When’s the last time you bought a rock album, lay down with the lyrics, and were moved? Check Google to see if there’s a record store still operating in your town and pick up Heal, the latest album from Strand of Oaks…because it just may be a masterpiece.

Tim Showalter is the musician behind the project, and has delivered in Heal a frighteningly emotional album, bare-souled and full of tremendous, joyous pain. Strand of Oaks has put out good tunes before, but something is markedly different here.

The album’s central themes of regret, alienation, and lost youth may have been sparked, at least in part, by musician Jason Molina. In the song “JM”, Showalter sings directly to the midwestern rockstar.

I was just an Indiana kid
Getting no one in my bed
But I had your sweet tunes to play

Molina died in 2013 due to extreme alcoholism. Showalter can’t seem to shake that dreadful truth, his homage laden
with dark, dead end memories. Even the guitars seem to be crumbling, and then crashing down, all around him.

The album serves as a memoir, with candid and relatable recounts of rocky relationships. This is negative nostalgia, stark and accessible. Even upbeat songs lack the optimism that could drive this album anywhere close to pop.

Lyrics are complex and unsettled. In “SHUT-IN”, Showalter is stuck in a solitary depression, almost with pride.

I ain’t talkin’ about money
I don’t wanna talk about love
I hate thinking’ I’m not the same as I was
I lose my faith in people
Why even take the time?

Musically, the album spans several rock sub-genres. “SHUT-IN” has moments that evoke Springsteen at his best. “WAIT FOR LOVE”, the album’s closer sounds like a Coldplay of an alternate universe, raw and evocative. Some moments are folksy Americana, and some approach classic heavy metal. A front-and-center synthesizer on “SAME EMOTION” conjures a retro 90′s vibe in the closing solo.

Long considered a folk act, Strand of Oaks may have just delivered the rock album of the year. One hopes that Showalter was able to experience catharsis after bringing it to the public with such urgency. He has here proven himself a capable songwriter and frontman, deserving of the attention of the rock world.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

With the release of their 2009 self-titled album, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart were hailed as a noise-pop nostalgic throwback to the care-free, alt-rock 90s. Their third album, Days of Abandon, marks a turning point for the band, marked by maturing songwriting, a cleaner sound, and a shedding of the youthful whimsy that set them apart in the first place.

The saccharine vocals are still there, and upbeat tracks like “Simple and Sure” are still very much the old Pains. What’s different is the deeper level of craftsmanship here. No longer wearing naïveté as a badge (whether intentionally or not), frontman Kip Berman has evolved the production of his sound to include more dimension and richness. ‘Beautiful You’ may be the best example of this, with a soft choral melody over guitar pop that is at once nuanced and at full bloom, tender yet strong. It’s hard to imagine this effect being possible on their last two albums.

There’s more ambition here, and it pays off. On “Life After Life”, horn arrangements and angular melodies strike an imaginative balance against Berman’s aesthetic of guitar-centric pop. Skillfully executed, tracks like this never fall victim to the bombast of their alt-nostalgia contemporaries…or of their second album.

Berman’s songwriting is more canny here as well. “Coral Gold” is at once drunk on romance and a sober expression of love unrequited. “Coming down to where I’m found / your silent vows / steal the life from me.” Berman seems more than ever a songwriter who is reconciling his heartbreak, not just communicating it with starry eyes.

On the flip side, however, something may have been lost amidst all this evolution. Tracks like “Euridice” and “Art Smock” are so refined, they seem to lack the same raw heart that makes their earlier work so dynamic. While not necessarily sterile, there is a loss of the visceral here. Berman’s heart-pounding intensity is no longer the engine of his work, partially abandoned. Is this new sophistication is worth the loss?

What is gained here is more reflection, more grace, more subtlety. Berman is getting closer to finding himself as a songwriter, so Pains fans may do well to get on board with this finer-tuned version of the band. Less thrilling though it may be, this is also Berman’s most personal record to date, and certainly his most self-assured. Perhaps this will serve as a kind of recalibration, seeing the Pains through to something much more than their buzz band beginnings.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The introduction of the mp3 format, portable devices and streaming audio has changed the way we listen to music forever.  Digital listening has replaced spinning vinyl and collecting compact discs, so unless you’ve been living in the stone-age you’ve probably found some great new outlets for following the best new indie music out there. It is undeniable that even the digital revolution doesn’t guarantee you’ll keep up with all the new music – there’s just way too much. But these apps will help you stay on top of the music scene.

