Travis - "Re-Offender" (2003)

Scottish band Travis have been releasing albums for over ten years now. They are probably most noted for their 1999 sophomore release The Man Who, which featured their biggest hit “Why Does It Always Rain On Me?” The band has always had a bigger following in the UK than the US, but they did see some moderate success stateside with their 2001 album The Invisible Band which featured “Sing” and “Side” both of which saw significant play on MTV2. In 2003 came 12 Memories, followed by a greatest hits album entitled Singles in late 2004. Last year, the band released their fifth studio album entitled The Boy With No Name. Today’s song is one of my favorites and can be found on 12 Memories.

Travis - "Re-Offender"

Sleeping At Last - "Say" (2003)

Sleeping At Last is a great indie band from Chicago that has been around for a few years now. Their major label debut Ghosts came out in 2003 via Interscope Records after none other than Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame turned someone at the label onto them. Ghosts was actually their second record, after the independently released Capture in 2000. The record is filled with excellent pop/rock tracks that all seem to have a huge, dreamy, airy feel to them. It’s hard to explain but I think you’ll see what I mean. The band have since become completely independent once again, self-releasing their third album Keep No Score in 2006. The band gained some national recognition after the song “Quicksand” was featured in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Keep No Score is an overall more low key album, with fewer heavy songs and more piano driven tracks. Today’s song is the first track and the only single from Ghosts. It’s still the band’s best work as far as I’m concerned.

Sleeping At Last - "Say"

Secret & Whisper - "The Actress" (2008)

Secret & Whisper is one of the up and coming acts on one of my favorite labels, Tooth & Nail Records. The band had seen some success in the screamo/emo scene before under the name Stutterfly. I vaguely remember seeing a video by them a few years back and I’m pretty sure that I thought it sucked. After getting dropped from their label, their previous lead singer decided to hang it up but the rest of the band moved forward, creating the kind of music they wanted to. The band hooked up with new vocalist Charles Furney and Secret & Whisper was born. When I first heard “XOXOXO,” the first single from their debut Great White Whale, I immediately thought of the band Saosin. I don’t think anyone would disagree that Furney’s vocals bear a huge resemblance to Cove Reber of Saosin and even Anthony Green of Circa Survive, who used to sing in Saosin. Secret & Whisper may not be incredibly original, but that doesn’t mean they’re not incredibly talented. There is some very intricate guitar work going on throughout Great White Whale, with songs ranging from in your face rockers, to more ballad like material. That being said, some of the songs seem to repeat each other and there are a few fillers, but it’s still a solid debut. Today’s song is one of the slower tracks and I think it showcases some cool electronic elements of the band as well as Furney’s impressive range.

Secret & Whisper - "The Actress"

The New Amsterdams - "Hanging On for Hope" (2003)

The New Amsterdams began as the side project of Get Up Kids frontman Matthew Pryor. Their first album Never You Mind came out in 2000 on Heroes & Villains Records, an imprint on Vagrant started by The Get Up Kids. The New Amsterdams found Pryor writing more stripped down and acoustic folkish songs that wouldn’t have fit in with the Get Up Kids sound. Pryor continued to record New Amsterdams records, releasing Para Toda Vida in 2001 and Worse for the Wear in 2003. After the Get Up Kids split in 2006, The New Amsterdams became Pryor’s main musical focus. He released Story Like a Scar in 2006, which was followed by Killed or Cured, a double album that had been shelved but finally saw the light of day. His most recent effort is last year’s At the Foot of My Rival. I’ve yet to pick that one up but I’m sure it’s great. Today’s song comes from Worse for the Wear, which is probably my favorite New Amsterdams record. Maybe because it’s the first one I heard, but nevertheless I dig it.


The New Amsterdams - "Hanging On for Hope"

Hot Rod Circuit - "Stateside" (2007)

Hot Rod Circuit was a band that I was always somewhat aware of but never really listened to. They started out on Vagrant Records which was also home to some of my favorites like The Get Up Kids, Dashboard Confessional, Hey Mercedes and Moneen. I had heard a couple of Hot Rod Circuit songs, but they didn’t really stand out that much to me. Today’s song comes from their most recent album The Underground Is a Dying Breed. The title is kind of ironic because it was their first release on Immortal Records which is a bit of a step up from the more underground Vagrant, and also because it ended up being their last record together. I heard “Stateside” the other day on the radio and at first I thought it was kind of whiny and emo, which it is, but three hours later I still had the chorus stuck in my head. Since then I’ve listened to it several times and I can’t get enough. When I was looking up Hot Rod Circuit, I came across the video for this song. I immediately remembered that I had seen it several months ago and thought it was hilarious and that the song was pretty cool, however I must have forgotten about it. The band played their last show back in December after having been together fro over ten years. They stated on Myspace that they are compiling a b-sides album that will come out some time soon. I’m usually not one for the internet rumor mill, but I saw in more than one place that Hot Rod Circuit singer Andy Jackson could be replacing Fred Mascherino as guitarist and second vocalist in Taking Back Sunday. I guess time will tell, but until then you can rock out to the pedal steel guitar in this song.


Hot Rod Circuit - "Stateside"

Blink-182 - "All of This" (2003)

I’ve been a casual Blink-182 fan since seeing the hilarious videos for “What’s My Age Again?” and “All the Small Things” from their breakout record Enema of the State. I liked them alright but I had never purchased an album or anything. I even liked all the singles from their next album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, especially “Stay Together for the Kids.” I guess it was when I heard “I Miss You” from their 2003 self titled album that I decided I needed to get that record. Blink really outdid themselves on what would end up being their final album together. It seemed much darker overall than anything else I had ever heard from them. Some standouts included “Obvious, “Stockholm Syndrome,” and today’s song. “All of This” has one of the catchiest guitar licks on the album and some excellent percussion courtesy of Travis Barker. Oh, and it features vocals from Robert Smith of The freakin’ Cure. It’s one of the best collaborations I’ve heard in a long time. Of course you know that Tom Delonge has now started another band called Angels & Airwaves and they’ve released two albums. Meanwhile Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have started a band called Plus 44 and they’ve released one record. I enjoyed the new music from each of these bands, but I still hope Blink will some day reunite to make the follow up to Blink-182.


Blink-182 - "All of This"

Atticus Fault - "My First Trip To Mars" (2002)

I’ve been long winded recently, so I’ll keep today short and sweet. I really don’t know anything about Atticus Fault, other than the fact that they recorded one album and it was self titled. I’ve only actually heard one song by the band and of course that would be today’s song. I have to say though that it’s an excellent track. It’s kind of spacey as its name would indicate. It has lots of pop influence but also manages to rock. The band broke up not too long after the release. I wish I could tell you more about them but there’s no Wikipedia entry for them. I’m pretty sure the CD is out of print because their record label MCA either folded or was absorbed a few years back. Amazon has the record available in mp3 format however, just click on the album cover above.


Atticus Fault - "My First Trip To Mars"

Jars of Clay - "Love Is the Protest" (2008)

Jars of Clay are one of my favorite bands of all time and arguably the most successful band to come out of Christian Contemporary Music (CCM.) They rose to national fame 1n 1995 on the strength of the hit single “Flood” from their self titled debut. They’ve been putting out great records ever since. Some may consider them a one hit wonder but that’s not the case at all as they have put out some amazing records over the past 13 years. They are also one of the few bands in my music collection of which I own every recording they’ve released. I’ve tracked down rare EPs, live albums, and b-sides compilations on eBay and other websites. In case you have noticed, I’m a total geek. The band just released Greatest Hits on April 1. As greatest hits albums go, it’s kind of a weak representation of their catalog. With a band like this, it’s difficult to sum up their career using only 13 songs. The real reason for die hard fans to check this out is the inclusion of today’s song, which is new. “Love Is the Protest” is the new single from Jars of Clay and it finds them in great form with a danceable beat and cool guitar work. Dan Haseltine’s voice and lyrics are as great as ever. For someone who is a little more than a casual Jars fan, I would suggest picking up The Essential Jars of Clay which was released last year. This two disc compilation is a more comprehensive look at their career and it features many of the songs on Greatest Hits as well as some rarities that are otherwise hard to find. (And it’s cheaper. Imagine that.) Either way you should get today's song for sure. Jars of Clay are working on a new album due out hopefully by the end of the year. I will definitely bring you something from that when it’s available. You should also go to their website where you will find a very cool cover of The Cars hit “Drive” in the media player at the top right.


