In Technicolor, Bell‘s debut album, has nine tracks laid through Delta blues, ‘60s rock, girl-group glam and Motown power. With John Evans, her producer, co-writer, guitarist and partner, Bell has crafted the “here I am” statement she’s been working toward for years. She likes to call it “technicolor rock ‘n’ soul.”

I have selected three tracks from the upcoming release that I found insatiable. Bell called to me like a siren today and her sassy tone brings out my inner ‘smart-ass kid’ and this kid loves Fridays.

“When I listen to a song, colors and scenery flood through my head,” Bell explains. “Music and imagery and visualization are so tied together. That’s why music is so powerful. I hope that when people listen to my music, they get an intense, visceral experience.”

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• Daily Downloads (Emily Bell, Hallelujah the Hills, and more) (largeheartedboy.com)

This morning on my bike ride to work I was listening to Girl Talk’s All Day, which is a great way to rediscover some nostalgic tracks. He uses “Possum Kingdom” has the melody behind multiple artists on track number five “This is the Remix”. Hearing the familiar tune I was inspired to find it on YouTube and I have had it on repeat for the last hour.

So without further ado I give you The Toadies “Possum Kingdom”

Clear My Head With You EP

Pittsburgh based indie-rock band ADVENTURES have announced they will be releasing a new EP, Clear My Head With You, on June 18 via No Sleep Records. “Promise” is the first single and fans are invited to pre-order the EP on vinyl 7” now at nosleeprecords.com/clearmyheadwithyou.

Recently I have been on a steady diet of Finch, Taking Back Sunday, and From Autumn to Ashes. It seems like the majority of submissions we are getting are from folk inspired indie bands, and they haven’t really driven me to write about them just because the music doesn’t match my mood as of late. “Promise” struck a chord in my heart because of the raw emotion in the vocals and simple yet meaningful march of the drums.

ADVENTURES features members Jami, Reba and Joe from reputable Deathwish Records hardcore band Code Orange Kids who, along with friends Kimi and Dominic, formed in early 2012. Only a few months later, the band recorded their debut self-titled EP and signed with No Sleep Records.

”Promise” is the first song we wrote past our last 7″ and quickly became a favorite among all of us and our friends,” says Jami.  “It is not necessarily similar in sound to the rest of the songs on the record but it was the beginning of the process. The song is about making promises to yourself and letting them blow away out of weakness and anxiety.

PS
It feels good to be back

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• Adventures (3/4 of Code Orange Kids) announce new EP (stream a track) (brooklynvegan.com)

Deluxe LP Version of Cat Power’s ‘Sun’

GREAT NEWS EVERYONE!!! On Sept. 4, Cat Power, also known as Chan Marshall,will be releasing Sun, her first album of original material in six years. Marshall self-produced the album, which was recorded in her Malibu, Calif., studio, and performed all of its instrumental parts herself.

Sun won’t be released officially until September 4th, but NPR has made the album available to stream in its entirety as part of their ongoing First Listen series. Click here to listen to all 11 tracks.

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I have been told numerous times from people in the music business that Ben Gibbard is one of the nicest guys on the face of the planet. But in recent years, he had broken my heart and killed off most of my love for his main band Death Cab For Cutie. I have written extensively about my angst and heart-break HERE.

Gibbard’s first solo album is set for release on October 16th and his fall tour starts up October 14th. The album is entitled Former Lives.

Death Cab’s last two albums have been unabashedly upbeat and happy. This last album, Codes and Keys had songs written about waking up and sitting under sycamore trees. In other words, meaningless dribble. I expect more of the same in the upcoming Former Lives. Gibbard was married to Zoey Deschanel and in a happy place and as a direct result wrote happier lamer songs. Thankfully, Ben and Zoey are no longer together. There is hope that this album was written in response to their break up. We may yet get some sad songs!!

Another concern is that the Death Cab sound that I grew up with and came to love was mostly manufactured by bass player and legendary mixer Chris Walla. He helped write a number of my favorite tracks and because of his skill mixing added that Death Cab feel and quality to many of my favorite albums. With out Chris Walla I wonder what this album will sound like. There is still a good chance it may rock and be the turning point for Gibbard and bring himself back from the brink of irreparable crappiness.

Below is his latest release entitled “Ichiro’s Theme.” It was written about the former Seattle Mariner player, Ichiro Suzuk. Gibbard is a big Mariners fan. I also have included a track from Chris Walla‘s solo album entitled “The Score.”

“Ichiro’s Theme”

“The Score”

Related articles

• Release Info: Ben Gibbard (dontleavetowngavin.com)
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• LISTEN: Ben Gibbard’s Song For Ichiro Suzuki (huffingtonpost.com)

Aficionado will be joining No Sleep labelmate Mixtapes for a co-headlining tour along with support band Citizen, which kicks off on September 25 in Rochester, New York.

In 2011, the band released their eponymous debut full length, Aficionado, which received critical praise from the media and found them touring in support with acts like Tim Kasher (Cursive), TS & The Past Haunts, Thursday, MewithoutYou, Electric Six and Fair to Midland.

While still ever evolving, Aficionado’s new EP, Empty, showcases a masterful craft of songwriting that brings together eclectic instrumentation and indie rocks riffs, signaling another musical milestone in the band’s career.

