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coexist

21 Aug

Today’s Indie: Our Song / The xx

‘and there’s no one else / that knows me / like you do’

Sunset / The xx

‘I felt like you really knew me / now it feels like you see through me’

Coexist leaked this morning, just a few weeks shy of its September 11th release date. I am sure I will have a lot more to say, but in the simplest form of a first impression, these xx songs are all love songs. Half are like ‘ah it didn’t work,’ and the other half are like omfgiloveyou. All are sinking in nicely, so here is one of each. #indie/tory

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I will wait for you

20 Aug

Today’s Indie: I Will Wait / Mumford and Sons 

‘now I’ll be whole / as well as strong / and use my head alongside my heart’

I finally got first listen of the first single of Mumford and Son’s upcoming album, and while I am enjoying the fast paced banjo and singalong chorus, I Will Wait can’t help but feel a little bit too easy on the ears, too predictable, too safe. As with many of the tracks on the band’s Sigh No More, I can picture happily dancing to this barefoot in a field somewhere, sun on my back, cold beer in hand, but I don’t feel the heart string pullings I experienced during my earlier enchantment. I suppose it is an age old problem any band must face when gearing up for a sophomore release after a breakout debut – suddenly expectations are folded into the game, and they can weigh a lot.

Expectations aside, the single is still a great accompaniment to any Monday morning, and is only a sliver of what we have coming our way in September. I will wait, breath bated. #indie / tory

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flowers in your hair

17 Aug

Today’s Indie: Flowers in Your Hair / The Lumineers

‘and I hope it’s not too late cause you’re so attractive / in the way you move’

A short and sweet post of a short and sweet song by the lovely Lumineers. The Lumineers are no strangers to TUATI — this marks their forth appearance — but hey when I like something I really, really like it, and musical discovery has been light this week.

I am already pining for a new album by the Denver trio, but instead will have to get by by catching a live set at this fall’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival over in Golden Gate Park. If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. #indie/tory

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animal kingdom

15 Aug

Today’s Indie: White Sparks / Animal Kingdom

‘with these white sparks when we’re together and its all so clear’

Oh indie love songs, you had me at the stars. With a subtle yet driving beat, smooth vocals, and a simple ‘I see lights in your eyes’ kind of chorus, Animal Kingdom’s White Sparks has me smitten from ear to ear. I came across the North London trio in The Rickshaw Stop’s weekly concert update email, where I saw the tagline ‘”Achingly beautiful celestial indie…will have Sigur Ros quivering with envy.” — NME.’ Doesn’t take much more to catch my eye or ear, and I spent the rest of Tuesday morning deeply embedded in said beautiful celestial indie from the band’s new album, The Looking Away. Check out their show with Atlas Genius on August 23rd.

PS – if you want to read the heartwarming story of today’s animal kingdom photo friends, look no further than here. You’re welcome. And a bonus track, because it was too hard to just pick one. #indie/tory

Strange Attractor / Animal Kingdom

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the tallest man on earth

13 Aug

Today’s Indie: King of Spain / The Tallest Man on Earth

I never knew I was a lover
Just cause I steal the things you hide
Just cause I focus while we’re dancing
Just cause I offered you a ride

Sometimes you need the right setting for a musical discovery to take hold as it should. Today’s artist was reintroduced to me while setting up for my big sister’s wedding on Friday. We were sweating in Oregon August heat, hanging up strings of lights, and sneaking in an afternoon beer when Tallest Man on Earth came on the speakers we were testing. I had heard of Tallest Man on Earth a half dozen times but had never taken a moment to really listen to the guy, but something about heading into a weekend of such celebration and friends and family in my hometown caused me to take pause and let it sink in.

What a delight; TTMOE has the kind of sound that finds you fully grounded in the present while somewhere else entirely at the same time. I found myself listening to the rest of his songs all weekend, and my dad had to pop in himself to find out who this “Bob Dylan soundalike” I had been listening to was.

