Music That Needs to Be Heard

[Chris Conlan]

Welcome back to another edition of Music That Needs to Be Heard. Below is a list of 5 up & coming acts that will be sure to catch your ear. So sit back and enjoy! And as always, make sure to let us know who you enjoy!




http://www.decoymusic.com/images/mtn2bh/ellestel.jpg Gabriel Reed & Ellestel (Unsigned)
Website (http://www.myspace.com/ellestel) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ellestel)

Already Haunted was a late start for me. Sitting in a pile of CDs I haven’t gotten a chance to listen to, I put the disc in and from the moment Gabriel started singing on "Give Me the Sun" I was hooked. His sound is unique and his voice is impeccable. While this EP is only 4 songs, it has the staying power to make it in constant rotation in your playlist. The way he commands the song with his soft croon, he paints a vivid picture in your head with the melody in the background leading the way. Gabriel is now in the studio working on his solo album.

RIYL: Death Cab For Cutie, Radiohead, The Postal Service



http://www.decoymusic.com/images/mtn2bh/miekapauley.jpg Mieka Pauley (Unsigned)
Website (http://www.mieka.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/mieka)

It seems lately there has been a huge insurgence of female singer/songwriters. Although that insurgence is booming, there still hasn’t been a female artist who has made a mark like Alanis Morrissette or even Lauryn Hill did when they first came out. Well, that is all about to change with Mieka Pauley’s new album. From the three songs that are available, Mieka wears her heart on her sleeve and broadcasts to the world her soothing voice and her soft spoken melodies. She’s been garnering much praise in her the Northeast. It’s only a matter of time before that praise spreads.

RIYL: Alanis Morissette, Lauryn Hill, Sarah Mclachlan




http://www.decoymusic.com/images/mtn2bh/afterthetragedy.jpg After the Tragedy (Unsigned)
Website (http://www.myspace.com/afterthetragedy) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/afterthetragedy)

After the Tragedy is a band on a mission. They’ve played SXSW, been featured in a video game, gotten radio play, and the list just goes on. Unlike most bands who believe having a MySpace page is enough, these guys are taken their career into their own hands and on their EP, The Voyage of Reason, you are introduced to a mix of The Receiving End of Sirens, Coheed and Cambria, and Yesterday’s Rising. This 6 song EP is filled with infectious hooks and Joel’s harmonizing vocals. So all unsigned acts out there, this is a band you need to be watching. They’ll teach you a thing or two.

RIYL: Coheed and Cambria, The Receiving End of Sirens, Yesterday's Rising



http://www.decoymusic.com/images/mtn2bh/pico.jpg
Pico vs Island Trees (Unsigned)
Website (http://www.picomusic.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/pico)

It takes one song to catch a listener’s ear. Make it or break so to say. So when Pico vs Island Trees went into the studio, they put all their hard work and unleashed their new single "Open Doors". The song has a tropical island vibe that almost sounds like a modern day Beach Boys track. If that isn’t enough to get your feet moving, you need to get your ears checked. Maybe I’m jumping the gun, but knowing what this band is capable of is enough to make their new album one of my most anticipated releases of 2007.

RIYL: Ben Kweller, Jack Johnson, John Mayer




http://www.decoymusic.com/images/mtn2bh/lenka.jpg Lenka (Unsigned)
Website (http://www.lenkamusic.net/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/lenkamusic)

Lenka Kripac is under the radar when it comes to U.S. In Australia she sings in the band Decoder Ring and she also acted in the movie Lost Things. So with some new songs under her belt , she is ready to hit up the U.S. with her Bjork-esque vocals and coffee shop tunes. If the songs on her MySpace page are any indication of what’s to come, Lenka is going to be tipping the scale when it comes to internet bloggers soon.

RIYL: Bjork, Jenny Lewis, Leigh Nash


PAST MUSIC THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD ARTICLES:
Pop Heaven (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19988)
Melody Is Key (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18593)
Time to Dance (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17148)
Heavy is My Name (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19527)
Bring the Pain (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16101)
Indie/Rock Fanatic (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15172)
Unsigned Mania (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14496)
Mix It Up ( http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13994)
The Rock Edition (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12766)
Metal/Hardcore Edition (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12262)
The Massive Edition (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10846)

[rmgebhardt]

Let's see... crap... crap... sorta ok... crap... and more crap :)

Where's the metal???????

[Chris Conlan]

Rick, I haven't come across much that has caught my ear. I have found a couple, just waiting for the albums to come in the mail. And Rick, there is one band you are going to fucking LOVE. I think my next streaming mix is only going to be hardcore/metal this time.

[Rapture]

I agree. It seems like you guys only cover 3 categories usually: indie rock, "post-rock" (don't know what else to call it) or quirky/experimental bands or solo projects in which you assure us "this is tits", even though in alot of cases it is a VERY acquired taste.

I love this site, and you guys do an awesome job, just I don't feel like all forms of rock music (since you don't really cover rap, country, classical and the like) get fair coverage.

PS. The two female members of this report got thumbs up from me, and that's not because of looks.

[Chris Conlan]

I try to cover as much as I can in my article. If I find a hip-hop band I dig, I'll cover them, same as with any other genre. Just lately I've been finding a ton of great modern rock, indie rock, and electro pop bands.

[Rapture]

Yeah, I know that right now isn't exactly the best time for an insurgency of highly talented metal.

I suppose to help the cause I can try to go around myspace and find some decent metal bands... and then send them to you via PM. Do you get alot of that sort of thing? Do you even encourage it?

[Chris Conlan]

If you ever come across a band that you really enjoy, send it my way. Basically this article is just doing that, but in a little more detail. I'm always down to listening to new acts.

[rmgebhardt]

I'd encourage sending suggestions for this to Chris. Include porn links too, though, or else he might not pay attention :)

And as for coverage, I pretty much only listen to metal, doom, prog, and hardcore so any of the "softer" rock categories I'm pretty much deaf to since they all sound boring to me :)

[Chris Conlan]

You'll be happy soon. I have a couple metal bands I'm going to be included next time.

[Rapture]

Rmgebhardt, you and I should be friends :)

Chris, I will send you some stuff if I come across it.

[cloudscollide]

Rmgebhardt, you and I should be friends :)



Creepy. ;)

[rmgebhardt]

.

[cloudscollide]

^ Hahahahha.

[HEARTandSYNAPSE]

where the pop eh?
WHERES THE POP CONLAN?!

[cloudscollide]

where the pop eh?
WHERES THE POP CONLAN?!

Alex...do you have an aim screen name? I need to talk to you. Yes, it's urgent. If you have one hit up me up on my aim in my profile. I put yours on my list but you're never on.

[Chris Conlan]

Pico vs Island Trees is kind of pop.

[sovietnoodle]

Where can u get Lenka? The "swine" doesn't even have it.

[Chris Conlan]

I don't believe Lenka has any out that you can actually buy.