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.

Delta Will – It All Glows EP

Delta Will’s four-track EP, It All Glows, is a spacey, artful narrative with a bluesy, folksy soundscape of vocal overlays and subtle atmospheric synth washes. It chronicles the alien Delta Will’s exploration of humanity and earthly life through the eyes of the human Charles Tilden. Lyrically, it is a welcome reprieve from the mundane songwriter-centric direction of much of music across every genre.

It All Glows is lush and warm with an unassumingly whimsical tone reminiscent of Miniature Tigers’ sophomore album, Fortress. Tilden’s melismatic vocals are honey-smooth as he maneuvers through registers and dynamics, carrying the melodies confidently, but never becoming overbearing or contrived. The pleasant energy of the title track lends it a nostalgic sweetness that brings to mind Weezer’s “Island in the Sun” and ambient bird chirps and conversational mutterings at the conclusion of the instrumental track, “Space Throws”, conjure imagery of crisp sunlight and green foliage. “Holy Ghost”, the most understated song on the EP, features Fleet Foxes-esque arpeggiation and spacious vocal reverberation. The album’s buoyant attitude juxtaposes the somewhat morbid lyrical content in a way that is evocative of the Tralfamadorians’ observations of the universe in Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five; Delta Will acknowledges the peculiarity and transience of existence without being overly mournful or sentimental.

It All Glows is imaginative while remaining cohesive through textural instrumentation, artistic assuredness, and high production value. The title track is the highlight of the album, and while the energy does die down as the album progresses, none of the songs overstay their welcome. After two EPs, Tilden seems to have a firm grasp on his creative vision, and hopefully he will continue to pursue the musical direction demonstrated in this album.

You can listen to two of the tracks from It All Glows on Bandcamp or Soundcloud, and both physical and digital copies of the album are available for purchase through Bandcamp and iTunes.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

They say records are made to be broken. Well, September was bursting at the seams with new music and that’s evident by the fact that we included a whopping 17 bands in our latest music news roundup. Electronic music made a strong resurgence after disappearing a bit for the last few months. Alternative, rock, soul, pop, and more can also be found in this month’s inclusions. Grab a drink and a set of headphones then sit back and listen to the music of September 2013.

Ions in the Ether – (Un)titled

Adam Joseph White starts off our coverage this month with the release of his 4-track EP (Un)titled. Working under the pseudonym Ions in the Ether, White has had a very busy year in the electronic music scene. This EP is one of a handful produced just this summer alone. I’m not a huge aficionado of electronica, but I was fondly reminded of Jim Guthrie’s Sword & Sorcery soundtrack.  Have a listen to White’s synth stylings below.

Future History – Lungs

What’s creepier than little kids? Little kids in creepy animal masks playing around old haunted cabins. That’s just a glimpse into what can be found in the music video for Future History’s single “With Haste”. That track is part of the band’s album Lungs, slated to come out this October.

Dúo del Sol – hello Kaleidoscope

Javier Orman and Tom Farrell make up the duo of Dúo del Sol, though the classical musicians are accompanied  by a number of other talented artists on their latest release, hello Kaleidoscope. The 11-track album has latin and jazz elements though it’s really music of the world at large. I particularly enjoyed the high-energy “Cualquiera”, though the first track – “Never the Same River Twice” – is quite simply a beautiful song.

The Almighty Rhombus – “Blank”

The Almighty Rhombus makes their triumphant return to our music news roundup, last appearing in March’s edition. This time around the band has released a new single, “Blank”, which is one of the tracks off of their upcoming album Lucid Living. While the album’s not slated to come out until the end of October, readers/listeners can check out “Blank” and its Summery feel below or via the associated music video.

Crashing Colors – Crashing Colors

It’s been an adventurous Summer for Crashing Colors. The Houston-based band recently moved shop to London just a few months after releasing their self-titled album. The 6-track EP features the band’s delightfully eclectic mix of soul, blues, rock, electronic, and other musical genres. Have a listen and try to pick out your own favorite elements.

Max Bergé – Fox’s Wedding Weather

Electronic singer-songwriter Max Bergé makes it onto this month’s list with his latest EP, Fox’s Wedding Weather. The 5-track electronic EP is emphasized by driving synth and bass, but it’s Bergé’s vocals that take center stage on each of the tracks. Check out the video below that includes samples of each of the tracks along with some behind-the-scenes insight into the artist’s creative process.

