City Center - S/T [2009]

[Ambient/Experimental]

City Center remind me of Animal Collective pre-Sung Tongs, but that's not to say they're just an Animal Collective rip off, that's not true at all. They also incorporate a dreampop sound and together it sounds great. The band is also made up of Ex- Saturday Looks Good To Me and Lovesick members. That in its self has to be worth a download.

Veronica Falls -Beachy Head 7" & Found Love in a Graveyard 7"

[Tweegaze]

Beachy Head b/w Staying here is the latest 7" release from Veronica Falls it has a more shoegaze feel to it than their early 7" release Found Love in a Graveyard (See Below) which had a more twee feel to it. The twee sound is still in there, but it's not as prominent as with the first single. I just wish they'd record more but I'm okay with the few recordings they have because they are really good. Also, they're pretty neat live.

[Twee/Indie]

I first heard these guys thanks to Katy and her being from Camden (London) and knowing all the hip bands. She sent me this which I believe is the American version of the single, the British one is backed with the track Stephen, but I don't have that version. I really enjoyed them, then I seen them live and enjoyed them even more.

They also hail from Glasgow, you know the place that produced their biggest influences THE PASTELS.

So if you like The Pastels, and other C86 influenced music, then I'd say you'd probably enjoy these cats.

Tooth Ache. - Illogically Chronic [2008]

[Downer pop]

Self described as Downer pop, Alexandria Hall's minimalist approach is rather nice and beautiful. The above link leads to Tooth Ache.'s Bandcamp where you can download this album in nice FLAC/320/Whatever.
I realise I'm not adequate with descriptions so here's a sample.

Nodzzz - S/T [2009]

[Lo-fi/Garage-pop]

Nodzzz appeared when the lo-fi scene was popular with those trendy types that jump from scene to scene just so they could say they were part of the scene before it became stagnent and popular, missing the irony that it is them that make the scenes stagnent and popular. Anyway, Nodzzz arrived at that time like many other bands, but nodzzz kind of went a different direction. While some bands went for a more garage rock sound or surf-pop sound Nodzzz went for a style which pretty much intails them making pop hits with twangy and fuzzy guitars.
Some influences become very apparent within the first few tracks; Elvis Costello and Beat Happening came to mind to me when I first listened to this, and still does. It's a fun little album and it only comes in at 16minutes so you kids with ADD who want to digest everything now, now, now. This album is perfect for you.

Cloud Nothings - Turning On [2009]

[Lo-fi, fuck yes]

Well, last year was a good year. It revived lo-fi, everyone got out their guitars, tape decks and skwonked away including little Dylan, an 18 year old from Ohio, USA. While most of us kept our skwonking to ourself, Dylan got some friends involved and made an album, a bloody good album it must be said. I respect him for it, but I still want to beat him up for being better and younger than me. He'd probably be able to take me anyway.

TV Ghost - Cold Fish (2009)

[Garage/Punk/noise]

I had a friend who once said to me "Sam, me and you are going to make one hell of a band, it's going to be Fugazi meets Big Black meets Sonic Youth" that friend, he now works in an office selling Printer Ink and Toner to businesses in Glasgow. The reason I mention this is because a few months ago I was given the pleasure of hearing TV Ghost's debut full-length album Cold Fish and the first thought that came to mind was of my friend and his dream when we were younger before his mother cut off his trust fund and he had to start paying rent himself. See, TV Ghost sound pretty much how I'd imagined our Sonic Youth, Big Black, Fugazi bastard child would sound... only, better.

The album is only 10 tracks long and comes in at something like 25 minutes. It's short, but not an unforgetful experience. It's fast, loud, chaotic and everything music should be. The fuzzy distorted guitars, the harsh drumming the unassuming vocals, it's the kind of album you play at 11 and tell your neighbours in that dingy shitty apartment you stay in to fuck off.

Although don't really do that, it just ends up with you coming off as a dick and the landlord telling you to pack your shit because here is your six weeks notice and he wont be writting you a positive reference letter so you're going to have to move back with your parents or into another shitty apartment where the don't want references because you possibly can't do anything that hasn't already been done. Figuratively speaking of course..

Jaill - That's How We Burn [2010]

[Psych-pop]

When someone says cool "indie-pop" for cool kids. The first thing that comes to mind is New York or California, not Milwaukee. Well, Jaill put that aside with this rather enjoyable sophomore release (You should also check out their debut There's No Sky). There self described Psych-rock borders on lo-fi pop and features some tunes reminiscent of the 90's lo-fi scene as opposed to new, lo-fi surfpop craze that kids seem to be making these days.

Sic Alps - Pleasures and Treasures [2006]

[Lo-fi/Noise/Garage/Psyche]

Sic Alps remind me of what a 60's psyche band would sound like if they recorded music in an old Volkswagon van. Some tracks on this album also have a shoegazing feel to them, albeit sans the production that a lot of shoegaze goes through. But yeah, download this anyway because I like it and would like the band to get more exposure.

SLOTHBEAR - QIDS [2010]

[Lo-fi/indie]

SLOTHBEAR are a fun bunch of people. They make music that doesn't suck and give away free 128kbps versions of their album Qids(see above) and if you like it you can get a better quality version in exchange for monies over at Amazon.