Jars of Clay - "Love Is the Protest"

Thrice - "Daedalus" (2008)

Thrice is easily one of the most innovative bands making music today. Their musical progression from their first album Identity Crisis to their most recent The Alchemy Index is incredible. What started as a hardcore/metal band has now evolved into a group of very talented musicians drawing from every sub genre of rock as well as blues, jazz, and acoustic folk. Aside from singer Dustin Kensrue’s distinctive voice, you’d be hard pressed to tell that Thrice are even the same band that made their first two albums. If you’re new to Thrice, here’s a short rundown of their career. The band is from Orange County, CA and started out on local label Hopeless/Sub City. After releasing two records, they signed with Island and came out with The Artist In the Ambulance. That was followed by a CD/DVD of b-sides and a documentary enitled If Only We Could See Us Now. In fall of 2005 the band released their fourth studio album Vheissu. After The Red Sky EP was released the following Spring, the band began working on what would become their fifth album. It was an ambitious idea for sure: four discs of six songs each, each of which would represent one the four basic elements of fire, water, air and earth. That’s pretty heady even for a well read band like Thrice and I figured it was going to be a hard pill for Island to swallow. Turns out it was. The band worked tirelessly to complete the album, producing and engineering it themselves. Island didn’t see it working and the band and the label parted ways. Fortunately for Thrice, Island allowed them to keep their hard work and do as they pleased with it. They were able to avoid the horror story where a label keeps a band’s unfinished record and shelves it indefinitely. Thrice fielded offers from several labels eager to be a part of the project and finally decided to release The Alchemy Index in two parts on Vagrant Records. The first portion of the album, Fire and Water were released last October. I was pleased with the results but not as blown away as I’d hoped. The album took some time to grow on me. I did not include it in my Top 10 Albums of 2007, but in retrospect I probably should have. It was at least number 11. Nevertheless I was eagerly awaiting the release of Air and Earth and last week it finally came out. Now being able to listen to The Alchemy Index in its entirety, I can say that it’s no less than a masterpiece. Thrice really show their range on Air with the soaring opener "Broken Lungs." "A Song for Milly Michaelson" (whose title is a reference to the film The Boy Who Could Fly) floats along beautifully, the music perfectly complimenting the lyrics. Earth showcases Thrice’s rootsy side, and could easily be compared to Kensrue’s 2007 solo project Please Come Home. Biblically inspired lyrics flow through “Moving Mountains” and “Come All You Weary,” the latter boasting one of guitarist Teppei Teranishi’s most memorable licks. Also of note is the excellent cover of “The Earth Isn’t Humming” originally by the band Frodus. I, like lots of fans, will now have to check out the original. The standout on the final two volumes for me has to be “Daedalus” a song that is of course inspired by the tale of Daedalus and Icarus from Greek mythology. Kensrue’s lyrics and vocals bring this ancient tale new life and the band makes it the heaviest track of this collection. In short, you should own The Alchemy Index, all four volumes. Even if you don’t think you would like some of it, trust me, there is something here for everyone. Get it.


Thrice - "Daedalus"

The Raconteurs - "Consoler of the Lonely" & "Carolina Drama" (2008)

The Raconteurs are a musical supergroup of sorts comprising Jack White of the White Stripes, solo artist Brendan Benson and two members of the band the Greenhornes. Their first album Broken Boy Soldiers was released in 2006 to some critical acclaim. The first single “Steady As She Goes” saw significant airplay on radio and TV, but my favorite track was probably “Level,” guitar driven song with great back and forth vocals by both White and Benson. The band just released their second album Consolers of the Lonely. The coolest part about this release is that the band only announced its existence a week before it came out. Usually there is a several months long marketing campaign building up the release of an album. Advance copies are given to radio and journalists and more often than not the album gets out on the web before the release date. The Raconteurs circumvented that by not giving anyone the chance to get before hand, and there was no long wait. When you think about it, it’s kind of arbitrary to have to wait three months to hear a record on the release date when it’s already mastered and ready to go. I have to say I like the way this album release was handled. Now to the music. Consolers of the Lonely is a much more raucous effort than Broken Boy Soldiers. The one-two punch of the title track and first single “Salute Your Solution” right out of the gate is enough to have anyone hooked on the amazing guitar skills of the band. This is just pure rock and roll. While Benson lends his vocals to much of the album, it is quite clear that most of the music is White’s handiwork. There are some slower moments like the bluesy “Top Yourself” and there’s some Latin influence on the horn parts of “The Switch and the Spur.” The album weaves its way through thirteen great tracks that culminate in the amazing closer “Carolina Drama.” This song is quite comparable to “The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia” with it’s tale of murder and deceit in the South. It’s a perfect closer to a great record. I equally love “Consoler of the Lonely” and “Carolina Drama” so it was hard to choose which one to feature, so I give you both of them. Here is the first track and the last track from Consolers of the Lonely. Now you should go check out the whole thing.

