Music

The Laureates: No Kontrol

Valerie
Looking for a good, retro indie rock group these days is like playing a game of hit or miss. Sometimes, you stumble upon a really cool band whose music becomes an instant favorite the first time you hear it. On the other hand, there are instances when you find a band that simply sticks to you for all the wrong reasons. Luckily, The Laureates is NOT part of the latter. The group has been around since 2005 and No Kontrol is the third release from these lo-fi rockers. The album is filled with a mix of punk, indie, alternative, lo-fi 80s/90s inspired rock that calls to mind The Replacements, Pixies and most 90s underground rockers. Definitely an awesome album worth every bit of space on your drive. Check it out.
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Frontregen: Frontregen

Valerie
Frontregen is an indie Austrian band that create an eclectic pop punk indie rock sound. Their sound is characteristic of female sweet sounding vocals, a mix of alternative rock/pop beats and indie sensibilities. This self-titled album is a first for the group. It was released back in December 2010 and so far it's showcasing a lot of promise for this 5 piece crew. The entire album resonates with passion and energy; skillfully balancing a hard rock punk edge with that of sweet, pop folkish vocals. It's certainly worth checking out if you are a fan of these genres on their own.
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Bad Fate: Olympic City

Valerie
Fairly new in the music business, Bad Fate, releases a debut record filled with raw emotions, noise and a good amount of energy to keep everyone beaming happy. Production values might not be top notch on this one but it certainly has a rawness that is fresh and interesting. Olympic City comes with seven noisy grunge tracks juxtaposed with beautiful feminine shouty vocals (occasional male vocals too). Think Chrissy Hynde if she decided to scream her way through most of their songs. Check out this indie pop grunge sound by downloading the album. It's available for free in Jamendo.
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Dan Masquelier – Wake up

Natalie
Dan Masquelier grew up with music; he plays violin, bass, piano, sings, writes and records his own creations. And with two albums already released on Jamendo many people who have made Dan's songs part of their permanent music collection hope there is still more to come. Originally from Tracy, California, and graduating from California State University at Chico with a degree in Music Industry and Technology, Dan's first album, Wake Up, is a wonderful blend of acoustic, folk, and a touch of indie sounds ready to warm up just about any day with its calm yet highly optimistic nature.
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Dead Bugs: Magical Animals

Valerie
This lo-fi acoustic record is a compilation of some of the best songs by Dead Bugs. Magical Animals is a dreamy, folk record that is both moody and very relaxing. The songs were carefully chosen from the artists entire musical history and compiled in one great record by Italian indie netlabel, KillMommyRecords. This New Jersey artists offers some of the most melodic, acoustic folk you'll hear. It's topped off with his really endearing vocals, making you just want to cuddle and listen. If you adore indie folk, then you'll simply have a place in your heart for this singer. Give this one a download.
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Manipulator Alligator – We Raised Them

Dedicated Ears
The straight forward way that Matthew Hoppock (Manipulator Alligator) tells his folk stories are unflinching, funny and very poignant.  He makes lo-fi music with his guitar and keyboard, and has an ear for infectious hooks.  We Raised Them is his first full length and has the tightest production of any of his releases.  His whole goal with these songs is to show us  these vignettes from various times in his life.  These off kilter folk songs make you tap your feet and smile at the same time. There is an energy to them because you can tell that Matthew believes what he is saying. That these aren't just words to him.
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Motorama: Alps

Valerie
Russian fivesome, Motorama, has been steadily building a solid fanbase with their post-punk, Joy Division-inspired sound. The group has been around since 2005 but they only released their first full length album last year entitled, Alps. The sound is unmistakably a clash of new wave, 80s sound with slightly danceable beats and monotone vocals. Inspired by some of the more prominent bands in the past decades, they also cite The Strokes and The Coral as bands that they grew up listening to.
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Nude: Love

Valerie
Nude is a progressive rock band that's not ashamed to play with their tempo, instruments, vocals and mood. Working together for less than a decade, the group is made up of four musicians who are heavily influenced by such prominent alternative, indie and progressive rock bands like  Sonic Youth, Radiohead and Genesis. These four Frenchmen create a mix of moody prog and alternative rock with an overall moody and pensive vibe. This one is certainly worth a listen especially if you adore Tool and the other bands mentioned above.
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Learining Music: An End Like This

Natalie
Learning Music Monthly came to life three years ago as a collaboration between LA based musician John Wood and a CC-friendly label Vosotros. The premise of the project was simple, yet unlike anything else that was done previously; each month John Wood would write, record, and master an album which would be than released as a part of a subscription service, a free digital download, or a $60 package that included the handmade album (including everything from bonus albums, stickers, and personalized birthday songs) to be delivered to your door. And now, after 36 albums and the amazing third season that marked the end of the project, Vosotros released equally great and free compilation featuring some of the best songs of those past 3 years.
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