Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I don't know if it's because of the change in the weather, or the fact that I've spent too much time lately listening to subdued music, but I'm finding myself listening more and more to indie/pop bands as of late. Bands like Pomegranates, Coconut Records, and my new-found love, Phoenix.

Don't get me wrong, I had heard of Phoenix several years ago, but I felt no need to listen to them, and even the release of their newest album sparked little interest in me; it was all of the attention that it was garnering that decidedly demanded my attention. So I listened...

Imagine if Jason Schwartzman [Coconut Records/former Phantom Planet; not to mention actor] sang for a more guitar-driven band that had some of the nuances of Bloc Party and The Apples In Stereo, and that was dripping with pop sensibility. This, of course, is doing little to no justice to this amazingly fun pop band. I can imagine that Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix will not stray too far from my stereo during this summer; it's just far too fun.

MYSPACE

Tracklisting:
1. Lisztomania
2. 1901
3. Fences
4. Love Like A Sunset
5. Lasso
6. Rome
7. Countdown (Sick For The Big Sun)
8. Girlfriend
9. Armistice

The Honey Trees - Wake The Earth

The Honey Trees is a band that I've been following for a couple of years now, ever since I found their demos on myspace. It would be very easy to say that the band sounds like Eisley due to Becky Filip's vocals. They, however, are by no means an Eisley rip-off. Similarly sounding, but made all their own. Give this amazing band a chance.

MYSPACE

Tracklisting:
1. Orchard
2. Don't Fear
3. Through Your Eyes
4. Love & Loss
5. To Be WIth You
6. Find Home
7. Wake The Earth

The Antlers - Hospice

I can honestly say that I have never heard another band like The Antlers. The songs are quiet and lush with background noise, lo-fi in nature, but then at times break in with loud and epic anthems, only to return to their quiet and subdued roots. It is beautiful.

MYSPACE

Tracklisting:
1. Prologue
2. Kettering
3. Sylvia
4. Atrophy
5. Bear
6. Thirteen
7. Two
8. Shiva
9. Wake
10. Epilogue

Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside!

I'm not going to say much about Pomegranates, other than that they are one of the most fun and inventive bands I've heard in a while. The first time I listened to them was when Rach and I watched them open for Margot & The Nuclear So and So's, and they showed them up. A great group of guys that make sweet tunes.

MYSPACE

Tracklisting:
1. Everybody Come Outside
2. Beachcomber
3. This Land Used To Be My Land, But Now I Hate This Land
4. Southern Ocean
5. Sail (Away With Me)
6. Corriander
7. 384 BC
8. Svaatzi Uutsi
9. Jerusalem Had A Bad Day
10. Tesseract
11. I Feel Like I'm A Million Years Old

Highlight Tracks: "Everybody Come Outside", "Southern Ocean", "Corriander", "Svaatzi Uutsi"

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

Before you say anything, I know - I apologize for the Rapidshare. I couldn't find any other remaining links. Believe me, however, when I say that this album is certainly worth it - heck I would have even paid for this one [and I probably will]. It's been a good couple of years since The Decemberists released The Crane Wife, their first venture into mainstream music backed by a major label; it's about time we got a follow-up.

BLAH BLAH BLAH if you want to know more, then wikipedia it. Quit reading my words and download it already and make up your mind for yourself.

Tracklisting:
1. Prelude
2. The Hazards Of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)
3. A Bower Scene
4. Won't Want For Love (Margaret In the Taiga)
5. The Hazards Of Love 2 (Wager All)
6. The Queen's Approach
7. Isn't It A Lovely Night
8. The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid
9. An Interlude
10. The Rake's Song
11. The Abduction of Margaret
12. The Queen's Rebuke / The Crossing
13. Annan Water
14. Margaret In Captivity
15. The Hazards Of Love 3 (Revenge!)
16. The Wanting Comes In Waves (Reprise)
17. The Hazards Of Love 4 (The Drowned)

Little Joy - Little Joy

It's been a while, I've come to realize. With my intense schedule of a full-time job, full-time school, and full-time girlfriend, I'm left with little time for things such as this. However, [thanks to the commute] I'm left with plenty of time to listen to good music.

Little Joy is an album that I downloaded some time ago, but had yet to listen to; until recently, that is. Thankfully, I found myself in the mood for something new and foreign lately, as it led me to Little Joy. Add equal parts Brazilian-rock and Strokes sounds [the band features Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti] and a dash of doo-wop and 50's sounds, as well as modern lo-fi for flavor and you have Little Joy. I can't say enough good about this amazing album.

MYSPACE

Tracklisting:
1. The Next Time Around
2. Brand New Start
3. Play The Part
4. No One's Better Sake
5. Unattainable
6. Shoulder To Shoulder
7. With Strangers
8. Keep Me In Mind
9. How To Hang A Warhol
10. Don't Watch Me Dancing
11. Evaporar

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

To be completely honest, I jumped on the Arctic Monkeys bandwagon somewhat later than most. It was well after Favourite Worst Nightmare came out that I gave them a chance, and subsequently fell in love with them. That, however, was my downfall. I fell in love with Favourite Worst Nightmare and was content in writing off their previous material as less mature and probably not as good [as is the case with a great deal of bands, especially such critically acclaimed bands]. Big mistake. The band's major debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not is not only better than the subsequent album, but also easily one of the best and most original albums I've ever heard. I would easily place it on par with singer Alex Turner's side project The Last Shadow Puppets.

I'll not waste my time with trying to describe Arctic Monkeys sound or with trying to compare them to bands you may have heard of, because regardless of the effort I put into it, it will be fruitless; this band is far too individual and incredible. There is, in my mind, justification for they hype around this band, as well as to the statement that they are the best band to come out of the UK since the "Fab Four".

Tracklisting:
1. The View From The Afternoon
2. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
3. Fake Tales From San Francisco
4. Dancing Shoes
5. You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me
6. Still Take You Home
7. Riot Van
8. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured
9. Mardy Bum
10. When The Sun Goes Down
11. From The Ritz To The Rubble
12. A Certain Romance