Alternative

I the Mighty: Hearts and Spades

Valerie
Plenty of reviewers have been comparing I The Mighty to bands like Say Anything; the similarities aren't difficult to spot though. Their sound is a great mix of punk rock tinged with an indie touch along with similar (but more subdued) lyrics compared to something you'll hear blurted out from the Say Anything boys. Hearts and Spades is a beautifully produced debut EP from the foursome. It's offered for free right on their BandCamp page since the boys say "they would rather share their music than make a few extra bucks." Their sound occasionally jumps between indie, alternative, to sometimes progressive rock; with full-blown guitar fests to match. It's a nice little semi-loud compilation that should get you started on your day.
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The Bear Season: If We Sink Together EP

Valerie
One of the latest pop punk bands to emerge from Le Pork Records' roster, The Bear Season is a must check out if you love your mix of pop and punk. This six piece crew is a relatively new band, having just formed back in 2010. Despite being newbies in the business, they're definitely showing plenty of promise. Their debut EP is a great mix of catchy, classic power pop tracks that will make you think of Yellowcard and Motion City Soundtrack with a modern touch. If We Sink Together EP comes with 6 tracks and offered absolutely free under a Creative Commons license.
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Cavanaugh: Far From Chicago

Youghp
At the mention of the phrase “music from Sweden”, the odds are you'll sing in your head a line or two from Dancing Queen or, if your affinities lie at the opposite pole, make a mental list of your favorite death metal bands from that part of the world. Much as outsider impression of Swedish music is limited to the spirited disco pop of ABBA and the baneful loudness of the country's vibrant metal scene, a genre that's somewhere near the confluence into which these opposing musical streams flow is peeking out for some attention. Cavanaugh, a four-piece band from Borlänge, Dalarana, is among the proponents of this genre, which the group unabashedly calls “mainstream rock”. But even as we hear that from the band itself, a deeper look into its music reveals sensibilities that have recently been missing from the mainstream scene at large. The 2009 EP Far From Chicago, spirited as it is in a way heavy, is without most of the unneccessary trappings.
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the stargazer lilies: Deep Heaven Now IV Compilation

Valerie
Deep Heaven Now is a reboot of the original 90s Deep Heaven parties/mini-festivals held in Boston. True to tradition, the festival is celebrated bi/semi annually; gathering together some of the best psychedelic and ambient rock bands from the East coast and Midwest. Spearheaded by Jinsen Liu of 28 Degrees Taurus, the festival is held at different locations each time and always involves various bands expressing their love for shoegaze, ambient and psychedelic rock and roll. Deep Heaven Now IV is a mix of tracks from bands who performed in the August 5 & 6 (2011) festivals in Somerville.
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Coast Jumper: Grand Opening

Valerie
Moody and hypnotic, those two words best describe this debut album from San Francisco based band, Coast Jumper. The record is a haven of lush sounds, interesting vocals, and slightly electronic alternative vibe. This is the group's first album ever and yet they're exuding confidence like seasoned veterans of the music scene. Although there's not much about the band online, it's enough to know that these guys play hauntingly beautiful music. Their sound is reminiscent of a mellow Vampire Weekend complete with injections of fun and energetic moments here and there.
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Low Voltage Rangers: Spirographology

Valerie
Low-Voltage Rangers might sound like a band but the fact is, there's only one man standing at the helm; Jeremy Toltzman. Taking up the moniker Low-Voltage Rangers, the artist sings, plays the instruments, and writes the songs. Spirographology takes 34 tracks recorded by the artist between 2004- 2011. This includes two of his latest singles. Despite having no label or any professional studio equipment at his disposal, the music he creates is filled with beautiful melodies and great indie lo-fi quality. It's something you'd love to listen to on a quiet evening, slowly lulling you to mellow out and relax after a long, hard day.
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Soto: Soto EP

Valerie
Soto is an experimental Japanese pop group that create lovely folk pop music. Listening to this band is like being transported to a place where forest spirits dwell and lovely music is created at every instance. Two members of the band originally formed the duo, "Oto." This initial band produced music that focused more on sounds and its tapestry. However, as the group turned into a quartet; they focused more on creating music with proper song structures. Together, they christened themselves as "Soto" and create amazing acoustic, folk pop that is transcendent as well as emotional.
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Bomb The Music Industry!: Vacation

Valerie
Known not just for their upbeat indie rock offerings but also for their ethos, Bomb The Music Industry! is back with their latest record - Vacation. Abbreviated as BTMI!, the group has been together for some time. They've released several records and are known to be firm believers of distributing their own music. Following their DIY credo, the guys distribute their music for free and are known to perform only for a general audience while not charging more than $10 for the ticket price. With their mix of punk, pop and fun indie rock; Vacation is impressing both fans and new listeners alike. Take a listen.
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Stub Horn: Pure Sappiness

Valerie
An interesting alternative grunge rock band, Stub Horn releases their first foray into the music business with Pure Sappiness. Contrary to their album title, the group isn't exactly sappy about their music. They incorporate a blend of punk, alternative and a slight tinge of indie, to create their own music. Switching between loud rock to a mid-tempo sound, the group manages to showcase their love for a louder type of sound. Their album is offered as a free download on Jamendo and licensed under creative commons. Give it a try.
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