The Raconteurs - "Consoler of the Lonely"


The Raconteurs - "Carolina Drama"

Kevin Devine - "Just Stay" (2006)

Kevin Devine is a solo artist from Brooklyn that I’ve featured before. He’s released four albums since 2002 and before that he played in the band Miracle of ’86, named after the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets. His style is somewhat standard singer songwriter fare. He’s heavy on the acoustic guitar for the most part, but he does rock out from time to time. His fourth album Put Your Ghost To Rest originally came out in 2006 on Capitol Records. It was surprising to me that an indie artist like Devine would be signed to a major label, especially since he doesn’t have the marketability of a John Mayer or Howie Day or Jack Johnson. The label dropped him last year and in early 2008 he became the first signee to Procrastinate! Music Traitors, a label founded by the members of Brand New, who are good friends of Devine. The label’s first order of business was to re-release Put Your Ghost To Rest. In honor of that, I’m featuring my favorite song from that album. “Just Stay” is Devine at the top of his game. I especially dig the organ parts in this song.


Kevin Devine - "Just Stay"

Band of Horses - "No One's Gonna Love You" (2007)

Band of Horses are an indie band from Seattle on Sub Pop Records. They released their full length debut Everything All the Time in early 2006. At that time, I was ready to dismiss them as another buzz band that wouldn’t last. I heard a couple of tracks and wasn’t too impressed, so I didn’t think too much more about them. Last fall, Band of Horses put out their second album Cease To Begin. I was seeing it in all the music magazines and it was getting favorable reviews. I still didn’t want to like them, but I don’t really know why. Finally, I heard the lead single “Is There a Ghost?” on the local college station and was immediately impressed. Somewhere along that time, I saw this commercial and I really dug the song. After a little research, I found that it was the Band of Horses track “The Funeral” from Everything All the Time. I was doubly intrigued and in January, I picked up both albums. Band of Horses have been compared to My Morning Jacket several times and I can see why, with the similar guitar tones and the way Band of Horses singer Ben Bridwell’s voice is at times not unlike Jim James from MMJ. That’s not to say, however, that Band of Horses somehow rip them off. No they are definitely their own band and both albums are excellent. Bridwell is originally from South Carolina and some Southern influences show through. “No One’s Gonna Love You” was released as the second single from Cease To Begin back in February.


Band of Horses - "No One's Gonna Love You"

Secret Machines - "Lightning Blue Eyes" (2006)

Secret Machines are a rock band from Dallas that have somewhat of an old school sound. The band originally consisted of brothers Brandon and Benjamin Curtis who sang vocals and played guitar respectively. They were joined on drums by Josh Garza. The trio released their debut album in 2004 entitled Now Here Is Nowhere. The album garnered favorable critical reviews and saw the release of a few singles, most notably “Nowhere Again.” 2006 saw the release of their sophomore record Ten Silver Drops. The album was in much the same vein as their debut but didn’t see as much commercial success. Later that year Benjamin announced he would be leaving the band to pursue his new band School of Seven Bells. The band’s sound harkens back to rock pioneers like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. I’m not saying they’re as good as those bands or that they even sound exactly like them, but there is a definite influence. The two remaining members are working on an as yet untitled third album. Today’s song come from Ten Silver Drops and has a definite old feel to it.


Secret Machines - "Lightning Blue Eyes"

Manchester Orchestra - "She Found a Love" (2005)

Manchester Orchestra is probably my new favorite band as of late. After getting their album I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child last year, there has seldom been a week that I didn’t listen to it. Musically, the band is mainly a guitar rock band with some cool piano and organ thrown into the mix. Singer Andy Hull’s lyrics are sometimes hard decipher but most always contain some sort of spiritual introspection. Before the release of Virgin, the band released a verbosely titled EP called You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, but Brilliance Needs a Good Editor. But even before that they recorded an album called Nobody Sings Anymore, which has never seen an official release. Despite that, the album can be found online if you look hard enough. Hull has said that it wasn’t released because some of the band lineup changed and they took a bit of a new musical direction. It does sound a little different, but not that much in my opinion. If it ever is released, I’ll definitely buy it, but until then I’ll have to make due with this. Today’s song is a standout track on Nobody Sings Anymore. It’s a tale of a woman trying to escape an abusive relationship. Hull has stated before that Built To Spill are one of Manchester Orchestra’s major influences and it really shows in this song. The jangly lead guitar sounds exactly like something Doug Martsch and co. would turn out. Manchester Orchestra is working on a new album hopefully to come out before the end of the year, but most likely it will be 2009. Perhaps closer will be the release of their short documentary film What’s Left Behind. You can see the trailer for that here.


