“Constructive Summer” is the lead song off the Hold Steady’s fourth and soon to be released (July 15h) album, Stay Positive. The Hold Steady is unabashed in their reverence for Springsteen, someone I never got into, but an influence easily appreciated in their sound. Their songs are sincerely melodramatic, turning even the most mundane adolescent memories into epic victories or hallmark stories, typically laced among fluid piano breakdowns and sharp, classic-rock guitar solos. The hooks are huge, and the stories even bigger.

The song opens: “Me and my friends are like/the drums on Lust For Life/We pound it out on floor toms/Our songs are sing along songs” amid overdriven power chords and intricate, angular guitar spurts. It’s a one two punch to the adrenaline gland. They’re drinking on top of water towers and raising toasts to “saint Joe Strummer,” doing everything I’ve always romanticized as summer.

As my first official post with indiemuse, I’d like to share it with you. And if you dig this sound, grab a copy of Boys and Girls in America, and work from there.

m4a: “Constructive Summer” - The Hold Steady

From their first album, The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me

“Certain Songs” - The Hold Steady

Site | MySpace | Amazon

Today’s song of the day comes from Asthmatic Kitty’s Cryptacize. I’m a sap for alternating male and female vocals and this simple little song is a good example. The rubato arrangement of this song makes it very expressive along with its minimal instrumentation of electric guitar and drums. Here you can read label-mate Sufjan Steven’s review of the album.

They make music that is refreshingly coherent, stewed with deliberate melodies, a refinement of instrumentation, no excess, nothing wasted, nothing lost.

-Sufjan Stevens

MP3: Cryptacize - We’ll Never Dream Again

Here’s their tour schedule

Website | MySpace

Avi Buffalo caught my interest after they had cited Wilco, Grizzly Bear, Panda Bear, Broken Social Scene, and Jim O’Rourke. I’ve given their songs a few listens (you can even download them at their Myspace). Since their style and interest of music is closely aligned with the staff of IndieMuse I hope that the readers will also enjoy the sweet sounds of Avi Buffalo. This Long Beach, California band is not currently on a record label, but I can see that changing soon.

Today’s song of the day:

MP3: Avi Buffalo - Coaxed

Here’s a sample of their live show performing “Where’s Your Dirty Mind?”

Here’s their tour for this summer for all you people in California.

Today’s song of the day comes from Flemish Eye records’ up and coming band Women. “Black Rice” is a simple, lo-fi, catchy little pop rock song. Just some two note guitar riffs, a hint of glockenspiel and piano, the simplicity only leaves me wanting more. I’m interested in hearing the rest of the album when it comes out July 8th.

“Recorded by label-mate Chad VanGaalen and the band members, the 10 song, self-titled album by Women is an explosion out of the gates for this young band. Sometimes light and spacious, at other times eerie and dense with an ominous weight, this debut flirts with the noisy beauty of the Velvet Underground and effortlessly toys with the intricacy and playfulness of Deerhoof as crude percussion beats out a pulsing tattoo of clatter.” - from their press page.

But don’t take their word for it, listen yourself and check out their website for another track.

MP3: Women - Black Rice

If you live in or near Canada, try to catch one of their shows:
June 11 :: Winnipeg, Royal Albert
June 12 :: Saskatoon, Little Pictures
June 13 :: Calgary, Broken City
June 14 :: Edmonton, The Velvet Underground
June 14 :: Calgary, Marquee Room
June 16 :: Kelowna, Whitehouse Productions
June 17 :: Victoria, Lucky Bar
June 20 :: Vancouver, Little Mountain Studios
June 21 :: Vancouver, Hoko’s
June 24 :: Lethbridge, Knights of Columbus Hall
June 26 :: Calgary, Broken City
Website | Pitchfork’s Review | Myspace |

Well, it’s been a ridiculous month for all of us here. I’ve been getting done with school, making that annual trip home to Wisconsin and putting together a new band for the summer. Most of all, though, I’ve been hearing totally great music. My apologies for not letting you in on my level sooner, but here we go.

Sign this band:

Just a block from my house, Great Scott is a fantastic bar for hearing new indie music in a comfortable atmosphere.  I have no qualms about running down the street on a dull night and checking out what may be my new favorite bands. That’s  just what happened with Boston’s own You Can Be A Wesley. I knew a few of these kids from classes and around campus, but had no idea that they were as original, creative and tight as found. Song after song (even a Cardigan’s cover) I was enthralled–not only by the music but the uncontrollable energy: happiness, eminating from the stage.

