The quality of indie releases remains high, and we have five more to share with you today. Here we go.
Artist Name: Granular
Album Name: XI
Label: Little Jig Records
Genre: Electronic Pop
Track Listing: 1. Ewe; 2. Try; 3. I Need You; 4. Seven Weeks; 5. Something in Between; 6. You Don’t; 7. Hypnotized; 8. Youth; 9. Wire; 10. All Again
Publicist: Little Jig Records
Review: Granular is a Swiss band from Lucerne who were formerly known as Augustine’s Suspenders. They combine elements of electronica, dance and pop to form their own style of music. Coupled with the amazingly smooth vocals of Sebastian Meyer, their music has an 80’s Tears for Fears vibe that is impossible to forget. The first two tracks, “Ewe” and Try” have already been released as singles, and we think this album will yield a few more. Our favorite tracks include “Try,” “Seven Weeks,” “Something in Between,” “Hypnotize,” and “”All Again,” although there really isn’t a weak track on the entire album.
Recommendation: Definitely Get it.
Artist Name: Tribal Seeds
Album Name: Roots Party
Label: iSeed Industries LLC
Genre: Reggae
Track Listing: 1. Aroma; 2. Gunsmoke (ft. Protoje); 3, Roots Party; 4. Empress; 5. Rude Girl; 6. Roots Dub; 7. Aroma Dub; 8. Empress Dub
Publicist: Big Picture Media Online
Review: Tribal Seeds has been creating fans and garnering critical support in their native San Diego for the past 13 years and recently won the title Artist of the Year from the San Diego Music Awards. Just a casual listen to their most recent album, Roots Party, and it is easy to see why. This is true reggae in the style of Bob Marley but with a laid-back So Cal vibe. There are five new songs on the EP, as well as dubstep remixes of “Aroma,” “Roots Party” and “Empress.” Needless to say, the entire EP rocks, and can easily turn anyone into a reggae music lover.
Recommendation: Don’t even think about it – Get it now!
Artist Name: Zilm
Album Name: Funk the System
Label: A&R Records
Genre: Funk/Rap
Track Listing: 1. The Least II; 2. Set it Up; 3. London BonBon; 4. Life is Like
Publicist: The A&R Department PR
Review: Zilm is based in Adelaide, Australia, and is heavily influenced by artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers (check out “Life is Like”), and Reggie Watts. His music is hip, funky and timely, with lyrics that speak to real world problems. Unlike most rappers, he also accompanies himself on guitar and looper. He recorded the EP in his home studio where he is currently working on a full length release. We can’t wait.
Recommendation: Hop on board his train now – don’t miss the chance to be a musical tastemaker.
Artist Name: Ascending Dawn
Album Name: Coalesce
Label: Self-released
Genre: Prog/Alt-Metal
Track Listing: 1. All in Now; 2. Miscommunication; 3. Cannonball; 4. Integral; 5. Opposites; 6. Simplify; 7. Inside the Silence; 8. Indiscretion; 9. Cannonball (radio edit)
Publicist: Effective Immediately PR
Review: This is an amazing band, mixing prog sensibilities with alt-metal, and featuring the breathtaking vocals of Marlain Angelides, who is every bit as good as Amy Lee of Evanescence. Despite the metal undertones, this band would do well on rock radio stations and fully deserves the airplay. From the rocking first notes of “All in Now” through the radio edit of “Cannonball,” they prove their commercial appeal over and over again. Just like Tribal Seeds could convert anyone to reggae, Ascending Dawn can convert non-metal lovers to their groove. This one is a definitely winner.
Recommendation: Get. It. Now.
Artist Name: Acadian Driftwood
Album Name: First Amendment
Label: Self-released
Genre: Roots Rock/Americana
Track Listing: 1. Rain Falling In; 2. Catch the Sun; 3. Shallow Water; 4. Arrival; 5. Fair’s Fayre
Publicist: Neon Tetra PR
Review: This is the band’s debut EP, and it starts out slowly on “Rain Falling In” like good Americana, with a smooth country vibe and lots of guitar slide. They add some congas to the drum beat on “Catch the Sun” while retaining all the previous elements. They finally take off on “Shallow Water” after a mellow, acoustic intro, and show that they can bring the rock to their roots music. “Arrival” returns to the slow guitar, drums and vocals, totally different from anything before it. They close out with “Fair’s Fayre,” a renaissance-style ballad with a haunting harmonica on top of awesome guitar.
Recommendation: Definitely worth checking out. We love this British band’s approach to an American musical genre.