And since this is becoming the Longest Post on Earth, here is a bonus track from the Swedish singer-songwriter’s new album, There’s No Leaving Now. And a photo of my nephew getting his untz on at the reception Saturday night. It runs in the family.

Criminals  / The Tallest Man on Earth

‘come see the hiding in rain / come see the stillness in all them ones’

#indie / tory

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tropics

8 Aug

Today’s Indie: Sleepless / Tropics

‘when the sun gives off its morning light / you’ve still got sleep in your eyes’

Running Man / Tropics

Ah this is the fun part of blogging. My friend Eric is in a band! And they are good!  Providing lush indie folk rock with a San Franciscan twist I think (unbiasedly, of course) the group is on to something here. With Claire George’s crisp, birdlike crooning and a moveable melody, I can picture waking up to Sleepless on a Sunday morning and rubbing my own sleep out, while the band takes a more fierce while still easy on the ears approach with their track Running Man.

“Fueled by a never ending supply of red wine and peanut M&Ms, Tropics are currently playing shows in San Francisco, and planning to record their debut album this coming fall,” says the quintet. Excited to check out their frist show next Tuesday, August 15th at the Boom Boom Room. $5 at the door… join us. #indie/tory

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xx

7 Aug

Today’s Indie: Chained / The xx

‘did I hold too tight / did I not let enough light in’

The xx have delivered a beautiful, uneasily moody track that I have had on repeat all morning alongside my steadily refilled coffee. While the trio’s earlier track, Angels, highlighted Romy’s voice, it is nice to hear her vocals alongside Oliver’s again; like so many of their earlier songs you can almost taste the heat in their duet.

Like Angels, Chained lacks the club inspired vibe we were told to expect in the new album, but I am loving it, getting lost in the sound in similar fashion to their debut album’s Infinity. Chained is off the band’s upcoming album, Coexist, out September 11th. #indie/tory

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two for joy

3 Aug

Today’s Indie: One for Sorrow / Jeffrey 

‘we’ll start out with fancy sheets / and wear them down so thin / I’ll get myself a coal black suit I’ll never wear again’

We are knee deep in wedding season, and today marks the beginning of a journey into three weddings within eight days (I am at that age). I will spend this weekend along the sun soaked shores of San Diego before heading up North to my homeland in the Willamette Valley the next to celebrate with my sister. A lot of friends, family, love, and champagne. Accordingly, to carry the season off right, one of my favorite old wedding themed songs by Wisconsin singer songwriter Jeffrey Foucault. Just try to listen and not smile.

we’re gonna have a hundred babies
a little house outside of town
with a wood-stove and a claw-foot tub
when we’re all done traveling around

#indie/tory

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purity ring

1 Aug

Today’s Indie: Fineshrine / Purity Ring

‘get a little closer, let it fold / cut open my sternum and pull / my little ribs around you’

Ah here is a good one. Purity Ring has crafted one of the more strangely romantic tracks I have heard in some time, painting a picture of building a fortress for someone inside of yourself, literarily. I love Meghan Jame’s light, almost childlike vocals, eliciting a Crystal Castles, Sleigh Bells, and Grimes type feel, met with tingling builds and a backdrop chorus of coos. The track is off the Canadian electro-pop duo’s full length debut, Shrines, out last week, and all is worth a listen.

And then it was August. #indie/tory

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blank maps

30 Jul

Today’s Indie: Blank Maps / Cold Specks

‘head for the heart, does it break / words may fall, the body remains’

This weekend has left me light on sleep and feeling a bit wary heading into the week ahead, but the peaceful sound of Cold Specks has come to the rescue, offering comfort against the Monday blues. I first heard of the Canadian-turned Londoner via her single, Winter Solstice, but have become equally bewitched with Blank Maps. Slow rolling piano leads into a gospel-like voice, met with sliding strings. The beginning sound reminds me of a Greg Laswell classic… enjoy both.

Comes and Goes (in Waves) / Greg Laswell

‘come on friends get up now / love is to be made’

#indie/tory

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