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.

Wonder Villains – “Marshall”

Derry City’s anti-pop quartet Wonder Villains are what modern pop music should hope to be but so often is not – they’re actually fun. Born in a Northern Ireland high school in 2009, they are preparing to release their first full album, Rocky, in June, and the band seems to have really solidified their character. Sprinkled with Mother Mother-esque vocal flourishes, Wonder Villains have all the charm and color of Tilly and the Wall and the no-nonsense lyricism and energy of The Wombats – but they are indisputably one-of-a-kind. Still drifting in the ambiguous grey area between adolescence and adulthood, the group’s sound is mature beyond their years, yet they never once come off as self-indulgent or pretentious.

While it may be common practice for reviewers to grasp at straws for something favorable to say or to over-inflate their sentiments in order to inspire interest in their writing and appease others, it is important to me that I am honest about my opinions and that I give credit only where credit is due. That being said, from the moment Eimear Coyle’s infectious vocals came in over the pumping pop-punk guitar and bright synth, I felt a sneaking suspicion that I had stumbled upon something truly special, and I had no choice but to share it. My impression was validated when, several songs into their discography, my exceptionally discerning boyfriend declared with an almost evangelical enthusiasm, “I love this!” “Marshall” is refreshingly modern, yet it strikes all of the right nostalgia chords that make music stick with you for a long, long time.

“Marshall” is currently available for streaming on Soundcloud, or, for the full experience, have a look at the foursome’s freshly released music video for “Marshall” on Youtube.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Margaret O’Sullivan of Femmepop

Femmepop’s leading lady, Margaret O’Sullivan, is back with her third single, “Timescapes”. The infectious pop track is a collaboration with Timecop1983, the mastermind behind the synth loops and pulsating beat. Ms. O’Sullivan provided the lyrics and vocals, and together the two create a dreamy and uplifting electronic track that will stick with you.

O’Sullivan’s vocals are sweet and delicate, with powerful lyrics like, “Those days will never die cause they burn inside of me.” Delving into themes of memories and the pain of leaving someone behind, her vocals pour out with honesty and the power of love. At times, O’Sullivan’s voice is reminiscent of Madonna’s style in the 80s, accompanied perfectly by Timecop’s dreamy synth. Fans of the Drive soundtrack will also appreciate the track’s electronic 80s feel.

Femmepop’s debut album is slated for a summer 2014 release. “Timescapes” is available as a digital download from Bandcamp, and you can also listen to her previous singles, “1983” and “Beautiful Boy” as well as her 2009 EP, Kick.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The only thing more devilish than the Halloween that just passed was the overwhelming amount of music that hit our inbox this past month. Thankfully, most of it was good and contained a few genres we’d never covered before. I encourage you to spend at least a minute checking out each band in this month’s list. You never know what you might discover. On with the show!

Morgan Doctor – Major Over Minor

Major Over Minor marks the third album release from musician Morgan Doctor. This set of eight tracks, though, is the first fully-instrumental album and is largely a solo effort. For me, electronic music tends to be pretty hit or miss. With Major Over Minor, I really enjoyed the aesthetics of the string instrumentation (guitars, violins) found on a number of the tracks as well as the ambient nature of the album as a whole.

Delta Will – It All Glows

Delta Will is the stage name for Charles Tilden, a musician who successfully blends pop with both blues and folk sounds. It All Glows is the 2nd album from the artist, and the four-track EP released in the latter part of October. The album plays on the themes of Earth, aliens, and outer space, and each track offers a different style. Have a listen below.

Philip Sayce - Steamroller

I love me some classic rock, so when I heard about Philip Sayce earning comparisons to guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, I had to have a listen. Right from the initial title track the album exudes the influences of everything from those older rock giants to slightly newer fare like Lenny Kravitz. If you’re looking for a blend of old and new in your rock, listen to this 10-song album. I recommend “Holding On”, but you can start by checking out the album’s official trailer.

Dave Rave and Mark McCarron – Memphis Midnight

After listening to Memphis Midnight, it’s astonishing that Dave Rave got his start in Canadian punk. This album – with its easy listening mix of pop and jazz influences- is so far removed from that genre, it’s a remarkable range. That versatility will shine through in the upcoming year as Dave plans to tackle projects in a variety of genres. Up first, though, is this collaboration with musician Mark McCarron.

