Welikeit.indie

Holy Sons | new expanded edition of Decline Of The West

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:30:00 +0000

Holy Sons (Emil Amos of Om and Grails) Releases Expanded Edition of Apocalyptic Masterpiece
Aside from recording and touring with his other critically acclaimed bands OM (Sub Pop / Southern Lord) and Grails (Important Records/ Temporary Residence/Neurot Recordings), Emil Amos also records and tours under the name Holy Sons. On September 23, 2008 Partisan Records will be releasing an expanded release of Holy Sons’ apocalyptic masterpiece Decline of the West.

Decline of the West represents a vital intersection of style and method in Amos’ songwriting and production, combining his genre-hopping tendencies and no-rules mixing methods with the more hook-driven, straight-to-the-jugular phrasing that he has been honing for the last 15 years.

Interesting Fact:

Decline of the West is named after and conceptually began with Oswald Spengler’s pessimistic assessment that the Western culture is revealing the classic signs of a society’s decay and end. The record was recorded at Amos’ home studio in late-night recording sessions that stretched over three years, during which he played every instrument and then mixed and re-mixed each track. Decline of the West is his most stylistically varied effort to date, and a linchpin of Amos’ catalogue.

"Gnostic Device" | download

Holy Sons | Myspace | Buy

Sam Sparro - "21st Century Life" | remix

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Yesterday we showed Sam's new video for his second single "21st Century Life" from his stupendous debut album Black & Gold. Today I got a remix that's been circulating the web in the last couple days by DJ Mehdi from France. Enjoy!

"21st Century Life (DJ Mehdi Secret Disco Dub)" | download

P.S. Don't forget his exclusive showcases in LA & NY in the following dates:

August:

5 New York, NY – Santos
6 Los Angeles, CA – The Viper Room

Sam Sparro | Gigs | Buy

Grey Skies | new release

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:30:00 +0000

A perfect complement to their melancholy namesake, the Grey Skies’
complex and unpredictable debut album pushes hard rock, pop and
experimental rock in new directions. From the moody, driving lead track,
“Bend In The Wire,” to the layered psychedelic swirl in “More Orange Than
Tan,” the Grey Skies have crafted a nuanced, mysterious album that will
appeal to indie and hard rock fans alike.

Never content to stay in one genre, songwriter Bryan Knisley (Push on Junior,
Moon Maan) takes rock guitar out of its native habitat and into previously
unknown places. Mark Pakulski (Signal & Report, Moon Maan) has a similarly
adventurous rock pedigree, including stints in punk, avant-garde goth, retro
pop and classic rock bands. Multi-instrumentalist/avocado player Stephanie
Huss (Reba Fritz Band) is the band’s secret weapon, while Jamie Bollman’s
(Luke’s Angels) unexpected, off-kilter fills and no-BS approach give the band
its unique driving power.

Their debut self-titled album dropped this week via Catlick Records and the label is providing some free goodies:

"Top Banana" | download

"Bend in the Wire" | download

"More Orange Than Tan" | download

Minneapolis: The band is playing a cd release show on Friday, August 29th at the Hexagon Bar!

Other upcoming gigs:

Aug 23 Lee’s Liquor lounge in Minneapolis, MN
Oct 25 Reggie’s Music Joint in Chicago, Illinois

Myspace | Gigs | Buy

Ghostly International | Ghosts of Techno video

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:11:00 +0000

Ghostly International emphasizes the artist behind the machines and the personalities that drive their avant-garde form of electronic music.

Ghostly International sprang onto the scene in 1999 amidst the the collapse of the music business. Part art gallery and part musical culture brand, Ghostly mines the international landscape for talent with a look towards the future and without the restriction of established genres or classification.

Nothing else but respect to this label: cool, stylish, innovative. They bring some of the best electro-artists out there. Examples:

Michna - "Triple Chrome Dipped" | download

Osborne - "Ruling" | download

The Chap - "They Have A Name" | download

Ghostly | Michna | Osborne | The Chap | Buy

David Ford | teaser

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:33:00 +0000

UK acoustic/songwriter David Ford just posted this message on his myspace's blog. What a tease!

David Ford:

So I'm currently recording some new songs and I must confess, I'm setting about the task in a pretty lazy fashion. But this is all part of the plan.

What I like most is the way that I am not trying to make a record here. In the back of my mind, there is the possibility that I may be accidentally making a record but I'm keeping that notion under my hat.

