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"