Latka – “The Arrival”

We covered Latka back in July’s Music Roundup, but the band makes a return trip this month with the release of their first music video. “The Arrival” gets the full treatment here, and the video includes a bear making oatmeal. What more do I have to say to get you to check it out?

Millenials - Generation Why

Millenials is a new band hailing from Michigan. Late September saw the release of their first album, Generation Why. The nine-track debut blends elements of punk, shoegaze, alternative, and other genres, and it features Michael Negron on guitar, vocals, etc. and Chris Francoeur on bass and drums. Have a listen to their lo-fi stylings below.

Vast Robot Armies - Goodnight Myopia

Vast Robot Armies is the first solo project from musician Jason Thomas. Thomas spent the past 13 years in the band Something Why, but the band’s end didn’t mean the final curtain on his musical journey. Jump ahead to earlier this year, and Vast Robot Armies released Goodnight Myopia, a nine-track album that also includes Eric Abert (bass) and Allen Epley (vocals) of the The Life and Times. VRA has also released a music video for the single “Grey Area Living”.

SPC ECO – Sirens and Satellites

We’ve covered SPC ECO on this site a few times in the past including stints in this monthly music roundup feature as well as a review of their single “Delusional Waste”. That was the first track released from the band’s latest album, Sirens and Satellites. A staggering 16 tracks make up this alt/dream pop/electronic collection, and the set starts strong with “Fallen Stars” and its many, many layers of sound. The quality of the production on the album is also quite impressive, but with the pedigree of those involved that comes as no big surprise. Although the album varies greatly in its intensity and style, have a listen to “Fallen Stars” to get a sense of what it’s all about.

Avalon Landing - Reside

Avalon Landing has been around for awhile, though it took the Las Vegas-based group picking up a total of five members before they hit their stride. The band is nearing the release of their latest piano rock/pop album, Reside, though their single “About Face” is already making the rounds. The band has also produced a music video for one of their older tracks, “Old Phone Books”. November 12th marks the album’s release, so check out Avalon Landing’s Facebook page for the official announcement.

Invasions – “Rosy”

“Rosy” marks the latest single to be released by Toronto-based band Invasions. The single is part of their latest album, also released this past month. The band has a surf-rock style that would – as they describe and I agree – fit in well as part of a Tarantino soundtrack. Their previous track, “Ballad of the Faithful” would even more appropriately fit that bill with it’s blend of surf rock and western. Have a listen to “Rosy” and then hop over here to hear the rest of their music.

The Chrysalide Project - Myth of the Capullo

Avant garde is not a genre we typically get a lot of opportunities to cover here at The Indie Mine. The Chrysalide Project from Montréal has given us a rare chance to change that. Myth of the Capullo is their 2nd album released this year, following February’s Place For Silence. With this release, musician Gaia Guarda has included a dozen tracks with a blend of electronic and organic sounds. While Guarda’s vocals lead the way, she’s also accompanied by live musicians Jon Lebreux, Jessica Ricard, Valérie Roy, and Sis Void. To find out more about the project, check out the official Facebook page.

Aviators - Mirrors

Tyler Shaw – under the project name Aviators – is easily one of the more musically prolific artists we’ve highlighted here on The Indie Mine. Mirrors marks the latest in a long line of albums and EPs including more than half a dozen already this year (check out the Tardis – EP all you Whovians). The 16 tracks continue Aviators tradition of merging multiple genres and subgenres including electronic, pop, and brony. Shaw has made quite a name for himself in the brony community. He’s also venturing out into scoring indie games. You can find out more about Shaw’s work on the Aviators website.

The Woodwards - The Woodwards II

The Woodwards make their third appearance in our monthly roundup feature, and the previous entries have all been leading up to this one. The band has released their latest album, The Woodwards II. The 11 tracks feature lead man Peter Schuyff and his “urban, folk/country noir” style – which is as much humorous storytelling as it is a song – along with the vocal accompaniment of British singer Stevie Guy. The duo is currently on a UK tour to coincide with the release of the album. Although my favorite song was probably “By The Time I Came Back”, you can have a listen to the first track, “The Wood”, below.

The Medicine Hat - Old Bones

Alt-rock band The Medicine Hat has one of the more interesting origin stories that we’ve come across here. It started with the romantic duo Nabi Loney and Tyler Bersche writing songs about each other and eventually led to a full five-piece band coming together. Their debut album, Old Bones, actually released back in June to coincide with the wedding of the first two members. If you like what you hear in the digital single below, the band has made it free for downloading.

