Meet Panama Wedding

I had the distinct honor to see one of what I consider the best Indie Pop bands I've seen in concert in a long time this week. Drove down to Nashville to see The Griswolds and Magic Man (Two bands that I adore) but I honestly have to say that their opening act, Panama Wedding stole the entire show.  Whether it was the ease in which Peter Kirk flowed across the stage as easily as his vocals filled the room or the fact that they had absolutely no pretense about them. These 4 guys from New York City came to spread the good word that is Panama Wedding to the masses and they did.

As an opening act, it's tough. Most of the time you are the least known of the groups at the gig.  You've got the smallest amount of time to get your message out and you've got to absolutely woo the audience into becoming fans. I had no idea who this small group was. I'd never heard them before and I had no preconceived notions.  What happened before their 30 minute set was over, however; was that I had already purchased both of their EP's from Amazon and I lit my social media up extolling the virtues of this group.

Comparisons aren't something that I like doing but it does make it easier to help people break into a sound. Musically, their sound is easy; laid back and very mellow. Vocally, Peter Kirk could be compared to Paul Simon and thems some pretty big shoes to fill but his voice is one that you know. You've heard it before and it makes you exceptionally comfortable. His range is fantastic and he's not attempting to be Paul Simon, he just could be compared to him. Lyrically, this group has some of the tightest lyrics about the life and times of the average person trying to get by in the world today. Put all of this together and you have a sound track to an amazing day. It's easy to listen to and it's got some familiarity to it but there's enough new and challenging stuff with the production and how the whole thing is tied together that you aren't going to get bored.

There's a great balance between the use of synth and keys to the instrumentation to the guitars, bass, and drums. The EPs have an amazing production value and it's no surprise since they've come from Glassnote Records (home to artists like CVRCHES, Phoenix, and Mumford and Sons). They are full and very fleshed out. Sometimes you get an EP and it sounds like it's been produced in a garage; which can be very cool, but in this case these sound like these guys have been around for many more years than they have. I think I'm on about my 12 listen through both EPs and all 9 songs are amazing.

'Into Focus' would be the "banger" of the two tracks and it's just this really cool track that's got an uptempo beat and the lyrics talk about how things just come together ater you've been working toward your goal. There's a rad guitar solo just a really bitchin vibe to the song. It's easily one of my favorites but the one that really gets me is "Uma". Another amazingly put together track that's just fantastic. It's got this lazy vibe that is a juxtaposition to the tempo of "Into Focus". The chorus is really great and sits with you and you find yourself singing it hours later and you don't mind. There's a joy to the song that comes through even though it's a bit of a rocky type relationship song.

I know I keep talking about how easy this group is and I think that's the best selling point of them. You throw on an album and there's no learning curve. It just happens easily and you don't need to take time getting to know them because you've been pals with them for as long as you can remember. They need to be headlining their own tour (which I told them after the concert) and I can't wait to see them again. There's a rumor that now that they're off tour they're going to be focusing on their first full length album which would be great but I don't mind more EPs either. With music being digital, mostly now, an EP is a pretty cool way to grab a handful of songs since the artists don't have to fill 74 minutes on a CD. I'll absolutely be keeping up with these guys because I dig the shit out of them.

Panama Wedding on the Web
http://www.panamaweddingmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/panamawedding
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panamawedding
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/panamawedding

Go Wolf - Talk to You

Belfast Indie pop group, Go Wolf have released possibly one the most infectious songs I've heard in a while.  It's a super easy, laid back track that just makes you feel good.  I feel like these guys are going to be huge soon.  They are opening up for The Killers and I think that's only the beginning.