In addition to obvious apps like Pandora, Shazam, Spotify, Soundwave, even Band of the Day, indie music lovers turn to these apps to stay ahead of the ever-changing music curve.

• Pitchfork Weekly is the digital child of the Chicago-based music zine of the same name. As its namesake, it delivers on every level any music lover could want. Features and reviews from the magazine are readily available, as are audio/video and original programming from Pitchfork.TV.
  If all of that is not enough to keep you busy, there are staff-produced podcasts.  For your podcast please, the people so engaged with music they’ve dedicated their lives to creating this publication, bringing it digital, and now mobile, sit around talking about everything music. If you consider yourself a true audiophile, this resource is for you.
• Indie Shuffle is a great little app that falls somewhere between Pitchfork Weekly and the Sonarflow/Pandora type apps – but it specializes in indie music. It is also named after a music publication, however this one is a San Francisco based blog (www.indieshuffle.com).
  The mobile app utilizes the SoundCloud API to offer ad-free playlists based on similar artists and genres.  You can choose from genre, ‘popular’, latest recommendations and more. You can also browse the catalogue by genre, save and view your favorites; and, as if that weren’t enough; each song comes with IndieShuffle staff-writer reviews.
• Songkick is a must for the live music lover. Available for both the Android and iOS platforms, Songkick is a brilliant little program. It scans your personal music collection, and not only alerts you when the bands in your playlist will be playing in your area, but also suggests other shows based on your musical tastes.
  Songkick is always running in the background, and will give you a pop-up alert anytime a show is happening in the area. It will also send you emails alerting you who is playing where and when, if you wish.
• Earbits is a great example of the evolution of the artist in the digital age. It is an artist-focused Internet radio station now available as an app for both Android and Apple formats.
  Earbits is a music stream that is free of ads. Instead, it is funded by labels, bands and promoters who buy airtime in targeted channels, getting their music out to the people who are looking for something different than commercial radio has to offer.
  They currently feature music from over 630 labels, 12,000 artists and 380 channels, so it is certainly not devoid of variety or volume.
• Rormix is a great idea, and hopefully can produce some great new artists. The idea of this app is to help you find music videos from unsigned artists, based on your musical tastes. The format offers a great deal of potential, and all of the artists are hand-picked by the company. Talented artists are certainly found there, but the genres available may be limited in number.

Of course, if these don’t fit your need for cutting edge music technology, you always have the option of creating your own app. If you know music, but aren’t tech savvy, you’ll probably want the talents of someone like the guys at http://appdeveloper.org/.

Don’t let your lack of knowledge about new music technology keep you from being a part of it. Check out some of today’s indies music apps, and you’ll always have indie music at your fingertips.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

In our latest guest post, blogger Nicolas White of Rukkus.com shares his list of the top 10 best music festival lineups for 2014. Find out which big names and indie acts you can expect to see at each event. Check out the Rukkus Android app for additional Rukkus content.

1. Sasquatch!

May 23-25 / July 4-6

Quincy, WA

Lineup Highlights: The National, Kraftwerk, Cut Copy, Neutral Milk Hotel, Outkast

Indie Acts You Must See: Phosphorescent, Parquet Courts, Foxygen, Majical Cloudz, Jon Hopkins

Sasquatch set the bar pretty high this year, as the fest transitions from a gem of the Pacific Northwest, to a household name. This year, Sasquatch has followed the lead of California’s Coachella with its two weekend model. However, Sasquatch offers an interesting take with two very different lineups, providing a unique experience for each respective weekend, while reaching an even wider base of fans. That said, the scenic location and the picturesque backdrop is probably enough to justify the admission price.

