Jenny Owen Youngs - New Album

Been listening to Jenny Owen Youngs 2007 album 'Batten the Hatches' which is absolutely irresistible, edgy and beautiful. Basically go listen to Jenny, realise how good she is, then like me start looking forward to her new album 'Transmitter Failure' out 26 May.

http://www.myspace.com/jennyowenyoungs



Jenny Owen Youngs - Fuck Was I

The Tunics

The Tunics hail from Croydon, London, United Kingdom, they could so easily be just another Artic Monkeys, Jack Penate or Jamie T sounding band with lyrics that attempt to lay down some sort of social commentary about the strife of being young and confused in modern England. Sounds like ground well covered by others, but I must admit from the first cord these guys come across fresh and alive.
Everything seems to not only work but also seems relevant and inspired.

Give them a listen and look of for their debut album Somewhere in Somebody's Heart.

http://www.myspace.com/thetunics



The Tunics - Waiting

The Amateurs - Homesick EP

This Birmingham, United Kingdom band make what I suppose you could call sappy,sunny pop tunes, which I know sounds terrible, but surprisingly it actually works and before you know it you are imersed in there light breezy pop.
Give them a listen, you just might like me decide to add them to the CD collection!!




http://www.myspace.com/theamateursuk

Thee Makeout Party! - Play Pretend

Check out this seriously cool, lazy sounding tuneful California Band.
Their debut album is available from http://www.myspace.com/theemakeoutparty





Thee Makeout Party -Slack

Spotify

Is this the Future of Music Listening?

I downloaded this Spotify software a few weeks back (very simple to do and super quick), once downloaded you have a iTunes style dashboard from where you can search the huge Spotify database of music. Your latest underground indie band will not yet be on there but all the good old stuff from years gone by is present and I spent a nostalgic day listening to some long forgotten cheese albums !!

My verdict on Spotify, brilliant for having at a party, let people choose what they want to dance too, brilliant for listening to albums I would never have bought but don't mind have had a listen too anyway. And great for researching albums that I will now definitely go and buy having heard how good it is.

Spotify is going to become a new buzz word associated with music so go check it out early.

The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

Just received the new album from The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound. With all the experimental boundary pushing genre merging albums both good and bad that have come out in 2008, its refreshing to hear a rock band being just that.
The first song 'Great Expectations' has a distinct 'Killers' sound, but back when the Killers were not totally rubbish ! I described the band to my mates as sounding like a good version of the killers. As the album continues the overwhelming influence moves more into the Bruce Springsteen vibe. Overall I found this a highly enjoyable listen and on my favourite song 'High Lonesome' you get a real dose of nostalgia, with basically all the lyrics lovingly borrowed from classic Counting Cows, Tom Petty and 'Springsteen' songs.
Overall this a solid album that will receive major radio coverage over the coming months, but you will not regret adding The Gaslight Anthem to your CD collection.

Listen to 'High Lonsome' Below

Port O'Brien - All We Could do Was Sing

On first listen I thought it would be easy to disregard these guys as just another breezy folky indie band riding a little wave of hype. However I was very wrong, the songs are catchy, quirky and paint a carefree picture of the optimism of the youthful mind, were troubles are temporary and there is always a positive focus.
A great little album to give you some focus on the commute to the office !!

Check them out at: http://www.myspace.com/portobrien

Listen below to 'Close the Lid'