Roncag
02-02-2007, 12:38 PM
10 Bands You Should Know
The past several weeks have given us the chance to bring you 10 bands worth checking out. Listen to what we feel are some of the best bands you may have never heard of.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/malajube.jpg Malajube
Website (http://www.Malajube.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/Malajube)
Unless you’re a French Canadian (or just plain French), then you’re probably not going to understand much of Malajube’s lyrical content. The good news for us unintelligent, monolingual Americans is that the group’s intricate melodies perform well enough to carry anyone beyond any language barriers. Wielding a bizarre, quick-paced combination of textbook indie and art-rock, this quintet’s second release, Trompe-L‘Oeil, suggests a sound that isn’t easily comparable to any others in its crop. Nevertheless, the all-embracing effort still manages to carry an aura of what your typical pop culture-hating indie store clerk would put on a mix tape of recent day essentials.
RIYL: Modest Mouse, Blonde Redhead, Mew, Sigur Ros, Annuals, Broken Social Scene
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/longwalkhome.jpg Long Walk Home
Website (http://www.myspace.com/bandlongwalkhome ) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/bandlongwalkhome )
A lot of people still don’t know it, but Australia is home to some really great experimental rock. Long Walk Home now steps up to join the ranks of The Grand Silent System (RIP?), Cog, and .hinge. Balancing impeccably on a tightrope of influences is the niche they use to give their craft a unique identity. With such an arduous feat already being commendable, probably the most interesting concept of Long Walk Home’s spacious groove is the ability to accomplish in three minutes what it takes bands like Immune and Tool to do in the 7 to 8 minute marathons they frequently serve up. Possessing this strong understanding of brevity allows for the band to remain accessible to all ears without losing any sense of creativity.
RIYL: The Grand Silent System, Clann Zu, Cog, Tool, Aereogramme, Immune, Radiohead, Sigur Ros
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/viarosa.jpg Viarosa
Website (http://www.www.viarosa.co.uk) :: Listen ( http://www.myspace.com/viarosa)
Take the best elements of folk rock and put them in conjunction with some of the most memorable moments of indie and country, and one still isn’t close to grasping the excellence that is Viarosa. Having set new standards for the genres represented, the only shoes Viarosa need fill are the ones the group created after the release of the epic Where the Killers Run. 2007 is here now, and the UK natives are on the cusp of debuting Righteous Path. They have two Myspace pages; for those unfamiliar with this amazing band, go check out some samples from their 2005 sleeper hit. As for the rest, it’s merely a countdown to the new album that can’t move fast enough.
RIYL: Clann Zu, Murder by Death, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Black Heart Procession
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/menomena.jpg Menomena
Website (http://www.menomena.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/menomena)
Writing groundbreaking music is nothing new for this Portland-based outfit. With two critically acclaimed albums well established in the ranks of elitist snobs worldwide, Menomena continue in their exclusive ways with the upcoming release of Friend and Foe. The new album once again showcases exactly what the group does best, filtering quirky, jazz-enthused indie rock through a punk shaped funnel.
RIYL: 31Knots, As Tall As Lions, The Beta Band, Mew, Tortoise
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/daylightsforthebirds.jpg Daylight's For The Birds
Website (http://www.troubleeverywhere.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/daylightsforthebirds)
Very new to the game, Daylight’s for the Birds have a lot good things going for them. Being fronted by a lead singer that echoes the most sensitive side of Dolores O'Riordan is just one plus. However, it’s Amanda’s possession of an Iphigenia cuteness that just might help to market the band’s airy shoegaze outside of the discerning militants that visit this site. In addition to any one the surface spectacle the group demonstrates, their debut full-length excels at delivering piercing, distorted guitars that somehow never fail to lose their penchant for gentle melody. With the right push and a little luck, this band has the potential to reach great heights.