Nick D' & The Believers - Bang Bang

Columbus Indie rockers, Nick D' & the Believers have quickly become one of the bands I am most likely to stalk for the rest of the year in order to see them in concert because they are just incredible.  They call themselves Garage Soul and I get that genre and I would say they were very close to other indie groups like Walk The Moon, Young The Giant or The Black Keys.  This song is just full on fun.  The falsetto in Nick's voice is a perfect compliment to the crunchy bass line and indie sensibilities.  There's a spot where the harmonies come together around 2:56 that solidified my love for this group.  When the harmony is that solid for even 2 seconds, it's an even win for everyone.  Not to mention they continue to harmonize through the rest of the track.

I've got Paul Reynolds of myfizzypop for the heads up on this group and it always cracks me up when a UK blogger introduces me to a band that's based in the US.

Ponychase - Parade of Youth

I cannot properly express how much this album has already impacted my life. I had the distinct pleasure to see them preform live at Nashville Pride on June 14, 2014 and this album has not left heavy rotation in my library sense.  As soon as Jordan sings the first note in Parade of Youth, I was immediately hooked.  Her voice is so dreamy and just takes me right back to the New Romantic era.  I could easily see her hanging out with Dale Bozzio and Aimee Mann just becoming best of friends.

I don't see how anyone couldn't fall in love with the ease of this album.  There's nothing forced.  It's all put together in a manner that belies the band's age.  You would think that something that has this production this tight would come from a band much more mature than Ponychase but I think that is going to be a huge plus in their favor because it doesn't sound like a fledgling artist trying to find their feet.  They have a voice and they have a clear idea of who they are as a band so it's only getting that message out to the public from this point forward.  That's light years ahead of so many young bands out there and it's incredible.

I don't hear any missteps in the album; from the lyric choice to how the songs are structured to even the track order.  When Running with the Pack comes up in the line up, you're ready for that part of the journey.  You're ready to dance a bit and have a good time.  It's easily one of my favorite tracks on the album but the stand out is when you get to Resurrected. I mean, come on; are you kidding me.  This song should be played at every prom across the country.  It should be mandatory, without question.  Without fail.  This is the quintessential slow dance song and it just fills me with an insane sense of happiness.  I just can't properly express how amazing this song is.  The rest of the album isn't full of filler either.  The songs are solid.  Each one building on the next.

When you sit back and close your eyes, this album just builds a soundtrack in your mind.  Whether it's to a movie you've seen before or it's to your own life, there are so many moments that are relatable.  The album has this uncanny method of promoting peace as well.  Everything just slows down and becomes easier to handle.  There's a physical reaction as well that causes your body to just let go of it.  Whatever it is.  It just leaves and is replaced with moments of clarity.  There aren't too many albums that have that ability.

I want this group to be megastars because the world needs them right now.  There's too much manufactured music proliferating the industry and when something is as honest as this is, it deserves to be heard.  It deserves to be supported and it deserves attention.  Go buy their album.  Buy their EP.  Go see them at a show.  Share the sampler with all your friends. 

Ponychase on the Web
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ponychase
BandCamp: http://ponychase.bandcamp.com/

Magic Man - Out of Mind

Not going to do a whole lot of talking about this other than to say that Magic Man is simply one of the best Indie Pop bands around. They are constantly evolving and adding new influences to their sound to show how incredibly mature they're overall understanding of their music and their art is.  This is the lead single off their new album, "Before The Waves", that will be out in July.  It's an amazingly summery song with a strong bass line and superb synths that just make it soar.  Being around artists like Walk the Moon and Young The Giant has certainly rubbed off on their music and it's for the better. 

Grant Terry - Silent Warrior (Track by Track)

If you think Nashville is just where country music is made, you're sorely mistaken.  With production values that rival any studio in the country, Grant Terry and crew have created one of the most sincere and honest pop albums I have heard in a long time. It's an amazing examination of the human condition and what we all go through at some point in our lives.  When you sit down and listen to what Grant has to say, it's easy to hear that he's been through some stuff in the creation of this album and the end result has got to be an extremely cathartic experience for him and further more, for the listener as well.  It's heartfelt and it's been heartbroken.  But even though there are times when we feel like we're at a loss Grant is able to inject positivity through his words and his intonation and the subtleties his voice carries.