David & Clara - Emotion Machine

And we have another repeat visitor to our monthly roundup. David & Clara, the man-laptop duo, most recently caught our attention back in July with the release of single “Don’t You Want To Be Famous”. The Arizona native is back with a few more tracks off of the upcoming album Emotion Machine, a project two years in the making. The album isn’t due out until December, but four of the electronic/techno/dance music tracks are available to listen to right now.

Colornoise - Polychronic

Colornoise describes their music as being a “release of energy”. The Costa Rican duo are all about experimental sounds with some garage band and punk mixed in. October saw the release of their second album, the eight-track Polychronic. The band is currently touring, and their path has taken them everywhere from South America to Canada with the early stops being up in the great white north.

Blitz//Berlin - One

Blitz//Berlin is another band with an interesting origin story having gotten their start by scoring indie films. The group also focused on creating hip hop and punk in their own studio. The release of One marks the start of the band’s foray into a series of mixtapes. The three-song collection is available as a free download from the band’s website.

Well, you made it through. Any surprises? Share your opinion with us and the rest of our community of readers.

© 2013 – 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Perhaps it was a much needed respite, but after two months of music coming at us at a blistering pace, August finally slowed down a bit. However it did bring us a lot more albums rather than singles, so there was still a lot of great music to listen to. We had two game soundtracks make the list this month, as well as a number of interesting concept bands and experimental albums. I’m not sure why I’m consistently surprised to come across something new, but it happens just about every month. Read on, have a listen, and enjoy!

Alex Riggen – Milk

Alex Riggen has been a member of a number of bands, counting Far From Words and Murnau among his ventures. He’s now gone solo and has released an album all his own. Milk is the second album from the Iowa-based musician, following last year’s debut Rabbit. This 8-song pop/alternative set starts off with the slow, organ-laden “Crown” and maintains a minimalist sound throughout in both the vocals and the instrumentation. The album is available now on Bandcamp.

Chris Christodoulou – Risk Of Rain OST

Chris Christodoulou is the composer behind the atmospheric soundtrack of upcoming space platformer Risk of Rain. Staff music writer Jennifer described the OST as “…not just an ordinary chiptune album – Christodoulou’s musical background adds a level of refinement that accentuates the feel of the game.” The game is currently in beta, but you can have a listen to the soundtrack below.

Digital Noise Academy - Synemy

The story behind Synemy is fascinating. The new album from 6-member Digital Noise Academy (aka DNA) was created through a process which is essentially the classic “Telephone Game”. Each song would be created by passing it around from one member to another, each adding something to the track. The band includes a mix of music producers, solo artists, and group musicians each bringing some of their personal flavor. Because the tracks are so different, it’s impossible to pin down a specific genre to classify the album under though alternative is fairly prevalent. You’ll just have to have a listen for yourself.

Summerays - Summer Daze

August has come and gone, but Summer’s not quite over yet. Summerays, a surf pop band from Cleveland, captures a bit of the Summer spirit in their 10-song EP Summer Daze. The album was actually released back in January, but was recently brought to our attention. I’m glad we were introduced to it, because it provides the perfect sound for the season. A second album, Daydream, was released back in late 2011 and contains that surf pop style though with a more subdued feel.

Post War Stories - Cold Wars

Post War Stories brings a couple of firsts to our music coverage at The Indie Mine. First, they’re from the Isle of Man which explains why their music contains themes of isolation. Second, their style falls under trip hop with a bit of prog rock mixed in. This all comes together in their debut EP Cold Wars. The 4-track compilation releases in September, but you can have a listen now.

Rich Douglas – Shadowgate OST

Shadowgate is one of those games where you’re flooded with memories or you are simply too young to remember it. The 25th anniversary of the original is upon us (1987 on Mac and 1989 on NES) and developer Zojoi is remaking the game for a modern generation. Rich Douglas is the composer behind the epic soundtrack which comes in at a whopping 25 tracks. That total also includes a number of bonus tracks not found within the game. The songs themselves have everything you want from a fantasy-based soundtrack with some wonderful orchestral and especially choral work. We’ve included the Shadowgate theme song below for your listening pleasure.

Stickman Cartel – “Accolade”

“Accolade” is the debut track from London-based band Stickman Cartel. When our music writer, Jennifer, recently reviewed the single, she called the style “indie disco” and described the song as “…fun, catchy, and it’s meant to get your feet moving.” That energy carries through to their live performances, but for those not living in the UK, the song officially releases on September 2nd.

