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

Anchor In The Valley

Pure and honest indie folk music and lyrics that comes straight from the heart and soul of Kelsey Waldon. A girl and her guitar. Kelsey soaks in a broad range of influences from classic rock artists to country singer/songwriters, modern rock bands, and countless others. She's been playing and writing music for years, and started performing under the name Anchor In The Valley. Kelsey released an album of demos she recorded in her basement, called "Songs From A Basement" which is available on iTunes, and is constantly working on writing and recording new material. She's also touring during the month of July this year, starting the 9th in Kansas with indie artist Ghostbeard. Listening to Anchor In The Valley and watching these songs performed live is relaxing, inspiring, and kind to your ears.

Check out my favorite tune on her Myspace, "untitled" and her latest addition "Mississippi Ride".

Myspace

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

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)