Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - The Dust of Retreat (2006)

"Cause love is an inkless pen / it's a tavern, it's sin / it's a horrible way to begin"

Margot & the Nuclear So and So's make folksy chamber pop, somewhat in the vein of Arcade Fire, but with a much more quaint approach; while there are moments where the band aims for something higher, something a little more universal, such as the opening track "A Sea Chanty of Sorts", the real reason to love this album is for the acoustic soul-baring that dominates most of their sound; they remain firmly tethered to earth, not letting themselves get carried away with bombast or pretension; it's a personal, authentic, genuine album that the 'indie rock' world needs more of

Myspace
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Under the Influence of Giants - Under the Influence of Giants (2006)

"Meet me in the clouds / let me work it out / don't you take it personal"

You probably haven't found yourself wishing you could find a band who spends too much time listening to their old Bee Gees records, but if you have, you're in luck with Under the Influence of Giants; this self-titled debut isn't exactly a disco album (some tracks are though, especially the semi-hit single "Mama's Room"), but more of an indie pop release with lots of synths and smooth, new wave-ish grooves layered under high-pitched vocals about love affairs and sex; there hasn't been much news about this band's activities since 2006, and it's generally assumed that they're unofficially broken up, and their members have embarked on a number of solo projects (which their myspace is pretty much solely a vehicle to promote, at this point)

Myspace
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Hey Ocean! - Stop Looking Like Music (2006)

With songs like "The Beatboxer who Broke My Heart" and "Eskimo Kisses", Hey Ocean! have made a collection of lovestruck, endearing (indie) pop tunes with jazzy, genial female vocals that are surprisingly powerful coming from a little white Canadian girl; you'd be hard-pressed to find a more charming album than this, but at the same time, there's a forcefulness present here that commands your attention and makes sure you can't write this off as "just another pop album"

Myspace
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Charles Crossingham - Talkers Talk (2009)

Catchy-as-shit pop rock from Raleigh, North Carolina, Crossingham (I believe) self-released this debut EP but the production is wonderfully tight, especially for a first effort; this isn't your average bedroom pop; of special note is the track "You and Me (Stick Figure Love Song)"

Myspace
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Slow Club - Christmas, Thanks for Nothing (2009)

Merry belated holidays to everyone, hope you all had good ones; I also hope you enjoy this new EP from folksy twee duo Slow Club

Myspace
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Previous Posts:
Because We're Dead
Let's Fall Back in Love

One for the Team - Build it Up (2008)

"One for the Team’s sophomore release, “Build It Up,” is a record chock full of loud, sunny, sparkling pop-gems of an alarmingly contagious magnitude with constant dueling male/female vocals and enough harmonies to melt the icicles from the Minnesota winter that created it.

While the record was written by Ian Anderson quietly on an acoustic guitar in his bedroom, it was assembled and shaped by a group of friends who took what once were introverted, gentle songs to the extroverted poppers that they now are."

Myspace
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This is Me Smiling - This is Me Smiling (2007)

A fun little four-piece from Chicago who plays chillaxed pop rock; their song "Mixin' Up Adjectives" has ended up on a few compilations, so if you've heard them at all it was probably that song, but this album is full of great tracks that get stuck in your head

I don't feel like I'm giving much of a description of this, but I promise it's not because I don't love the album, it's because I woke up like ten minutes ago...besides, that's why I post the Myspace links (since apparently there's been some confusion), so that you can check out what the band sounds like before 'committing' to a whole album

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Belle and Sebastian - Peel Session Christmas Party (2002)

Indie pop group Belle and Sebastian went into John Peel's studio in 2002 to record this collection of Christmas tracks, some of which are standards and some of which are covers of other artists' more modern creations (such as James Brown's "Santa Clause, Go Straight to the Ghetto"); a few of their own, non-Christmas themed tracks are also present here, but they fit right in don't distract from the holiday cheer

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Previous Posts:
If You're Feeling Sinister

Tilly and the Wall - Bottoms of Barrels (2006)

This Omaha, Nebraska group makes cheerful folksy indie pop or twee or whatever you want to call it; one of their claims to fame is that instead of a drummer they use a tapdancer (really)

Myspace
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Some sneak peeks...

Today instead of posting an album, I'm posting a few singles that I've been enjoying lately, all of them from upcoming 2010 releases. This may or may not become something I do regularly, it all just depends on what I happen to be listening to at any given time. Anyway, these are all great songs, and it takes a lot less time to listen to a song than it does an album, so you've got no excuse for not checking all of these out. Get into it!

Motion City Soundtrack
- "Disappear"
- "Her Words Destroyed My Planet"

Previous Posts: Discography

These are two tracks from Motion City Soundtrack's upcoming album, My Dinosaur Life. Both of these songs show them backing away from the synthy poppiness of Even if it Kills Me, and returning to the catchy, thrashy pop-punk that made people fall in love with them in the first place. If these are any indication of the rest of the album, 2010 is going to be a good year for Motion City Soundtrack.

Vampire Weekend
- "Horchata"
- "Cousins"

Previous Posts: B-Sides and Oddities

The first two singles from their 2010 sophomore effort, released over the past couple of months to build anticipation for Contra, have done exactly that. These two tracks don't tread a lot of ground that wasn't covered by their 2008 self-titled debut, but that's not exactly a bad thing, because let's be honest, that was a great fucking album. If you liked the ethnic-twinged indie pop of that release, you're sure to enjoy these. Fingers crossed for an album leak soon.

Tegan and Sara - This Business of Art (2000)

Here's my personal favorite album from indie pop duo Tegan and Sara; this release has a bit more bite than their newer material, meaning it's got a darker feel to it, but it's still the same Tegan and Sara we all know (and love, hopefully)

Myspace
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Previous Posts:
If It Was You

Peachcake - What Year Will You Have the World?.. (2008)

I'm sure some of you remember my post a few months ago about Peachcake's amazing live show; well, the part about their recorded music not holding up in comparison needs to be taken back, because it does; I don't know why I waited so long to post this album, but here it is

This is dancey, upbeat, and just totally happy, positive, and fucking awesome electronic indie pop; I apologize for the lack of a proper description, but it's hard to not hyperbolize when talking about this band, because everything about them is just so over-the-top; all I can say is check them out

Myspace
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A Big Yes and A Small No - Jesus That Looks Terrible On You (2008)

This is a peculiar little album from Brooklyn; first it strikes you as just another indie pop affair, then it almost seems to reek of the uppity, stereotypically pretentious New York art scene, and finally you realize that even though it's both of those things, it succeeds by admitting it and making fun of itself at every turn; shoegaze, alt rock, folk, and clever lyrics all play a part in this artsy-fartsy, smirk-filled, incredibly promising debut release

Myspace
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Tegan and Sara - If It Was You (2002)

Most people are at least vaguely familiar with this Canadian indie pop/folk rock duo made up of two lesbian twin sisters (I swear they aren't a gimmick), but if you aren't (or if you want to know them a little better), this album is an excellent place to start; I won't go so far as to say it's their best, but it's most representative of their sound, and I've been listening to it a lot lately; oh, and the song "I Hear Noises" is a total fucking jam, on the level of 'it's worth downloading the album for this song'

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Isaac and Hilltop - Before the Flowers Bloom (2009)

Folksy indie pop by some dudes in Corpus Christi who spend most (read: all) of their time skateboarding, smoking pot, talking in IRC, jerking off and every now and then recording music; their guitarist has bugs crawling out of the trash can in his room

UPDATE: His room is now clean(er)

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Youth Group - Skeleton Jar (2005)

Sydney-based indie pop/alt rock, very chill shit; folksy at times, but also bears (dohoho) some resemblance to Pavement; I guess you could call some of this soft rock if you really wanted to, but don't judge it on that, mmkay

Myspace
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Snowera - Snowsera EP (2007), Fictions EP (2008), Push & Pull EP (2009)

Post-punky indie pop stuff, these guys put all their music up for free on their official site, and I was really surprised at how good it is (especially their new two-song EP, Push & Pull, which is pictured); I've stuck all three of their EPs into a single .rar file to make the process of getting all their material a little easier; this band shows a lot of promise and I can't wait for an album, keep an eye on them

Myspace
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Fanfarlo - Reservoir (2009)

Semi-folksy indie pop that sometimes bears a striking resemblance to Arcade Fire (and I mean that in the best way possible), lots of singalong harmonies to be had here as well

Myspace
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Tim Ten Yen - Everything Beautiful Reminds Me of You (2008)

Upbeat, catchy, surfy, loungy, lovestruck indie-pop; this is kinda like what Billy Joel would sound like if he got super-happy and dropped the piano in favor of a motherfuckin' Casio

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Harvey Williams - Rebellion (1994)

Short, quiet, and relaxing EP; issued on Sarah Records, this release is not the upbeat and happy kind of music that the word 'twee' tends to imply, but rather it's a touching, piano-driven contemplation of the world that is both melancholic and hopeful

Myspace (Another Sunny Day)
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