You see, I accidentally made a record once before. Without the pressure of expectation or a looming deadline, it can be a natural and enjoyable process of uncompromised creativity.

Making a record brings other concerns to the party: what are the lead singles? Are they radio friendly? Is this record competitive in the current marketplace?... and a thousand other questions to cloud the judgement and add gravity to the simplest of operations. Now, call me a crazy old hippy but I think you can hear free-spiritedness or cynicism in a record even if you're not aware that that is what you are hearing.

So, if anyone asks, I'm absolutely not making a record, just doing my thing and lazily putting some songs to tape.

Could be good, could be bad.

Who cares?

Whatever.

I care! The two albums he has released are freaking amazing! Listen to one of my favorite tunes below.

"I Don't Care What You Call Me" | download

David Ford | Myspace | Tour Dates | Buy

Benji Hughes | new release + full stream

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Remember Benji's EP with that amazing jam "You Stood Me Up"? If not listen to it below. Anyway, this week he is back with more! He released a 2-disc album titled, A Love Extreme", with 25 tracks total! That's lots of Benji, and you know what? You can stream the entire thing for free here (only till this Sunday July 27).

"You Stood Me Up" | download

Benji Hughes | Myspace | Shows | Buy

Sam Sparro | exclusive LA & NY shows + new video

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:30:00 +0000

We all know who this psychedelic dude is. We mentioned him a couple weeks ago when he was featured as 'Single of the Week" on iTunes with the title track from his debut album, Black & Gold.

Sam Sparro is not only getting iTunes attention, he's been also dominating US airwaves and in response he brings us a new video for his second single "21st Century Life”. Check it out it's very stylish, you know retro is in...

Sam is also preparing to play two special showcases on opposite coasts.

August:

Sam Sparro | Gigs | Buy

The Standard | 4th album coming soon

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:30:00 +0000

Portland, OR band The Standard has announced that its fourth album Swimmer will be released on September 23, 2008 via new label Partisan Records.

The Standard's long awaited album Swimmer will be one of the first releases on Partisan Records. It reflects the wholly distinctive collaborative songwriting of Jay Clarke, Rob Oberdorfer, Robby Duncan, and Tim Putnam. The album is centered around Putnam's emotive disarming vocals / guitar, Clarke's beautiful constructed keyboards / piano, and Oberdorfer's / Duncan's accompanying rhythmic movements all at once minimal and full. Like many of their previous albums, it is a slow burn, that over time reveals a dark and poetic, innovative body of work that is hard to ignore.

Here's a peep:

"Swimmer" | download

The Standard | Myspace | Buy

Ima Robot - "Jesus Candles" | free tune

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Ima Robot posted a new song on their myspace titled "Jesus Candles" and the download link is enabled :)

"Jesus Candles" | download

Here's what the band posted:

JESUS CANDLES!!

in bout 2000 cd or ad whatever ima robot recorded this one... alex was living in liberacci's (spelling? Im tired...kinda) piano warehouse in Pico and Fairfax's EthiopiaLand - diectly above the studio he shared with Timmy and friends - and IN said dwelling were usually mostly always candles - the ones, you know the ones... and back then, being somewhat into the occult-from-a-distance (---for fear and ignorance, of course) (btw this is Alex writing this here in 3rd person... nice, yes?) AND suffering from an overwhelming condition of superstition-ness, alex endowed the candles with quite a bit of lore-ic power....of course being on drugs and all that as well (which was lame and made me an asshole, the drugs...or at least fanned the flame of the asshole within- but which I, for some reason, still manage to brag about as if it were some stamp of having lived more completely or something as idiotic as that...if that is idiotic...or correct... not entirely sure really....probably idiotic) (but best to be truthfull over all the others) ANYHOO.... yes... and while sitting at the desk I had recently aquired a desk wooden and faded and rich in its simplicity, I remember writing this one's lyrics...staring at smoke pouring from incense and my face, staring at the new Jesus candle on my desk, etc... It must have been just after Valentines day with SHE (perhaps she would not want her name dropped) at MacAurthur park... champagne and peddle boats... and crack and whatnot. ahh, yes, it was all very romantic then. (no longer romantic now... just silly and somewhat sad...)
And then in the Apt...candles - christian - and christianity then felt dark and plotting, powerfull and deathly, but attractive - representing the polarities of good and evil... and to engage with them was to engage in the NOTION of good and evil...and suddenly the GAME of it...to choose SIDES, etc.. and this song was within that time that I was playing with the powers of the darker side in things, the clunky, heavy power of pupose and battle.

