New Favorite - "Money Grabber" by Fitz & the Tantrums

Genre: Motown/Neo-Soul
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Latest Album: Pickin' Up The Pieces (2010)
Label: Dangerbird Records
Other Notable Tracks: "Breakin' the Chains of Love" and "Dear Mr. President"

Fun Fact: Adam Levine personally invited Fitz and the Tantrums to tour with Maroon 5 after hearing their music upon the recommendation on his tattoo artist.

Fitz and the Tantrums Website HERE.

New Favorite - "Juniper" by Y La Bamba

Genre: Folk/Indie
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Latest Album: Lupon (2010)
Label: Tender Loving Empire
Other Notable Songs: "A Man and His Fields"

Fun Fact: The daughter of two Mexican immigrants, lead singer Luzelena Mendoza named her band after her six-toed white cat, La Bamba.

Y La Bamba Website HERE.

Y La Bamba - Juniper from Tangible Worldwide on Vimeo.

New Favorites - "Everything Will Be Alright" by Golden Ages

Genre: Soul/Electropsych-Pop

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Label: Indiecater Records
Latest Album: Tradition
Release Date: April 16th, 2010
Notable Tracks: "Be Cool" and "Right Season"

On Tour?: No
NYC Tour Date/Venue: n/a

Fun Fact: Golden Ages is the result of a dorm room project by a 21-year-old Cognitive Science major from Philly.


Blalock's Indie/Rock Playlist

New Favorites - "Only" by Coma Cinema

Genre: Indie/Alternative

Hometown: Columbia, SC
Label: Summertime in Hell
Latest Album: Stoned Alone
Release Date: June 1st, 2010
Notable Tracks: "Come On, Apathy!" and "Blissed"

On Tour?: unknown
NYC Tour Date/Venue: unknown
Fun Fact: All of Coma Cinema's music is available for download for FREE on their website.

ComaCinema.org

Coma Cinema - Only from Tyler T Williams on Vimeo.

New Favorites - "Hiding" by My Friend Wallis

Genre: Pop/Visual

Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Label: (unsigned)
Latest Album: When the Blue Turned Yellow
Release Date: Summer 2009
Notable Tracks: "Free Day" and "In The Winter"

On Tour?: No
NYC Tour Date/Venue: n/a

Fun Fact: My Friend Wallis is the solo project of Crystal Dorval of the indie pop group Vincat.

My Friend Wallis Online.


Hiding - My Friend Wallis from Kyle Surovy on Vimeo.

New Favorites - "A More Perfect Union" by Titus Andronicus

Genre: Punk/Lo-Fi

Hometown: Glen Rock, NJ
Label: XL Recordings
Album: The Monitor
Release Date: March 9th, 2010
Notable Tracks: "Titus Andronicus Forever" and "To Old Friends and New"

On Tour?: Yes
NYC Tour Date/Venue: September 25th @ Webster Hall.
Fun Fact: They take their name after the Shakespearean play Titus Andronicus and at one point they had up to 11 people in the band - there are now just 5 members.

Titus Andronicus Online.

Blalock's Indie/Rock Playlist

New Favorites - "Post Acid" by Wavves

Wavves got me with the promise of a free MP3 download. Luckily for them, it was really good (unlike so many other, free MP3s) and now I'm officially a fan. Well done, sirs. This Lo-Fi/Punk/Noise Pop groups comes from San Diego, CA and most recently signed with Fat Possum Records. Two of the members had played with the late Jay Reatard, so you know they gotta be good.

They dropped their third album entitled King of the Beach earlier this month, and based on this first single, I think it may be worth a listen. They're already on tour to promote the album, so keep your eyes out for them across the US.

Wavves.net

Blalock's Indie/Rock Playlist

New Favorites - "The Mama Papa" by Plants and Animals

Plants and Animals originally hail from Montreal, Canada and have recently been making a name for themselves in the US. With their newest album La La Land, they've expanded upon their familiar post-classic rock sound to a harder, more modern indie/rock feel that is able to showcase their artistic range a bit better than in previous years, apparently.

Having just discovered them, I appreciate their sound without having a basis for comparison to their 'old' sound. Whatever they've done to expand their sound, I think it's working. This video is a bit too theatrical and silly for my taste, but I enjoy it nonetheless. It's a great song - just ignore the mime.

Plants & Animals Online.

Watch their music video HERE.

International Spotlight - "Animal Arithematic" by Jonsi

Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson is the lead singer of the post-rock Icelandic band called Sigur Rós, which went on an indefinite hiatus in early 2010. Jonsi isn't quite as ambient as Sigur Rós, but it's certainly in the same ballpark. Alternative-soft-rock goodness :)

Currently on a world tour promoting his album, "Go", Jonsi is coming the the US in the fall. Get your tickets ASAP as I'm sure most of his shows will be selling out.

Jonsi Online.

Blalock's Indie/Rock Playlist

New Favorites - "Mouth Full of Diamonds" by Phantogram

Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel make of the duo known as Phantogram, which was officially formed in 2007. The two friends had been working with other artists for a while and then reunited, creating the electro-rock goodness that you're about to enjoy.

Thanks to their dance-friendly sound, they've opened for acts such as Ra Ra Riot, Zero 7 and Minus the Bear and more. They have a very established sound and formula for being around less than 3 years. It's in the ballpark of Blonde Redhead, but with a little more heart.

This music video is stunning and a little creepy. A little too cheesy for my taste, but I like the intent behind it. I could do without the profile head-turning, but whatevs.

Phantogram on MySpace.

Blalock's Indie/Rock Playlist

New Favorites - "Short and Entertaining" by JAMAICA

JAMAICA is a new rock/pop duo that really has me excited. They have such a great old-school sound and yet a really amazing newness to them that is really nice to hear. I fell upon this song completely randomly and it's got me wanting to download their new album on iTunes (I never actually buy music online).  Give a listen and tell me what you think. I'm really loving everything about it.

I can't find out much about them other than that they're French and that most of their music is snyth-free, which I really think is smart and very impressive.

Check JAMAICA out.




JAMAICA - 'Short and Entertaining' VIDEO from bermudapants on Vimeo.

New Favorites - "Rabbit Song" by Boy & Bear

Boy and the Bear really impressed me at first listen. The lead singer Dave Hosking has an incredibly interesting vocal quality that you don't hear too often in mainstream music. The band as a whole generally evokes a sense of old-world/folk artistry that I wish were more present in today's music. Other bands with a comparable sound include Mumford & Sons from the UK and Blitzen Trapper from Portland, Oregon, but Boy and the Bear tend rock a bit heavier.

The music video is very Where the Wild Things Are. Gotta love it.

Boy & Bear on MySpace.

New Favorites - "Let's Go Surfing" by the Drums

Every once and a while I see a video that is so simple that I'm stunned at its brillance. This is one of those. It makes me want to direct/design music videos.

Great song, but some of the weirdest running ever captured on video. The Drums are skinny, awkward guys, but they make some sick tunes, if I do say so myself.

The Drums Website.

New Favorites - "026" TGTB

Self-defined as a "new world surf/flamenco" band, The Good The Bad lack a lead singer because they felt that none of the people they met with were able to "stand behind the drummer" with their vocals. Fair enough. They are possibly so good that they don't even need a vocalist. You be the judge.

Visit TGTB on MySpace.