shawn hewitt

if i had this entire album, i would go back and edit my end of year list and this would be in my top 5. this dude is absolutely incredible. AND I CAN'T FIND HIS FUCKING DEBUT ALBUM ANYWHERE. literally the only place i could find it online is amazon and it's a 22 dollar import. i may suck it up and order it today, cause this is seriously one album i don't want to be without any longer than i have to.

after reading a lot about shawn yesterday, i noticed comparisons ranging from (mostly) radiohead/thom yorke to rufus wainright to stevie wonder to maroon 5 and tv on the radio. none of which are without their merit. he's really managed to find a niche somewhere between indie and soul. and it's an amazing, amazing sound.

shawn hewitt on myspace.

download two tracks from spare hearts:
keep them at bay
one on one

video for try:


video for one on one:


- panda

the cambiata - hell's kitchen (2008)

hopefully you're familiar with these guys. hopefully you purchased their ep after i ranted about them earlier this year.

well if not.. the cambiata have posted a new track off their upcoming album (due out in january.. holler atcha bears for artist spotlight!). there's a very good chance it's most likely better/sexier than whatever you're currently listening to. the rhythm section sets such a perfect vibe for vocalist chris moulton to croon over.

anyway.. here's the part where you open itunes, click pause, and go to the link below to listen to "hell's kitchen".

the cambiata on myspace.


- panda

counterfit - super amusement machine for your exciting heart (2002)

well, if you're an old fuck like me and roshan, you probably caught counterfit live when they opened for recover and finch back in '74. if you didn't, or just have no clue who or what i'm talking about (and are wondering why the shit this band spelled their name wrong).. read on.

counterfit are one of the best band you never heard.. which probably has a lot to do with why they broke up. musically, they have the stop and start prowess of bands like mock orange and *insert technical indie band name here*.. but there's an accessibility to their sound that set them apart from many of their peers.

this was the only full length they released. a lot of people prefer their ep to this, but i'm lazy and this was the first thing i put in a .zip file (plus songs like "lying in traffic" and "feel the ride" are flat out epic). download it and enjoy the rock.

counterfit on myspace.

download super amusement machine for your exciting heart:


- panduh ( LOL C WUT I DID THUR?!)

p.s. i don't care what anyone says, i still love that album title.

the all new adventures of us

does anyone remember laughter?
does anyone remember love?

the all new adventures of us (or tanaou as they're commonly known) are easily one of the most exciting bands i've come across in a long time. the british seven piece play an anthemic, extremely well written brand of indie-pop that's both enthralling and exciting. top it off with captivating male/female vocals, and you've got something quite epic.

they've got a new lp coming out in october called best loved goodnight tales, which is an addicting collection of songs. it's really amazing hearing an album that flows as well as this one does, each song like a chapter in a novel you read from cover to cover in one go. download these two tracks from their upcoming full length, and add them on myspace, so you can join me in singing "i told you so!" when the rest of the world joins the adventure.

tanaou on myspace.

download the wide eyed led us home.
download the art of the high five.


- the all new adventures of panda

knapsack

knapsack were in a line of bands like the promise ring, texas is the reason, jawbox, sunny day real estate, etc.. that were your favorite band's favorite band when they were your age. i remember when i was recording with my old band during my freshman year of college (that's right, a mexican went to college.. briefly), i discovered our producer's knapsack and jealous sound albums. at first i was just drawn to the amazing album art, but he definitely sold me on them (especially considering my band was influenced by the later waves of emo/indie bands). if you have yet to discover their awesomeness, grab these two albums. if you're already down, dust yours off and relive the good old days.

download day three of my new life:


download this conversation is ending starting right now:


- panda

ra ra riot - ra ra riot (2007)

saw these guys open up for tokyo police club last summer and had a lot of fun during their set. solid group of dudes out of syracuse. just smooth indie-pop for summertime. it'll do you good. these guys have a full length coming out on barsuk (who they recently signed to) in mid august called "the rhumb line."

ra ra riot on myspace.

download:



-ga ga grizzly

the cambiata - "to heal" (2008)

describing this band is going to be difficult. i can't think of a single band they sound like, and their ep is too diverse to put into any one genre. there's strings, horns, keys.. there's crooning vocals (think somewhere between daniel johns and a young daryl palumbo), intense melodies, interesting lyrics.. it's all here. with influences like the beatles, radiohead, silverchair, and jeff buckley, it's no wonder this twenty-seven minute ep is such an epic listen.

since it's a new release, i'm not posting their ep. i bought it off their myspace page last night, and it's worth every penny of the five bucks i spent. so i'm highly suggesting you do the same. check out the tracks on their myspace, and i promise.. you'll definitely be picking up what these guys are putting down.

believe the hype.

listen to the cambiata on myspace.

- panda

ps i've never heard these guys mentioned anywhere, so i'm curious as to what people think. hook it up with some feedback.

pss i'm going to do a post about their lead singer's old band later. more on the post hardcore tip, but also a worthwhile listen.

bloc party - another weekend in the city (2007)

you know their name, and you probably have an opinion on their latest album, a weekend in the city. i still don't understand why there was so much negative reaction to awitc.. it's flat out a better album than silent alarm. most probably just wanted them to make silent alarm part two. well for those of you that did enjoy awitc, here's a nice treat. a collection of b-sides from the album (12 songs), plus three remixes of the prayer. as an added bonus, i added the bands newest single, flux (which is one of the best songs they've written to date). you might be hesitant to get this since it's just b-sides, but trust me, these songs absolutely hold up on their own. this collection could easily be released as its own album and do quite well. get on it.

official bloc party website.
bloc party on myspace.

download another weekend in the city:


- pandsa;djfk

mew - and the glass handed kites (2005)

imagine what would happen if sigur ros listened to way more my bloody valentine, then decided to take their sound and morph it into a seamless, stadium friendly, form of indie-dream-rock. excited? look no further.. some dudes from denmark have already mastered the sound. this is a perfect fall/winter album, as well as something good to put on at night. each song flows into the next effortlessly, giving the album an almost a concept feel. there are plenty of surprises along the way, so prepare to be properly swooned.

official mew website.
mew on myspace.

download and the glass handed kites:


- panda

tahiti 80 - fosbury (2006)

do you need a soundtrack to a night out with your friends? do you need something to get your girl or guy in the mood? did you play out your justin timberlake cd? are you too indie for the maroon 5?

the answer to all these questions is tahiti 80 (pronounced like "tea 80"). this french outfit bring the soul to their brand of indie/synth pop. citing everyone from outkast to new order to curtis mayfield as inspirations for their latest album, fosbury, these guys put together an album of 14 pop tracks with the funkiest of swaggers. get your boy or girl, some friends, some drinks.. and get down.

official website.
tahiti 80 on myspace.

download fosbury:


- pander
(p.s. how dope is the panda on the album cover? quite dope indeed.)