Myspace | Gigs | Buy

Kray 7"s giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:30:00 +0000

Hey guys, I got two 7" of Kray's newest jams to give away! The A side is The Blackout and the B side is Cherry Lime Rickey, both tunes are available on mp3 below.

If you are interested in owning your own copy of the 7" just email me to contests@welikeitindie.com and tell me Kray's band name. I will choose the winners next Thursday. Remember this is for everyone in the world, shipping is on us!

"The Blackout" | download

"Cherry Lime Rickey" | download

Kray's Myspace

Wintersleep | tour dates + new album

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Wintersleep Returns To US with Wolf Parade and New Album
Critically acclaimed Halifax band Wintersleep has enjoyed a pretty amazing year thus far. The band is currently touring the US with Wolf Parade and will release its third album Welcome to the Night Sky in the US on October 14, 2008.

Welcome to the Night Sky reaches radical new territory for the band, and many Canadian critics have already hailed its ‘album of the year’ potential. Wintersleep will be playing US dates with Wolf Parade for the next few weeks, as well as some Canadian festival dates.

Upcoming shows:

07/24 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
07/25 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
07/26 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
07/27 Pemberton, BC Pemberton Festival
07/28 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
07/29 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
07/30 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
07/31 New York, NY Terminal 5 (SOLD OUT)
08/01 New York, NY Terminal 5
08/02 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club* (SOLD OUT)
08/03 Montreal, QUE Metropolis
08/09 Wolfe Island, ONT Wolfe Island Music Festival
09/06 Toronto, ONT V Fest - (Toronto Island Park)

Fact:

Wintersleep kicked off 2008 by winning the Juno Award for Best New Artist and a Much Music Award for the video for “Weighty Ghost”. Watch the video below shot in Halifax, NS and directed by Sean Wainsteim.

“Weighty Ghost” : download

P.S. Welcome To The Night Sky is available on vinyl. It includes brand new artwork, lyrics, and a free digital album download. Purchase here.

Wintersleep | Myspace | Facebook | Tour Dates | Buy

Pacific! | swedish import

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:30:00 +0000

You’ve spent a sun-drenched day relaxing on the beach and you’re looking out at the ocean – see that very strong bright light on the water? That’s what new band Pacific! are all about, and it’s a warm sunny emotional feeling that imbues all of their music.

Daniel (keyboards) says:

“We have been very inspired by that light and we wanted to capture it in our songs,”

Pacific! hail from Gothenburg in Sweden, and consist of Danny and Björn who were actually in school together from when they were seven years old (they are now 35). They were good mates when they were younger but in their teens they sort of drifted apart, but then three or four years ago they met up again by chance and just clicked. They spent a lot of time drinking coffee and talking about stuff and what they were doing. Björn was with a band called White Seeds and Daniel was involved in some other projects. So they decided to get a place together, a sort of studio that they just filled with lots of instruments, and then they started writing music together and it just sort of developed very organically. It was a great friendship-building process.

It is no wonder they are already beloved to so many – it’s both music you can dance to and music you can really listen to. Each tune is a brilliant shimmering slice of pop and melodic funk that references influences as wide as French turn-of-the-century Renaissance composer Claude Debussy as well as Air, Phoenix, Daft Punk, Justice, Royksopp, Death in Vegas and the Beach Boys.

Pacific!:

“We were definitely influenced by the whole French contingent; we love that music and vibe. We were also listening to a lot of traditional American West Coast music, so Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and all that West Coast psychedelia was important.”

Listen out for the “woooo-hooos” in the background to ‘Sunset Blvd’ and you will know exactly where they are coming from.

Pacific!:

“We are also inspired by the South Pacific and Asia – Japan especially. So we felt the name Pacific was a name we could swim about in, ha ha ha!”

Their debut album, Reveries, was released back in February (US) via Dolores Recordings. Check out a video of "Number One" created by the same artist responsible for all their amazing artwork, Stéphane Manel.

And of course, some tunes for your listening pleasure and stay tuned, next week I'll share a kick-ass remix...

