Tag Archives: indie rock

Music Monday: 2012 Indie Rock Ear Candy

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Thanks to Colorado blogger Greeblemonkey, I discovered Rdio in time to come up with my own list of tunes that make 2012 a memorable year in music for me. Some might be familiar to you as they’ve been played in commercials on TV, like for cars or computers. But if you want to know how I discovered this alternative sonic landscape, check out Sirius XMU, KCRW, NPR Music and various other online channels that feature new music.

Don’t think me a music snob though.I listen to commercial radio too like KROQ but it is my sincerest hope that more people support independent artists in 2013. I mean, really, I get that Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were good and they’ve written good songs but we’ve been hearing them over and over for decades now. One might argue that bands like Gotye and Fun. have crossed over to mainstream consciousness but for what? To be played ad nauseam till Glee decides to cover it?

I mean REALLY. So for my year-end music round up, check out three bands from the UK, six from the US, and 1 from Australia.

Welcome to my 2012 jams.

Update:
It seems many people cannot listen to the music via Rdio, so I am adding some YouTube videos here and other links for your listening pleasure.

“Jump Into the Fog” by The Wombats
Most memorable line: I’m only here because…I want to twist the structure of my average day.

“Trojans” by Atlas Genius
Memorable lyric: Take it off, take it in, take off all the thoughts of what we’ve been.

“Headlights” by Morning Parade
Memorable lyric: Like a rabbit in your headlights, I am the beckon to your call.

The rest of my list – 7 songs more are in this soundcloud set. Enjoy!

Music Monday: Tennis anyone?

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I’m on a serious retro kick right now, but more like retro contemporary in that I’m really digging shows (hello, Mad Men) and music that hark back to an earlier, more innocent time. It isn’t nostalgia either since I wasn’t born then and it isn’t just watching oldies just for the sake of it. What I really like are modern takes on the old stuff. I don’t think I’m alone in this.

So I’m really into a band called “Tennis,” whose singer Alaina Moore’s voice is such a throwback,that it can’t help be adorable. The jangly guitars in the background only add to the retro vibe. Their music videos and website carry this theme as well.

My favorite Tennis tune at the moment is “Origins.” Give it a listen.

Music Monday: Tapioca and The Flea

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New music excites me. New music performed live excites me even more. Unfortunately, my forays into live concert venues are few and far between so that I have to content myself to the usual online sources – blip.fm, myspace, bandcamp, soundcloud, npr music, kcrw, college radio, sirius xmu.

Last month though I was lucky enough to catch an indie experimental pop-rock group called “Tapioca and the Flea”  at the Yelp All Hopped Up event at The Observatory in Santa Ana. According to what I’ve read, Tapioca and the Flea is really the stage name of recording artist Samuel Jacob from Los Angeles, who performs with his friends Ronnie Knott, (guitarist) and Frank Alva (Bass).

Samuel is a charismatic lead singer and master-tinkerer of things ranging from vintage keyborads, synths, guitars and pedals. Someone told me that Tapioca reminded him of the Flaming Lips. To be sure, Samuel evokes Wayne Coyne, not only in his singing and songwriting style but in his skill at musical experimentation.

Personally, I am not in love with the name Tapioca and The Flea but the music, ah, the music — with its infectious, beat-driven grooves now that’s something else.

Give ‘em a listen:

http://youtu.be/zrnZUliN0lc

Here are 2 videos I took at the Yelp event. You’ll have to forgive the quality. I shot them on my Droid.

http://youtu.be/bWebvYIuSMg

 

http://youtu.be/szN-tMCWoP8

Music Monday: Oberhofer

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How can you not love a band that name checks French composer Camille Saint-Saens in an interview and actually mentions Tchaikovsky and Mozart in song?

Meet Oberhofer, one of my new favorite bands in the indie pop-rock music scene. Oberhofer is basically 21-year old musician Brad Oberhofer’s four piece band.  The music and words are all his and he comes across as genuinely sincere – a rare quality these days.

Here is the video for “Away Frm U,” a very catchy tune that’s sure to have you singing along in no time.

And if you want more, check out this Spin Magazine Backstage Pass interview.

“I treat Twitter like a jokosphere.” — Brad Oberhofer  You can follow the band on Twitter at @oberhofermusic,  http://www.myspace.com/oberhofermusic and http://www.facebook.com/OberhoferJamz