Gumshen :: What You Make It

 alt-rock, alternative, featured artists, Gumshen, indie pop, new release, news, reviews, rock, Seattle, unsigned, Washington  5 Responses »
May 252011
 

artist: Gumshen
genre: alternative, indie-pop, rock
label: unsigned
listen now:
Not Every One Of Us
I Know You Girl

I first heard of Gumshen while working with ”another network,” as they say, and was so impressed that I felt compelled to include select tracks from their previous album, Super Buffet, as part of our global broadcast here at Froglix when we launched nearly (2) years ago.  Fast forward to today and the always entertaining indie rockers with the energetic sound from Seattle are back in the mix with a new studio release that, quite possibly, could be best work yet.  Naturally, this what one hopes for as an artist and musician…to get better, to progress, to improve and all the while exploring new areas of sound and it is quite clear that Ron Hippe, Jan Ciganik, Dennis McCoy and Rich Hinklin are doing just that.  This latest EP not only demonstrates their growth as individual musicians but as a band as well.  After all, the sum is only as good as its individual parts and with Gumshen the sum is good…that should tell you everything you need to know.

- Drago

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Indie Folk from Philly

 acoustic, featured artists, folk, indie, Munny & the Camerman, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, reviews, unsigned  1 Response »
May 172011
 

artist: Munny & the Cameraman

genre: alternative | indie |folk

label: unsigned

buy now:


listen and download (for free) now:
Revolutions  (download Revolutions directly here)
Tattoos  (download Tattoos directly here)

Philadephia’s Munny & the Cameraman released their self-titled debut disc this past fall.  October 8th to be exact…and we missed it.  How in the heck did we miss it?  Time to fire the Research Department.  Wait. That would be me.  Ok…bad idea.  Let’s focus on the positives here shall we?  We shall.

Regardless of how long it’s taken for us to hear this disc, it’s been well worth the wait.  As I hit play on the mp3 player, the opening track entitled “Tattoos” begins and immediately captures my attention with quasi-military style drum cadence. Next the guitars add a sparkling layer of texture that meshes will with the warm bass and vocals which resonate with unmistakeable clarity and melody. “Start a revolution maybe, you’ll feel better inside.” I thought indie-folk was all about the love?  “Revolutions” showcases earthy vocals set against a shuffle like tempo on the drums and echoed by guitar and bass.  I really like the flow of this song. The same can be said about “We All Wanted Something,” as M & the C ditch the rhythm section and rely solely on the interplay of voice and guitar.  Nice.

This is one of those albums that one could imagine hearing while sitting in solitary at a local coffee shop.  You’d notice it right away, then you’d stop to listen just for a second and  before you know it you are lost in thought as your mind switches over to autopilot.  Take my advice, don’t fight it…just enjoy the ride.

- Drago

 

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Australia’s Abbe May

 Abbe May, alternative, Australia, featured artists, indie, psychadelic, rock, unsigned, videos  1 Response »
Apr 142011
 

artist: Abbe May | genre: alternative, rock | label: unsigned

Some may consider Aussie siren Abbe May’s musical style to be somewhat of an acquired taste.  Okay. I’ll grant you that but, personally, I dig her.  There’s just something very PJ Harvey/Jemina Pearl about her that I find to be quite alluring.  To quote Garth from Wayne’s World, “She makes me feel kinda funny…like when we used to climb the ropes in gym class.”

If you have already hit the play button on the video above  you have already surmised that the aforementioned is for a track entitled “Design Desire.” This latest single is also a forerunner to her next album which is due to drop this summer.  If you haven’t hit play…please do so now.  I’ll be right here when you get back.

Was it good for you?  Ok…let’s keep it moving.  There were a few things that jumped out at me about this particular song/video. The guitar work was gritty, it was raw and it was muddy. Loved it. Abbe’s haunting lyrics and amorous energy were quite stellar as well. The mirror effects…eh…not so much.  At first they were interesting, cool even. Then came the queasiness, a sensation I last remember experiencing while watching the Blair Witch Project back in the day. Then there’s dude with the swimmer’s cap from hell and a cow skull draped around his neck dancing around in hot pants. Again with the queasiness.  The white Ford Mustang barreling across the desert, however, was money!