I managed to lock down one of their brilliant ep’s, Feed The Moon, Starve The Sun. Recorded sometime in 2007, the EP displays the usual characteristics. It is smooth, interesting and most of all, they’ve continued to improve in a serious way. Their live show surpasses their formidable ep in every way. While Feed the Moon, Starve the Sun definitely kicks a lot of ass, I can’t wait to hear its live interpretation.

As a band, the group is superbly understanding of what roles each member plays. A large part of truly original music is the understanding of placement. The bass and drumming are efficient and purposeful. On lead guitar, Winston MacDonald has foresight, to say the least. Using the right notes, and only the right notes, the solos and fills come out in triumphant fashion giving the impression that these kids in their early twenties are much much more mature. Saara, a wonderful presence, fulfills her duties as a lead singer and guitarist with admirable intensity. Her voice has a beautiful, piercing quality that can only be described as “addictive.”

They can remind me of BSS, Built to Spill and any number of bands while still maintaining their own energy. The most important thing to remember with a group like this is how young they are. In such a short time they’ve developed an organization and ambition that will continue to bear fantastic results. When I say “Sign This Band.” it’s because they’re just waiting to be found.

MP3: You Can Be A Wesley - “Feed the Moon, Starve the Sun”

MP3: You Can Be A Wesley - “Balloon Head”

MP3: You Can Be A Wesley - “Summerhomes”

Support You Can Be a Wesley: Home | MySpace

Wesley is going to be touring the east coast in August, so if you can, check em out!

Dear Apple Marketing Team,

I hate you. I hate you so much.

Who sings the soul-melting song featured in Apple’s famous Macbook Air Commercial, you ask? The answer would be Yael Naim (יעל נעים), and the name of the song is “New Soul.”

Yael Naim - New Soul

Site | iTunes

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Easily, one of my favorite acts out today is My Morning Jacket. The release of Z solidified their status as a group of intelligent, creative and talented musicians who could share a stage with the best. Their double-disc live album/DVD, Okonokos, was even more proof that My Morning Jacket is a group of lasting appeal. Their shows have consistently stood out in my mind as some of the most intense and high-energy concerts out there. Jim James is an immensely powerful lead singer who only seems to get better. Although reviews of the new album are somewhat mixed, I could not be more excited. Today’s song put me in a great mood as it is one of the first pieces I’ve heard off the new album. I love the direction they’re taking this. This 8 minute 12 second track entitled “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2″ is a pretty good indicator of things to come, in my opinion. Tell me what you think…

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2″ from Evil Urges

Home | MySpace | Hype Machine | ATO Records

Evil Urges drops on June 10th. Preorder: Amazon

And for those of you who just can’t get enough MMJ, here’s a bunch of live versions of new songs they did in Austin on March 13th.

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “Evil Urges (Live)”

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “Highly Suspicious (Live)”

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “I’m Amazed (Live)”

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “Thank You Too (Live)”

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “Sec Walkin (Live)”

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “Aluminum Park (Live)”

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “Smokin’ From Shooting (Live)”

MP3: My Morning Jacket - “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2 (Live)”

Download the Full Show here (high quality): Sendspace [Courtesy of Deaf Indie Elephants]

Oh, you want more? As you might know by now, Jim James is also a talented solo performer. Just two day’s after that MMJ show in Austin, Jim James played at St. David’s Church nearby with none other than M. Ward–even playing about 6 songs together. It’s a fantastic show where the listener gets to see yet another side of the multifaceted artist.

Check out these live solo tracks from Evil Urges or jump over to Archive.org to get the full show experience.

MP3: Jim James - “Sec Walkin’ (Live)”

MP3: Jim James - “Librarian (Live)”

MP3: Jim James - “Smokin From Shootin (Live)

MP3: Jim James - “Thank You Too (Live)”

The show is intimate and very honest. It’s a great listen, especially the duet on

MP3: M. Ward feat. Jim James - “Chinese Translation”

I love My Morning Jacket. I’ll be checking out their always-legendary Bonnaroo set this year, but the boys will be playing a few other shows if you can’t make that one:

03-10 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre w/ Yo La Tengo

03-13 Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall (SXSW) w/ Yo La Tengo

03-15 Austin, TX - St. David’s Church (Jim James solo) (SXSW)

04-27 Indio, CA - Coachella

06-12-15 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo

06-20 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall (”An Evening With My Morning Jacket”)

Quick one here.