Northern Hustle – Forgether

Northern Hustle is another band with an interesting premise behind their music. Forgether is the first of three albums which will contain one story. The Arizona-based concept band has an acoustic/folk rock sound, and their ten-track album has some great instrumentation including some interesting percussion choices along with a slide guitar. Although only a handful of their songs are available at the time of this writing , the uptempo beat on “Tangled” is contagious and I can’t wait to hear more when the album lands on September 6th.

Welch & Penn – Early Bird Gangsters

Welch & Penn are an interesting duo. Freddie Wilson (aka Fountain Penn) is a singer-songwriter and Donnie Welch is a performance poet. The two started the Welch & Penn project back in 2012 and are recorded their EP Early Bird Gangsters earlier this month. It’s easy to hear where each member’s influence came into play as each of the three tracks includes Welch’s intense poetry interspersed within – and sometimes overlaid on – Penn’s equally emotional vocal work. With such a heavy weight placed upon the lyrics, each of the songs needs a few listens to fully appreciate the message. Have a listen.

Tomas Sen – Try Solitude

Jeff Thomassen is a bit of a do-everything kind of artist. He’s the writer, composer, arranger, recorder, and producer behind Tomas Sen. He’s put all of that effort to use in creating his debut album Try Solitude. Like many of the other entries this month, this is an experimental album. Try Solitude is a compilation of ten tracks that range from folk to electronica to surf. A backdrop of bird song and whistling in a few of the early tracks helps perpetuate an easygoing acoustic feel. The middle of the album has more of an ambient electronica sound. As advertised, the album really is all over the place in terms of style, but it’s all tied together by the idea that these are all thoughts that pass through our minds when we’re alone.

Well that does it for August. A few of these albums come out in early September, so make sure you keep an eye on them if you enjoy them. As always, let us know if you had a favorite artist out of the bunch, or if there’s a band we’ve missed that you think highly of. Until next time…

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

With 16 bands and solo acts, June’s music roundup was an epic month for us here at The Indie Mine. Or so we thought. July brought us 17 artists including a handful who’ve graced these articles before. Folk was as prevalent as ever, but “swamp rock” and hip hop emerged as popular genres. Our neighbors to the north (Canada) provided ample representation, but we had a number of artists from across the global make an appearance. So, once again there’s a bit of something for everyone. Grab your headphones and have a listen while we walk you through the music we discovered in July 2013.

The Coppertone – “Young Blood”

Amanda Zelina – better known as The Coppertone – has taken an interesting path towards indie status. After signing a record contract a few years ago, she wanted to break free and take back ownership of her own songs. That effort produced “Young Blood”, a single to help celebrate an indiegogo campaign to take back her creative works. That campaign would prove a success, and you can check out the song below or the lyric video.

For Esmé - For Esmé

It’s not often new artists hit all the right notes in their debut album, but songwriter Martha Meredith manages to do so under the project For Esmé. Staff music writer Jennifer Roger reviewed the album saying “there are definitely a few fun and whimsical moments, but by and large the album is a sophisticated one”. The inspirations for Meredith’s work include Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, and Emily Haines, and you can have a listen below. 

Explorers - No Inertia

We took some liberties with the inclusion of Explorers and their album No Inertia. The band actually released the 6-track set more than a year ago, but this is the first time we’ve come across them so they’re new to us! Their indie progressive rock sound takes its inspiration from Blink-182 to Led Zeppelin and I particularly enjoyed “Bear”. Ignore the album name and artwork (I had to share an outdated Bandcamp widget) and have a listen to the full set while awaiting the band’s second album that will be released “soon”.

Flamingo Bay – “Serpentine”

It wouldn’t be an Indie Mine Music Roundup if we didn’t manage to stumble across yet another talented band that’s set up shop in Hamilton, Ontario. The trio of Flamingo Bay have released a two-song single named “Serpentine”. The tracks feature a lively, entertaining “northern swamp rock” sound. The band is currently working on their debut album Loco Pony and these two songs will be part of that release in autumn of this year. In the meantime, you can have a look and take a listen to their new video.

