Bands | The Oomph Music Blog

“Indie Folk Melancholipop”: the whicker and pine

Apr 242011

Brand new on the radar…to the sound of (not so) much fanfare…comes Denver acoustic indie-folk band the whicker and pine.

(Doesn’t ANYONE use upper case anymore?)

Anyhow, just getting started, these guys already show some musical maturity on their debut self-titled EP (which you can download for free from here). They have a laid-back sound that’s just perfect for a cloudy Sunday morning while enjoying a cup of coffee (which is precisely why–and when–I’m writing this blog post now).

In a recent post on the band’s blog, one of the band mates half-jokingly described their sound as “Indie Folk Melancholipop.” But that really fits the vibe of the record. It’s just enough “indie” and “alt” to get your attention, but just enough “pop” to make it accessible. Plus, anyone who can come up with a genre name that rhymes with “lollipop” has to have something on the ball.

New bands always have room to grow, and that’s certainly the case here. But the whicker and pine has is already quite easy on the ears, and it will be interesting to see how their sound develops. Meanwhile, take a listen to the opening track of their EP below, and if you like what you hear–go here to get the rest of it.

the whicker and pine: “stay awake”

The Sundelles: Resurgent not Retro

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Apr 102011

I had an interesting experience this morning. After last listening to the Sundelles song “Can’t Win” one time last week, this morning I woke up to the song playing in my head. Talk about catchy.

While there are a lot of bands and acts out there who are trying to push music forward by pressing the envelope of experimentation (often until you have no grid whatsoever for what’s going on), a number of bands look backward for their inspiration. But even among these bands, I’m discovering a difference between “retro” and “resurgent.” A retro band tends to live in yesteryear (sometimes even dressing the part), recalling the fond memories of days gone by–completely looking backward. But other bands are shooting for a resurgence; they look backward just enough to get inspiration, and try to bring that music forward into a modern-day context, to make it current and relevant again.

Photo: JM Houle.

Listening to the Sundelles, their 60’s California surf-pop vibe is unmistakable. But it’s also apparent that these guys aren’t retro; they are resurgent. They are playing this sound in such a way that it fits the modern day, and makes us fall in love with the sound all over again in a new way.

Bottom line, though: whether a song takes its inspiration from the past or pushes to the future, what makes it stand out is if it is catchy. Ultimately, that’s why I like the song below, “Can’t Win.” I don’t like it because of its roots in the past; I like it because it’s catchy.

“Can’t Win” is from the Sundelles’ debut full-length album Georgia Swan. Give it a listen and see what you think.

Sundelles: “Can’t Win”

Buy the Sundelles on iTunes:

The Sound of Civil Wars

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Mar 312011

This band is already getting plenty of attention, but I just have to put in my two cents’: acoustic folk duo The Civil Wars is one of the best I’ve heard in quite some time. More than just the raw, minimal instrumentation and catchy melodies, these voices just go together. John Paul White and Joy Williams have stumbled on a combination and chemistry that is more than just talent (which both have in spades, btw). It’s a sound that exceeds the sum of its parts.

It’s almost ironic that their name is The Civil Wars, because they go so well together. And yet, you can hear a subtle tension and struggle within the music itself. Perhaps that’s what the name refers to.

Here’s the video from the title track of their record, Barton Hollow. Take a look/listen and discover why this new duo is already selling out shows all over the place. If you like what you hear, at the present time you can get a free download of the song from the band’s website.

The Backyard Committee: A Hodge-Podge that Actually Works

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Mar 142011

When Mike Sembos of Connecticut indie-rock band The Alternate Routes contacted me to let me know about his Other Band, The Backyard Committee, I have to admit I was a little wary. Here’s why:

“…part of the concept is a constantly rotating cast of musician friends, each who brings their unique voice to the project.” (quote from Mike Sembos)

When I see phrases like “constantly rotating cast,” I get the picture of a loose-knit collective of musician friends who are just getting together to jam–which is cool, and lots of fun, but usually doesn’t add up to making good records because as a general rule, there usually isn’t enough structure in it to make it work.

Meet the exception to the rule. This is a hodge-podge collective that actually works.

Yeah it’s a little sloppy in parts, but nothing like I would have expected. Yeah, it skates across a few genres (a fact which Sembo admits), but overall it stays close enough to the folk-Americana category that it doesn’t lose its audience. The end result is a sort of jam-session garage band you’d actually want to sit and listen to–like somewhere in Connecticut is this bunch of musician neighbors that get together for a barbecue or something, and actually sound really, really good.

And here’s the best part: you can download the whole album, right now–and forevermore–and you don’t have to pay for it. Says Sembo, “…[another] part of the band concept is that it doesn’t cost anything for anyone to own our music.”

