Music You Should Be Listening To: Vol. 1

by Taylor Roberts in Album Reviews, Indie Release Highlights, Musician Reviews, New Releases, News, Record Hunting, Reviews, What's New, bands to watch

Hello, and welcome to the first installment of Music You Should Be Listening To. This blog is your one stop shop for all things indie rock including album reviews, concert highlights and the latest news on the bands that no one has heard of… yet.

I had all intentions of using my first entry to review some great new album that is dropping in November, however, I encountered a bit of a problem… I’m still stuck on the early fall releases that are continuing to blow me away. So instead I’ll let you in on what I’ve been digging since September. I’ll also hit you with some news that will definitely help you get through those cold winter months (hint: January is going to be chalk full of new releases from some of the superstars in Indie!)

So, I have been entirely way too wrapped up in the early fall releases to give any attention to the late October releases, Gov’t Mule for example… It stares at me every day! The music from August to October was fantastic and I cannot stop listening. Leading off my favorites would be the album “Up From Below” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. If you haven’t heard this album yet, you need to get with it! It definitely holds high on my list of best indie releases this year with the song “Home” playing in heavy rotation on every indie source from Jersey to L.A. The 10 piece ensemble echoes hippie influences and is fronted by former Ima Robot lead man Alex Ebert. If you want to take your shoes off and dance in the rain, it doesn’t get any better!

My second obsession from fall is the August release from Seattle band Throw Me the Statue. The band signed on with indie label Secretly Canadian in 2008 and rereleased their highly acclaimed debut “Moonbeams” later that year. Fast forward to August 2009 and TMTS introduces the world to “Creaturesque”. The second album is more complex and mature than the debut and proves this band is ready for the big show. It’s smooth, harmonic and just makes me happy! I think it’s safe to say that Seattle Rock is back again!

Rounding out my recommended listens would be “The First Days of Spring” by Noah and the Whale, “Temecula Sunrise” from Dirty Projectors and the much anticipated “Sainthood” from Tegan and Sara. Good stuff. Hit up Princeton Record Exchange for your copies and thank me later.

O.K. kids, what we’ve all been waiting for, some big news on some upcoming tune-age!  Item numero uno; NEW SPOON! The most consistent indie band around, Spoon, is going to blow us all away next year with their seventh LP titled “Transference”.  According to Pitchfork.com and the bands website, the album hits shelves January 26^th. There’s a short teaser on the bands website Spoontheband.com and I can’t wait for them to give us just a little more of a taste.

The first two months of 2010 will certainly be busy with new music from Vampire Weekend, Midlake, Hot Chip and Liars.

Finally, the rumors are true and underground hip-hop producer Danger Mouse, A.K.A. Brian Burton, has teamed up with Shins front man James Mercer. The project is not the rumored shins remix but rather an actual band. They have a name and everything! Broken Bells will release their work on Columbia in early 2010. After Danger’s last project, “Dark Night of the Soul”, featuring Sparklehorse and film director David Lynch, we can expect Broken Bells to be everything we love from both Burton and Mercer with a little twist. I just hope they don’t feud with the UK folk band Broken Belles, with an E.

Well that’s all I’ve got for you my friends. Remember to get your grubby hands on these new tunes and more at Princeton Record Exchange and enjoy! As always, you can keep in touch with me and the blog through Twitter @MySBLT. If there’s something you think I should be listening to, let me in on the secret!

Love, peace and chicken grease.

T.Roberts