Manchester Orchestra - "She Found a Love"

Twothirtyeight - "The Sticks Are Woven In the Spokes" (2002)

Twothirtyeight was a great indie rock band on Tooth & Nail Records. Along with Further Seems Forever, Twothirtyeight got me interested in Tooth & Nail and I’ve been a fan ever since. Today’s song comes from Twothirtyeight’s final album You Should Be Living, which came out in 2002. This song was playing in heavy rotation on KXUL when I started working there in December of 2002 and it immediately hooked me. I got the album for Christmas and loved it. I went back and got all of the band’s previous work, but I still have to say this album is their best work. The band parted ways sometime in 2003, but front man Chris Staples didn’t stop making music. He released a few solo acoustic EPs under his own name and in 2005 released the album Psychology under the name Discover America. You can hear a song from that album here. Staples is still working on new music as Discover America, but hearing today’s song again makes me wish Twothirtyeight would make another album together. I guess I can only hope.


Twothirtyeight - "The Sticks Are Woven In the Spokes"

Taxpayer - "When They Were Young" (2005)

Taxpayer is an indie rock band from Boston. They released their debut full length Bones & Lungs in late 2005. The band have since released a couple EPs and are currently in the studio working on a new album. Every American of legal age knows exactly what today is. Tax day is a day that makes some people very happy and some sad. I would have to fall in the latter category. It sucks to know that even when you make below the national average, you still have to have to write on check on April 15. I’m not complaining about taxes per se. They are a necessary evil if we are to have a successful society, which for the most part we do. It just seems easier when it’s held out of your check and you never see it to begin with. For some reason writing out a check for a lump sum, even though it may be small by your standards, peeves me just a little. That’s enough Free Enterprise for today. I chose this song mainly because of the band’s name but also because it rocks quite handily. So enjoy this while you reluctantly make out your check.


Taxpayer - "When They Were Young"

David Crowder Band - "You Are My Joy" (2005)

David Crowder Band is a band I’ve featured before. In that post I noted how they always bring something new and fresh to the genre of worship music. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys at the Passion conference in Atlanta this past weekend. It was an amazing time of worship and teaching from the word of God. If you’re not familiar with Passion, you can check them out at 268generation.com. (268 is derived from Isaiah 26:8) They’ve been around for eleven years now, leading conferences putting out CDs and as leader Louie Giglio puts it “making the name of Jesus famous.” They’ve been getting bigger every year and this year they will be heading out on a world tour that will span six continents, going to cities like Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as well as Mexico City and Tokyo. You can also keep up with them on the 268 Blog. (I’ve added it to my sidebar as well.) In addition to David Crowder Band, there was also amazing music from Chris Tomlin and Charlie Hall. While they did a great job, I have to say that Crowder was definitely my favorite musically. There were several songs that I was hoping they would play live and some of them they did, but the one I really wanted to see was today’s song, from their 2005 album A Collision. During their second set, they played it and it was absolutely amazing. The build up in this song is excellent and when you hear the bridge, imagine 10,000 people humming along with the violin melody.


David Crowder Band - "You Are My Joy"

Aimee Mann - "Save Me" (1999)

Aimee Mann has been in music for quite a while. Her first success was in the mid 80s as the singer of the band ‘Til Tuesday. After they parted ways she began working on solo material and released her solo debut Whatever in 1993. After another solo album, Mann composed the bulk of the songs for the soundtrack of director Paul Thomas Anderson’s third film Magnolia. While it’s not technically an Aimee Mann solo album because it features a few other artists, the Magnolia soundtrack is usually considered one of her albums. Magnolia is one of those movies that is great but not for any reason that I can explain to you. It’s been some years since I’ve seen and I need to re-view it, but much like Anderson’s 2007 Oscar nominee There Will Be Blood, Magnolia is long and slow moving but has some great performances and very engaging characters. Aimee Mann has since released three more solo records, the most recent being 2005’s The Forgotten Arm which from what I’ve heard is quite good. Her next album Smilers is due out on June 3rd.


