Possum Records |
| The Hidden Cameras | Age | Orchestral indie pop with ambient/atmospheric noises in the background to add to the songs. Rec #8 | Evil Evil |
| The New Mendicants | Into the Lime | Slow and almost boring older sounding tunes. Songwriting doesn’t demand attention. Weak overall. FCC #6 | Ashmont Records |
| The Noise FM | Attraction | Garage rock sounds. Tracks sound the same. Try #2,7 | Self-Released |
| The Pack A.D. | Do Not Engage | Pretty good girl version of the black kegs but more serious and dark. | Nettwerk |
| The Premiere | Antennae | Electro-rap duo, male vox. One guy raps, the other does chorus(es). Production isn’t bad, but the singing and odd lyrics leave much to be desired. Try #1,4,6 | Self-Released |
| The Rebel Set | How to Make a Monster! | Straight rock n roll/surf rock with a trippy vibe. RIYL: Black Lips | Silver Hornet Records |
| Toy | Join the Dots | Repetitive. Really bad version of on the run by Pink Floyd. | Never Better |
| Twintapes | Fast Forward | Brooklyn electro-pop group, male vox. Warm and groovy main single with chunky guitar and catchy lyrics. | Self-Released |
| Various Artists | Sweetheart | Various artists cover their favorite love songs with their own style. Try #1,4 FCC Clean | Head Music |