mr Gnome

The music of mr. Gnome (Nicole Barille and Sam Meister) has been described as utilizing elements of AltRock, Metal, Post Punk, and Prog, but land in a realm of their own making, crafting a compelling sonic-psychedelic melange of indie rock.

Since their conception in 2005, the Cleveland duo has released two EPs, receiving wide-ranging and honorable comparisons to Massive Attack, PJ Harvey, Tool, Portishead, Cat Power, Pelican, Death From Above 1979, Bjork and Blonde Redhead.

Their third cd, Heave Yer Skeleton, was just released (November 2009) with a free download of the single, Slow Side, on MySpace.

Regarding the band's name, I saw this on their blog: "I guess it probably wasn't a good idea to name our band after a recurring character from my acid trips." and it endears me to them even more. ha! But let me also add that there is a lot of 'tongue in cheek' on their blog so don't take that comment literally! I like these guys.

link | blog

Royal Bangs

Royal Bangs are Ryan, Henry, Brandon, Sam, and Chris, and they are the most original sounding band from Knoxville, TN, ever.

Their 2nd album Let It Beep came out in September 2009. We Breed Champions from 2008 is also really very good.

It's fresh and original ROCK music. It's neither post, heavy, emo, nor kraut, neo, or indie. It's ROCK music. Remember what that sounded like?


Royal Bangs - Poison Control
Royal Bangs - War Bells
Royal Bangs - My Car Is Haunted

Link | MySpace

Fanfarlo

Fanfarlo is a London based band formed by the Swedish musician Simon Balthazar (vocals, guitar, clarinet). Their name refers to Charles Baudelaire’s novella, "La Fanfarlo."

They've released some singles over the past few years but Reservoir is their debut cd that was introduced in 2008.

According to music fans on Last.FM, if you like Arcade Fire and Beirut, you'll like Fanfarlo. I pretty much agree with that assessment. The arrangements and instruments used by Fanfarlo are Arcade Fire-like and the harmonies blend nicely like Beirut but they do have their own style that I've been enjoying here at home and via my mp3 player.

The Lickets

The Lickets are an experimental group of folk musicians centered around the multi instrumentalists, Lena Buell, Mitch Greer, and Rachel Smith.

Often difficult to describe, the collective is described as a "transcendental mini-orchestra", and their work has been called "empyrean, luminously beautiful" and "Haunting, eerie, and altogether unique".

This is relaxing music. Morning music. The new album is Her Name Came On Arrows and you can name your own price for the album.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes


Like a crazed mix of Krishnas, von Trapps and musical merry pranksters Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes are blazing a path through the music world.

They got so much buzz midyear that I avoided them. That buzz usually translates into a softer sanitized rock like the band Phoenix, The Decemberists or the Shins and a whole shitload of others that are devoid of innovation and soul.

So...their first album came out in July 2009 and is fun and exhilarating. It's full of rich melodies and upbeat lyrics. I'm excited about them the way I got excited about Arcade Fire and Fever Ray. (They didn't propel me to "Yeasayer-excited", but hardly anyone else can do that.)

Lead singer Alex Ebert was just flat-out born to be a front man. Tall, dark, and lanky, his expressive eyes smile as he holds court for an appreciative audience with ants in his pants -- my, oh my. Alex and muse Jade Castrinos sing to each other and she warmly blends the vocals with him on some of the tunes. She's a talented, solid singer but she's a wee bit too effing happy for me. Almost like she's done some acid and can't get rid of the "grins". Do U No wuddamean? Apologies to Lee Michaels; yes, saw him, too.

MySpace | YouTube

YEASAYER

NYC psych merchants Yeasayer have signed to Secretly Canadian for the North American release of their highly anticipated sophomore album. The follow-up to 2007's All Hour Cymbals (which was released on We Are Free) is called Odd Blood, and it will be released on February 9, 2010. Mute will release the album outside of North America.

Yeasayer will preview Odd Blood at a show at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City on October 30. A special light show is promised. (Ooh!) They'll also hit up the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin on November 7.

Odd Blood tracklist below:

Odd Blood:

01 The Children
02 Ambling Alp
03 Madder Red
04 I Remember
05 ONE
06 Love Me Girl
07 Rome
08 Strange Reunions
09 Mondegreen
10 Grizelda

YAY!! We knew this album would be ready in early spring but didn't have a date or a track list. So excited.

Source | Blog