Aficionado/Mixtapes Co-Headlining Tour Dates (w/Citizen):
Sep 25 – Rochester, NY – Dubland
Sep 26 – Columbus, OH – Art Space
Sep 27 – Indianapolis, IN – Hoosier Dome
Sep 28 – St. Louis, MO – Cicero’s
Sep 29 – Tulsa, OK – Eclipse
Sep 30 – Austin, TX – Mohawk
Oct 1 – El Paso, TX – Open Gate Church
Oct 2 – Albuquerque, NM – Gasworks
Oct 3 – Mesa, AZ – Underground
Oct 4 – San Diego, CA – Che Cafe
Oct 5 – Tijuana, Mexico – You Revolution
Oct 6 – Pomona, CA – Aladdin Jrs
Oct 7 – Fresno, CA – Chinatown Youth
Oct 8 – San Jose, CA – Musik Inc
Oct 9 – Reno, NV – Fort Ryland 2000
Oct 10 – Portland, OR – Minus World
Oct 11 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon/Lounge
Oct 12 – Boise, ID – The Venue
Oct 13 – Ogden, UT – Mojo’s
Oct 14 – Denver, CO – Blast-O-Mat
Oct 16 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean

I have to say that I am very excited to see that Ogden, UT is on the list of cities they will visit! No body ever comes to my town

Below you will find the title track off the upcoming EP. Give it a listen and if you like it be sure to buy it!

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It’s good to get my hands on some new music, particularly music that is very difficult to categorize. Such as Other People’s Problems the first full length album from the English indie rock group Breton. I really dig it.

Other People’s Problems exists in the ether somewhere between indie rock, with some strong punk elements, and electronic dance. It is really remarkable. Breton offers up the guitar that I need and love, with real drums – not soulless drum machines – even with some brilliant violin work. I have a huge soft spot for  any rock group that uses a violin. Instantly they become seriously cool.

The punk element deserves some explanation. The subject matter is punk, but more importantly, they sing off microphone which has a number of effects. First, it distorts the lead vocals. Secondly, it draws the focus off of the lyrics and onto the musical instruments and the amazing beats. My god the beats are sick. I find myself rocking out one moment in my car, then the next moment I am doing the full body dance… while sitting. Amazing stuff.

Check out my current favorite track “Jostle” and another great one “The Commission.”

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It’s a slow hot summer afternoon in August. The entire world seems to be on vacation, but not the staff here at On The Couch! Every so often though some big news can drop on those lazy summer afternoons. Today is one of those days. Mumford and Sons finally got around to releasing their single for their much-anticipated sophomore album Babel.

The single is entitled “I Will Wait.” I don’t want to ruin this for anyone… but the big new sound Mumford and Sons seemed to have added to this track is a little bit of twang. Yet its still able to lure me into a multiple listens. Take a listen yourself!

Unfortunately, Babel isn’t due for release till September 24th. Sit back relax it will be here before you know it.

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I have been fan of the Dum Dum Girls for about a year now, I know I am sooooo late to the party, and nothing beats a soft ballad from this quartet of sirens. I suggest you give the tune a listen, and if you would like to download it CLICK HERE.

I also love getting to hear from the artists directly. Kind of a sweet note in the email they sent out:

Today we’re finishing its video with our friend and director Christin Turner (who created the “Jail La La,” “Bhang Bhang,” and “He Gets Me High” videos as well as stuff you’ve seen for Crocodiles and Tamaryn.)  Really excited to share the song as well as heraesthetic vision for it.

Hope it sweeps you up.  It was a bit of a disjointed process to have so much time pass between the recording of the first three songs and then the last two, but to me at least, it all fits together and sounds exactly like the trip it was.

Tour Dates:

Aug 04 – Cubby Bear, Chicago, IL
Aug 05 – Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL
Aug 06 – Off Broadway, St Louis, MO
Aug 08 – Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis MN
Aug 09 – Pondemonium at Warner Park, Madison, WI
Aug 10 – Wooly’s, Des Moines, IA
Aug 11 – Maha Music Festival, Omaha, NE
Aug 28 –  John Dee, Sankt Hanshaugen, Norway
Aug 29 – Brookly Norway @ Bleast, Trondheim, Norway
Aug 31 – Brooklyn Sweeden @ Debaser Slussen, Stockholm, Sweden

Sep 01 – Brooklyn, Sweeden @Debaser, Malmo, Sweeden
Sep 03 –  Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
Sep 05 – Indra, Hamburg, Germany
Sep 06 – Bassy, Berlin, Germany
Sep 08 – The Atomic Cafe, Munich, Germany
Sep 10 -  Arena Wien, Vienna, Austria
Sep 15 – Ports O’Call Village, San Pedro California

Oct 13 – Corona Capital Festival, Mexico City
Oct 21 – Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA
Oct 24 – Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
Oct 26 – King’s Barcade, Raleigh, NC
Oct 27 – The Earl, Atlanta, GA
Oct 28 – Bottletree, Birmingham, AL
Oct 30 – One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans, LA

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Born in Edmonton, Alberta, raised in Calgary, Alberta, and now at 18 years old he resides in Vancouver City, British Columbia, where he has most recently released his hits “VanCity Sh*t” and “College Party”.

From his outgoing personality when he’s on stage, to his skills when putting a new track together, there is nothing that isn’t impressive about Dkay. He writes his own lyrics and creates many of his own beats, and that alone gives him more talent than 90% of artists out there today, at 18 years old. He does a great job with making sure his music is catchy and can be easily listened to, while at the same time he has lyrics that go deeper than most realize.

I am very happy, as well as honored to be able to write a post about Dkay, because he has been one of my very best friends for about 8 years. Through these years, I have been able to watch as he has grown and evolved in all aspects of his music career. With every new track released, I am continuously blown away, and I know it is only a matter of time until that one person hears his music, and realizes that he’s got what it takes to take his career anywhere he wants.

Keep up the great work, Dkay. You aren’t only just my brother, but you will forever be an inspiration.

Follow Dkay on Twitter @DkaySixOh4

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