Alternative

Dear Ale: Dear Ale

Dear Ale...'s self titled album employs a sound that will rock your socks off. The musical duo was formed in early 2009 when singer/songwriter Arlo Cook teamed up with Melbourne drummer Adrian Van Bloom. Dear Ale's music employs a unique blend of acoustic and rock with influences from Colin Hay, Ben Gibbard, Elliot Smith and Paul Dempsey. Their tracks exudes raw energy, fun and a lot of good vibes.

Thin White Lines: The Silent Voices EP

Fancy some alternative punk rock music? You can get your dose with Thin White Lines' latest release, The Silent Voices. The album came about after these Aussie natives got a little bit weary of the music they were making. They wanted something louder and edgier with a more punk rock feel, hence, they came up with this brand new explosive sound. This record is the band's debut EP. It comes hooked with 5 original singles which were all recorded in a matter of 2 days, mastered by the band members and then released back in February 2011.

Jazz Funeral: Jazz Funeral

Lifting their name from a term used in traditional New Orleans funerals where music is played, Jazz Funeral is a pop rock band that entertains as much as they mystify. Well, to be exact, Jazz Funeral is simply singer-songwriter, self-proclaimed philosopher and avid drinker, Paul Adler. Essentially rock with a sometimes gritty pop punk (even emo) sound, the album is a nice introduction to the singer's sound. This is a debut compilation for the singer and it seems like much of his philosophy and lifestyle is embedded in the tracks.

Republic of Lights: Go Rococo

After receiving a huge amount of praise and positive reviews for their album as well as live performances, Republic of Light seems to have had a good start on their musical journey. These Chicago natives created quite a bit of noise in the indie music world with their album Go Rococo. The crew is composed of Alan on vocals, Brian on guitars, Greg on keyboards and Rosie on guitars. Combining a flurry of indie pop, new wave, great lyrics and tons of catchy rhythm; the band is easily likable while the record is a great go-to album if you want something to keep your energy up and bouncing.

Tussie-Mussie: From Rough to Calm Seas

Claiming to write songs about girls, this indie pop group only lists "Jon" (Jon Torres) as its member. I guess good music doesn't really require much names as the band seems to have a knack for creating catchy indie folk pop cuts. From Rough to Calm Seas is the artists' latest effort. It's a short 4-track EP that's filled with pop music with a hint of surfer sound. Weezer, Pavement and The Beach Boys are some of the bands that have influenced their sound. Indeed, you'll hear this feel-good, sometimes quirky sound that most of the bands mentioned above are known for.

Literature: Arab Spring

Slowly but surely, Literature blooms a garden full of good music in their new release entitled Arab Spring. Kevin Adickes, Nathaniel Gardaci, Seth Whaland and Mike Yaklin, better known as Literature have crafted ten power pop tracks that appeals to the senses. It was recorded during the summer of 2011 and was released on new year's day of this year.

Stadtmusikantin und Sterntaler (Traveler’s Diary): The Traveler and The King

Don't be fooled by the long and complicated looking name, The Traveler and The King is actually a pretty lovely record for many jazz alternative folk lovers out there. Originally calling themselves, Stadtmusikantin und Sterntaler, the band now goes by the easier to pronounce name, Traveler's Diary. This is a debut record for the band. It was released in BandCamp on December 2010 and features a whole range of sounds. You can expect some acoustic percussions, a slight touch of prog, jazz and even folk sprinkled on here.

The Slizzies: Slizzies Going Steady

The Slizzies came about on a whim. When they first got together, only one of the members had actually played an instrument in their lifetime. Despite this complete handicap, that didn't stop the guys from agreeing to form a band. The succeeding times wasn't easy. From gathering for band practice, to actually learning to play for much of the group and of course, exiting band members; it was certainly a joyride. In the end, the succeeding members actually managed to record a couple of original tracks in true diy fashion. These tracks were recorded from various live performances and rough studio sessions. Hence, don't expect awesome quality but do expect some great punk tracks coming your way.

Grand Child: My Head Is In The Clouds

My Head Is In The Clouds is the second release from Texas native, Grand Child. Composed of one man behind the scenes, namely Andy Lane; the album is a gorgeous mix of folk, psychedelia and acoustic indie pop. Lane originally played for punk/ska band, Driver F. This is his solo project and it's nowhere near the music he plays with his band. His sound instead focuses on acoustic folk while incorporating psychedelia, and some catchy pop tunes here and there. It's a nice little record worth exploring if you want an album that's laid-back yet a little different to keep you company.