SPC ECO – “Delusional Waste”

The band SPC ECO (pronounced SPACE ECHO) has an interesting backstory. The band is a father-daughter duo with Rose Berlin handling vocals and lyrics and Dean Garcia handling the instrumental work along with the engineering and producing. They’ve been releasing albums for about five ears now and the most recent, Push, was covered by a number of different radio and internet outlets. Their latest single, “Delusional Waste” features a synth-pop sound, but with a heavy focus on Berlin’s vocals. It’s the first track off their next album, slated for release later this year. The music video for “Delusional Waste” can be found here.

Mega Ran – Japan Tour

This isn’t our first time discussing Mega Ran on The Indie Mine, but it’s the first time he’s been included in a music article. Confused? Back in mid-2012, the nerdcore rapper partnered with Lunar Giant Studios to create Mega Ran in Language Arts: The Game. The Mega Man superfan made news again this past month with a Kickstarter campaign for a chip-hop remix tour in Japan. With the following he has, it’s no surprise the campaign was successful. Even if you’re not a fan of rap music, the Mega Ran Japan Tour album’s still likely to appeal to classic gaming fans.

The Dirty Nil – Summer Mixtape Vol. 2: Covers

The Dirty Nil has released its second mixtape this Summer, and this compilation is all covers. Featuring songs from an eclectic mix of artists like Iggy Pop and Merle Haggard, the four-track rock album manages to highlight the destructive sound and theme of the band. Hit the music video and make sure to crank the volume up for full effect.

The Box Tiger - Set Fire

Big things are happening this August for The Box Tiger. The indie rock band based out of both Toronto and Portland, ME has  been together for nearly four years, but the lineup has seen multiple changes. However, August 6th will see the culmination of their hard work with release of their debut album, Set Fire. Featuring the lead vocals of Sonia Sturino and instrumental work of bandmates Jordan Stowell and Marcus Cipparrone (Ben Tran would join later and did do the album art), have a listen to a few of the tracks from the 10-song album.

Mountaineer! – Family Trees

Mountaineer! also makes their album debut this month with the release of Family Trees. Mountaineer! is the solo project from California-based Danny Poissant. In Jennifer’s review, she deemed it “mostly a lighthearted and quirky album, but it’s also very reflective on the experiences of young adulthood”. Rock, pop, folk, and world music all make an appearance in the eclectic mix of ten tracks.

The Hotelles – Show You Around

We’re actually pretty familiar with The Hotelles’ work having covered them multiple times including back in February’s Music Roundup. The British rock trio is back with another EP titled Show You Around. I’m consistently surprised by the sound coming from these guys considering their young age, but they’ve continued to improve with each new release. This three-track set continues that trajectory.

David & Clara – “Don’t You Want To Be Famous”

David & Clara makes a return trip to our music roundup having been included in May’s edition. “Don’t You Want To Be Famous” is the latest single from the human/laptop duo. The latest track continues the band’s trademark combination of David’s vocals and backup music/effects from “Clara”. If you happen to live in the Tempe, AZ area, you can catch David & Clara at the city’s Center for the Arts on their open mic nights which will pick up again in September.

Latka – My Bright Heart

Latka makes their first appearance on The Indie Mine. Members of the four-piece band from Winnipeg, Manitoba have been together for years and released multiple EPs. However, July 6th marked the release of the full band’s debut album, My Bright Heart. The eight tracks of pop rock – and a sprinkle of punk – buzz with a variety of instrumentation (violin!) backing up the vocals.

Alex Leggett – Captain

Folk/pop artist Alex Leggett hails from Gananoque, ON and makes the music roundup with his most recent album, Captain. The five-track set of songs features the singer/songwriters’ strong vocal talents which are accompanied by an often uptempo combination of acoustic guitar, double bass, and percussion. I’ve included title track “Captain” below, but the toe-tapping “Wicked Things” is my personal favorite song off the album. Have a listen and find your own favorite.

Bonzie - Rift Into The Secret Of Things

Chicago-based Nina Ferraro, aka Bonzie, is one of the youngest musicians to make our list this month. That youth belies what she’s accomplished in her young career having opened for Iron and Wine and performed at Summerfest 2013. August 13th marks the launch of her debut album, Rift Into The Secret of Things. You can check out the music video for “Felix” which features a male harmony part by The Milk Carton Kids’ Joey Ryan, or have a listen to the track below.

The Woodwards – “The Wood”

The Woodwards are back! It was just last month that we highlighted their folk noir single “Nothing”. Much like “Nothing”, “The Wood” is all about Peter Schuyff’s vocals and the entertaining lyrics in general. This track, though, features a stronger blues sound thanks to the guitar and bass work. It’s also part of The Woodwards II, the next album from the group which is due out in late October.

