If James Morrison and Ray LaMontage vocally morphed into one person it would be James Bay. The acoustically driven EP, The Dark of the Morning, is filled with soulful moody tracks. The most familiar may be "Move Together" a haunting melody delivered in a slow burn vocal. But it is on the more upbeat "When We Were on Fire" that really shows what Bay can do. With an underscore of an organ, hand claps, and of course, Bay's gravelly vocals, he forcefully sings of a relationship's better days. (We're losing light/Take me back when we were on fire.)
It seems cliche to say that James Bay could sing the phone book and make it sound good, but it fits here. If this is what Bay sounds like on an EP, only good things are in store for a full length. You can get The Dark of the Morning for free on NoiseTrade.
James Bay- Facebook
When We Were on Fire-
Indie country rock sounds like it won't work. Usually bands try to please fans of both genres and end up alienating everyone. It's too country or too rock. A Thousand Horses does one better- they blur them. (Robin Thicke would be proud) Hailing from Nashville, these guys wear their roots on their sleeves. Their sophomore EP, titled The Landslide, is brimming with rollicking energy. "Tennessee Whiskey" is probably their most "country-fied" song with its story of the road taking its toll on a relationship.
Lead singer Michael Hobby has vocal grit to spare on the soaring mid-tempo rocker "What's Happening to Me," the ultimate 'it's not you, it's me' track. Hobby sings, "In the middle of my last free fall I was counting my mistakes/I was cleaning out my closet / Forgot how much these bones could weigh."
Put your money on their future now.
A Thousand Horses- Facebook
What's Happening to Me-
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The Wild Feathers are an amalgamation of country, rock, and soul. They've perfectly blended genres to appeal to any person who just likes great musicianship. Their sound is accessibly bombastic with equal parts grit and polish. Their self titled debut comes out in August and if their first few singles are any indication, we are talking Mumford & Sons style domination.
"The Ceiling" starts with plucky acoustic guitar and a driving drum beat played with incredible force before quieting down to take the song into an unexpected direction; an excellent first taste.
"Backwoods Company" is a blistering barn stormer filled with hand claps and electric guitar that never lets up. The Wild Feathers know how to layer vocal harmonies to always ground their sound with strong melodies. Never before has a band demanded you take notice of their unique genre-spanning sound. The Wild Feathers are aptly named.
The Wild Feathers- Facebook
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While not a new band per se, alt-rockers Surfer Blood is back with their sophomore album Pythons. (out June 11) I've never really given these guys a chance until recently. Chalk it up to music tastes changing I guess. From the stuff I have heard off their new album, Surfer Blood has grown their music in leaps and bounds from their debut. Their songs seem more bombastic, hummable, and all around more mature.
"Demon Dance" kicks off Pythons with a hook so strong I'm singing in my head right now. Lead singer John Paul Pitts nails the vocal delivery with gusto on the closing moments of the song. This guitar driven album has many more alternative radio gems to spare. I envision Surfer Blood really hitting their much deserved commercial success much in the same way Passion Pit did earlier this year. If you're ready for smart, dark lyrics set to sunny hooks, check out Surfer Blood.
Surfer Blood- Facebook
Demon Dance-
Buzz is building for Bastille. These English lads create danceable synth-pop. A bit of a departure from my usual taste in music, but something about lead singer Dan Smith's voice piqued my interest. Vocally I'm reminded of Twin Atlantic, and musically I can hear a little of Phoenix and Franz Ferdinand.
They released their debut album, Bad Blood, in March, and it is filled with excellent tracks. "Laura Palmer" is a yearning mid-tempo track about following one's heart. It's on "Pompeii," though, that they really find their groove. Filled with choir chants, drum solos, and bouts of killer harmonies, Bastille provide a refreshing take on pop.
Bastille- Facebook
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One single and I'm sold. Formed in 2012, up and comers Bad Suns have a laid back groove. Before you know, you've listened to the whole song and hit replay without even realizing it. "Cardiac Arrest" lays the groundwork for the future for these guys. It tells of a single kiss being so electrifying that it literally stops your heart.
Bad Suns sound a little like The Bravery on first listen. They meld indie rock with pop sensibilities. Lots of electronic elements sprinkled throughout. Can't wait to hear more.
