Jan 302011
 

I’ve gotten a few emails in the past few months by Courtney Green, the frontwoman for California indie-pop band See Green, about reviewing the band;  but to tell the truth, it was a busy time, and without my having a lot of direct connection to California indie acts, See Green got sort of lost in the shuffle.

My bad.  I should have been paying attention.

Although I never got around to covering See Green, their tune “Think Twice” made its way onto my ipod. And I’ve noticed that every time that song comes up on shuffle, it makes me stop and listen.  It’s just got a really catchy sound. This morning, the song came up again–and finally, this Los Angeles-based band got my attention.

My apologies, Courtney and crew; better late than never. :)

That said, this tune is definitely worth a listen, as is the band’s latest effort Violet. See Green has this danceable alt-indie-pop vibe that has a modern feel while drawing from several retro elements. I hear a little bit of Brit-synth-pop, a little bit of California surf–just a great vibe overall.  Really draws me in.

On a side note…maybe I’m late to the proverbial party here, but See Green isn’t the first California indie-pop act to reach out, and I’m noticing a consistent sound with them–perhaps an emergence of a specific new California sound.  I first noticed it with San Francisco’s Music For Animals. Maybe someone already has named this new California sound, but just for kicks, I’m going to name it “Cali-pop” and see if anyone picks it up.

Take a listen to See Green’s “Think Twice”, then watch the video.  See what you think.

See Green: “Think Twice”

Buy Violet from iTunes:
Violet - EP - See Green

Jan 282011
 

Sometimes what you name something is important.

The Raven and The Writing Desk.  When I first read the name of this haunting indie-pop band, my attention was immediately arrested. Instantly my brain created associations with Edgar Allen Poe, C.S. Lewis, and that old video game Myst. What an interesting name; it suggests what you’re about to hear would be best listened to while sitting in an old wood-paneled library, smoking a pipe.

Turns out the name fits the band’s sound quite well. Their record Recidivist is described on the band’s MySpace page described as a concept album in which the songs “center around tragic characters who have fallen victim to their cyclical existences.” (The word “recidivist” refers to a criminal who continues to repeat the offense, so the title fits, as well.)  I heard the record before reading the description, and that vibe was very easy to pick up.  It isn’t just that the songs tell a story; the sound tells the story.  An interesting blend of the familiar and the experimental, this is piano-driven indie-pop overlaid with haunting violin and guitar, providing an almost theatrical backdrop for frontwoman Julia LiBissi’s emotional, expressive vocals.

I don’t think I’ve ever used the term “literary” to describe a band’s sound, but to me there’s no better word to describe The Raven and The Writing Desk. When I listen to them, it sounds like musical literature.  The music is an experience in itself, taking you into another time and place.  Not bad for a band who is barely a year old. :)

I’ve put up the first track here, but being a concept record, Recidivist is best listened to in full.  So if you like the opening act, go to iTunes and pick up the record.

The Raven and The Writing Desk: “Somnambulist”

Buy Recidivist on iTunes:

Recidivist - The Raven and the Writing Desk

Jan 152011
 

With all the music I listen to in my role as a blogger, one thing I truly enjoy is observing the growth of an artist–to see how a musician progresses from one record to the next.  I love it when the new record is better than the last.

Take Denver-based singer/songwriter Katey Laurel, for instance.  I haven’t reviewed her music before now on this blog, but this new record From Here isn’t the first time I’ve heard her. We first connected about a year ago, when she sent me a copy of her record Upstairs Downstairs, which at that time was already a couple of years old. The songs and the record’s production value were presentable enough, but when she mentioned she was working on some new stuff, I decided to wait to hear what she did next, and review her more current material.

The amount of artistic growth reflected in this new record, compared to the previous one, is nothing short of remarkable. If these two records were pencil marks on the wall, Katey Laurel just grew a foot. The songwriting has taken a quantum leap forward, with well-crafted lyrics and solid melody lines. The arrangements are current. The production value is excellent.  But all that is not even the best part.

Katey Laurel has one of those unmistakable voices that is instantly recognized–a huge plus for any artist, but it can be a double-edged sword, because like a diamond, it really has to be placed in the right setting in order for it to shine.  For me, the most satisfying element of this record is that each of the eight songs on it is an excellent setting for her voice.  Katey’s producer did a fantastic job of making sure her greatest qualities as an artist–both as a vocalist and as a songwriter–have been placed front and center. The result is a set of songs that could easily be pitched for radio airplay.

The songs on From Here are pretty solidly in the AAA market–mainly love songs with a hint of country and even an occasional splash of jazz–so don’t go looking for anything wildly experimental, because that’s not the record’s intent, anyhow. But in my humble opinion, this record marks a personal artistic breakthrough for the artist.  Katey Laurel has taken it to the next level.

Katey Laurel: “Begin Again”

Buy From Here on iTunes:

From Here - Katey Laurel

Jan 062011
 

I gotta tell ya–I haven’t been this excited about an upcoming release in quite some time.

I’ve had a few good things to say about Churchill over the past year or so, and it’s no secret that I’m a fan–and judging from the turnout at their shows, it’s clear I’m not the only one.  Since they began playing together just under two years ago, armed with only an EP in a slipcover and a lot of heart, Churchill has turned a lot of heads with their distinct sound, winning lots of fans along the way.

Truth be told, the fans are a huge reason why the band’s first full-length album Happy/Sad is finally set for release on Feb. 11.  The record has been funded almost entirely by Churchill’s fan base, thanks to crowdfunding site Kickstarter.

This is a record nearly a year in the making.  When I had the privilege of interviewing the band for Examiner.com last spring, they played me a couple of demos they’d thrown down for the record.  I’ve literally been on pins and needles waiting for this thing to come out ever since.  Okay…maybe not literally on pins and needles. But you get the idea.

I’m a veteran/skeptic, and it takes a lot to impress me. In my opinion, Churchill has stumbled on more than a sound.  There’s a chemistry here the likes of which I haven’t seen/heard in some time. Whatever that intangible X-factor is…they have it.  Churchill has…the OOMPH.

The first single from the upcoming record, “Miles”, is now up for sale on iTunes.  Take a listen to the song below, and if you like it, go get the single.  Gauging from this first song, the rest of the album will be worth the wait.

Churchill – Miles by wirebird
Buy “Miles” on iTunes:
Miles - Single - Churchill

Jan 012011
 

I first heard indie-folk band Glowing House play live in a Denver venue, and I was impressed to the point that I asked to review their record. The band is co-fronted by singer/songwriters Jess Parsons and Steve Varney, accompanied by Patrick Kline on percussion. Together, the band features an interesting duality–although the overall sound is definitely folk, Parsons’ voice adds a touch of jazz while Varney leans more toward an alternative sound. Don’t ask me how, but the combination works.

The Annual Demise of Every Aspen was released back in 2009, and listening to them live a few weeks ago, it was apparent that Glowing House has grown beyond the music on their record.  Annual Demise carries an overall downtempo melancholy which you might expect with a title like that, and they’ve expanded their sound a bit since then. Nevertheless, the record has some brilliant moments on it–strong melody lines, solid harmonies, and some haunting string arrangements thrown in.

Thankfully, Glowing House has announced that they’re recording a new record that will hopefully reflect their expanded range. If Annual Demise is any indication, we have a lot to look forward to. This band is definitely on my radar.

Glowing House: “Paper And Pen”