2. Governor’s Ball

June 6-8

New York, NY

Lineup Highlights: Jack White, Vampire Weekend, The Strokes, Disclosure

Indie Acts You Must See: Grimes, Chance The Rapper, SKATERS, Ratking

Arguably the most viable NYC festival to date, Governor’s Ball has continued its monster growth with its deepest lineup yet. Though the festival was marred by torrential rains and ankle-deep mud last year, fans will surely gather en masse to catch this event.

3. Osheaga

August 1-3

Montreal, Quebec

Lineup Highlights: Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, Modest Mouse, The Replacements

Indie Acts You Must See: SBTRKT, Mac De Marco, White Denim, Jagwar Ma

The trip across the border has never seemed so alluring. Osheaga takes place in the beautiful multicultural hub of Montreal, adding a bit of Canadian efficiency to the US Woodstock-ian festival model. This year’s lineup could be Osheaga’s strongest yet.

4. Bonnaroo

June 12-15

Manchester, TN

Lineup Highlights: Kanye West, The Flaming Lips, James Blake, Phoenix

Indie Acts You Must See: Warpaint, Darkside, The Preatures, Real Estate

OK, you’ve definitely heard of this one. It’s an American rite-of-passage, after all. But if you haven’t yet made the pilgrimage down to Tennessee, you’d be hard-pressed to find a lineup as diverse as 2014’s. It just might be about time to head to “The Farm.”

5. Newport Folk Festival

July 25-27

Newport, RI

Lineup Highlights: Band of Horses, Mavis Staples, J Roddy Walston & The Business

Indie Acts You Must See: Houndmouth, Shakey Graves, Dawes

Newport Folk was a touchstone of the beatnik, counter-culture movement of the 1960s; it’s one of the most storied festivals in the US, and it’s still being held in the folky, grassroots-y, tradition that acts like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary once established.

6. Electric Forest

June 26-29

Rothbury, MI

Lineup Highlights: String Cheese Incident, Ms Lauren Hill, Flying Lotus

Indie Acts You Must See: Anders Osborne, RAC, St. Lucia

Before you even look at who’s playing, imagine a music festival in the middle of a forest. The trees are lined with shimmering lights, art installations, and hammocks for sleeping. Add in a electronica-heavy lineup, and you’re in for one hell of a trip. This dreamy location makes this a truly unique festival experience.

7. Coachella

April 11-14 / April 18-20

Indio, California

Lineup Highlights: The Knife, Haim, Arcade Fire, Beck

Indie Acts You Must See: Future Islands, Dum Dum Girls, Wye Oak

Let’s face it, the Coachella lineup is a bit of a let-down this year, considering the superstar status of this festival. Yet, all things considered, the promoters at Goldenvoice still managed to book two consecutive weekends of mouth-watering live entertainment.

8. Pitchfork

July 18-20

Chicago, IL

Lineup Highlights: Giorgio Moroder, St. Vincent, Danny Brown

Indie Acts You Must See: Cloud Nothings, Earl Sweatshirt, Sharon Van Etten, Death Grips

This Chicago publication may be known for their cooler-than-thou stance on music, but you can’t argue with their success. Pitchfork always curates a lineup that takes risks, and while this year they’ve taken on some more proven artists, the undercard is still filled with hidden gems.

9. Shaky Knees

May 9-11

Atlanta, GA

Lineup Highlights: Spoon, Alabama Shakes, Portugal. The Man, Iron & Wine

Indie Acts You Must See: Man Man, Band of Skulls, The Weeks

Shaky Knees enters its 2nd year seeking rock and roll festival domination. This ATL-based weekend fest packs a punch, with a wide selection of blues-driven, Southern rock. If that’s your scene, there’s no better lineup than Shaky Knees.

10. Firefly

June 19-22

Dover, DE

Lineup Highlights: Broken Bells, Childish Gambino, Jake Bugg

Indie Acts You Must See: Washed Out, Vic Mensa, Haerts

Firefly is the newest contender for the festival crown. After achieving remarkable success in its first few years, the 2014 lineup is (comparatively) a bit of a dud. But, it’s still strong enough to round-out the top 10 best lineups of the year.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.