So I’ve shared a couple of the tracks below to give you an idea about The Backyard Committee, but you can go to the band’s Bandcamp site and download the whole dang thing right now, for free. IMHO, it’s worth owning. And if The Backyard Committee ever decided to charge for the record, it would still be worth owning.

Alls I’ve got to say about it is if this is a backyard committee, this is a neighborhood I’d like to live in.

The Backyard Committee: “Red China”

The Backyard Committee: “25”

Or download the whole dang thing for free here.

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors: “Someday” Is Now

album reviews 1 Response »

Feb 162011

Okay, so I’m a sucker for a great hook. I admit it. Don’t judge.

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors is an up-and-coming indie-rock band, and hailing from Nashville, you can definitely hear the country sensibilities in their sound. But that’s not what won me over. The opening track on their brand-new record Chasing Someday had me at the first few bars. “Fire and Dynamite is a simple love song, very catchy–the kind of song that makes you want to drive with the top down. And definitely the best song they could have opened with–a powerful first impression. Take my word for it–this song is a hit in the making.

The rest of the record ain’t bad, either. Produced by Andy Hunt, with additional production credits by veteran Nashville producer Brown Bannister, Chasing Someday has great production value and plenty more catchy hooks. But don’t confuse “hooky” for shallow. While the record does suffer once in awhile from overly simplistic lyrics, there are also some really deep and moving moments. Besides “Fire and Dynamite”, personal faves of mine are “Live Forever” and the last song, “Weight of the World.”

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors has been around for a few years and seen a bit of success, having their music appear on TV shows like “Parenthood” and “Oprah,” and currently touring with Marc Broussard. But this record is a marking point for them. They might be chasing someday, but IMHO, “someday” has already arrived for this band. It’s just a matter of time before the rest of us catch up.

Buy Chasing Someday on iTunes:

See Green: How Catchy California Indie-pop Made Me Think Twice

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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:

The Raven and The Writing Desk: Musical Literature

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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:

Churchill to Release Full-Length “Happy/Sad” Feb. 11

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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:

Oh, Starling’s “Noel”: Indie Christmas

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Dec 082010

I swear this blog is not becoming exclusively about Denver music. It’s just that the past few weeks have been a flurry of activity and new releases around here.

Oh, Starling doesn’t seem to be a constant entity; it comes around once year, during the holidays. Actually, Oh, Starling consists of indie artists Dan Craig (whose record was recently reviewed here) and Jessica Sonner, who happens to be married to Dan. Last year, they recorded an EP of re-worked Christmas music called Joy, under their special holiday moniker. This year, they have released a follow-up holiday EP, Noel.

Far too many times, artists go over the top in re-arranging the holiday classics, to the point that they come off as cheesy or self-indulgent. By contrast–I took a listen to the track below, “Hark”, which Oh, Starling is offering as a free download from their website for a limited time. It took my breath away. A completely different rendition, tasteful, passionate, and real. One of the best modern re-workings I’ve heard, and by indie artists to boot.

If you’re in Denver this upcoming weekend (December 10), you can catch Oh, Starling performing at a special free concert at The Meadowlark Bar. The show starts at 9:00.

Oh, Starling: “Hark”

The Congress: Americana of Another Shade

album reviews 1 Response »

Nov 012010

Typically, when a band labels themselves “Americana”, there is a certain amount of expectation as to what it’s going to sound like. So when Denver-based “Americana” band The Congress sent me their self-titled EP for review, I got a bit of a surprise. T’weren’t at all what I expected.

Don’t get me wrong. This is Americana; they haven’t mis-labeled themselves. It’s just that sometimes we forget that our roots aren’t just folky; there’s a bit of fried chicken and soul mixed in there, too. This is the part of America that The Congress captures–the blues/jazz/rock part–and the result is that mmmm-hmmm satisfying kind of music, like soul food (blue-eyed soul, to be exact)–or like a really good back scratch.

This band is relatively new, but it’s apparent these guys aren’t novices. This record has a foundation of rock-solid musicianship and equally-solid songwriting, overlaid by near-flawless vocals. This is an indie band that isn’t striving to be edgy–just really good. And they are.

The only potential downfall I found with the record isn’t with the quality itself. There’s a smooth Hammond B3 throughout the record that really helps define the record’s sound; the only problem is, there is no organ player in the band. That part was added by co-producer Daniel Clarke, who isn’t part of the band. Thus, while this is definitely a solid recording, one has to wonder whether it is true to the band’s actual sound. Of course, seeing them play live (which I plan to do) could settle all those questions; just saying.

Anyhow, check out The Congress and see what you think.

The Congress: “Queen Mary”

If you like this band, buy their EP on iTunes.

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