What better way to expose people to new music than to actually let them listen to it. In terms of creating a podcast, this is still all new, but I thought it was worth trying out. This first podcast is more like a mixtape than a radio show so don’t expect a lot of talking, just a lot of good music.

iTunes Link

Track Listing

1) The Gallery – “Love Fell Through”
2) The Enemy Lovers – “Feel It”
3) Milktooth – “Your Arrows”
4) Zach Williams – “Fears”
5) Shawn Fisher – “Open Your Eyes”
6) Jonas Sees In Color – “Avalanche”
7) Concerning Lions – “Canon”

[As of this posting if you subscribe in iTunes you get the updated mp3 file, if you just download with out subscribing the podcast comes up with the 'explicit' tag. I assure you that is only a labeling error.]

Don’t forget about Fair. Their new album drops on Tuesday and even though the last one was good, this one out does it in almost every way. If you haven’t yet, check out our full review of the album and pick it up on 2/9/10.

Mature and dynamic, ‘This Is A Redemption Melody’ truly shines from humble start to epic ending. “The Atlantic” attempts to steal the show with equally impressive verses as the chorus which sinks its hooks with the line “If we’re being honest…”. Brothers At Sea don’t need my hype because the smooth pop vocals and crisp-edged rock clearly speaks for itself.

Download the new 5 song EP for free at brothersatsea.bandcamp.com

“The Road You Know” is a glimpse at Say It Twice’s new EP being released in March. If I were to base my opinion of the band strictly on that song, I would have extremely high hopes. After hearing the new album however, I can say “The Road You  Know” is not a one-off and this band is the real deal. Anthem pop/rock at its heart, the music is both suited to the mainstream as well as giving the independent crowd something to secretly enjoy.

If you’ve got about 4-5 minutes to spare, this short video from Make Magazine showing the process a new, smaller record company uses to press vinyl records is well worth your time.

Video Link

For the last couple of years there has been a resurgence in popularity of vinyl records. Largely due to digital downloads rending the portability of compact discs obsolete, people are starting to gravitate to vinyl as the physical format of choice. In this short documentary from Nick Cavalier we get a behind-the-scenes look at the production of vinyl records at Gotta Groove Records, a new vinyl pressing plant in Cleveland, Ohio.

New and worthy bands? In the comments leave at least a name and link to hear some music.

Mellow and full of enchanting melodies, you should be aware of The Middle East.

Song to start with: “Blood”

Sometimes I think people see the music industry as a high jump for bands, there’s a bar you need to clear, and if you don’t, you’re disqualified. The better analogy though would be to see it as a staircase. There are bands at the top and bands at the bottom, but all along the way there is a step for those in between to reside.

Recently I found some old demos for Larger Than Life, a local San Diego punk band. Back then it wasn’t MySpace, but rather Mp3.com where you would stream the lo-fi songs over your dial-up modem. The time travel experience of listening to this 10+ year old music made me take a step back and remember when it felt like there was either locals bands or mainstream acts. Most, not all, but most of the bands I come across are fighting to get heard and even though some can act too cool occasionally, I’m sure they appreciate all of you who take the time to listen to their music.

Why should you care about Two Door Cinema Club before you even listen to them? Well, they are label mates with Phoenix and Mumford & Sons for one, but beyond name dropping, the slick and hip indie rock is very sticky. “Undercover Martyn” is a modest attempt at using nearly flawless hooks to take over someone’s brain. “Something Good Can Work” also sounds like a Phoenix inspired tune, but simpler. This band will take over the music scene with the release of a full album, just wait.

I wish I would have been all over the latest release from The Most Serene Republic back when it came out in July of last year.  ’…And The Ever Expanding Universe’ is comprised of an orchestral of sound, weaving in typical folk instruments into a group of melodies. “Heavens To Purgatory” should hook you in mere seconds making my job seem easy with today’s rec. Enjoy.

Music out today worth buying

* The Album Leaf – A Chorus Of Storytellers
* The Soft Pack – Self Titled

Other music out today

* Nick Jonas & The Administration

The Album Leaf - A Chorus Of Storytellers

Joining the same crowd as band’s like The Morning Light and We Shot The Moon, Jonas Sees In Color has put together a solid power pop rock album. “Avalanche” sticks out as the first memorable track with a punchy chorus, but is not alone in its catchiness. It’s easy to see this album carry this band into the public eye above the fringe.

Listen to Jonas Sees In Color
Release Date: 9/29/09

If you’re willing to put up with the lower production and recording quality of these 5 songs, you may find something enjoyable. “Sorry, I Apologize Too Much” starts with vocals akin to Mark Hoppus in Blink’s early days, while the other tracks fill in the other areas of high school pop/punk. Potential here? Absolutely. The actual EP? Mediocre.

Listen to Samurai Luncheon
Release Date: 11/14/09

There is so much good music out there, it can be hard to keep up with. Rather than hold these recs back and string them out one at a time, I’m just going to dump a bunch of them out there for you to sort through. Leave your comments with your favorites.

Jonas Sees In Color – Pop/Rock [RIYL: We Shot The Moon, The Morning Light]

Wakey!Wakey! – Indie Pop [RIYL: Owl City]

Justin Levinson – Folk/Country Pop [RIYL: Paolo Nutini]

Broadcast 2000 - Indie [RIYL: Freelance Whales]

Due to a few people independently mentioning Steve Moakler, it seems that he is someone that should be on everyone’s radar. Another acoustic/pop solo artist, Steve resembles Matt Wertz as well as our recent rec Andrew Ripp. You really can’t go wrong with which song you pick to listen to first, but one of my favorites is “Slow Mo”.