The album opens up with "Rise Up", appropriately the first single to be released off the album, a song about coming into your own and standing up for what you believe in.  Not letting anything stand in your way in your own personal growth and development.  We spend so much time worried about all the small stuff that we get bogged down in our daily lives.  We hold ourselves accountable and to do that we have to stand on our own two feet.

The synth on "The Fire" was totally unexpected and it grabbed me immediately.  The chorus is already amazing and super catchy, but throwing that hardcore synth vibe under Grant's vocals added that It factor that makes this song soar.  It's smart decisions like this that show maturity in choices and production.  And then at the end of the track, there's a part where they strip everything back to just Grant and a guitar.  This small quiet moment was incredibly smart.  It's like a palate cleanser.  It gets you ready for the song to wind up.

The synth carries over on "Go" and I'm hooked again.  His voice is so honest.  It's clean and it's strong.  There's no clean up in post and it doesn't sound trampled on.  The chorus and hook are fantastic.  It's a song that so many people can relate to.  Being stuck not knowing where you stand, getting mixed signals.  The dreaded Friendzone.  We've all been there and you do want that release.  You want to just be let go.

When the title track, "Silent War" comes up in the line up, you're ready for something a little slower; a little stripped down.  It's a bit beaten up and put through the ringer.  It's ready to just sit down and take a breather because of all the emotion that's not been said.  It's heartfelt and it's a bit heartbroken.  It's vulnerable and ready for a resolution.

It seems that Grant has been through it.  It's not necessarily the tracks that are a bit melancholy, it's Grant too.  "Another Home" sums up what it feels like to be on the left behind end of it all.  When things are done and there's no reparation to what we had.  You've made your mind up to leave, so let's just be done with it.  If our home isn't good enough for you then you're free to go.  It's not a pity party song though, it's the realization that what was good is gone and the only way forward is through.

And what a wonderful segue into "Desire", you just have to push through.  Understanding what your fellow man has experienced and offering that bit of knowledge that while everything that's happening sucks right now, it's not always.  You may feel at a loss or you may feel totally overwhelmed with your circumstances, but you have everything you need to accomplish your dreams. You just have to believe in yourself to make it come true.

These songs are written from such a place of hope that even though the subject matter is a bit on the heavy side, they still have that silver lining.  That dream that things are going to get better.

"Step By Step" is a cautionary tale about how we interact with one another and the path of destruction we are capable of leaving in our wake.  But more than that, it's more about self redemption and how we stand up for ourselves and just say no.  We aren't going to let the conditions of our happiness be dictated by someone else.

Seeing ourselves through the eyes of others and being the best version of who we can be are at the heart of "Better Man".  It's got an incredible pop sensibility to it that makes it perfect for radio play.  It's an exceptionally hopeful song that is an brilliant follow up to "Step By Step".  It leans on the lessons we've learned and pushes us forward in our growth.

When it feels like we are the only ones fighting the good fight, it's easy to think that "The World's Against Us", and that's the theme of the next track.  This sounds similar to a OneRepublic track (I've compared Grant to Ryan Tedder before and I think that's an amazing thing) so I could totally see this making huge waves on the radio.

"The Pond" isn't necessarily a sad, going away song because of the innate hope built into it.  There's a bit of a silver lining wrapped around this track.  It's saying goodbye for now but not forever.  

When life gets in the way and so much comes between us it's easy for two people to become "Strangers".  We all get caught up in our own lives and end up somewhere other than where we planned.  We look around at where we are and who we've walked away from and it's really hard to get it all back.

As we come to the end of the album, we are treated with an amazing acoustic performance of "Ain't It Like A Woman".  We've been through it.  We've been heartbroken and we've been redeemed and now we're hopeful about the near future but standing in the way is the fantastic frustration of never really knowing where you stand.  If Grant with full production is amazing, then stripped down, Grant with a guitar is even better.  It's solid and it's soulful.  It's a fantastic way to walk away from this album.