RIYL: Slowdive, The Cranberries, Swords, Ride, Klimt 1918, Bel Auburn, Blonde Readhead
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/hazmatmodine.jpg Hazmat Modine
Website (http://www.hazmatmodine.com) :: Listen (http://myspace.com/hazmatmodine)
Even though Hazmat Modine came together as band in New York City, when listening to their music, one would think they were world travelers from various corners of the earth. Built upon a foundation of traditional blues, Bahumat is an extensive journey that’s catchy enough to sway even the most adolescent minds to old school roots music. Quirky and inventive, file this one under world-inspired rhythms of yesteryear -- as if such a genre actually exists.
RIYL: Louis Armstrong, Tom Waits, DeVotcKa, Leonard Cohen, Taj Mahal
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/liftpoint.jpg Liftpoint
Website (http://www.liftpoint1.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/liftpoint)
Just when you think that all hope is lost for modern rock to produce a decent act, that one diamond in the rough comes along to keep you from tapping out. Liftpoint is that single ray of hope for those that still want to believe in mainstream radio. Recently dropping their first LP under the moniker of Until the Drive is Dead, the trio serves up a relentless sound that is simple, yet complex -- callous, but temperate. One would think that Liftpoint’s wiles of meshing straight-forward, guttural guitars with extremely fragile vocals would diminish into an awkward dichotomy. Astonishingly, the band makes it work in a manner that is adequately efficient. While Until the Drive is Dead doesn’t reinvent the wheel, the effort bleeds rock solid charisma. Now all that’s left is for some major label to come along and corrupt them.
RIYL: Incura, Ermine, Shades of Fiction, Chevelle, Juniper Sky, Schema
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/crookedjades.jpg The Crooked Jades
Website (http://www.thecrookedjades.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thecrookedjades)
It’s an understatement to say that The Crooked Jades are and will forever be an enigma in modern music. Way too old fashioned for the pseudo-pop dreck that dominates the evolution of styles that they represent, not to mention way out of the element of 99.9% of the current Myspace generation, one’s got to wonder just who the heck is this band’s target audience? To reiterate previous stated aspirations, “The Crooked Jades began with band leader/founder Jeff Kazor’s vision to revive the dark and hypnotic sounds of pre-radio music.” In a way, the band’s quest could be defined as a retelling of the Grapes of Wrath in a spiritual, aural format. After all, California had to begin somewhere with style of music.
RIYL: Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Ghost (Japan), Declan de Barra, Viarosa, Echo Helstrom
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/milesdark.jpg Miles Dark
Website (http://www.milesdark.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/milesdark)
Back in the first quarter of 2006, the upstarts in Miles Dark made huge strides for expanded circulation by supporting Shomaha and Oceansize on tour. If musical connoisseurs ever mirrored high school juveniles, names of that caliber arguably make the band essential just by association. And in this case, they’d be right. With two EP’s currently available, one on Myspace (which only partially tells the story of their sound), Miles Dark’s sound will cater to fans of Dikta’s straight forward rock’n roll while simultaneously conjuring up indie pop soul of Echo Helstrom and Jeff Buckley. In good time, look for these guys to make amazing strides.
RIYL: Jeff Buckley, Echo Helstrom, Dikta, Radiohead, Biffy Clyro, Oceansize
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/johannjohannsson.jpg Johann Johannsson
Website (http://www.JohannJohannsson.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/JohannJohannsson)
Johann Johannsson's IBM 1401 - A User’s Manual is one of the most intriguing concept albums released in recent years. The gist of the composer’s story surrounds his father’s audio maintenance log for the ancient data processing unit that synonymously dons this recording’s title. The blatant pretension behind an idea like this only enhances the euphoric ambience produced by The City of Prague Philharmonic’s inner-dissolving orchestral strings. IBM 1401 channels into the central hub with aspirations to soothe the deepest spiritual stresses.
RIYL: Mogwai, Sigur Ros, A Silver Mt. Zion, The Knife, 65 Days of Static, Clint Mansell
The past several weeks have given us the chance to bring you 10 bands worth checking out. Listen to what we feel are some of the best bands you may have never heard of.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/malajube.jpg Malajube
Website (http://www.Malajube.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/Malajube)
Unless you’re a French Canadian (or just plain French), then you’re probably not going to understand much of Malajube’s lyrical content. The good news for us unintelligent, monolingual Americans is that the group’s intricate melodies perform well enough to carry anyone beyond any language barriers. Wielding a bizarre, quick-paced combination of textbook indie and art-rock, this quintet’s second release, Trompe-L‘Oeil, suggests a sound that isn’t easily comparable to any others in its crop. Nevertheless, the all-embracing effort still manages to carry an aura of what your typical pop culture-hating indie store clerk would put on a mix tape of recent day essentials.
RIYL: Modest Mouse, Blonde Redhead, Mew, Sigur Ros, Annuals, Broken Social Scene
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/longwalkhome.jpg Long Walk Home
Website (http://www.myspace.com/bandlongwalkhome ) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/bandlongwalkhome )
A lot of people still don’t know it, but Australia is home to some really great experimental rock. Long Walk Home now steps up to join the ranks of The Grand Silent System (RIP?), Cog, and .hinge. Balancing impeccably on a tightrope of influences is the niche they use to give their craft a unique identity. With such an arduous feat already being commendable, probably the most interesting concept of Long Walk Home’s spacious groove is the ability to accomplish in three minutes what it takes bands like Immune and Tool to do in the 7 to 8 minute marathons they frequently serve up. Possessing this strong understanding of brevity allows for the band to remain accessible to all ears without losing any sense of creativity.
RIYL: The Grand Silent System, Clann Zu, Cog, Tool, Aereogramme, Immune, Radiohead, Sigur Ros
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/viarosa.jpg Viarosa
Website (http://www.www.viarosa.co.uk) :: Listen ( http://www.myspace.com/viarosa)
Take the best elements of folk rock and put them in conjunction with some of the most memorable moments of indie and country, and one still isn’t close to grasping the excellence that is Viarosa. Having set new standards for the genres represented, the only shoes Viarosa need fill are the ones the group created after the release of the epic Where the Killers Run. 2007 is here now, and the UK natives are on the cusp of debuting Righteous Path. They have two Myspace pages; for those unfamiliar with this amazing band, go check out some samples from their 2005 sleeper hit. As for the rest, it’s merely a countdown to the new album that can’t move fast enough.
RIYL: Clann Zu, Murder by Death, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Black Heart Procession
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/menomena.jpg Menomena
Website (http://www.menomena.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/menomena)
Writing groundbreaking music is nothing new for this Portland-based outfit. With two critically acclaimed albums well established in the ranks of elitist snobs worldwide, Menomena continue in their exclusive ways with the upcoming release of Friend and Foe. The new album once again showcases exactly what the group does best, filtering quirky, jazz-enthused indie rock through a punk shaped funnel.
RIYL: 31Knots, As Tall As Lions, The Beta Band, Mew, Tortoise
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/daylightsforthebirds.jpg Daylight's For The Birds
Website (http://www.troubleeverywhere.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/daylightsforthebirds)
Very new to the game, Daylight’s for the Birds have a lot good things going for them. Being fronted by a lead singer that echoes the most sensitive side of Dolores O'Riordan is just one plus. However, it’s Amanda’s possession of an Iphigenia cuteness that just might help to market the band’s airy shoegaze outside of the discerning militants that visit this site. In addition to any one the surface spectacle the group demonstrates, their debut full-length excels at delivering piercing, distorted guitars that somehow never fail to lose their penchant for gentle melody. With the right push and a little luck, this band has the potential to reach great heights.
RIYL: Slowdive, The Cranberries, Swords, Ride, Klimt 1918, Bel Auburn, Blonde Readhead
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/hazmatmodine.jpg Hazmat Modine
Website (http://www.hazmatmodine.com) :: Listen (http://myspace.com/hazmatmodine)
Even though Hazmat Modine came together as band in New York City, when listening to their music, one would think they were world travelers from various corners of the earth. Built upon a foundation of traditional blues, Bahumat is an extensive journey that’s catchy enough to sway even the most adolescent minds to old school roots music. Quirky and inventive, file this one under world-inspired rhythms of yesteryear -- as if such a genre actually exists.
RIYL: Louis Armstrong, Tom Waits, DeVotcKa, Leonard Cohen, Taj Mahal
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/liftpoint.jpg Liftpoint
Website (http://www.liftpoint1.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/liftpoint)
Just when you think that all hope is lost for modern rock to produce a decent act, that one diamond in the rough comes along to keep you from tapping out. Liftpoint is that single ray of hope for those that still want to believe in mainstream radio. Recently dropping their first LP under the moniker of Until the Drive is Dead, the trio serves up a relentless sound that is simple, yet complex -- callous, but temperate. One would think that Liftpoint’s wiles of meshing straight-forward, guttural guitars with extremely fragile vocals would diminish into an awkward dichotomy. Astonishingly, the band makes it work in a manner that is adequately efficient. While Until the Drive is Dead doesn’t reinvent the wheel, the effort bleeds rock solid charisma. Now all that’s left is for some major label to come along and corrupt them.
RIYL: Incura, Ermine, Shades of Fiction, Chevelle, Juniper Sky, Schema
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/crookedjades.jpg The Crooked Jades
Website (http://www.thecrookedjades.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thecrookedjades)
It’s an understatement to say that The Crooked Jades are and will forever be an enigma in modern music. Way too old fashioned for the pseudo-pop dreck that dominates the evolution of styles that they represent, not to mention way out of the element of 99.9% of the current Myspace generation, one’s got to wonder just who the heck is this band’s target audience? To reiterate previous stated aspirations, “The Crooked Jades began with band leader/founder Jeff Kazor’s vision to revive the dark and hypnotic sounds of pre-radio music.” In a way, the band’s quest could be defined as a retelling of the Grapes of Wrath in a spiritual, aural format. After all, California had to begin somewhere with style of music.
RIYL: Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Ghost (Japan), Declan de Barra, Viarosa, Echo Helstrom
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/milesdark.jpg Miles Dark
Website (http://www.milesdark.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/milesdark)
Back in the first quarter of 2006, the upstarts in Miles Dark made huge strides for expanded circulation by supporting Shomaha and Oceansize on tour. If musical connoisseurs ever mirrored high school juveniles, names of that caliber arguably make the band essential just by association. And in this case, they’d be right. With two EP’s currently available, one on Myspace (which only partially tells the story of their sound), Miles Dark’s sound will cater to fans of Dikta’s straight forward rock’n roll while simultaneously conjuring up indie pop soul of Echo Helstrom and Jeff Buckley. In good time, look for these guys to make amazing strides.
RIYL: Jeff Buckley, Echo Helstrom, Dikta, Radiohead, Biffy Clyro, Oceansize
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/johannjohannsson.jpg Johann Johannsson
Website (http://www.JohannJohannsson.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/JohannJohannsson)
Johann Johannsson's IBM 1401 - A User’s Manual is one of the most intriguing concept albums released in recent years. The gist of the composer’s story surrounds his father’s audio maintenance log for the ancient data processing unit that synonymously dons this recording’s title. The blatant pretension behind an idea like this only enhances the euphoric ambience produced by The City of Prague Philharmonic’s inner-dissolving orchestral strings. IBM 1401 channels into the central hub with aspirations to soothe the deepest spiritual stresses.
RIYL: Mogwai, Sigur Ros, A Silver Mt. Zion, The Knife, 65 Days of Static, Clint Mansell