Research Turtles

From Lake Charles, Louis., Research Turtles are bringing their A-game with the first full-length album featuring 11 solid tracks and no fillers.

Research Turtles is an indie rock band that will remind you of everything from the Beatles to Weezer, AND have everything power pop lovers want: superb recording quality and production, well-written pop song structures, catchy melodies, tight harmonies, and an array of different instrument sounds and guitar tones throughout the record.

The album starts off with "Let's Get Carried Away", a mid-tempo song with a perfect blend of driving guitar riffs and catchy verses. Next is "Damn", which sounds like the song OK Go meant to write instead of "Here It Goes Again"...and its the song that made me want to hear the rest of the album immediately. "Mission" and "Cement Floor" have crunchy guitars with steady punk-like riffs, but the many influences quickly come into the mix.

"Kiss Her Goodbye" slows it down and adds some great synth hooks and guitar leads. It's hard to skip this song and you'll be singing along with the chorus before it's over.

"Tomorrow" is probably my favorite on the album. It opens with a beautiful guitar melody, has positive lyrics, and the verses are very happy sounding with reggae influences.

Get the album now and follow Research Turtles at the links below and watch out for upcoming live shows!



Resarch Turtles . Facebook
Amazon . CD Baby . Dig Station

(500) Days Of Summer - OST

What makes a superb movie soundtrack? Could be anything...depending on personal music tastes. Music can make a film, but not break a film. There's been:

1. Bad movies with great (and best-selling) soundtracks (The Bodygaurd),

2. Epic films with epic soundtracks (Forrest Gump, Grease, Titanic),

3. Then there's the best: great movies with great soundtracks. In this category is where I place the films and soundtracks of 10 Things I Hate About You, Garden State, and (500 Days Of Summer).

Zooey Deschanel stars in the new romantic comedy that is receiving great reviews, and the soundtrck, which also features Zooey as part of indie music duo She & Him, won't be getting anything less. The quality of this OST can be related to the Garden State soundtrack, given the nature and time periods of the films and the collection of new and classic artists on the soundtracks. The 500 Days OST even includes a Simon & Garfunkel tune, just like the Garden State OST.

It's packed with 2 classics from The Smiths, including "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want", which She & Him cover on the soundtrack as well, and a cover of the legendary Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man" by Meaghan Smith. Also modern tracks from Regina Spektor, Wolfmother, Black Lips, and The Temper Trap make for a nice contrast when listening. A surprise came when I saw they included French singer/songwriter Carla Bruni's "Quelqu’un M’a Dit", a fairly unknown, great song that I first heard a year ago.

Preview all the tracks in the video below or at Amazon.com.

1. "A Story of Boy Meets Girl" - Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen
2. "Us" - Regina Spektor
3. "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths
4. "Bad Kids" - Black Lips
5. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - The Smiths
6. "There Goes The Fear" - Doves
7. "You Make My Dreams" - Hall & Oates
8. "Sweet Disposition" - The Temper Trap
9. "Quelqu’un M’a Dit" - Carla Bruni
10. "Mushaboom" - Feist
11. "Hero" - Regina Spektor
12. "Bookends" - Simon & Garfunkel
13. "Vagabond" - Wolfmother
14. "She’s Got You High" - Mumm-Ra
15. "Here Comes Your Man" - Meaghan Smith
16. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - She & Him

Amazon | IMDb

Discovery - "LP"

A great new electronic/indie fusion project from Vampire Weekend's keyboardist/producer Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot's lead singer Wes Miles. Taking an interesting turn from their indie rock bands, Discovery's album cleverly titled "LP" includes all of the modern production, synths, and auto-tuned vocals that you've heard throughout 90's and 00's pop music. Discovery makes awesome beats and adds a unique approach on vocals with this type of music, and that qualifies them for a thorough listening to. They even sample and remake The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" which scores them a throwback + tribute.

Listen to some tracks streaming below.

Myspace | Official Site | XL Recordings

She & Him - Volume One

She & Him is an indie pop duo made up of guitarist, singer/songwriter M. Ward and singer/songwriter, indie darling Zooey Deschanel, popularly known as a successful actress. They released their first album, Volume One in 2008 on Merge Records. Although it has been over a year since the album was released, this band is worth listening to and keeping an eye on for new material. Catchy vocal melodies sung by Zooey's loveable, cute voice on top of great guitar and piano riffs and chord progressions. They reflect an array of influences of classic power pop and rock bands and singer/songwriters. Listen to selected track from their album on their myspace. I wish I would have known about this band sooner!

Myspace | Offical Site |Merge Records | allmusic

Diane Birch - "Bible Belt"

Some say she's the new Joss Stone, Duffy, or a better, sober version of Amy Winehouse. While her music may paint with some of the same colors as those artists, Diane Birch has diversified and created her own unique style within retro-pop. With great piano playing and a superb, beautifully strong voice belting timeless melodies that stay with you, Diane Birch's debut album Bible Belt is definitely worth more than one listen. Steve Greenberg quickly signed Diane Birch to his record label S-Curve Records after hearing her music. Steve Greenberg also produced Bible Belt along with the same team that produced Joss Stone's first two albums.

This album shows so many influences from 60's and 70's soul, R&B, and singer/songwriter to gospel, pop, and more. You'll hear classic familiarity along with a fresh, new contemporary sound. "Ariel" echoes Elton John's classic piano driven verses. "Rise Up" is a gospel sounding soul ballad. "Valentino" is a fun clap along soul tune with modern pop tones that will have you humming along after listening. "Rewind" is another great Eltonesque piano part but with unique modern vocal melodies that mesh perfectly.

Official Site | Myspace | iTunes

The Sounds - Crossing The Rubicon

The female-fronted Swedish New Wave/Rock group are back with a wonderful follow up to their successful 2006 release with Crossing The Rubicon, featuring twelve new rocked out synth pop songs that are beautiful and catchy. The album was released today and the first single "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake" music video premiere.

The Sounds got huge with the release of their second album Dying To Say This To You and the hit single "Hurt You". Now with international fame, they tour Europe and the U.S., and this year will be playing a portion of the tour with another female-fronted rock group, No Doubt. What an awesome show that will be. They're playing 4 consecutive dates at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California with 3 of the dates already sold out.

The Sounds bring together so many great worlds of music together that make for a fresh new sound. Amazing female vocalist, synth pop and new wave influences, rock and punk influences. Check out the new cd, but also get the first two releases from The Sounds, they are all great. I'm addicted to this band right now.

No One Sleeps When I’m Awake Video THE SOUNDS

Download the new album! | Myspace

The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules

The Berlin based Indie-Pop Electronic-Dance band (all those describe some aspect of their unique sound) released their sophomore album Rules in March 2009 and its a great follow up to their first entitled Dreams.

Rules has longer and more frequent instrumental sections in its songs, as well as the keyboardist using some more varying and interesting and "dance/house" sounds. The album overall has a more fun, free, and upbeat feel to it. The Whitest Boy Alive has explored new territory with their unique sound without straying completely from the sound of Dreams. Great bass hooks and synth sounds create somewhat of an ethereal landscape upon which clean guitar chords waltz, and the soft, relaxed vocals fill in the rest.

The album starts off with a few mid-tempo tunes with catchy vocal melodies, followed by the bouncy dance-esque "Courage" and "Timebomb". Then they slow it down with the more emotional "Rollercoaster Ride" similar to feel of "Don't Give Up" from Dreams. Then they combine all these elements in "High On The Heels" that sounds like a far too staccato version of a techno track. The guitar on "1517" and "Dead End" reminds me of some 70's funk. The amazing bass lines continue in "Gravity" and "Promise Less Or Do More". The album finishes with the catchy keyboard riff led "Island".

Rules flows so smoothly from one song to the next and doesn't demand any second thought from the listener. Singer Erlend Oye is also parts of the band Kings Of Convenience.

Myspace | Official Site | Bubbles For Sale (online store)

Lily Allen - "It's Not Me, It's You"

A beautifully smooth and innocent voice singing sassy and honest lyrics create a fun sound in pop music. Lily's not afraid to speak her mind. The British singer/songwriter released her second studio album in February with "The Fear" becoming her second #1 single in the UK. There are many moods to the album including electronica tastes "The Fear" and "Back To The Start" to the jazz loops in "He Wasn't There", all with vocal melodies and lyrics that keep you interested until the songs are over. The contrasting moods of her fun melodies and sometimes bratty lyrics sung by a sweet, soft voice are appealing. "The Fear" contains words which inspire deeper thought, while "Not Fair" somewhat comically speaks of a great boyfriend who's only lacking in one aspect of the relationship. Much respect to a pop artist who is writing their own songs.

Check out Lily's official site where Remixes are available for to listen to that fans have submitted. Buying a copy of her new record allows you to access exclusive mp3 clips of individual tracks from the recordings to encourage remixes. Click here.

Official Site | MySpace | Tour Dates

The Noisettes - "Wild Young Hearts"

Unique. Evolving. Amazing live show. With a single that peaked at #2 in the UK driving the recently released second full length album, "Wild Young Hearts", its a great time to check out a band that can re-invent themselves while keeping their intriguing unique identity. From London and started in 2003, Noisettes are led by Shingai Shoniwa who brings beautiful vocals, solid bass lines, and an awesome energy on stage. Dan Smith's sick guitar solos and catchy riffs with the drumming of Jamie Morrison complete the Noisettes.

The charts prove that the new release is more mainstream friendly than their debut album "What's The Time Mr. Wolf?" that was released in early 2007 and had two singles that only got a small taste of the UK charts. Extensive touring followed their debut album in Europe and in the U.S. with bands such as TV On The Radio and Bloc Party. I got to catch the Noisettes open for TVOTR in August 2007 in at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville and both bands rank high in my favorite live performances that I've ever seen.

"What's The Time Mr. Wolf" has more punk and rock influences with driving bass and sweet rocked out guitar solos, highlighted by songs like "Don't Give Up", "Sister Rosetta (Capture The Spirit)", and "Scratch Your Name". Its a great listen with plenty of parts to head bang to. The new "Wild Young Hearts" strays from that style by being more pop and just showing a different set of influences. The songs "Never Forget You" and "So Complicated" are reminiscent of early Motown hits, while "Beat Of My Heart" remind me of some classic 80s pop rock. Shoniwa has a sensual soultry voice and she's been compared to Billie Holiday, but she'll also belt out a fun and raspy shout at times.

Some great bands like the Noisettes show up on UK charts but not on any in the US, so keep an eye on the UK charts now and then. Here's a favorite from the first album, and links to stream both albums and an EP.

Wild Young Hearts | What's The Time Mr. Wolf? | 3 Moods - Check out "Signs"