This man has a bright and brilliant future ahead of him.  He's got an incredible voice and he's made very intelligent decisions regarding his career up to this point.  His videos are fantastic and he knows who he is and who his demographic is.  If he keeps this up, there's no stopping him.  And I for one and glad that the universe decided to have me hang out at Mafiaoza's and get to meet him in person.  It's funny how it all seems to work that way.

"Silent War" releases on May 6 on major online retailers.  Make sure you get your copy because it's going to be worth it.

Grant Terry on the Web

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantterrymusic
Twitter: @grantterrymusic 
Band Camp: http://grantterry.bandcamp.com/releases
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/grantterrymusic

Jhameel - Lion's Den

In what is probably the most "produced" video Jhameel has put out, he has created a world of emotion and thoughtfullness without even really trying.  Generous, honest, giving.  These are all words that describe the man behind the music.  Jhameel is one of the hardest working indie artists around and yet he hasn't reached the level of notoriety someone of his talent should be at (or at least I think he should be far more famous than he is).  This is the lead single off his Kickstarted latest album and it's a hell of a way to kick off the party.  The album releases May 7, 2014 and it can't get here quickly enough.

Wunder Wunder - Coastline

I don't think you could ask for anything easier than this.  It just drifts through and doesn't ask for much and doesn't leave much of a footprint until it floats back through.  Wunder Wunder is the brainchild of Australian born, LA based producers; Aaron Shanahan and Benjamin Plant and it's a project that is wrapped up in the indie pop/dream pop scene and it's totally fine.  What you may not know is that it's a side project of Miami Horror.  It's conceptual and it's ethereal.  This is a song that you just throw on and just relax.  You're just cruising the Pacific Coast Highway on a perfect Sunday afternoon.  It's very The Mamas and The Papas.  It's that vibe.  It's free and easy.  Super Coachella, boho chic in the very best way.  Very Manifest Destiny.

Colorstarr - Do It Again

Dream Pop, Retro Future, New New Wave, Indie Pop.  So many labels but the only one that really needs to be applied here is incredibly catchy pop music.  This international band has created a track that will certainly have you moving.  It's got a full sound and the production and mastering create an amazing sound that is much bigger than their first single.  These guys work amazingly well together to create a sound that rivals bands that have been in the industry much longer than they have.  It's a clean track that does it's job superbly.  You feel uplifted and you want more from them.  It touches on an emotion that we've all felt at one time or another.  It's that feeling that everything is just perfect and you want to experience it again.  Don't dismiss them as a one trick pony because their other tracks on their Soundcloud page are equally as polished.

Colorstarr on the Web

http://colorstarr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Colorstarr
Twitter: @Colorstarr
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/colorstarr
Tumblr: http://colorstarr.tumblr.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/colorstarr

Meet Father Tiger

Every so often, the stars are aligned and you are at the right place and time for something incredible.  In this case, I was ready to bring one of the most amazing bands into my life.  Now I know how corny that sounds but I when music is as big of a part of your life as it is mine, milestones can absolutely be measured in albums and artists.  There is an amazing New Wave revival happening right now and there are so many bands that are making incredible synth pop that will have a place in the music pantheon for years and years to come.  A band that has carved out a place in history is Father Tiger, an LA based band made up of Greg Delson and John Russell.  Not only do they create amazing synths and beats and melodies but the lyrics that are written are absolutely amazingly heartfelt and earnest.  Not one lyric sounds forced or out of place and when you listen to the songs you can tell that every song is painstakingly crafted and worked until perfect.  They've released 4 albums, one of which are some of the most amazing covers I've ever heard.  Greg's voice has the ability to take the simplest turn of phrase and inject so much emotion that you have to stop for a minute and just let everything process.  I am in awe at the level of talent these two men have and how effortless everything sounds.  People have drawn references to so many other artists, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Information Society and more but when it comes down to it; Greg and Russell are their own men and have created their own sound.  You can hear beat that makes you say, oh...that sounds like... but it's nothing more than paying reverence to those artists that came before.  I don't think they sound like any of those artists directly.

Their subject matter runs that gamut from first love to saying goodbye and everything in between.  The tracks range from upbeat that will have you dancing at first listen but when you go back and listen to them again, it's the intelligence and thoughtfulness that they've written into the tracks that give them staying power.  But then there are amazingly beautiful ballads and songs that speak to the human condition and the heart.  They've got two albums that are as different as Summer and Winter cleverly, the tracks mirror those seasons.

Vernal Equinox is fun and happy like the spring.  It's new and it's fresh like the world walking up again for another year.  But don't be deceived because the songwriting shines through the amazing brass and percussion.   These tracks just make you feel good all over and the come to a head with "First Love", a gorgeous song about that first time you know. No doubt in your mind, you just know.  But like all first loves, it comes to an end.  You look back at it realize how much work you put into it and see where you are at today and it kind of leads right into Winter Solstice.



Winter Solstice is a little bit heavier, a little darker.  The songs blow in like fresh snow and tend to be a little more on the melancholy side of the heart.  It's the necessary dichotomy that makes these albums coalesce in a perfect balance.  I have to say, this is my favorite of the albums right now because I am more able to relate to the feelings these songs bring up.  But don't think this album can't bring the heat.  It opens up with the gospel.  "Head Hung Low" will take you straight to church and make you testify.  I have to say that my favorite of all the tracks that have been released is "Still With Me".  It hits very close to home and I know exactly how the character in the song feels.  I identify with the song more than I have any song in a long time.  The way the chorus just comes out of nowhere and is just aggressive gives it so much of an edge.  "Done" is another gorgeous track.  The lyrics are just stunning.  The song is amazing.

E.P 1 and Summer Solstice are also beautiful albums and stand on their own merits and have tracks like "Right Now", "Shell", one of the most amazing covers of  "Set Fire to the Rain" I have ever heard.  I bought these albums last week and I've not stopped listening to them since.  It's very easy to see how they are going to stay in heavy rotation for a long time.  The only thing I'm sad about is that "High Road" isn't available for purchase.  Listen to that track, it's incredible - the demo and the acoustic version.  They've also generously donated proceeds from the purchase of their tracks, "First Love" and "Right Now" to Marriage Equality so that one day, we all can have the same protections under the law.

Go listen to their music. Go to their shows.  Buy their merch.  Go buy their music.  Support independent artists so they can keep making music.

Father Tiger on the Web
http://www.fathertiger.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fathertiger
Twitter: @FatherTigerSays
Youtube: http://youtube.com/fathertiger
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/fathertiger

Tumblr: http://fathertiger.tumblr.com

Jhameel - Fiesty

I've decided to take this blog in a bit of a different direction.  From now on, my posts aren't going to be about quantity.  It's going to be about inspiration.  I only want to write about artists that inspire me.  That being said, if you've followed this blog for any length of time, you know what a fan of Jhameel I've become.  He just had a successful kickstarter for his next project and I was one of the first backers ponying up my cash to make sure he succeeded.  So as a tease/fantastic marketing move, he's released the first video from the album and it's Jhameel doing what he does best.  Be himself.  It's a fantastic song and it's got a bit more of an urban feel, I mean since he is rapping in it but damn he does a helluva job doing it.  It's sexy and it's easy and you just slip into it and let him do his thing.  He's probably the best artist in the past 5 years that you don't know about.  Trust me.  I know what I'm talking about.  He's amazing.  You're doing yourself a disservice by not being a fan.