The Flaming Lips are one of my favorite bands of all time. Last year’s Bonnaroo beheld one of the greatest concerts of my young life. The Flaming Lips and their philosophy have changed my life forever, undoubtedly.

I forgot to track down their song from the Good Luck Chuck soundtrack, so now that I have it, I gotta share it, right? The song, like so many of the Lips’ work is a triumphant and joyous piece about “the fucked-up days.” Do I really need to get pretentious on this one? Absolutely not. I love you all.

MP3: The Flaming Lips - “I Was Zapped By The Lucky Super Rainbow”

Check out the Good Luck Chuck OST, it’s pretty good:

Amazon | iTunes

In other Flaming Lips news, Christmas on Mars is finally finished! It’s premiering at Bonnaroo and Sasquatch, so if you have the time and the existential willpower, go and experience it in the context of another world. Hope to see you there! Here are some tracks from the movie, I hope you’re “surprised.”

MP3: The Flaming Lips - “Galactic Melancholy” from Christmas on Mars

MP3: The Flaming Lips - “Syritis Major” from Christmas on Mars

and here’s one of my favorites just because:

MP3: The Flaming Lips - “Enthusiasm for Life Defeats Existential Fear”

For now, all is right with the world.

(Song [AND VIDEO] of the Day - 4/3/08)

Well, the saucy fuckshow that is Pitchfork Media did something nice for me yesterday. While I almost never agree with their record reviews, their news section is a great way to get into the more “industry side” of indie music. Sometimes they even share something of great merit and talent. The Acorn is such a creation.

I heard The Acorn in 2006. Their song “Dents” was just one of those inspired and honest tracks that drew me in. I really didn’t expect their next work to be a mammoth concept project.

If you know me, you know I drool over nasty motion graphics. An aspiring post-production artist, I always love to see someone work hard to make visually stunning companions to great music. It’s obvious a talented and energetic team really exerted themselves here. From what I hear they have done videos for Broken Social Scene and Modest Mouse… so there’s your cred right there.

Here’s “Dents” as well as some MP3’s from their latest album (Glory Hope Mountain). Throw those on your ipod for now. First, watch the video for “The Flood, Pt. 1″

MP3: The Acorn - “The Flood Pt. 1″
MP3: The Acorn - “Crooked Legs”
MP3: The Acorn - “Dents”

Home | Paper Bag Records | MySpace | Hype Machine

Support The Acorn: Paper Bag Records | iTunes | Amazon | eMusic | Insound

THE ACORN IS TOURING: hit the jump for dates and venues…

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This here is a one-man outfit. For me, making songs is like building houses. And I’m not very good with a hammer, and you might be able to tell if you’re a carpenter, but I’ll be goddamned if you can’t live in it when it’s done.

I’d like to begin by saying Black Bear is one of the most original and intellectual acts I’ve encountered in a long while. Like any other great album I’ve ever heard, this one slid almost divinely into my hands. I was immediately drawn into its electronic nature, irregular song structures and the use of an awesomely heavy and hollow bass drum, but I was hooked by the brilliant use of imagery.

Sam Beebe, the one man behind the magic, does for music what ekphrasis does for a painting. He can play the omniscient narrator or the close friend. Listening to Black Bear’s album, The Cinnamon Phase, is like secretly reading a stranger’s diary–it’s as if we were never meant to hear his thoughts.

The sonic component of this album is vast and varied. Sometimes the music is a blissful melody with Beebe singing in and out. Other times, like on “Like Venice” we are literally listening to a story, Beebe the speaker–prose the lyric. Please enjoy the album and I urge you to go out and find more about the man, whose mind is surely a rare one.

MP3: Black Bear - “I Believe in Immediacy”

 Here are some more:

MP3: Black Bear - “Like Venice”

MP3: Black Bear - “Black Bear”

 Home (Baskerville Hill Records) | MySpace | Hype Machine

Buy The Cinnamon Phase: Amazon | Baskerville Hill for $12!