Atlas Sound is Bradford Cox’s side project to Deer Hunter. He says every Atlas Sound song only takes about an hour to make because it comes straight from his head and records it. He doesn’t even write down lyrics most of the time, just whatever feels right. The best way to describe it is extremely ambient, perfect cruising music. If you like Animal Collective or Panda Bear than I’m sure you’ll like Atlas Sound.
I’m sure a lot of my readers already know this band or have at least heard of them but I really couldn’t help but writing about them. Real Estate hails from Ridgewood, New Jersey even though they sound like the Beach Boys had a child with Explosions of the Sky. When they have vocals its amazing, when they don’t its still amazing. Just total space out music you listen to on the beach. In my opinion one of the, if not the best Psychedelic/surf rock bands out there today. Please, enjoy.
This Los Angeles based band really excites me. For a young band Watch For Horses really puts together a sound that I have a hard time comparing. Their influences range from 1930’s jazz to current indie, really just great chemistry all the way through. You would think these guys have been playing together for 20 years. Some of the most catchy and melodic tunes I’ve heard in a while. They’re also Star Wars fans so that alone won me over.
Troubador! is a fresh band out of Livermore, California that has a great garage pop sound to them. They have that awesome 90’s attitude that reminds me of The Pixies with a hint of The Stooges mixed in there. Once I heard “I’m just a flower on the wall of society. I won’t bother you if you don’t bother me.” in “Brainwash” I knew I was going to like these guys. If you are ever in the downtown Livermore area be sure to check them out. They’ll be playing The Gilman on July 8th.
I don’t really need to go on a Pixies rant here do I? This song has been out for 22 years now and I still listen to it almost everyday. These guys are indie music as we know it today so shut up and enjoy this masterpiece.
If you have been in the indie scene for a while you probably remember this bands one hit wonder from 2005 “Oh Mandy”. 7 years later and it looks like The Spinto Band has regained that garage/shoegaze/indie pop sound we all fell in love with back in 2005. “Shy Pursuit” is definitely one of my favorite albums of 2012, it captures the sounds of the summer and loose fun feeling that The Spinto Band aims for. This time around they have a very strong Wilco/Beriut sound to them that comes together almost flawlessly.
And just for nostalgic reasons the song that started it all.
The Beach Fossils are an indie rock/shoegaze band from Brooklyn. They have easily been my favorite band for the past 2 years, I still play their debut album almost everyday and the riffs in “Youth” and “Daydream” will have you humming all day. They really define the sounds of summer and being free. They are currently working on their second album and touring Europe and the US.
Mates is a Los Angeles based trio that I’ve really enjoyed listening to lately. The best way to describe Mates is to imagine if Vampire Weekend and The Arctic Monkeys had a child. Just down right bad-ass garage indie rock. They have been gaining quite a following out in LA even getting some radio play.
If you live in New York and watch TV you’ve probably heard this band in a “Visit New York” commercial. I’m not going to lie, that’s how I first heard them but once I saw that commercial I knew I had to give them a listen. 3 weeks and over 150 iPod plays later I’m pretty happy I decided to watch TV that day. The band is Caveman and their debut album “CoCo Beware” is a great listen all the way through. Typically I like to compare bands to more popular ones to give my readers an idea of who they sound like but this time I can’t. Not because its 1AM and I’ve had a couple but because they truly have their own sound and vibe to them that is a breath of fresh air. I can’t help but get lost in every track. All the instruments blend together as if they are just playing one giant god-like noise maker. Okay I might be getting ahead of myself here. Stop reading and listen to them already!
The Lower 48 are an indie folk band from Portland, Oregon that you soon won’t forget. After listening to a couple of their songs I guarantee you will find yourself humming them all day. They really define the type of music I would throw on in the car and drive forever. They released their debut album Where All Maps End Last year and have been playing shows all along the west coast ever since. They basically sound like Iron and Wine had a sex change and joined Band of Horses.
My favorite tracks are:
Channel Trill 