The Vare - Letterbox

Indie-Pop music tends to get a bad rap these days.  It's all Cage the Elephant and Arcade Fire versus Phoenix and Kings of Leon. But what happens if you introduce more of a melodic influence?  What happens if you don't rely on overly complicated guitar riffs and typical lyrics and basic musical progression?  If you have a dichotomy of what could be considered hard and soft then you have an entire new animal at your disposal.  If you do something as simple as add a piano to the mix, then the music takes on a totally different direction.  If you have harmonies and backing vocals that fill out the sound then you've created an evolution of the sound.

The Vare are a new band from Montreal consisting of Mikey Desjardins (Vocals, Guitar, Drums), Gabriel Dennis (Drums, Vocals, Piano), Jeffrey Lauber (bass, guitar) and Lucas Liberatore (guitar, bass, piano, vocals).  They've only been together for a short time but with their combined experience they have created a lush that's atmospheric and fully realized.  You can hear so many nuances almost like they just reached into so many different genres and plucked out all the best parts.  They have an incredible pianist that elevates the sound without question and I think that's one of the many aspects that sets them apart, the prevalence of the piano.  But you also can't discount the guitar riffs and the amazing work the guys have put in.  Leading it all, however is a vocalist that never once gets lost or overtaken by the melody.  He is in control and easily steers this ship.

This EP isn't unfinished.  It's not incomplete.  So many times you have albums that are dropped into this category and you listen to them and they sound like a craft project or something a hobbiest would do at home.  It's got a polish on it that seasoned producers fail to achieve.  It's laid out incredibly and each song is placed exactly where it needs to be.  That's something that always amazes me, how tracks are placed on an album.  It can either ruin the flow or it can just let you easily move from one track to another.

I think the most incredible thing they did was start with "The Way You Were" because it comes out with the piano leading the way.  It sets them apart from so many other groups because it creates a whole new tone and feel.  I came for the piano but stayed for everything else that is amazing about this group.

"Body Heat" is next and it's got a funky beat that just drives the song forward.  The percussion is incredible and it's intricate without being obnoxious.  Between it and the guitar on this track, they almost outshine the vocals but   they stay evenly matched.

The easiness of "Mistakes" makes the perfect spot in the 3rd position.  It's a Sunday afternoon with the top down kind of vibe even though the lyrics are a bit heavier than that.  Mikey does an incredible job on this track and I think it's probably on the top for me.

But from here, we don't sit too long before moving into "Coat the Clocks" which is a brilliant track that showcases so many things they do so right.  It's dreamy and it does this great thing toward the end that punctuates the song that is the epitome of the mixture of light and dark that I mentioned earlier.

Bringing the piano back into the mix with an almost syncopated rhythm on the drums, "Foreign Way" is the perfect platform for a dynamite vocal delivery.  It has this feel to it that is just kind of ambient and easy.  But Mikey's haunting delivery on this track is the star.  It just sits with you and has this resonate feel that sticks.

And that brings us to the last and title song on the EP.  "Letterbox" is this crazy awesome song that you have to close your eyes and just be present in the moment with it (I don't recommend doing that in the car).  This song gives you all the feels.  It is a gorgeous track that is the right length, it's the right production and it's the right way to end the album.  It's lonely and it's longing and it's just this sigh at the end of a deeply emotional journey.

I think that they have created an album that is an amazing foundation for an incredible career in front of them.   With everything they've put into this, I see great things for them.  Listen to the tracks on Bandcamp and Youtube and get ready for the release of this EP on May 4, 2013.

The Vare on the Web

http://www.thevareofficial.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVare
Twtiter: @TheVareOfficial
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheVareBand
BandCamp: http://thevare.bandcamp.com/

Lexy and the Kill - We Can Dance Alone

It amazes me when I hear something this great and I see that the video has less than 10k hits because to my ears, this should be climbing the charts on it's way to total domination.  Actually take the time to listen to the song.  Hear the words and then tell me it's not fantastic.  It's all about that feeling of knowing that no matter what happens, you will always have someone by your side standing tall with you when the world is darkest.  It's the realization that as messed up as you are, there is someone out there that sees through all those faults and will be there.  It's basic and it's fundamental and it's set to an incredible beat and melody.  Lexy and the Kill are megastars in the making and you will be damn glad you know them now.  I want to hear more and more from them because they should be worthy of everyone's time.

