Music

Superhumanoids: Urgency

Natalie
I don't know if it was the band's name or ... well in matter of fact it was only the name that made me take the couple of minutes out of my daily routine and check out the band's official website - and what a well spent couple of minutes it was!! Superhumanoids make a truly amazing sounding dreamy pop (with quality comparable to some of the top chart performers); so go and lift your spirits with music that "shouts summery '60s harmonies, garage rock's raw tonality, slick new-wave electronics, and the adventurous dissonance of '90s indie rock." The Los Angeles based foursome, Sarah Chernoff, Cameron Parkins, Max St. John and Evan Weinerman, already appeared in Nylon Magazine and MTV Music Meter, been featured as a New Band of the Day in Guardian's Culture section, and one of my favorites websites, Cool Hunting (just to name a few from a long list of all the other magazines and blogs that got to the band - sadly - before me).
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Chantilly – Caught Light

Natalie
Sweet and refreshing sounds from Brooklyn? Meet Chantilly, a young, energetic singer-songwriter and nine of her lovely quirky pop songs from the latest album, Caught Light. Chantilly is a blogger and an outfit poser (if you don't exactly know what that means be sure to check out her blog for some of the more recent entries), but most importantly Chantilly is a performing artist whose indie-pop songs are filled with beautifully composed melodies and memorable lyrics talking about the wonders of life and love.
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Blacanova – Madre EP

Dedicated Ears
From Seville Spain, Blacanova plays an indie rock that is equal parts ambient and shoe gaze on their Madre EP.  The mark of indelible music is that it transforms boundaries.  The Spanish language vocals on this EP could be an impediment for those who don't understand Spanish, but the composition and beauty of the vocals make a common spoken language unnecessary. The guitars are both shimmering and haunting as they lay a groundwork for an album that reveals more with each play.  Manuel Begines, Pepe Fernández, José A. Pérez, Inés Olalla, Armando Jiménez y Paco Arenas make up the band.
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Continental Breakfast: Seasons

Valerie
Seasons by Continental Breakfast jangles on with catchy beats, a dirty New York post-hipster sound and lovely vocals. This compilation comes with 6, mostly upbeat, tracks. It was released back in December 16 2010 and features a strictly Brooklyn indie rock sound. Although the record feels like it was recorded in a basement or garage somewhere, this does add to the appeal of the album. It's like being in an underground rock club where all the cool people hang out. Infusing rock, alternative, garage and a bit of punk, these Brooklyn natives certainly have something up their sleeve. Grab their record by hitting the Download link.
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The Taxpayers: To Risk So Much For One Meal

Valerie
Listening to The Taxpayers, means undergoing plenty of mixed emotions. From anger, to confusion, to doubt, relief, happiness, joy, and everything in between; it's like a rollercoaster of sound that makes you sick, but in a good kind of way. Mixing punk, ska, country, folk and so much more in between, To Risk So Much For One Meal, is filled with plenty of exciting cuts to check out. This is a follow-up record for this Portland, Oregon group and it seems they're still continually evolving their sound. Compared to their previous record, this one adds a little more punk rock to the mix; resulting in a louder, "angstier" but definitely more enjoyable record. Grab it right now and have a great time bouncing around to this one.
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Very Okay: Small Loud

Valerie
Very Okay is one of the latest bands hosted by indie donation based netlabel, Quote Unquote Records. This Brooklyn based group is made up of members coming from several prominent indie rock bands in the area. Together, they create upbeat indie pop rock with hints of punk. Small Loud is a short compilation that rushes through 6 punchy fast pop tracks. The record is a burst of upbeat instruments, sweet lyrics, great vocal work, as well as fast rhythms. It's a short but excellent record that's filled with fun times. Give the album a download and don't forget to give a little something for the band if you like it.
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Gina Thompson – Missing You

Natalie
So let's start a day with just a little bit of R'n'B. Gina Thompson grew up in Vineland, NJ and began her career as a hip-hop artist in the 90's. Often compared to Faith Evans and the late Aaliyah, she released her debut album, Nobody Does It Better, with Mercury/PolyGram in 1996. The album featured appearances of Missy Elliot, Diddy, Craig Mack, with it's first single quickly becoming a success after climbing to number 41 on he Billboard Hot 100 and 12 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (with the entire album being certified Platinum by the RIAA soon after). Most of Thompson's work was released in the late 90s, however, there is one album, Missing You, that came out just two years ago, with a special digital version available under the Creative Commons license.
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Icon Girl Pistols: Crushed Beneath The Wheels

Valerie
Icon Girl Pistols is actually a four piece band based in Japan. They sing rock, indie and alternative songs and release about one track per month for free download. If you are not a fan of Japanese rock bands or simply can't appreciate it, then you best stay away. and check the other posts. However, if like me, you've grown up fascinated with almost anything Japanese, including Dragonball and Pokémon, then this record is quite a treat. Each track is fun to listen to and definitely worth checking out and downloading. All of their records so far, including this one, Crushed Beneath the Wheels, are available for free download on their website or Jamendo.
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