Trevor and The Joneses – There Was Lightning

Pounding drums, driving bass, wailing guitar, and of course vocals make Trevor and The Joneses the very definition of a rock band. Their 10-track album There Was Lightning released back in May, but only recently came to our attention. I always say better late than never, so have a listen and enjoy.

Postcode – The ZebrATP

Last month we came across our first band based on Isle of Man, Post War Stories. September brings us Postcode and their 7-track album The ZebrATP. The alt-rock/’zebracore’ album was inspired by the band’s recent visits to the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival and also led to a music video for final track “Goodbye Minehead”.

For Esmé – “Cinque Terre”

We covered For Esmé back in our July Roundup for their self-titled debut album. The band is back with their first music video, this time for single “Cinque Terre”. Fall weather may be approaching, but the video extends the outdoor season with a Summery feel. Have a look and a listen.

SPC ECO – “Fallen Stars”

Staff music writer Jennifer reviewed SPC ECO’s previous release – “Delusional Waste” - a couple of months ago, but the duo is back with another single, “Fallen Stars”. This epic track hits you with layers of music coming from all directions. As with the previous single, this track is a part of the band’s upcoming album Sirens and Satellites, due out in late October.

Running Red Lights – “Mulberry Love”

Running Red Lights has been together quite a long time. Seven years in fact. Despite that longevity, “Mulberry Love” marks the band’s first release. The catchy alt-rock/pop track will be part of RRL’s debut album, tentatively due out in January. In the meantime, have a listen below.

Action Cube – The Bits Detective

Action Cube is a project from Chicago-based musician Robert Carey. Carey has played in a handful of area bands including Jesus and the Devil as well as Battlestations. The Bits Detective is Carey’s first album since going solo. It’s also the byproduct of a laptop and bedroom recording studio which creates the album’s lo-fi electronic/rock sound. Carey humorously comments that “broken guitars, borrowed microphones, cheap effects and general ignorance informed the entire process.” My favorite track on the album is “Like The Young” which I’ve included here.

Kojo ‘Easy’ Damptey – Daylight Robbery

It’s been over a year since the last time Kojo Damptey made an appearance on The Indie Mine. At long last Damptey returns with the 10-track EP Daylight Robbery. As with the artist’s previous efforts, this new album has a strong focus on issues that affect the world at large. The Ghana-born musician keeps his finger on the pulse of hot-button issues like racial injustice, but also incorporates brighter subjects like love. The album as a whole has hip hop, soul, and reggae influences, while also including spoken word tracks like “Are We Minorities?”.

Sun Stone Revolvers – Spaceship X

Old is new again with Sun Stone Revolvers. Often drawing comparisons to classic rock mainstays, Sun Stone Revolvers released their latest album Spaceship X in mid-September. With a total of 10 tracks, SSR manages to put a bit of a psychedelic spin on the genre. The band also has a music video for the single “America”. Included below is the title track, though I actually enjoyed “Born Again” the most.

Erland – On Our Side

Erland is an alternative/folk/americana ensemble from Santa Barbara, California. Earlier this year, the band was able to get their debut album On Our Side crowdfunded and released. The album features a dozen tracks which the band performs in a style that’s drawn comparisons to well-known musical acts like Wilco.

Kloq – “High”

Classifying their musical genre as ‘punktronic’, Kloq has reinvented themselves with their recent work. The solo project evolved by adding lead vocalist Dean Goodwin, drummer Alex Baker, and bassist Tim Jackson to band founder Oz Morsley. The band has released a music video for single “High” and are set to launch a new album in mid-October.

Pete Van Dyk & the Second Hand Band – “Shake Me”/”Plan B”

Pete Van Dyk & the Second Hand Band are another set of veterans in our music roundup series having previously made the list in May. The band is back with their first 7″ record which contains songs “Shake Me”, “Plan B”, and bonus track “To the Night”. For those unfamiliar with the band, they have a magically southern rock sound despite hailing from Hamilton, ON. Don’t believe me? Have a listen.

That’s it for September. I warned you there was a lot of music, but hopefully you found some favorites. Feel free to share those with us. If there’s a band or genre you’d like to see covered in greater depth, let us know about that too. See you all next month.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Chris Christodoulou creates an auditory adventure for the upcoming space platformer, Risk of Rain.

Music and sound effects can often be a blessing or a curse for a video game. The audio can either enhance an already great game, or sabotage the developer’s efforts with annoying or repetitive audio that distracts from the gameplay. Luckily, the creators of the upcoming action platformer, Risk of Rain, have scored a talented composer behind the game’s original soundtrack.