Aimee Mann - "Save Me"

The Frames - "Fake" (2004)

The Frames are a cool rock band from Ireland. I can’t really claim to know that much about them other than they’ve been around since the early 90s and have released several albums. I know they are a favorite of one of my favorite singer/songwriters Damien Rice. Today’s song comes from their 2004 album Burn the Maps. “Fake” is a standout song on this record because it is probably the most rocking and the catchiest as well. The lyrics are great and I think you’ll really dig it. At the end of last year, it seemed every film critic was raving about a little Irish movie named Once. As I looked into that movie I learned that it was directed by ex-Frames bassist John Carney and the star of the film is none other than Frames lead singer and songwriter Glen Hansard. As you may know, Hansard and co-star Marketa Irglova recently won the Oscar for best original song from a motion picture for the track "Falling Slowly." Once has been on my list of movies to see for a while now and I’m definitely going to have to check it out.


The Frames - "Fake"

Nada Surf - "I Like What You Say" (2008)

I featured Nada Surf in a previous post and talked all about their rise to popularity in the mid 90s due to the success of their single “Popular” and how they somewhat fell into obscurity afterwards. With their third album Let Go and fourth album The Weight Is a Gift, Nada Surf proved that they should be taken seriously as indie songwriters. I was eagerly awaiting their fifth album Lucky and when it hit stores in early February, I got everything I expected and more. The album kicks off with the excellent “See These Bones” which seems like an open letter to young bands warning them that fame is fleeting. It’s an outstanding track with guest vocals from Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, whose voice meshes so well with Nada Surf singer Matthew Caws that I had to hear it a few times to tell who was who. Other standouts include “Beautiful Beat,” a poppy treatise on the power of a good song and “Weightless,” one of the album’s heavier tracks. I chose today’s song because it’s probably the one that grabbed me the most on my first listen through Lucky. This is an excellent album and will probably be on my list for best albums of 2008. I would suggest looking for the special edition that features a bonus disc with four extra songs including two acoustic versions and the excellent track “I Wanna Take You Home” which probably should have been included on the album.


Nada Surf - "I Like What You Say"

Interpol - "Pioneer to the Falls" (2007)

Interpol are an indie rock band from New York City that you’ve undoubtedly heard of by now. They broke on the scene in 2002 with their debut Turn on the Bright Lights which featured the semi-hit “PDA.” I saw the video for that song on MTV2 a couple of times and I really kind of thought they were weird. My musical tastes were still developing at that point. In late 2004 Interpol came back with their sophomore album Antics. I was immediately hooked by the first single “Slow Hands” with it’s chugging guitar line and catchy chorus. I was especially hooked after seeing the video for the second single “Evil.” Aside from being a great song, the video takes it to a whole new level and I’ve never seen a puppet quite as creepy. Needless to say I was kind of psyched about Interpol’s third album Our Love To Admire, even more so after hearing lead single “The Heinrich Maneuver.” However, when the album finally came out last July, I was a little let down. There just didn’t seem to be that many hooks outside of “Heinrich” and a lot of the album seemed like Interpol was rehashing what they’ve done before. I didn’t listen to it for a while after getting it, but I’ve gone back to it a few more times recently and I can see some of its merits. Initially, I thought “Pioneer to the Falls” was a strange choice for the first track partially because of its near six minute run time. After repeated listens I’ve found that is probably the most well crafted song on the record, with a guitar line that at times seems menacing. If you’re new to Interpol I would recommend Antics first. After that Our Love To Admire will seem to make more sense. I’m still a big Interpol fan and will continue to support them, but I hope they will branch out just a hair more in future efforts.


Interpol - "Pioneer to the Falls"

Eisley - "Taking Control" (2007)

Eisley is a very talented group of four siblings and one cousin from Tyler, Texas. The band has been playing together for several years but has risen to national popularity in about the last five or so. Most of the lead singing is handled by middle sister and guitarist Sherri Dupree. Her older sister Chauntelle plays guitar and younger sister Stacy plays keys and adds some great harmonies. Their brother Weston is on drums and cousin Garron plays bass. If they were a southern gospel group they would probably have a name like “The Dupree Family Singers,” but thankfully they write great indie rock tunes that dabble in dreamy pop balladry. They released a couple of EPs early in their career and then compiled those songs with a few new ones to create their first full length Room Noises which came out in 2005. The band released their stellar sophomore record Combinations last August. They sound decidedly heavier both musically and lyrically on songs like album opener “Many Funerals” and lead single “Invasion.” Today’s song is definitely my favorite from the album. “Taking Control” starts off with a schoolyard melody that wastes no time before launching into the most explosive chorus on the album. Eisley made great strides between their debut album and Combinations and considering that the average age in the band is only 22, they should be making even greater strides for years to come.


