Pop Rock

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Post Human Era’s To Build A Fire – lazy electronic pop at its finest

Two brothers channeling Deathcab for Cutie along with Radiohead. Perhaps one of the biggest pull that Post Human Era has on its listeners is the fact that they incorporate plenty of elements into their tracks. There are tracks showing hints of Nine Inch Nails, Kraftwerk and even the Postal Service. Underneath all this layering and synth work, there are nice vocals and sweet melodies that remind you of Ben Gibbard at his best. Daniel Finfer usually does the job himself inside the studio, but on the road, he jams along with brother, Michael, on samples, Steve Kurschner on drums as well as Josh Stark on guitars.

The Rest – Atlantis, Oh Our Saviour

Dreamy Canadian youngsters that strike a chord in the world of indie rock. To say that indie rock has never sounded so good, is an understatement with The Rest. Atlantis, Oh Our Saviour is a great compilation of 11 fresh tracks that resonate with twangy guitars, intermittent piano, sometimes painful screaming and sometimes sweet vocals. The Rest certainly showcases one of the best albums in the indie world. Their follow up album Everyone All at Once is out now. But if you want to get to know the band a bit better, start with this album first.

Pulse by Elle Lefant – Indiefolk Pop with Wicked Vocals

Catchy indie folk pop with solid vocals. With the artsy name, you can almost swear that this band hails from New York and no other place. Well, they are from New York, but that's Poughkeepsie NOT Brooklyn. This mini album from Elle Lefant is a gem and showcases how this band needs to be taken seriously even if they don't really take themselves too seriously. Pulse has four tracks that are catchy and builds great melodies with powerful vocals. A concoction of strings, synth beats, and various knick knacks makes this EP worth a listen.

The Walt – Something We Did Not Have

Solid indie pop rock band that incorporates shouty vocals with dancy rhythm. The Walt is the product of former band We vs. Death, Kismet and Dawn of Awakening. Something we did not have is their latest EP and a mixture of loud indie punk rock sound that gets anybody up and about. Something we did not have is the quartet's first EP after playing for 4 years together. Recorded under indie label, Beep! Beep! Back Up The Truck, all 5 tracks are available for free download under a creative commons license. If you are into plenty of head bobbing and loud indie/punk rock, take a listen and enjoy.

Allison Crowe: Spiral

The songs in Allison Crowe’s Spiral will take you on a rough winding road through different emotions, joy and weariness, to name just two. Variety is the best feature of this album as it offers a little bit of country, a little bit of rock, and a little bit of pop. The best part, without a doubt, is the emotionally-packed, powerful big vocals of Allison Crowe. Allison Crowe has been known as a performer-songwriter who delivers great quality music and she does not disappoint in her latest album.

Paul Lisak & After The Ice – It Happens All the Time

Mashing old school rock with today's synth pop rock, tied with engaging vocals to match. Paul Lisak and After the Ice is definitely a band that's worth waiting for. Channeling both mainstream and indie at the same time, they reach a niche that few ever make. Their mix of psychedelia and indie rock along with easily likable rhythms and beats makes them an easy band to like. It Happens All the Time is the band's debut EP and comprises 4 solid tracks that embody what the band is capable of.

Closer at the Start by Jonathan Dimmel – Simple and Clean

Simple, simple, simple, but it doesn't mean it's not good. Easy listening pop rock is what best describes Jonathan Dimmel's music. There are times when we need simple and straightforward songs to make us feel good and Closer at the Start is the best candidate if you want something not so loud, not too quiet and not too sappy. According to Dimmel, the songs are "strait(sic) from the heart. I was over trying to make something commercial, this is my first attempt at just letting what comes out happen." Perhaps he should have tried this method sooner.

Rust by No, Really – Acoustic Folk Pop that Leaves You Wanting More

Sweet vocals laced with uncluttered instruments and emotional lyrics. If there's one thing you'll notice about No, Really right off the bat is that the vocals are extremely sweet and easy to listen to. Rust compiles 10 soft, electronic folk songs with mournful melodies and revealing lyrics. It's a brand of folk pop that's easy to love without even trying. No, Really's soft melodies will make you look back to your own heartaches, joys and sadness. All that from a girl from Tennessee with a guitar.

Paris-Chicago by NO [Olivier Nataf] – a Frenchman with a Heart for American Blues

American blues jazz with a French aftertaste. An almost fool-proof formula for creating pop funk music for this French singer includes a "few notes of Blues, a zest of Funk, a tear of Soul." Bizarrely calling himself, NO, French musician Olivier Nataf creates his own brand of blues jazz inspired tracks that are laced with French lyrics. Paris - Chicago compiles 10 tracks that serve as a bridge connecting the American landscapes to that of the French. If you wonder what the blues sounds like with an international flair, NO, would be one act worth checking out.