Indie-Rock Christmas Album

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

If your a fan of indie music and you want to get into the holiday spirit, Target is offering a free indie-rock Christmas album online. It’s a great listen, and you might discover some new indie bands!




The National’s “Terrible Love (Alternate Version)” Video

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

The National released an entertaining video for their “Terrible Love (Alternate Version)” song. It shows a behind-the-scenes look at the band on tour, and starts out with lead singer Matt Berninger having a little too much fun with a chair. You will just have to check it out here to know what I mean.




Allo Darlin’s “My Heart Is A Drummer”

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if everything was made out of cardboard? Well, now you can. Pitchfork just released Allo Darlin’s new music video for the song “My Heart Is A Drummer,” and it involves cardboard houses and dancing heart-shaped people. Yes, it’s unusual but it’s also very entertaining. So, check it out here!




Website Review–Hearya

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Hearya, a Chicago-based online publication for indie music, provides indie music fans with everything they are looking for. At hearya, one can find tons of information on new albums and bands.

One of the best things about this site is that it is interactive. There is always a video or mp3 that follows after every post. The publication is set up in a no-frills blog style. Hearya says on their website that they give “indie music enthusiasts a destination to cut through the clutter when discovering new music.” And this is true. The website does not overwhelm you with too much information, and usually provides one or two posts a day about new music.

As for the style of writing, it is pretty creative. The writers provide the readers with a good sense of what the music sounds like without even listening to it first. But, the best part of all is that Hearya has a whole section dedicated to live music sessions. Yes, you get to hear live versions of your favorite songs. Hearya does these live sessions with many different indie bands from their own studio, and then shares these music sessions with the community. And an added bonus—the music can be sent right to your itunes library for free. It’s great to hear the bands in a more raw state, as if they are jamming out right in front of you. This is what makes Hearya unique, and, ultimately, a great place for indie music fans.

There are, however, a few weaknesses at Hearya. The site is not nearly as professional looking as other publications such as Pitchfork, which may turn some viewers away. Also, the website lacks a search bar so one can’t just look for a particular song or band to read about. But, these weaknesses are overshadowed by the strengths of this site.

If I were to contribute to the Hearya website, I would try and add an album review section so that viewers can go directly to the reviews and not have to search down the whole entire blog. Also, as there are new indie songs produced everyday, I would want to start a “Song Of The Day” section and write a small critique about a new song everyday. This would make Hearya even greater than it already is.

Check the website out here.




Sean Moeller’s Creative Edge

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

When I’m looking for reviews on new and up-and-coming music, I head straight to Daytrotter, an online music publication that focuses on Indie artists and bands. One Daytrotter critic, Sean Moeller, truly knows how to keep an audience entertained. With unusual and witty remarks, Moeller’s critique’s are anything but boring. Whether one is interested in the artist or band being reviewed or not, one will certainly be amused.

Moeller’s differs from many other music critics because he knows how to charmingly paint a picture of how the music should make the listener feel. While reviewing Portugal The Man, Moeller says, “It’s music that lets the sun break into the proceedings and you feel as if you’ve assumed a seat in a levitation machine that’s pumping pure oxygen into your lungs, giving you some kind of a buzz that you don’t usually get.”

Moeller’s creativity is apparent. I like how his descriptions show readers a different perspective on an artist or band, and it’s nice to see how he treats every artist and band he reviews with respect and admiration. But, the main reason why I enjoy Moeller’s reviews is because he is an excellent storyteller. I mean, who doesn’t like a good story?

So check out Moeller’s reviews here!




New Music and Free Downloads

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

If you are interested in discovering some new and eclectic Indie tunes, then check out last.fm for free MP3 music downloads from some up-and-coming bands. Happy downloading!