Eisley - "Taking Control"

Grandaddy - "El Caminos In the West" (2003)

Grandaddy was a pretty cool indie rock band from California. They released four studio albums in their duration as a band, along with several EPs and appearances on compilations discs. I was first introduced to them in 2003 after hearing “Now It’s On” the first single from their third album Sumday. I was taken in by the catchy guitar hook, the cool keyboard elements and singer Jason Lytle’s unique voice. I was intrigued, but not sold until I heard today’s song on The World Café with David Dye. “El Caminos In the West” conjures images of just that: driving across the desert with the windows down. For some reason, I always match certain songs with certain times of the year and this is definitely a Spring driving song. Grandaddy released one more album in 2006 entitled Just Like the Fambly Cat and called it quits shortly thereafter. I didn’t hear very much from that record but I can say that Sumday is definitely worth checking out.


Grandaddy - "El Caminos In the West"

I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business - "Whisperinng Actually" (2004)

I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business is the verbosely titled side project of former The Early November front man Ace Enders. The project’s only album, which was self-titled, was released in 2004. The songs on this record were much more experimental and folksy in nature than anything put out by The Early November up to that point. However I would say that the first disc of The Early November’s 2006 triple album The Mother, The Mechanic and the Path was definitely informed by Enders’ work with I Can Make a Mess. The Early November broke up last year but Enders is still making music but not under this moniker. His next album will be released under Ace Enders and a Million Different People. You can hear some songs from that project on his Myspace page. Today’s song is the most accessible from I Can Make a Mess… It has some excellent strings and a soaring melody.


I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business - "Whispering Actually"

VAST - "One More Day" (2007)

VAST is a band that I’ve featured before. The band mainly consists of Jon Crosby who plays several instruments and of course sings. They recently released their fourth studio album April in the fall of 2007. I had known it was coming out but hadn’t heard much about it. I only randomly found out that it had actually been released. I first heard today’s song in the most recent episode of Smallville. I knew I recognized the voice and sure enough it was VAST. This song showcases the much lighter side of the band and is a far cry from some of the more industrial rockers they’ve released over the years. I haven’t listened to all of April yet, but from what I’ve heard most of it has the same feel as this song. I really love the use of strings and steel guitar in “One More Day.” Yes this song is sad and it was used to great effect in the Smallville episode. Hopefully that will give VAST some more exposure to the masses. They definitely deserve it.


VAST - "One More Day"

Idiot Pilot - "Last Chance" (2007)

Idiot Pilot are a rock duo from Washington state that meld the genres of electronica and screamo to varying degrees of success. Musically, Idiot Pilot are kind of doing their own thing and it’s cool. Lots of blips and boops abound on their 2005 debut Strange We Should Meet Here. The sounds sometimes recall the music of 8-bit NES games, but in a totally good way. When he actually sings, vocalist Daniel Anderson rivals Thom York and several other Brit rock stars. It’s when he unleashes his throat shredding scream that I’m kind of put off. I like screaming now and again, but it just doesn’t seem to fit this kind of music as well. For example, Strange’s lead single “A Day In the Life of a Poolshark” is fantastic but is somewhat overshadowed by the screaming. I found myself wishing he would just sing. Two years later, I got my wish…kind of. Idiot Pilot were featured on the soundtrack to last summer’s blockbuster Transformers. They contributed “Retina and the Sky,” a guitar driven rock track with a great chorus that is completely devoid of screaming. It was impressive. The track also appears on their second full length Wolves, which was released last fall. The electronic elements are still there on this album although not quite as pronounced and while there is screaming, it’s not overbearing and it’s not on every track. The album kicks off with today’s song “Last Chance,” which starts with an ethereal electronic palette that segues into an anthem like chorus which really showcases Anderson’s range. When listening to Wolves, it’s striking to realize that these guys are just 21 years old. They write as though they have much more experience and I expect to hear lots more from them.


