in search of the new and the familiar

what i first noticed about this singer-songwriter was that he double or triple tracks his vocals. this style of recording makes his songs sound so soothing, almost like a lullaby. FINALLY, joshua radin has come out with a full length album ("we were here") and it has been warmly received by an eager and expansive fanbase. i quote from an iTunes reviewer: "echoing prominant artists of the past, such as simon and garfunkel, elliot smith, and current singers such as damien rice [and sondre lerche], radin showcases his knack for combining catchy hooks with thoughtful lyrics. for anyone who is a fan of the garden state soundtrack. joshua radin's newest release will fit right in amongst your favorite cds, lending itself perfectly for lazy afternoons, long drives, and even a boost of optimism." stand-out tracks include "winter" and "closer".

also sounds like: the shins, damien rice, sondre lerche, elliot smith, simon & garfunkel, kings of convenience

joshua radin

joshua radin's myspace

Posted by whitney at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

i've been rocking out with the fray for almost an entire semester now and it would be so wrong of me if i didn't share them with you. okay, so the fray consists of four young (and attractive) guys: Isaac Slade (vocals, piano), Joe King (guitar, vocals), Ben Wysocki (drums), and Dave Welsh (guitar). i saw them open for ben folds (also amazing) a few months ago and they came back to town again this week. their show is awesome. i am a big fan of piano-based rock, and these guys have got it down solid. i'm serious: the songs on their debut release "how to save a life" force me pay attention. others have definitely caught on to their sound - i was checking out their tour schedule and nearly half of their upcoming performances are SOLD OUT! my particular favorites are "she is" and the title track "how to save a life". both are upbeat, yet emotional. this album can (and should) be rocked out in the car at any time you want some high quality vocals, piano, and catchy rock songs.

The Fray

The Fray on Amazon.com

The Fray on VH1

Posted by whitney at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments

According to the weather forecast, it looks the rain is here to stay, at least for the week. driving through the gloom all the time, i can't help but want to listen to the warm, raspy melodies of ray laMontagne. "trouble" is his first-ever album, released on major label RCA in 2004. lamontagne, now 31, struggled with addictions, working in a shoe factory, and contemplating depression in order to finally figure out that he was to trade it all in for a guitar and a pen. this album, and every song on it, is astounding and begs to be played for decades to come. his sound is reminiscient of jack johnson's simplicity, yet reveals influences from legends like Van Morrison or The Band. this '70s chilled-out vibe somehow remains fresh every time i listen to it. critics and festivals are raving about ray lamontagne, in fact he just won album of the year, song of the year (trouble), and male singer/songwriter of the year at the boston music awards. not to mention performances at the radio city music hall and austin city limits. so next time you are relaxing by the fire on a cold winter's night, kicking leaves on a chilly walk home, or leaning on a tree in the freshness of spring, this album will satisfy your soul.

also sounds like: Rachel Yamagata, Alexi Murdoch, Bob Dylan, Amos Lee, David Gray

Ray LaMontagne Website

Ray LaMontagne on Yahoo!

Ray LaMontagne on Amazon.com

Posted by whitney at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

with all the mumbo jumbo that is cranked through my ipod, i have found myself consistently returning to the album Set Yourself on Fire by a little known band called Stars. hailing from Montreal, this album is actually the band's third release. what sets them apart is their use of an up-right bass (played by Evan Cranley) combined with the sweet and sultry voice of lead singer Amy Millan. Torquil Campbell assists with vocals and brass, while Chris Seligman rounds out this quartet with the keys. check them out for yourself and you will find what their indie label calls a "rallying cry of the soft revolution". this indie pop/moody rock foursome will have you feeling refreshed that you are listening to something that is full of heart and passion. its got a little bit of every mood and will satisfy your audio appetite for weeks.

also sounds like: Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Bloc Party, Sufjan Stevens, Broken Social Scene, Architecture in Helsinki

Stars Website

Stars on Amazon.com

Posted by whitney at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

i created this site in order to have a place to tell you guys about new bands that i find are worth listening to. they can be of any genre, but i am just sick of the crap they are playing on the radio and it is all so overplayed! this site is specifically for new artists that are just discovered, just debuted, or have just been overlooked. feel free to suggest any artist that should be included and i hope you like the site!

Posted by whitney at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments