Chris Conlan
08-29-2006, 05:58 PM
With this new article you'll be introduced to artists from all around the world (other than the U.S.). This is also a great time to freshen up on your geography. Do you know where Ecuador is?
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/billievision.jpg Billie the Vision and the Dancers (Sweden)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/billiethevisionandthedancers) | Website (http://www.billiethevision.com/)
At first glance of Billie the Vision and the Dancers, you see a very eccentric group of individuals. And with their unique style, it showcases in their recent full-length, The World According to Pablo. You could say it is a mixture of indie, powerpop, and folk-rock. Their music is undeniably catchy and universal. As I mentioned above the different styles they play, it gives each track on the record its own platform and because of that makes this album have replay value up the ying-yang. The instrumentation on this is top-notch as well, with the band using the violin, accordion, and the acoustic guitar in their music. So put on some dancing shoes and BtVatD and dance the night away.
RIYL: Broken Social Scene, I'm From Barcelona, The Flaming Lips
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/catherinefeeny.jpg Catherine Feeny (United Kingdom)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/catherinefeeny) | Website (http://www.catherinefeeny.com/)
Hurricane Glass is an amazing record. Catherine Feeny writes straight from the heart and with her harmonizing vocals layered over the insatiable melodies on the CD, you are taken through a whirlwind of emotions from personal struggles to complex relationships. On top of that, the production on this disc is stellar. Sebastian Rogers and Dave Way did an amazing job at creating a relaxed vibe on the disc. This album is going to propel Catherine into the limelight. This is an absolutely breathtaking CD
RIYL: Joni Mitchell, KT Tunstall, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/evermore.jpg Evermore (Australia)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/evermore) | Website (http://www.evermoreband.com/)
It seems nowadays, many bands are now consisted of entire families. Well, in the case of Evermore, that is true because the 3 members are all brothers. And with that already tight knit bond, it is heard in their music. Lead single “Running” is easily one of the best indie/rock songs of the year. Everything about the song screams hit single. While “Running” stands out as the hit song, the rest of the album is definitely solid. At times you will be surprised that this band hails from Australia. They almost sound like a British rock band. Now it is up to Warner (US) to catch on and bring these guys over to the states.
RIYL: Coldplay, Keane, U2
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/elias.jpg Elias (Canada)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/eliasband) | Website ( http://www.eliasband.com/)
I featured these guys in my first edition of "Music That Needs to Be Heard" here at Decoy. At the time, the guys only had a couple songs out, but no official EP or full-length. Well, the time has come and the guys have released their self-titled EP. Although I haven’t heard the full thing, from the tracks I have heard, the guys have definitely honed their sound. Forget about Bryan Adams, and start concentrating on Elias.
RIYL: Muse, Radiohead, Ryan Adams
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/verlen.jpg Verlen (Germany)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/verlen) | Website (http://www.verlen.de/)
If there is one thing I want to see happen in 2006 is that Verlen heads over to the U.S. and tours. I’ve been playing their latest full-length, Tour of the Broken Hearts, for the past year and the energy of the disc is still there from the first time I heard it. Tracks like “45 Flamingos” showcase the bands more up-tempo style. It’s a mixture of electronica and indie/rock. The guys also know how to write a slow ballad like "Tour of the Broken Hearts" and "Vertigo". One crazy thing is, at times some of the tracks sound Nirvana-ish. If there is one thing about Tour of the Broken Hearts, there is never a dull moment.
RIYL: Bloc Party, Placebo, The Format
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/billievision.jpg Billie the Vision and the Dancers (Sweden)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/billiethevisionandthedancers) | Website (http://www.billiethevision.com/)
At first glance of Billie the Vision and the Dancers, you see a very eccentric group of individuals. And with their unique style, it showcases in their recent full-length, The World According to Pablo. You could say it is a mixture of indie, powerpop, and folk-rock. Their music is undeniably catchy and universal. As I mentioned above the different styles they play, it gives each track on the record its own platform and because of that makes this album have replay value up the ying-yang. The instrumentation on this is top-notch as well, with the band using the violin, accordion, and the acoustic guitar in their music. So put on some dancing shoes and BtVatD and dance the night away.
RIYL: Broken Social Scene, I'm From Barcelona, The Flaming Lips
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/catherinefeeny.jpg Catherine Feeny (United Kingdom)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/catherinefeeny) | Website (http://www.catherinefeeny.com/)
Hurricane Glass is an amazing record. Catherine Feeny writes straight from the heart and with her harmonizing vocals layered over the insatiable melodies on the CD, you are taken through a whirlwind of emotions from personal struggles to complex relationships. On top of that, the production on this disc is stellar. Sebastian Rogers and Dave Way did an amazing job at creating a relaxed vibe on the disc. This album is going to propel Catherine into the limelight. This is an absolutely breathtaking CD
RIYL: Joni Mitchell, KT Tunstall, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/evermore.jpg Evermore (Australia)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/evermore) | Website (http://www.evermoreband.com/)
It seems nowadays, many bands are now consisted of entire families. Well, in the case of Evermore, that is true because the 3 members are all brothers. And with that already tight knit bond, it is heard in their music. Lead single “Running” is easily one of the best indie/rock songs of the year. Everything about the song screams hit single. While “Running” stands out as the hit song, the rest of the album is definitely solid. At times you will be surprised that this band hails from Australia. They almost sound like a British rock band. Now it is up to Warner (US) to catch on and bring these guys over to the states.
RIYL: Coldplay, Keane, U2
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/elias.jpg Elias (Canada)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/eliasband) | Website ( http://www.eliasband.com/)
I featured these guys in my first edition of "Music That Needs to Be Heard" here at Decoy. At the time, the guys only had a couple songs out, but no official EP or full-length. Well, the time has come and the guys have released their self-titled EP. Although I haven’t heard the full thing, from the tracks I have heard, the guys have definitely honed their sound. Forget about Bryan Adams, and start concentrating on Elias.
RIYL: Muse, Radiohead, Ryan Adams
http://www.chrisconlan.com/images/aroundtheworldandback/verlen.jpg Verlen (Germany)
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/verlen) | Website (http://www.verlen.de/)
If there is one thing I want to see happen in 2006 is that Verlen heads over to the U.S. and tours. I’ve been playing their latest full-length, Tour of the Broken Hearts, for the past year and the energy of the disc is still there from the first time I heard it. Tracks like “45 Flamingos” showcase the bands more up-tempo style. It’s a mixture of electronica and indie/rock. The guys also know how to write a slow ballad like "Tour of the Broken Hearts" and "Vertigo". One crazy thing is, at times some of the tracks sound Nirvana-ish. If there is one thing about Tour of the Broken Hearts, there is never a dull moment.
RIYL: Bloc Party, Placebo, The Format