Alternative Pop

(live, REM, Sheryl Crow)

Greg Houwer: Sauna Planet

Pop rock indie artist, Greg Houwer, has recently released his 12 track full length album entitled, Sauna Planet. The album is a mix of pop rock with a slightly trippy, almost psychedelic vibe. It's released and made available online by WM Recordings. Most of the songs are accompanied with simple acoustic guitars, percussions and melodic low-pitch vocals. I won't recommend this record if you dislike anything that could potentially lull you to sleep. The entire feel of the album is that of a laid back compilation that you might want to play as background music if you are drifting off to sleep in your hammock. So if this is what you are looking for, then look no further than this compilation.

Fresh Body Shop: Bring Me Down

Eight albums released online, three features here in Frostclick and the French boys from Fresh Body Shop are back with a brand new album. Of course, it's available for free download as well so you ladies and gents can still enjoy great music from this amazing electronic, alternative rock group. Following the footsteps of their 2010 release, Directors Cut; Bring Me Down is a 9 track compilation that's filled with the resident beats Fresh Body Shop has come to own over the years. There's still that resident Reznor-esque vocals; the pop electronic alternative sound and the super catchy melodies. Check out this new record by hitting the Download Album link.

Manors: Demo EP

This 3 song (aptly titled) Demo from Manors is a lo-fi bedroom recording of tracks from this cool girl band. Each track is raw and showcases a beautiful indie pop sound that you can only imagine as being more awesome if it had been professionally recorded and mastered. Even though the tracks have sub-par recording, it does contain a beautiful feel to it. The scratchy recording captures the spontaneity and the beauty of each instrument. Moreover, the experience is heightened by the 70s style vocal unison which is very pretty in places. Give this short a demo a run over and see whether you'll like it or not. One thing's for sure, this sweet compilation is destined as background music for plenty of summer fun.

Derek Clegg: Beautiful World

I greatly admire artists whose passion and personality is strongly reflected in their final craft. I also have a great respect for those who write, compose, record, and produce their music all without the backing of a label and still come out with an album that could make many other musicians jealous. Derek Clegg, a one man band, appeared twice on our blog last year, once with a release of KJC and than with Here Comes Your Fate, Quick Duck. Today he is back with yet another Creative Commons licensed Indie/folk/pop album, Beautiful World, filled with great lyrics and laid back yet diverse sounds that will surely place some of the songs into your 'favorites' playlist - for me this included Innocent, a beautiful track that hopefully will find its way up.

Music for Danny Devito

Did you ever put together a mixtape (or to be more time appropriate a mp3mix) to give it to someone special, or did you ever got one yourself? Yes, it might be a little bit old-school and some might even call it cheesy, but down deep inside we all know it is pretty - awesome. Well Mr. Devito you should feel special because MixGalaxy Records just 'gave' you a little gift of music. The compilation brings you one hour of great tracks ranging from easy listening, rock, and pop to ambient, dub, hip-hop, and electro-house. So give it a try... and a listen.

Dave Daniels: Songs From Stone Mountain

Songs From Stone Mountain by Dave Daniels is collection of folk pop indie americana tracks that'll give you a taste of what it's like staying in an American bayou or at least in a small American town. The songs in this record evoke a quiet reverie, but there are also some tracks that are upbeat and cleverly intertwine a pop rock sound. This is the artists' first official release and it's available for free download under a creative commons license. You can also check out his latest compilation, Just Like Ghosts, also available for free download.Get a taste of pure American tracks from this wonderful Florida singer/songwriter.

Monk Turner + Fascinoma: In case of an emergency

EMERGENCY SONGS is a beautifully arranged, new concept album from Monk Turner and singer/lyricist Fascinoma (Allana Lin) from Los Angeles, California. Together they bring us 12 wonderful songs filled with a variety of musical flavors and lovely vocals that, even if the music itself gets a little rough, maintains its composure; a very character attribute that could turn to be a critical factor in surviving a major disaster (the theme of the album). The album itself is conceived to awake the imagination of its listeners through both song and story as a massive earthquake is heading straight for LA! And so the lyrics take us on a 35 minute journey through all the phases of the crisis, "from pre-quake boredom, to post-quake freeway BBQ".

Snowstar Records Compilation

Snowstar Records is a Dutch indie label that has been releasing some of the best new bands in their part of the globe since 2003. Several bands that belong in the label's lineup include I am Oak , The Subhuman, The Secret Love Parade and Grapes of Grain, just to name a few. To celebrate their 15th release, the label decided to compile some of the best tracks from their roster into one great thank-you album for their fans and supporters. The Snowstar Records Compilation features 10 cool tracks that hint at indie, folk, rock and even instrumental music.