"Sunrise" | download

"Hot Lips" | download

Pacific! | Myspace | Tour Dates | Buy

Windmill | new release + full stream

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:30:00 +0000

Windmill – aka 28-year old Matthew Thomas Dillon – is emerging as one of the UK’s best singer- songwriters, his music a heady distillation of US indie, early ‘70s melancholia and twisted folk-pop.

Puddle City Racing Lights may be his first proper release, but it follows countless homemade albums recorded on a $300 four track and intended for only him and a few close friends to listen to. Dillon used to make these demos on his keyboards in his bedroom (locking himself in for hours and missing university lectures for the sake of his art), all the while imagining what kind of record he could create with “an acoustic piano, real strings, and real drums” and before long he was able to do just that.

The resulting album is a pivotal part of Windmill’s blossoming. Making his stage debut as recently as 2005, Dillon has made a great leap in a short space of time, producing an astonishing debut album within two years of that tentative first step into the public domain. Echoing the greats of US indie – Built To Spill, Guided By Voices, Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips – and lyrically concerned with the detritus of modern life – airport lounges, plastic chairs, flourescent lights – Puddle City Racing Lights is an album that demands repeat plays. And this accomplished debut is completely the vision of one man.

Photo by Danny Ford
Fact:

Dillon himself provides the album’s key instrument, the piano. It’s an instrument he has always felt a kinship with and he recalls buying records and skipping ahead through the tracks until the pianos kicked in.

Matthew's words:

“Piano, huge drums and finding a different way of saying things – that’s Windmill to me.”

The entire album can be streamed at the Friendly Fire Recordings homepage.

Goodies:

"Tokyo Moon" | download

"Florescent Lights" | download

Myspace | Facebook | Last.FM | Buy

Flying Lotus | on XLR8R magazine

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Flying Lotus is featured on the cover of XLR8R new issue. The magazine head over to his apartment complex to chat about his home, music, touring, meeting people, etc...

Here's a snip...

“Do you like touring? Doing the club circuit and all that?”

“I had my taste of the club shit. It was fun,” he says. “They let me play the same party as Justice? Okay, that’s what’s up. But I realized that shit is bulllllwinkle. Music is a little more spiritual for me. I never did this with the intention of having it played in clubs. I’m not trying to get all caught up in scenes and things.”

Read the online version of the cover story here.

Some extra web-only text here

Download the entire XLR8R August issue (as pdf) here.

P.S. Flying Lotus new record Los Angeles is out and pumping, available now on iTunes.

From Los Angeles:

"RobertaFlack (feat Dolly)" | download

Some remixes...

"Lil Wayne - A Milli (Flying Lotus Robo Tussin Remix) " | download

Kelis - "Bossy (Flying Lotus Remix)" | download

Flying Lotus | Myspace | Shows | Buy

Uzi & Ari | got robbed!!!

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:30:00 +0000

Terrible news for Uzi & Ari :(. A couple nights ago, around 4am some hoodlums broke into their house, while they were sleeping and made off with the following items:

Also various power cords, guitar cables, etc., totaling about $4500 worth of equipment!! Holy Sh*t!

Please go over to their myspace and share some love with some kind words or even DONATIONS.

Luckily their upcoming album, Headworms, is finalized and it's set to drop by October 15. Streaming will be available at their myspace on August 15.

I hope this doesn't ruin next year's tour. In the meanwhile lets listen to one track included in the upcoming album.

"Wolf Eggs" | download

Here's their only store, get some tunes.

Myspace | Tour

Anthony Green - "Dear Child (I've Been Dying To Reach You)" | debut video

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:30:00 +0000

New video for the single "Dear Child (I've Been Dying To Reach You)" off of Anthony Green's solo album, Avalon (in stores 8/5).

Avalon is basically out in less than two weeks! You can still pre-order the album at Photo Finish Records for only $10, and you get a free Anthony Green Kazoo with your order, too!

Anthony Green | Myspace | Tour Dates | Pre-order

Bronx River Parkway | coming soon

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:30:00 +0000

Bronx River Parkway, New York's premier Latin-soul band, will release their full-length album San Sebastian 152 on July 29th. Backed by Truth & Soul as well as Candela Records, these 10 tracks of Latin funk and soul will be their first release since their 2005 7" single, which has heightened anticipation for a proper full length release.

