waggle - Quick Notes from Mikey

Indie pop band from Scotland. Jaded, dry, sarcastic tunes ala late 70s punk [Richard Hell] -- but updated with an OK Go sheen. Nice harmonies and cocky lead singing. Infectious cannot begin to describe this stuff.

http://www.myspace.com/1990sband

Ben Harper – Lifeline

Cool, mellow, soulful album. There are probably folks here who could give a better critique since I’m a novice Harper Fan. But I will say there’s not a bad track on this album. Well, maybe the 5 minute acoustic instrumental, "Paris Sunshine," might be a bit much, but it’s that sort of artistic indulgences that are sorely missing from the bulk of today’s charts.

http://www.myspace.com/benharper

Band of Horses – Cease to Begin

Indie tempered with a country feel. This band has a new but familiar feel to them. Nice music to drive to; nice music to burn a disk and give to your dad.

http://www.myspace.com/bandofhorses

Eisley – Combinations

Hard to categorize. Indie, but with 4 part lead female harmonies, which are smooth and not shrill. Good job. Thick, ponderous guitar riffs, lightened with soaring vocals.

http://www.myspace.com/eisley

John Butler trio – Grand National

Funky roots rock folk. The soundtrack to a jaunty autumn. May make jam bands hip again.

http://www.myspace.com/johnbutlertrio

Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter

Indie folk rock with Dylanesque touches. On some of the poppier tunes there are touches of ELO’s Jeff Lynn. Radio needs more of this kind of stuff.

http://www.myspace.com/joshritter

Stars - In Our Bedroom after the War

Warm and lush Indie synthie pop with nice male/female harmonies, reminiscent of some of the New Pornographers' work.

http://www.myspace.com/stars

The Fiery Furnaces - Widow City

Literate eclectic rock. Zappa influences abound: challenging time changes, weird instrumentation, yet tongue firmly in cheek. All sung with wry female vocals.

http://www.myspace.com/thefieryfurnaces

Bettye LaVette - The Scene of the Crime

Soulful modern blues belted out with the Drive By Truckers as the backing band. The tune “Before The Money Came” sounds like Patti LaBelle fronting the Faces. Enough said.

http://www.myspace.com/bettyelavette

VHS or Beta – Bring on the Comets

Prog indie rock meets dancy 4/4 beats. There seems to be a rash of these bands around these days: Mute Math, Maroon 5, Muse, Keane, et al. And in keeping with the prog rock thang, I find this vocalist has a touch of David Gilmour in his higher register.

http://www.myspace.com/vhsorbeta