Soul-jazz is the coolly palatable launchpad for this Chicago trio's experimental musings. From there, the group cycles through a patchwork of sketchy vocal themes. It's equally friendly with Deerhoof and a smoky jazz den, and makes "avant-garde" sound a whole lot less intimidating.
The New York-based singer-songwriter initially woos us with tone: lush acoustic guitar--redolent of classic fingerstyle folkies--and a breezy bedroom-pop voice. But his lyrics are his greater strength. In finely turned heartbreak ditties, Brannan isn't afraid to feel a bit sorry for himself.
Keeping with the theme for Q-Tip's election day album release "The Renaissance," remix extraordinaire J. Period teams up with the Abstract for an exclusive political freestyle over a classic Eric B. & Rakim instrumental.
Male/female duos are hot right now (see She & Him and The Raveonettes), and this upbeat Berlin-based group raises the bar even higher. It's A Musical's orchestral indie pop is both catchy and clever at the same time.
Remember how you complained when your mom made you take violin lessons? You might have felt differently if they'd been your ticket to recording with Steve Albini. Anni Rossi--a viola player actually--turns plucked classical strings into an unconventional indie pop for Andrew Bird fans.
Bloc Party and Vampire Weekend are indie rock's premier polyrhythmicists (it sounds like it's spelled). Britain's Friendly Fires now enter the fray with their own drum shiftiness, and almost outdo the Party on alienation points with dense guitar clouds and strained vocals.
The Danish pair go a step further in their presentation of retro rock as something vicious. Surfy guitars, always packing switchblades, and dressed to kill, get matched with a sketchy programmed template. The genre's early days have been translated to its most modern.
With singer Morrissey (the patron saint of sad misfits) and guitarist Johnny Marr overseeing the project, the compilation of rarities and singles is both chronological and comprehensive. Its release seems perfectly timed with seasonal depression--in fact, the pairing of Morrissey's bittersweet melodies with Marr's multilayered musicianship might just provide the ideal soundtrack.
It's too bad the term "seminal" has faded with overuse: it was made for work like this. The New York mixmaster was the influencer of influencers--the guy who raised sampling to new levels of eclecticism and art. New retrospective "What Does It All Mean?" is a must for rap students.
The Parisian indie duo brings Lekman levels of twee joy to bear on galloping, Mexicali-touched ditties. So what does it mean to fall between, say, Belle & Sebastian and '50s hero Richie Valens? We're not quite sure, but we think it means these are true pop purists.
Technically Incorrect
Technically Incorrect
Internet & Media
796Facebook Likes
467Tweets
270Google Plus Shares
The one stop shop for all things iPhone
What's the #1 music streaming-app for iOS? Who wins in an iPhone v. S4 faceoff? We've got it covered with iPhone news, rumors, app recommendations, and more.
Manage updates with the Download App