Bad Suns- Facebook
Cardiac Arrest-
The "Harlem Shake" is dead. Long live "Harlem." The new single from Danish alt-rock band New Politics, is not a dance craze, but it will sweep the nation. Lead singer David Boyd delivers your new favorite line "Shake it like a crack whore up in Harlem," with distorted vocals, while drummer Louis Vecchio keeps the beat at the forefront to give it some dance-ability.
Their new album, A Bad Girl in Harlem, is slated to drop on May 21st. New Politics rocks hard with a pop/punk sensibility, which is only to the listener's benefit. Mark my words, New Politics are about to blow up. Hop on the train now my friends.
New Politics- Facebook
Harlem-
Brooklyn's American Authors combine alt-rock and Americana in one fell swoop. With only a couple songs under their belt, American Authors are sure to catch on much like Imagine Dragons and fun. before them. Led by the bombastic vocals of Zac Barnett and the banjo licks of James Adam Shelley, these Authors bring something a little different to the scene.
The optimistic "Believers" opens with a driving drum beat and plucky banjo, but these guys are far from your average Mumford & Sons bandwagon hoppers. They round out their sound with fuzzy guitars and vocals.
But it is on "Best Day of My Life' that asserts itself as an earworm begging to dig itself in your subconscious and stay there. With its affirming chorus, Barnett is almost willing himself to have "the best day of [his] life." Only two songs and a cover of Ellie Goulding's "Lights" (that will make you actually want to hear that song again) American Authors are hitting all the right notes.
American Authors- Facebook
Best Day of My Life-
Lights-
I love it when new music lands in my lap, and I don't have to go digging for it. Target's latest commercial features music from the raspy voiced Scot, Greg Holden. Most notable for co-writing American Idol winner Phillip Phillips' "Home," Holden is your new obsession.
The song featured in the ad is "She's Got Something" and is an acoustic ode to the girl you fall for in a distant city and can't seem to catch. (or really any girl you fall for that doesn't quite work out) "She was a tough one to restrain/She was the one that got away/Get me back to New York." Greg Holden's voice and songwriting are the real stars here. His genre is very modern right now combining Americana and singer/songwriter sensibilities. A great find that is sure to blow up after getting such great exposure from this ad.
Greg Holden- Facebook
She's Got Something-
Soul swelling, blues peddling, swagger surfer rock (whew!) pretty much sums up Australia's The Rubens. Composed of 3 brothers and their friend, this band excels with their extremely hook ridden songs. Many will compare these guys to The Black Keys, but I think they actually have more of a Depeche Mode vibe.
Lead singer Sam Margin has a laid back vocal delivery but can bring the songs home when he needs to.
The song "My Gun" has a slinky James Bond-style groove about a girl who has done some serious emotional damage. (I gave her the means, she had the will/ I kept on pushin’ for the kill/ I never thought she’d finish me/ As she shot me down and left me to bleed.) Trust me you will be singing this one for days. Their EP My Gun is on iTunes while their full length is only available in Australia...for now.
The Rubens- Facebook
My Gun-
Simply put Striking Matches has spark. Sarah Zimmerman and Justin Davis provide exquisite harmonies on their debut self-titled EP. Many fans will come to know them from their song "When the Right One Comes Along" featured on ABC's Nashville (but sung with such restraint by Sam Palladio), but that is not where the discovery should end. These Matches are at their best when they are singing their hearts out about love lost.
On "When the Right One Comes Along" Zimmerman sings about the ease at which love should happen. ("What they're thinking/What you're feeling/You'll no longer have to guess/All those questions finally put to rest when the right one comes along") Another gem not found our their debut is "Not the One." Another brilliantly written ode to resigning to the fact that you are not the one meant to be with another. Striking Matches not only have the music and talent to make it big, but they also have the songwriting capabilities that will give them longevity.
Striking Matches- Facebook
Not the One-
New York based Swear and Shake is the rocking folk band led by the dual vocalists Kari Spieler and Adam McHeffey. Together they deliver down home, foot stomping numbers that are sure to meld with the Mumford and Sons loving crowd.
Fan funded LP Maple Ridge provides an excellent intro into this band. "These White Walls" is a heartbreaking song about love lost. Spieler and McHeffey deliver lines like "I can hear the ringing still/You said you'd never love me and I know you never will" with such force that you have to wonder if they have lived it. I need much more of Swear and Shake in my life that's for sure.
Swear and Shake- Facebook
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