Optimism and a sense of curiosity pours out of every crack from this record, sparking the listener to crack a smile. Heavily influenced by The Beach Boys and other bands who were in search of a new thick melody, ‘Happiness Through Radios and Wires’ is a complete thought from start to finish and an album to cherish. After a few songs in, you get the sense that this record wasn’t made for any business purpose, but rather made for you individually.

Listen to New London Fire
Release Date: TBA

While I don’t think the world needs another fairly generic pop/punk band, Ohio Avenue have their stuff down and so some out there may get some enjoyment out of the band. The problem is that the band is playing it too safe to make any real difference. “Shine Through” is a great example of following all the standard cues to make a song that, by all other means, is a good song, but is also completely forgettable.

Great backhanded recommendation I know…

Andrew Ripp possesses the pop appeal of Jason Mraz but with more soul injected into his songs. “It’s All Good” is definitely a good place to start with “Just Another Song About California” coming in at a close second. No matter where you start though you should find something that keeps you interested.

Just a quick reminder, we put out a second digital compilation for free about 2 months ago. It contains 13 awesome songs, some of which are unreleased anywhere else. Check out the album page where you can download or stream the entire thing.

thealbumalbumproject.net/nysk2

Let me just start by saying that you want to listen to Milktooth. To get a sense of the band’s style pretty quickly, I would say that they have a tendency to lay back on a solid rock groove before finally pumping up the passion/aggression and going into something that really impacts the listener. This is sort of a Copeland meets indie southern rock type of band you can really grab onto.

Comprised of lo-fi DIY style tracks like “Days Of Thunder” and higher quality production ones like “I Get Around”, the common thread of the ‘Goodbye God’ album becomes its instantly sticky melodies. The overall style of the record falls to a more generic genre like ‘rock’ but is influenced back and forth with the likes of punk and mellow indie. If you feel like music isn’t authentic anymore, you’ve been looking for Paper The Operator.

Listen to Paper The Operator
Release Date:  12/06/09

Full of character, Holy Fiction’s Americana/folk style sticks out of the pre-defined genre ever so slightly with the listener benefiting. “Iron Eyes” struts its stuff the most and picks up a quicker tempo and energetic ambition through the chorus, while “Exit” stays closer to the beaten path. The band’s debut album drops Feb. 23rd

With the pop sensibility (and vocal similarity) of Colbie Caillat, Nina Yasmineh shows a ton of likeability with the strongest track “Something More”. Other songs like “After” are subtler in their approach, but contain just as much enjoyment. Even though you may not initially be drawn to this style of music, it’s just good music and worth a listen.

Brilliance and excellence from head to toe can be felt in the opening moments of the first song “Canon”. The glassy, often jazzy, folk/rock may not be the first thing you notice about the band, but it does provide a pitch perfect foundation for singer Brian Beise to showcase his impressive vocals. Composed more like poetic prose than amateur musings, the lyrics exemplify how beauty extends to every part of these 5 songs. This type of polish is very rarely seen or felt right out of the gate which is what is so exciting about this band.

Listen to Concerning Lions
Release Date: 11/18/09

I’ve mentioned this before, but public radio is hip. You never know what kind of good music you’re going to find hiding out. Take This American Life for example. This past week they closed out the show with “Animal” from Miike Snow (yes there are supposed to be 2 i’s). Miike Snow’s newest album is a little bit pop, a little bit electronic, and plenty of groove to get your head bobbing. “Animal” is definitely a track that should be played on the radio more.

Music out today worth buying

* Number One Gun – To The Secrets And Knowledge
* Useless Education – Journey Into The Unknown EP

Other music out today

* Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
* Alesana – The Emptiness
* Never Shout Never – What Is Love?
* Analog Rebellion – Ancient Electrons

Number One Gun - To The Secrets And Knowledge

Jarrod Gorbel, who you might know as the former singer of The Honorary Title, has decided to go at it alone again with a new 4 song EP. The title track, “Ten Years Older” sums up the song and EP with the line “One day you woke up ten years older…” and sparks the awareness of added maturity to Jarrod’s music. Though too short, these 4 songs really do capture an imagination so few solo artists can do.

Listen to Jarrod Gorbel
Release Date: 1/19/10

Following a fairly standard pop/rock formula, the 5 song acoustic EP only ends up hitting its stride a couple songs in. The songs themselves are decent, but fall victim to the monotony that the solo acoustic guitar creates. Had these songs had full instrumentation, I have a feeling they could have stood out a bit more. Worth checking out for fans of the genre, Cities Never Sleep have improved on their past EP, but this still might not be for everyone.

Listen to Cities Never Sleep
Release Date: 01/09/10

Who decided on the genre, ‘Shoegaze’ because I’m not down with it. Regardless, please listen to Concerning Lions because they will be the best new band you check out today and possibly in awhile. This band is mostly mellower indie/rock with a jazzier side and killer vocals. My description of the band’s style may take longer than simply saying ‘Shoegaze’ but I’m still not down with it. To sum up, you need to be concerned with Concerning Lions.

The Body Rampant is not a direct parallel, but does have some similarities to bands like Matchbook Romance and Armor For Sleep. If you’ve been wanting a trip back in time when scene music had a harder edge and the vocals were distinct then The Body Rampant may be who you’re looking for.