M83 - Midnight City

M83 is a band that has been getting a lot of attention both currently and for the last part of 2011. They released a double album in October entitled Hurry Up, Were Dreaming. One songs from this album that has been listened to a lot is Midnight City.  What makes M83 so good is their original arrangements and song structure.  They use interesting instruments both acoustics and electric, and their vocals are ominous and almost sound like just another one of the instruments.  They have a little bit of MGMT's influence in them in my opinion, and say that they are greatly influenced by  the Smashing Pumpkins.  They are definitely in the "indie" category but I can't help to notice they have a pop sound to them.  Midnight City is catchy and easy to listen to.. but nevertheless has a distinct edge to it.
-mthings 12/2/12


Buy M83's music here:  Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. - M83

Midnight City by M83

First Rate People - Someone Else Can Make A Work of Art

This post is about "Someone Else Can Make a Work of Art" by First Rate People.  First Rate People is a Canadian indie-pop-folk band.   This song is off their new album that's also called "Someone Else Can Make a Work of Art."  The song is a beautiful poem, with a a wonderfully simple arrangement.  Its a catchy-feel good song.  The chorus that that is the title of the song, has a great melody.  The song explores some different arrangements as it goes on changing the drums, adding instruments and rhythms, which keeps the song interesting throughout.  I love the lyrics.  Have a listen, enjoy!
-mthings 12/18/11



Someone Else Can Make A Work Of Art - First Rate People

Christmas Time is Here, a cover by The Woods

Around this time of year many artists release covers of classic Christmas songs.  Some play the songs just as they were recorded or some might choose to play them with their own personal spin.  One band that has released a cover this year is the California based indie band The Woods with their cover of Christmas Time is Here.  The original version from Charlie Brown Christmas is already a favorite of mine with its simple and classic quality.  The Woods' cover keeps it simple like the original while making it contemporary with its interesting arrangement.   The guitarist outlines the chords of the song with an almost Hawaiian-sound, and a synthesizer makes eerie noises on and off and the vocals are sung in falsetto. The combination gives it a dream-like feel, but still reminiscent of the original.  The Woods is known to have an almost psychedelic sound to their music but they are receiving a lot of attention for this simple Christmas cover.

-mthings 12/14/12

WOODS- Christmas Time is Here by WOODSIST

Little Boots is Back with "Shake"

Little Boots (real name Victoria Hesketh,) the British electric-pop-indie singer is back with a new track called Shake.  Shake is somewhat of a standard club-song.  It makes you want to to move or dance.  It has a repetitive background with a solid bass line and drum track and a straight-forward verse and chorus that repeat a few times.  What's nice about the production of Shake is the build up of each verse, where every 4 or 8 measures a new instrument or sound is added which makes it exciting when you reach the chorus.  Little Boots' voice works well over the rhythmic background.  Little Boots has been around for 3 or 4 years releasing a few albums but this is a single-track she's put out, maybe as a preview of some upcoming album.
-mthings 12/12/11

You can buy the track here: Shake - Single - Little Boots Little Boots - SHAKE by LittleBoots


Some DJ's are making remixes of Shake, in the same way they did this fall with Lana Del Ray. Here is one by Azari and III: Little Boots - Shake (Azari & III remix) by LittleBoots

Devil's Work, new song for Miike Snow

Miike Snow, a Swedish producer and singer who released the very catchy song last year Song For No One is about to release his second album.  I personally really like Song For No One, with its great chorus and guitar riff.  Here's that song:
You can buy the album or individual songs here:Miike Snow - Miike Snow

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Snow has released one song, Devil's Work, from his not-yet-named upcoming album.  It's catchy and has a great piano-loop in the background proving Snow is still a great indie-pop producer.  Snow also has a great voice for the songs he makes. It gets a little repetitive in my opinion, but is a great preview of his upcoming album.
-mthings 12/08/11

Devil's Work by miikesnow

Tennis, a new band with great new single "Origins"

The band Tennis has come out with a new track, Origins, that is off their new album Young and Old.  The song is extremely catchy with has a light, poppy feel to it.  The singer Alaina Moore has a tinny voice that hits the upper registers that works really well with the indie style of the band.  The background combines many interesting and fun instruments like some horns, a synthesizer, and a bouncy piano riff.  The overall package is entertaining and rhythmic.  It's getting a lot of attention, and a lot more is to hopefully come from Tennis.

-mthings 11/23/11

Tennis - Origins