Idiot Pilot - "Last Chance"

Fountains of Wayne - "'92 Subaru" (2007)

Fountains of Wayne may be forever remembered as a one hit wonder, due to the success of their 2003 single “Stacy’s Mom.” For a couple months, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing that song. I’ll admit, that was my introduction to the band, but I later found out that Fountains of Wayne are so much more than just that one song. They released their self titled debut in 1996 and made their mark on the indie scene with singles like “Radiation Vibe” and “Sink To the Bottom” which exemplify singer Chris Collingwood and bassist Adam Schlesinger’s knack for crafting witty pop gems. They followed with the less successful Utopia Parkway in 1999 and then took a break before releasing Welcome Interstate Managers in 2003. The album was their most successful yet, largely due to “Stacy’s Mom.” My favorite track from that album would have to be the leadoff song “Mexican Wine” which is just a perfect summer song. After releasing a double disc b-sides and rarities album titled Out of State Plates in 2005, the band took their time and crafted their fourth studio album Traffic and Weather which came out about a year ago. The album is full of catchy tracks about looking for love (“Someone To Love”) and DMV workers (“Yolanda Hayes”) and today’s song is as quirky as they come. In “’92 Subaru,” Collingwood croons about fixing up a junker and picking up his lady. As car songs go, this has to be in the top 5 of all time and it proves that try as you may, you’ll never be as cool as Fountains of Wayne.


Fountains of Wayne - "'92 Subaru"

Hum - "Stars" (1995)

Hum was an alternative rock band from Illinois that gained popularity in the mid 90s mostly due to the success of today’s song. “Stars” was the big single from their third overall record (and first for RCA) You’d Prefer an Astronaut. Some have classified Hum as “space-rock” probably due in part to the titles of today’s song and the album from which it came, however I can see what people mean when they say that. There is an intangible “spacey” feel to their music. I wish I could tell you that I was rocking to this song back when it came out when I was in the 5^th grade, but my musical knowledge was not yet developed at that point. I didn’t learn about Hum until nearly seven years later while working in college radio. I haven’t heard much else by them, but this song is definitely the stand out of what I heard. You might recognize the main riff as it was used in a couple of Cadillac commercials last year. I had already decided to post this song when yesterday I received the new Alternative Press in the mail and “Stars” was featured on their list of “10 Essential Alternate-Universe Hit Singles.” The list was comprised of songs that would be hits in another universe where radio wasn't clogged with crap. I have to agree with its inclusion on the list and I think you will too.


Hum - "Stars"

The Whigs - "Already Young" (2008)

The Whigs are a three piece rock band that hail from Athens, GA. Because of their hometown, the Whigs have been mentioned in the same sentence as fellow townies R.E.M. in nearly every existing music publication lately, but if you ask me there aren’t really any similarities. The Whigs recently released their sophomore album Mission Control and it’s an excellent collection of southern rock tinged tunes with fuzzy guitars and raspy vocals courtesy of front man Parker Gispert. Back in January, I was ready to hate The Whigs simply because there was an enormous amount of buzz surrounding the new album and everyone was proclaiming them the next big thing. Usually when I hear this from several media outlets, it means that the band has no real talent and is just a flash in the pan (i.e. Vampire Weekend.) After seeing The Whigs perform Mission Control’s lead single “Right Hand on My Heart” on Letterman, I found myself humming it constantly and eventually downloaded it and then of course had to purchase the album. That song alone is worth the price of the album and the video is equally impressive. The Whigs have a sound that puts them in the same category as Kings of Leon and at times even The White Stripes. This album is great for driving with the windows down and I really dig the Southern feel of it. Today’s song is one of the heavier tracks and I love the way Gispert delivers the line “I don’t care what your old man thinks of me.”


The Whigs - "Already Young"

Better Than Ezra - "Return of the Post Moderns" (1996)

No it’s not an April Fool’s joke (as if anyone would be amused,) I’m actually going to try this again. I can’t guarantee that I won’t have file hosting problems this time around, but I decided to give it a shot. I chose today’s song mainly based on its title, since this is my return to the blogosphere (don’t you hate these made up internet words?) Better Than Ezra is an amazing band from New Orleans that I’ve been liking ever since I realized early on that I liked rock music. Today’s song comes from their 1996 sophomore release Friction, Baby which is probably my favorite overall album of theirs. The lyrics to “Return of the Post Moderns” are slightly above gibberish, only because they are comprised of actual words. However the stringing together of said words is quite nonsensical. Actually all of the words in some way relate to post modernism, just don’t ask me to explain phrases like “Catch hand nal on Banlon, Shiver Martin Sheen.” You can check the lyrics yourself here. Even if you don’t know exactly what you’re singing along to, you have to admit it’s catchy.


Better Than Ezra - "Return of the Post Moderns"