Before Vampire Weekend there were the The Zombies

It's amazing how after so many years a band like The Zombies can still sound so fresh. It's as if each song was created and recorded yesterday, the only hint of it being from the 60's is the period three part harmony's.

If you haven't ever heard of The Zombies  or have and simply can't be bothered buying all their music than their greatest hits album is the way to go.

As a rule i HATE greatest hits albums, however i really think The Zombies Greatest Hits has actually been handled with a little care and love and it actually meshes well as an album.

Lead singer Colin Blunstone's voice is so crisp and smooth, and The Zombies really excel at their melodic beach sound. It's worth at least having a listen to the following two songs.

She's Not There:

Tell Her No:

Love them!

Most Inventive Film Clip Ever?

I saw this film clip a few months ago and thought it was great. It is was made by the band Hollerado for their new song Americanarama. Not the greatest song i've come past by any means but its listenable and the film clip is actually so rad.

Major props for actually being able to rhyme Philadelphia into a song.

Very Cool.

Yellow Ostrich. A bird and a band you've probably never heard of.

Yellow Ostrich is a band you can easily fall in love with. Described as bedroom-folk, Yellow Ostrich certainly has a raw sound despite many of the tracks being overlayed with various pre-recorded harmonies and loops. 

The best way to describe Yellow Ostrich is perhaps a toned down lo-fi Darwin Deez.  The new album The Mistress was produced entirely in the lead singer Alex Schaaf's closet. 

Despite being little claustrophobic at times due to the use of Alex’s compressed vocals and subtle static throughout the album, The Mistress really delivers some lovely simple folk songs that will get easily stuck in your head for many days.

Stand out tracks are Hold On and Whale

Whale:

Also have a listen to the track Bread from their EP Fade Cave. It is really beautiful. Both the Album and EP are free if you click on the band camp link. Or if you really like their music you can pay whatever you feel is worthy!

http://yellowostrich.bandcamp.com/

I think i might go and have a listen to them right now!

Listen to The Woods

Good folk music can sometimes be hard to come by. The Woods however are great. Their new EP titled EP Logue is both richly recorded and contemplative. Even a little experimental.

The EP only consists of five small songs, however each song deserves to be listened to.

The best part is that the EP is free. Click below to download!

 Download The EP Logue Free

So put those headphones on and just lay and listen on your bed.

Hope you like....

Oh and due to the popularity of another band named WOODS, The Woods will no longer be know by their name in future projects. 

The Maccabees

The Maccabees are both as underrated as you can be, and as good as indie rock gets. Just like the band got their name by randomly selecting a word out of the bible, i found about these guys during a random conversation with my friend Callum.

The album "Colour It In" is filled to the absolute brim with catchy riffs and melodies. It's one of those albums you can just press play and tap your foot to the whole way through. 

First Love:

Food for your ears.

Have You Heard? Freelance Whales

Freelance Whales are a band i never thought i would like. I don't know why, maybe it was the fact that their debut album Weathervanes was too well produced and highly polished for my liking. Maybe it was a hesitation at the use of synth effects on the album or it could have been because i just didn't like the "post emo" label attached to the band.

Either way, after listening to the album from start to finish i realised that Weathervanes was probably the most underrated album of 2010. It's more indie pop then post-emo, however i can see the resemblance to the original emo bands of the 90's and 00's. Perhaps the best way to describe them is Postal Service goes Folk.

A strange but intriguing blend of folk and synth instruments combine to make a compelling album. The harmonies are superb and so are the lyrics. The hooks in this album will grab from the moment you hear them and grow every listen after. Have a listen to these two tracks, but its really worth listening to the album through.

If you like indie pop songs with great hooks then Freelance Whales will do it for you.

Starring:

Generator Second Floor:

and this is to show how good they are live:

Have fun!

Why? Why Not?

Thats pretty much all i can say about the very clever indie hip hop/rock band Why?

Clever lyrics and clever hooks.

"i sleep on my back cos its good for the spine, and coffin rehearsal."

Fatalist Palmistry:

If you like indie music and hip/hop than you should have a listen.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone.

This band really is for the painfully alone. Simple electric piano riffs and programmed drum loops, backed by the Owen Ashworth's, pained, often gruff vocals can leave you feeling a little depressed. But then again sometimes you need to.


I am definitely a lyrics person and CFTPA is lyrically excellent band. They are matter of fact and powerful, each song as interesting as the next. A few songs are less then a minute long, for example "The Only Way to Cry" yet have a very simple truth to them. 


a man goes to the movies
& buys every seat in the house
he cries alone in the darkness
until the end credits roll
he says i know it seems extravagant
but have you ever tried
man it's the only way to cry 


The stand out song from the album Etiquette is "I love you Creedence" and the chorus pretty much sums the song up.


and this September I'll be 26 years old
& El's still the only one besides my dad
who's ever said I love you Creedence


I love you Creedence:

If you are like me, you will have them on repeat.

Sleep Decade

I don't understand how a band like Sleep Decade isn't more popular then it is. The Ambient/Pop band from Geelong have some really interesting tracks and a very unique sound.

I only heard of them through my wonderful friend Karah who grew up in the same area as them. Even so, the only way i could listen to their music was either through their myspace page or Cd's sold at the band's gigs.

Luck for us, all that has changed as you can now download Sleep Decades "Spilt Ink - EP" off iTunes for a cool $6.76. If your only going to buy one or two songs have a listen to Colour Between the Lines and Mexico on my Front Porch. The whole EP is good, and cheap. Lash out and support local music!

Colour Between the Lines: