Alternative Pop

(live, REM, Sheryl Crow)

Mel’s: Hey Girl

Young French pop artist that makes you think "pop" is okay again. Even though she might not be the next pop princess, Mel's Hey Girl is a pretty charming album. Coming from such a young singer, the tracks on this mini-album is catchy and fun to listen to. For a first release, Hey Girl is a solid compilation of 5 beautiful melodic pop rock tracks that you can play in your Ipod on a laid-back day. Mel's albums, including her latest, Take Advantage, are released under a creative commons license.

Leslie Hunt: Your Hair is on Fire

Season 6 Top 24 American Idol finds music off Idol stage. For Leslie Hunt, American Idol was certainly quite an experience. Reaching the top 24 was definitely was a dream come true for this new mother. Despite being voted off, Leslie continues on after stepping off the Idol stage. Your Hair is on Fire is Leslie's first album and from the way it sounds, it seems that she's definitely grown as an artist and musician. The album is filled with jazzy, alternative pop tracks that boasts of Leslie's powerful and slightly raspy vocals.

Kemuzik: Kemuzik One

Kemuzik One is a beautiful collection filled with tracks that are perfect for any type of listener out there. All of the songs are being offered for free by their respective artists and compiled into this 13- song collection by Przemek Bobins. The album is filled with quiet, folk indie tracks that seem to serve as a perfect background album for your moody Saturday afternoon. Bobins promises that this won't be the first and the last compilation, so while waiting for the upcoming good stuff; sink your teeth into this one for now.

This Is My Normal State: Angel Falls ++

Rock, ambient band that seeks to impress through a dreamy bassline and hauntingly sweet vocals. Hailing from Bristol, South West England, This Is My Normal State released their first recorded EP, Angel Falls ++ in 2009. This three song EP is filled with ambient rock sounds that comes with sweet, almost angelic, if you will, vocals from Yuka Kurihara. This album is the remastered version of their Angel Falls EP which the band recorded back in 2008. It is a quiet and slightly haunting trip down melodic soundscapes, much like walking into a colorful, beautiful but lifeless painting.

Depressive Art: Bye Bye Dear Everything

Depressive Art makes music that's anything but depressive. Their name can be misleading since Depressive Art seems to have a knack for playing upbeat retro indie rock n'roll. This 6 piece band from Gothenburg can crank up the volume and liven up the atmosphere of any party you intent to throw. Bye Bye Dear Everything is the group's first album and comes with 10 powerful, danceable, rockin' tracks.

Strange Birds: Strange Birds EP

Acoustic alternative indie folk that takes you far, far away into the California coast. Strange Birds is Aidin Sadeghi and Bret Leinen. Together, they create a soft acoustic and alternative sound that echoes the "wonders of the California coast." Think The Shins coupled with Chris Martin style vocals. This self-titled EP is composed of 7 lovely tracks that, in fact, do reflect a soft California flair. For the band, the main goal was to "create music as true and familiar as the places we have passed through and the experiences we have shared over the past year."

PAZ: Young Broke and Fameless

Young Broke & Fameless is the critically acclaimed debut mixtape from PAZ. His ultra-catchy mashup of clever rhymes with rock riffs and hip-hop beats has quickly caught the attention of both fans and established musicians like The Black Eyed Peas and Tim McGraw.

Nomoredolls by Nomoredolls

Girl fronted rock band... another Paramore in the making? With the success of female fronted bands slowly on the rise again, Nomoredolls is taking a crack at the formula. Fronted by talented and highly energetic Cecilia Miradoli along with an equally diverse and talented band; Nomoredolls delivers alternative pop rock with a jagged edge. Although based in Italy, the group has written their tracks in English for a more worldwide appeal. This self titled debut gives you 12 powerful, energy driven pop rock songs that make you bounce around. Whether they have what it takes to make it big, you be the judge.

Miss Daisy Black: Nevroses

Alternative pop grunge rock at the hands of the French. Grunge rock definitely works great in the hands of the French as proven by Miss Daisy Black. The band is composed of four band members exploiting alternative pop rock and occasionally acoustic rock. Nevroses comes equipped with 11 French rock tracks that showcases plenty of grunge style guitars, electronic beats and angst driven drumming. Most of the songs have an industrial/dancy feel to it and the vocals are interesting. Oddly enough, if you don't listen closely, you won't even notice that the guy is singing in French not English. If you are looking for a band that sounds like popular indie and Jamendo favorite, Fresh Body Shop, this album is a good way to start.