San Sebastian 152 will be released on Truth & Soul, a Williamsburg-based modern vanguard of said genre, formed by Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman. They were house musicians for Soul Fire Records and came together to form Truth & Soul when Soul Fire dissolved in 2004. The pair are known for remaining faithful to the deep roots of the soul genre with artists like Bronx River Parkway, Black Velvet, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and Timothy McNealy on their roster.

PrefixMag.com says:

"Such pure joy erases any commercial pretense about the label's efforts and demonstrates Truth & Soul's commitment to maintaining the legacy of independent music."

Among the 20+ musicians of Bronx River Parkway is legendary lead singer, Sammy Ayala, an original member of Cortijo y Su Combo. He has been regarded as "The most consistent figure on Puerto Rico's musical journey from folk to popular," according to The Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network. Ayala brings his trademark energy, stirringly passionate vocals, and floor-stomping performance to San Sebastian 152, which encourages engagement between the audience and performers in both live performances and through their recordings. This, in conjunction with the other talented souls of the orchestra, makes the album a force of nature: powerful, strong, and certain to make you move.

"La Valla" | download

The Hispanic funk jams of San Sebastian 152 are the product of diverse influences and the musical dynamism of all involved. "La Valla" is a timeless groove that begs listeners to get down, while steamy tracks like "Nora Se Va" and "Agua Con Sal" slow things down while heating them up. With San Sebastian 152, Bronx River Parkway seek to reignite interest in music inspired by groups from the golden age of funk and soul like The Lebron Brothers, Apollo Sound, and Ocho. The myriad cultural influences and experiences of the group, combined with Ayala's golden voice, have made this album a mix of varying musical genres in a fresh and innovative way.

Bronx River Parkway | Myspace | Buy

Kaki King | tour announced

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:30:00 +0000

Kaki King brings her latest material, Dreaming of Revenge, on the upcoming tour across America with Mountain Goats: 'The Last Happy Day Of Your Life'.

"Put Me Out Alive" | download

Kaki King | Myspace | Tour Dates | Buy

One Day As a Lion | new EP

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:30:00 +0000

What do you get when you cross the singer (Zach de la Rocha) from Rage Against the Machine with the drummer (Jon Theodore) from the Mars Volta? The answer is: One Day As a Lion. The EP was released yesterday and it is beyond expectations.

The duo writes:

“One Day As A Lion is both a warning delivered and a promise kept.”

“A defiant affirmation of the possibilities that exist in the space between kick and snare. It’s a sonic reflection of the visceral tension between a picturesque fabricated cultural landscape, and the brutal socioeconomic realities it attempts to mask. One Day As A Lion is a recorded interaction between Zack de la Rocha and Jon Theodore from Los Angeles, California.”

“The name taken from the infamous 1970 black and white, captured by legendary Chicano photographer George Rodriguez featuring a center framed tag on a white wall in an unspecified section of Boyle Heights. It reads: ‘It’s better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb.’ This record is a stripped down attempt to realize this sentiment in sound.”

One Day As a Lion includes 5 songs where Zach comes out of the gates on fire with his rat-a-tat-tat lyrical style in perfect form. Musically they have created a buzzing, raw amalgamation of droning noise and thick back beats.

"If You Fear Dying" | download

Wallpapers (1920x1200):

One Day As a Lion | Myspace | Buy

Second Dan | goodies

noreply@blogger.com (welikeit.indie) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Bringing Down Goliath is the debut album from New York City based indie-rockers, Second Dan. The album doesn't just have good songs, they have the potential to be anthems. Like hearing U2 for the first time in the early 80's, Second Dan's album captures that mixture of intelligent songwriting with infectious music reminiscent of The Replacements with a nod to Brit-pop Oasis and early Radiohead..

"Everything Is Good" | download

"Forget to Remember" | download

Some bio...

The band is fronted by Australian-born Dan Rosen, who de-camped to the USA a couple years back after achieving critical acclaim for his debut EPs back in his homeland. It was in New York’s famed East Village that he found himself a home, a new muse, and a collection of inspiring musicians that form the heart and soul of Second Dan – the Southern Gentleman on bass Daniel Reisbick, on drums Sonny Ratcliff hailing from the mountains of Virginia and channeling the ghosts of Keith Moon, and the urban cool of native New Yorker Adam Wolfe Lerner.

Fact...

The songs have garnered the band attention of MTV with the singles “Running Out of Feelings” and “Forget to Remember” appearing on the hit MTV shows “The Hills” and “Life of Ryan”.

Second Dan | Myspace | Gigs | Buy