Nate “Suave” Cameron – “No Justice No Peace”

Another returning musician from last month’s roundup is Nate “Suave” Cameron. Suave has returned with “No Justice No Peace”, a single made from the artist’s internal reflection on the Trayvon Martin case and trial. Once again accompanied by collaborator Prospek, and with the help of DC hip hop artist Kam Royal, Suave shares a story about trust, oppression, and freedom. In an effort to share a song that’s so close to his heart, Suave has made the song available to download for free.

Trash The Brand - Trash The Brand

With so many different genres covered, surely there must’ve been something that tickled your eardrums. Have any favorites from the list above? Any other lesser known or indie bands that caught your attention in July? Let us know by leaving a comment below. We’ll see you back here next month.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Too. Much. Music. Never thought I’d say that, but we were absolutely swamped with bands releasing new albums, singles, and music videos this past month. At the rate these roundup articles are growing, we might have to rethink the format for July. I really shouldn’t complain, though, as June was an excellent month for music in many genres, some of which we’ve yet to cover on the site. Grab some headphones and have a listen to the music that kept us so busy these last few weeks.

Blinker The Star – “Future Fires”

Blinker The Star is far from being green in the music scene having released six albums to date. Jordon Zadorozny, the main man behind the band, decided to try something new with his latest single “Future Fires”.  The single attempts to envelop all of the energy of a full album within just one song. For the most part it works though it left me wanting to hear more (in a good way) of the mix of alternative and pop synth sound. Check out the single below or hit the link for the official music video.

Adelleda - Distress

The invasion of bands from Hamilton, Ontario continues! Adelleda, a skate punk band from that area makes an appearance on our list with the debut of their album Distress. The eight tracks full of driving drumbeats, impressive guitar work, and classic punk vocal stylings are emblematic of the genre and took me back to a time when I listened to a lot more punk on the radio. Good stuff all around. The album is available through iTunes and you can get a taste of it below or by checking out the music video for title track “Distress”.

Kings of Lowertown – “Shotgun Preacher”

I love coming across new music genres, or at least those that meld genres I’m already familiar with. Mike Mackey of Kings of Lowertown describes his band as “alt-country, alt-folk, and dirt blues” and that was enough to persuade me to have a listen. New single “Shotgun Preacher” – inspired by the style of Tom Waits – is part of the album 60 More Miles which is set to release in October of this year. This follows the pattern of new album releases each October over the last few years. Jordon Zadorozny makes a return appearance in this list as the producer and engineer on the track.

Suave x Prospek - Day 2 Day Soul

Soul music makes its first appearance in one of our music roundup features, and I wish it hadn’t taken so long. Soul singer Suave has teamed up with labelmate Prospek on the six-track album Day 2 Day Soul. I was thoroughly impressed with the vocal talents on the album, but it was the combination of Suave with the live instrumentation that won me over. My favorite track was “This Can’t Work” and its mix of great vocals with some excellent guitar and trumpet accompaniment. Have a listen below or check out the music video available here.

Venn - Versus

While much of this month’s list features artists with a few albums to their name, singer-songwriter VENN is debuting her first EP, Versus. The self-produced, four-track EP  features an alternative/pop rock sound. It’s the experimental, eclectic twists that she puts on each song that make every track in the album sound very different from the others. My favorite of the bunch might be “Synth Boys and Supercharged Girls” which you can listen to below.

Paul Colilli - Hieroglyphs of the Soul

Simply Saucers co-founder Paul Colilli makes the list this month, but with his 2nd solo album Hieroglyphs of the Soul. It’s difficult to nail down a specific genre that the album would be filed under, but the lyrics reminded me of Talking Heads or They Might Be Giants. The album as a whole is an envisioning of what will pass on Earth between now and its end. Largely featuring the vocal work of Colilli, the piano accompaniment is a nice addition, particularly on slower tracks like “The Soft Ethic”. It’s really a fascinating vision from a musician who spends his days as a university professor teaching literature and philosophy.

Two Peace Extra Spicy - Sophia

Our newest staff writer, Jennifer, actually took a stab at reviewing the debut album from Canadian brothers Two Peace Extra Spicy. In her words, “…the brothers are clearly influenced by artists like The White Stripes and The Black Keys. Their entire album revolves around that same stripped down rock and roll sound…” The duo are fairly young at ages 18 and 15. While there are some growing pains with their talent, they also show a lot of promise in their six-track offering. The debut album can be heard below, and more information can be found at the band’s official website.