Missing Andy - It's Over

The lads in Missing Andy spent the better part of today teasing fans and getting them worked up into a frenzy for some much anticipated new tracks from their upcoming release, Guerrilla Invasion, Part 1 - which is going to be a double album and I can't wait.  Alex's face in this video as he is singing is incredible.  He's not phoning it in, he is actually singing this song like it matters and it does; matter that is.  The song captures an emotion that not everyone has had to deal with and a decision that can't be taken lightly.  When you actually decide that it's time to take everything that isn't working any more and do away with it because your sanity is more important; it's not something that should be taken lightly or even hurried through.  It's heart wrenching and hard and awkward and sad but it has to be done.  And they have taken all of that and turned it into an incredible song that is going to speak right to the heart of a ton of their fans.

If this is what I'm to expect from a double album then sign me up.  Hell, sign me up twice because this is brilliant.  Having this band in my life has been so huge because of their message and the power they put into every song.  It makes me sad that they aren't bigger int the United States.  I want them to be massive.  I want them to be mega stars headlining their own concert series.  They are brilliant artists and deserve to be heard.

Listen to this track and tell me I'm wrong.  I dare you.

Hurricane Love - Only Human

I've said it before but there is something about Sweden that cranks out amazing pop.  I don't know if it's the climate, the water or the politics but something has the ability to shape and craft groups that will just blow you away.  This six piece indie band from Malmö hasn't been posting music online for very long but what they have put online is incredible.  If you go to their soundcloud, there are 4 tracks available for streaming and their YouTube channel has 2 of those songs, "Only Human" and "Deep Under Water". Both the acoustic versions of the songs and the versions with the full production are brilliant.  They are so full and just fill up all the space with this incredible sound.

One of my most favorite elements a band can have are multiple vocalists and to have a male and a female vocalist adds so much interest because of the harmonies they can create or the stories they can tell.  With this track, "Only Human" the song is sung from the perspectives of the people involved in the relationship and there is so much emotion and power behind it.  It's an incredibly honest song and doesn't try to glorify the idea of a relationship, it's stripped down and bare and by the end of the song, you are just exhausted.

I highly recommend this group because they are simply, amazing.

Hurricane Love on the Web

http://hurricanelove.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurricaneLoveMusic
Twitter: @HurricaneLoveHL
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hurricane-love
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/HurricaneLovemusic

HAIM - Don't Save Me

Sisters Danielle, Alana, Este Haim are creating a super cool vibe that would stand up beside so many other indie artists. A little Juice Newtwon, a little Ladyhawke and a whole lot of cool makes this trio a group to watch out for. Their harmonies are cool and their vibe is a bit Boho chic. Again, another thanks goes to The Middle Eight for the heads up on this awesome group.

HAIM on the Web

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haimtheband

Twitter: @HAIMtheband
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/HAIMtheband
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/haimtime

Lexy and the Kill - Rope Swing

It took less than a minute of this song before I was immediately hooked.  Lexy's voice is stellar and the song just has this really awesome vibe to it.  I have to give massive credit to the blokes over at The Middle Eight for turning me onto this up and coming Indie Pop group from Scotland and I am damn glad I took the time to listen to the song.  I think that they are going to be huge in 2013 and you should get in now so you can ride with them to the top.  Even better is that they are offering the track as a free download from their SoundCloud.  Go and like them on Facebook, twitter and all the other social media sites to let them know you want them to be massive in the coming year.

Lexy and the Kill on the Web

http://lexyandthekill.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexyAndTheKill
Twitter: @lexyandthekill
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/lexyandthekill