Chris Christodoulou has been infatuated with music since a young age. He began by taking music lessons, and went on to study music theory in Athens. It was around this time that Christodoulou also joined bands of varying genres, lending his skills at the keyboards and drums. It’s these diverse influences that came through and helped shape Risk of Rain’s unique sound. The soundtrack is not just an ordinary chiptune album – Christodoulou’s musical background adds a level of refinement that accentuates the feel of the game.

Risk of Rain takes place in the future in which there is only one survivor after a space train crash. The story unfolds on a mysterious planet with bizarre creatures and events for the protagonist to contend with. Christodoulou’s eerie synth effects paired with heavy rhythms help convey the sinister vibe of the environment and the gravity of the situation.

Much like the music from Bastion, the game’s soundtrack has some modern rock mixed with some chiptune elements. “Double Fucking Rainbow” (by far the heaviest track) is a good example of this with fierce guitar solos and double bass thundering under electronic blips. There are also some more down-tempo songs like “Coalescence” that has a sort of hypnotizing effect with its looping melodies. Christodoulou even throws in some hints of jazz on “Aurora Borealis” and a little R&B on the closing track, “Chanson d’Automne..” for an urban, industrial feel.

Listening to the soundtrack from start to finish really gives you the feeling that you’ve embarked on an epic and perilous journey in space, and there is a definite sense of progression and continuity among all of the tracks. Overall, Risk of Rain OST does an excellent job of adding to the story and enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.

Risk of Rain can be pre-ordered at Bandcamp for €4 (or about $5.34) in which four tracks are immediately available to download. The full album will be available once it’s officially released on September 4th. For those interested in the game (also set for a fall 2013 release) you can try the demo now or pre-order it here.

© 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.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Young Canadian duo, Two Peace Extra Spicy, throw their hats into the rock and roll ring with their debut EP, Sophia.

Youth and rock music have been synonymous since the days of Elvis and Chuck Berry, so it only seems natural that brothers James (18) and Ryan (15) Guarascia would be drawn to the sounds of old school blues and rock. Founded in January of 2012, the Canadian duo wanted to simply call themselves Two Piece but settled on Two Peace Extra Spicy due to their feisty nature on stage. Despite the odd name, the brothers do impress with their debut EP, Sophia, but there are still some evident growing pains.

There’s no doubt about it – 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, but it doesn’t always work as with the aforementioned bands. The opening track, “Dark Lonely Road” has a great bluesy feel, but at just over 3 minutes, it overstays its welcome. Unfortunately, there is a noticeable tendency for the songs to feel a little long and monotonous despite their solid beats and catchy hooks.

Frustratingly enough, it can be hard to latch on to those hooks, because the guitar is drowned out by the drums thanks to the overly clean guitar sound, particularly in “On a Cloud.” Ironically, James’ vocals come out fuzzy and the lyrics are also difficult to make out due to heavy layers of effects. It would have been nice to hear more of the distortion on the guitar, rather than on the vocals.

Despite all of this, Two Peace really seem to nail it with the closing track, “Made Up My Mind.” It’s by far the strongest track, effectively blending their influences all while mixing it up with the most energy and versatility.

Overall, Sophia is a great effort but falls short, and in the end, just feels anemic. The brothers are on the right track, but they’ll have to expand on their influences rather than mimic them to really stand out. With such a basic rock style, they really need one strong element to push them to the next level. At the moment the brothers definitely sound like a two piece, but without the spice. The good news? There’s still plenty of time for them to grow as musicians and form their own unique style.

Sophia is out now and available at their official site, as well as at iTunes US and iTunes Canada. You can also stream the EP in its entirety on SoundCloud here.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The first and third tracks, “Don’t You Know” and “Forever”, respectively, have a driving tempo and sound that really took me back to the alt-rock chart-toppers of the mid-to-late 90s/early 2000s. The band slows things down with the second track, “The Last Talk”, which they remix for the EP’s finale.

You can have a listen to “The Last Talk” in the video below, or you can check out the whole EP on Bandcamp or SoundCloud.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

For those unfamiliar with Corey Hager, the singer/songwriter from Ripley, West Virginia is ready to break into the indie music scene with his first EP I Like It That Way. Influenced by artists ranging from the Beatles to Blink-182 to John Mayer, Hager has a musical style that blends pop, folk, rock, and country with an acoustic sound.

While the EP won’t release until later this summer (specific date TBD), you can check out the single of the mellow, yet upbeat single “Babydoll” in the video below. For more information about Corey Hager including show dates, check out the official website and Facebook page.

© 2012 – 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.