Prevrat - Symbols

Electronic, new wave, post-punk, indie rock and synthpop are all applicable descriptions of the music stylings created by Prevrat. That only begins to touch the surface of what’s contained within the eight tracks of Prevrat’s album Symbols. Featuring a wide array of synthesized sounds, I thought the album really hits its stride halfway through in tracks “Safe Distance” and “Abandoned” when the new wave vocals mix with the indie rock guitar. A number of the tracks also have accompanying music videos.

The Dead Projectionists - The Fantasy Farm

Alternative/folk rock group The Dead Projectionists recently released their four-track EP The Fantasy Farm. The six-member band from Toronto has a wonderful acoustic sound to back up the vocal harmonies. The highlight of the album for me is title track “Fantasy Farm” which does the best job of showing off the band’s talents and is a bit more upbeat in instrumentation than some of the other tracks.

The Woodwards – “Nothing”

Folk noir is a term I was unfamiliar with when first introduced to the musical stylings of Peter Schuyff and his band The Woodwards. Upon hearing new single “Nothing”, I immediately understood both the classification and the comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. The Woodwards have seen numerous changes over the years to the band’s lineup and sound, but the current group consists of Schuyff and British singer Stevie Guy. “Nothing” is the first track from the full album that the duo plans to release in September.

Fitness Club Fiasco – “Goldmine”

Few bands in this list have undergone as many transitions as Fitness Club Fiasco. Originally founded in Bristol, England and eventually moving to Canada, the band has seen a number of new additions to their lineup. Change can be good, though, and the band has developed a great sound that combines pop melodies with synths. The group has released “Goldmine”, a track that really shows off both their vocal and instrumental talents. The band describes their music as having “dancey rhythms”. I definitely get that from this single, and the experience reminded me of my introduction to The Killers many years ago. Have a listen below.

Soviet Sleeper Agent - Over and Out

Before I even listened to Soviet Sleeper Agent’s latest EP Over and Out, I got a real kick out of the names of the eight tracks included. Who could deny the opportunity to hear “Fonzie Jumps The Shark”, “Broseph Stalin”, or “I May Have Alzheimer’s, But At Least I Don’t Have Alzheimer’s”? The five-member punk band from North Wales, PA obviously has a great sense of humor, and for the most part they have the musical chops to back it up.

Jenn Fiorentino - From Darkness To Light

Although inspired by punk rock, Jenn Fiorentino’s music is also deeply-rooted in an acoustic, alternative style. From Darkness to Light is the second album from the artist, following up on the 2011 release of Upon Our Wonders. The album is not just all about Fiorentino’s vocals, though. I really loved the guitar work, particularly on the “Artificial Boundaries” and “Happy Are Those Who Forget”. Besides the album releases, Jenn has also spent a few years now covering a wide variety of punk songs, and these can be heard on her YouTube page.

Havilah Tower – “Out To Sea”

Self-described as producing ‘ClassAcoustic’ music, three-member band Havilah Tower are making their debut with their single “Out To Sea”. The band combines country/folk vocals (Havilah Tower) with a number of interesting instrumentation choices including cello (Chris Wright) and djembe drums (Stephen Perkins). “Out To Sea” is one of the tracks from their upcoming LP Behind The Curtain, scheduled to be released this October. I’m looking forward to hearing more of that unique sound later this year.

Chimera – “Lion”

Chimera’s work embodies the truest spirit of indie entertainment due to the fact that the artist wrote all of the music and has paid for everything out of pocket. The first example of that work to hit the internet is the single “Lion”, released in early June. That project has turned into a full multimedia venture that also includes a music video and short film.

Black Dirty - Dirty Water

Although from South Jersey, indie postrock/alternative/math rock band Black Dirty can be found these days playing in Philadelphia, PA. The four-member group released their first EP, Dirty Water, in early June. Despite the album name, the four tracks included on the album feature some great, clean-sounding guitar work. Not to be outdone, the vocals and drums are at the same level of quality and clarity. Have a listen below and then go pick up the album. It’s free!

Well, that’s it for this month. We certainly covered a lot of variety in June’s edition, but I know there’s always more music to be discovered. Was there some band or genre we overlooked? Did you have any favorites in the above list? I encourage you to share your views by leaving a comment. See you all again next month.

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