Category Archives: on the rise

music, on the rise

[on the rise] The Vaccines

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The Vaccines are a London-based atl-rock band that just recently formed in 2010, but has quite a bit of buzz heading into 2011.

The band released their demo If You Wanna in the Summer of 2010, which received high praise from the BBC’s Zane Low (he named it as his “Hottest Record In The World” on 18 August 2010).  Their debut single, Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra), was released back in November and reached number 157 on the UK Singles Chart and was named “Track of the Day” by Q Magazine (pretty impressive, considering the track is a mere 1 minute and 24 seconds long).  And earlier this year, the band placed third in the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll.

They’ve been compared to the likes of the Ramones, Jesus and Mary Chain, and The Strokes (I think it was Spin magazine that described them as the ‘British Strokes’).  The band describes their influences as “50s rock ‘n’ roll, ’60s garage and girl groups, ’70s punk, ’80s American hardcore, C86 and good pop music”.

Their debut album, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?, is set for release March 21st (grab it here) and they’re heading out on tour later this month (dates and info here).

The Vaccines – If You Wanna
 The Vaccines – Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)

music, on the rise

[on the rise] Yellow Ostrich

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I was first introduced to the NY based, Yellow Ostrich, by one of my favorite music blogs/daily reads, A Heart Is A Spade.  Since that first introduction (read that first post here), I keep running into this solo project/sometimes duo/rumor has it now trio, all over the blogosphere and music media outlets.  This really shouldn’t surprise me though, considering how much I like the band…it only makes sense that a lot of people would feel the same way.

Yellow Ostrich is the brain child of former Chairs frontman, Alex Schaaf, along with frequent collaborator and Bishop Allen drummer, Michael Tapper, as well as the recent addition of Jon Natchez (another Bishop Allen alum) on bass and horns.

Schaaf recently relocated from Wisconsin to NY and in a very short time has released a series of EPs, a 7 inch, and the latest full-length, The Mistress, which are all available at his bandcamp page.  If that wasn’t enough, Yellow Ostrich is also out and about  playing shows all over NA, including SXSW (dates and info here).

For more Yellow Ostrich: here and here.

Yellow Ostrich – Hold On
 Yellow Ostrich – Happy Birthday

music, on the rise

[on the rise] Heinali and Matt Finney

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Of all the music submissions i’ve received, this duo is definitely one of the more original and interesting acts to ever contact me.

Heinali and Matt Finney consists of Ukrainian Composer, Heinali, and Alabama-based, American spoken word artist/poet, Matt Finney.  It’s not fair to classify them as one defining genre…and really hard to if you even tried.  Their music is a mix of ambient, drone, doomgaze, and spoken word, with a lot of cinematic textures as well.  The best way for me to describe their sound is “intense creative passion”.

The duo has released three critically acclaimed EPs (stream them here) and showed up on many 2010 year end lists (see what thedumbingofamerica.net thought).  More recently, they signed with Paradigms Recordings and are currently working on their fourth album.

While we wait for the latest from Heinali and Matt Finney, be sure to visit their bandcamp page, where you can stream most of their music and even download two excellent covers (Radiohead’s Creep and Joy Division’s Candidate).  And be sure to check out the Freddie Lloyd directed video for Under God’s Heaven below.

music, on the rise

[on the rise] Alex Winston

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Alex Winston is an indie pop/electronic singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Detroit.  Since moving to New York in 2010, she’s been working with production duo The Knocks and has received quite a bit of praise all-over the blogosphere for the past year or so.

Winston is definitely an artist to keep your eyes and ears open for in 2011. While her songs are just as fun and catchy as the recent influx of female popsters (ie Marina & the Diamonds, Robyn, MNDR, Zowie, etc), there’s something quite unique and infectious about Winston’s sound that sets her apart from the others (don’t get me wrong though, keep the good female popsters coming).

Check out some of my favorite tracks below and be on the lookout for more Alex Winston this year (her Sister Wife EP is out March 8th, more about that here).

Alex Winston – Choice Notes
 Alex Winston – Sister Wife
 Alex Winston – Yours to Keep (Teddy Bears Cover)

Be sure to head on over to Heavy Roc Music where you can stream and download more Alex Winston.

kcrw, new music, on the rise

[on the rise] TRISTEN

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I was first introduced to Tristen last week, via KCRW’s Today’s Top Tune, and was instantly intrigued.

Originally hailing from Chicago, where she first began recording music at the age of 14, Tristen packed up after graduating from college and headed for Nashville to experience the city’s one of a kind music scene. That, and with such influencers as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Lou Reed, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton, Tristen has effortlessly blended pop, rock, folk, and country to create a fresh and organic sound, which she describes as, “neo-traditionalist pop”. Her latest, Charlatans at the Garden Gate, is due for release February 1st, 2011, and I can already tell it will be in heavy rotation on my iPod.
Tristen is currently in the middle of a South East tour (check the dates here), ending December 4th in Nashville, with an in store 7″ release show at Grimey’s New and Pre Loved Music. Hopefully she’ll make it out West for some shows after Charlatans at the Garden Gate is released.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Tristen is offering up her Eager For Your Love 7″ for free download at her site, tristen.com.
The 7″ includes Eager For Your Love, Baby Drugs (KCRW’s Todays Top Tune aka the track that introduced me to Tristen), and Cheatin (previously unreleased b-side).
Want a physical copy of Eager For Your Love 7″ and tour poster? Leave a comment with your favorite Tristen track and a winner will be randomly selected on 12/15 at 12pm.
More Tristen @ facebook, myspace, & twitter