I saw this reported all over the internet today, but The Yellow Stereo was where I first caught wind of Fanfarlo making their fantastic debut album Reservoir plus four bonus tracks available for only a buck on their website until July 4th (it’s also a much better quality than you’ll get on itunes, where it’s also pretty cheap at $6)! Fanfarlo is a London based band that I first heard on the All Songs Considered podcast a few weeks back featuring lesser known bands that listeners suggested for the show. I consider the band kind of a mix between Beirut, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and maybe even a little Arcade Fire. The Beirut comparisons jump out at me right away in “The Walls Are Coming Down” which at first could be mistaken for Beirut’s “Elephant Gun”. But find out for yourself for only $1 by skipping over to their site…you won’t be disappointed.
[“The Walls Are Coming Down” – Reservoir] – Download the album here for just $1 until July 4th!
Lots of new albums I’ve come across in the last few weeks, so I figured I’d just lump them all together here in a post mainly because I don’t really have time to do a review for each of them. I will, however, save the Grizzly Bear and Phoenix releases for full reviews…maybe.
It’s Frightening is the sophomore release from the Brooklyn sextet and was produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel so it is of course very Spoon-like. These guys drew Spoon comparisons ever since their debut, Fort Nightly, but bringing Daniel on only enhances those comparisons and considing Spoon is one of my favorites, I’m totally okay with it. It’s a very percussion and piano driven album with some great tunes and some throwaways.
Another Brooklyn based band, this one a electronic indie pop female trio with a name referencing a line from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Still Night, Still Light is their follow up to 2007’s The Bird of Music. I haven’t given it too many listens so far, but I’m pretty sure it’s a grower. It’s not as twee as you would expect from an all female electro-pop group, and that’s a very good thing.
[“Another Likely Story” – Still Night, Still Light]
Jeremy Enigk – OK Bear
Maybe only Jeff Mangum can say he has the indie rock super god status of Jeremy Enigk, but whereas Mangum has drifted into reclusiveness to create more of a cult following, Enigk is still out there releasing solo albums since his Sunny Day Real Estate days. However, I can’t help but think Enigk’s legacy would have prospered even more if he had followed Mangum’s path because Enigk has basically become a less edgy modern adult rock artist and OK Bear only helps solidify that. There are rumors of a SDRE reunion…let’s hope that happens sooner rather than later.
[“Life’s Too Short” – OK Bear]
The Love Language – The Love Language
I was introduced to this group by Paste Magazine‘s May music sampler and was impressed enough to do some research and I liked what I heard so I decided to get the album. Now, the song on the sampler isn’t on this album, but the 9 songs that are make The Love Language’s eponymous debut full-length a very nice addition to my 2009 album collection. There are hints of Arcade Fire in the songs, but of course not nearly as epic.
I first heard of these guys on NPR’s SXSW preview show when they were mentioning bands with funny names. They came up a couple more times but the music was never really mentioned, but when I started to hear Los Campesinos! comparisons, I jumped on this album right away. The Glasgow, Scottland sextet certainly has the energy of Los Campesinos! but some of the songs are a little more hardcore sounding than what I prefer. But the songs that don’t feature the screaming are indeed the indie pop tunes I would expect from the group.
This was my first Akron/Family experience that I came across by going to their website. And well, that pretty much sold me on the album. Akron/Family is a experimental indie rock group with folk influences and Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free is their fourth album. I’m not that impressed with the rest of the album, but there are some keepers, especially “River” which is one of my favorite songs of the year so far.
[“River” – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free]
Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
For some reason, I held off on getting this 4th album from Great Lake Swimmers, but once I got Lost Channels, I was very pleased. It’s just basic indie folk rock songs that serve as a very easy listen…nothing more, nothing less.
I saw this reported all over the internet today, but The Yellow Stereo was where I first caught wind of Fanfarlo making their fantastic debut album Reservoir plus four bonus tracks available for only a buck on their website until July 4th (it’s also a much better quality than you’ll get on itunes, where it’s also pretty cheap at $6)! Fanfarlo is a London based band that I first heard on the All Songs Considered podcast a few weeks back featuring lesser known bands that listeners suggested for the show. I consider the band kind of a mix between Beirut, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and maybe even a little Arcade Fire. The Beirut comparisons jump out at me right away in “The Walls Are Coming Down” which at first could be mistaken for Beirut’s “Elephant Gun”. But find out for yourself for only $1 by skipping over to their site…you won’t be disappointed.
Posted by Hawkins 
A Round of Sound 