– Drago

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Throw Your Arms Around Candice

 alternative, featured artists, folk, indie, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Summer Fiction, unsigned, videos  1 Response »
Apr 062011
 

It’s not flashy…but I think that’s what I like about it.  In this video for “Throw Your Arms Around Me” Summer Fiction takes their folkish 60′s vibe and set it to an old Candice Bergen movie…what’s not to like?   Watch it here…buy it on !
- Drago
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Ledaswan by the NUM83R5

 alt-rock, alternative, featured artists, indie, indie pop, Ledaswan, reviews, rock, San Antonio, Texas, unsigned  2 Responses »
Mar 282011
 

artist: Ledaswan | genre: alternative, indie-rock | label: unsigned
album: NUM83R5…available now on

Lledaswan

listen now:
Faulkner :: 25 Years :: What a Way Two Drown

We first introduced San Antonio indie-rockers Ledaswan to the Froglix Faithful via a recent video post for “Faulkner,” a de-lovely track from their latest self-released EP NUM83R5 (aka Numbers) with a promise that a full-fledged review would be forthcoming.  I am a man of my word…so here it goes.

A recent review on another network, as they say, refer to Ledaswan as having a “pop” sound.  Pop? Really?  If theses cats are pop than Brittany Spears is R&B. I’m not buying it.  This just in, melodic does not always have to equal pop.  Rant over…moving on.

Mazzy Star?  Nope.  The Cranberries? Definitely not. Erica Monzon (lead vox, guitars, keys), brothers Jaime and David Monzon (electric guitars, keys), Lalo Rodriguez (bass guitar) and Oscar Linares (drums) deserve a little more credit than being compared to the “standard” female fronted, alternative/indie rock bands. How about Gwen Stefani meets the Jesus and Mary Chain?  That’s a bit more like it. Was I smitten by Erica’s charming, diaphanous voice? Of course, I’m only human and…she’s really good!  Mind you, she’s not as gritty as Alison Mosshart from The Dead Weather nor as powerful as, dare I say it, Ann Wilson from Heart. But that’s a good thing as neither of those styles would work for this band.  Her voice (and stage presence for that matter) actually remind me somewhat of Sarah Shannon from Velocity Girl. Remember them?  Meanwhile, the colourful guitar work turned in by the brothers Monzon really stands out on this album but I especially like what they did with “What a Way to Drown.” Lalo’s active bass style on “25 Years” is quite impressive as it creates intresting textures while simultaneously staying in the pocket with Mr. Linares’ drumming which, quite frankly, is both stellar and solid all the way through.  Is that a piccolo snare I hear?  Tight.  Very tight.

So…my final ruling on Ledaswan?  I like ‘em.  Not a little, but a lot.  Go to iTunes.  Get NUMB3R5. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

- Drago

 

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This Just In :: Damn Vandals Set Release Date for New Single

 alt-rock, alternative, Damn Vandals, England, featured artists, London, news, rock, unsigned, videos  No Responses »
Mar 232011
 

artist: Damn Vandals | genre: alternative, rock | label: unsigned

The UK’s Damn Vandals are soon to be back in the mix with a new single.  “Bayonet” is scheduled to be released next month (April 25th to be exact) but  you can check out a preview via the video above. For those of you new to the “DV” experience, the band all met while completing mandatory public service for, you guessed it, vandalism.  Graffiti art to be exact…which should become apparent after watching any of their videos.  Lead singer Jack Kansas is the “chief videographer” and you’ll see that he has quite a knack for creating interesting, if not memorable, videos to accompany their compositions.  In our Vandalism at Its Finest post from last year, we reference the band’s haunting lyrics and melancholy guitars as some our key “likes” and we are happy to hear that “Bayonet” offers some more of the good stuff.

- Drago

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