Make The Load Lighter

As you know, on January 12, Haiti was struck with a humanitarian disaster that left hundreds of thousands dead or injured, and more than a million homeless. It's been a month since the earthquake, and mainstream media interest has tapered off but Haitians remain in desperate need for assistance and still need our help and compassion. New Jersey Record label Dromedary Records have, with the support of sixteen great indie bands, released a compilation album Make the Load Lighter: Indie Rock for Haiti and they are donating every penny they earn on this record to Haitian earthquake relief, directly to Vwa Ayiti (Voice of Haiti).

The compilation perfectly captures the old school indie spirit with bands pooling their resources, home-spun artwork, DIY ethics and a strong desire to make a difference.

Sixteen unbelievable indie rock bands $9.99 helping out Haiti, priceless.

Go Try

MP3 - The Mommyheads - Spiders
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Dromedary Records so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Donate










You can donate to Vwa Ayiti (Voice of Haiti) here or you can find a list of relief organisations here .

Go Buy










Buy the album here

Go Visit

Dromedary Records - Myspace // Website

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The Mommyheads
Broken and Glazed

Like A Virgin

Virgin Of The Birds
From: Seattle, Washington, United States

Tonight the Devil gives you Virgin of the Birds, a lo-fi indie pop band founded by Jon Rooney as an outlet for Rooney's songs outside of his now defunct Bay Area group, Morning Spy.

Named after a poor English translation of a Salvador Dali painting, the band have already been lauded by one of the Devil's favourite blogs Song by Toad.

They have a new EP out now, Banquet Years, which is the latest in a series of freely downloadable EPS from Abandoned Love Records. 'Every Revelry' is a perfect piece of purest pop, the sort of pop that lifts the spirits and regenerates the soul. 'Let Me Be Your Bride' starts like an homage to early Motown with the best use of a tambourine since Jack Ashford retired before morphing into another indie pop gem. The other tracks on the EP are just as good and worth checking out.

Check out Virgin of the Birds you'll be touched for the very first time.

Go Try

MP3 - Virgin of the Birds - Let Me Be Your Bride
MP3 - Virgin of the Birds - Every Revelry
MP3 - Virgin of the Birds - Baby Let Me Trace You
MP3 - Virgin of the Birds - You Love It Loud
MP3 - Virgin of the Birds - Here Comes Summer Again
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the Virgin of the Birds Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Virgin of the Birds - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

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Virgin of the Birds
She's In The Mood Again




If you like this then check out Jon's other band Morning Spy...

MP3 - Morning Spy - Daughter's Of History
MP3 - Morning Spy - Two Horses
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the Morning Spy website and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

In The Headlights

The Deer Tracks
From: Gävle, Sweden

The Deer Tracks were first featured on the Devil's blog way back in December 2008 (Two Early Christmas Gifts) and I'm glad to say that they are back. Following up last year's awesome debut album Aurora with a new EP Eggegrund.

Taking a leaf out of Bon Iver's book the Deer Tracks recorded the EP in a crumbling lighthouse on the remote Swedish island of Eggegrund, just off their home city of Gavle, in eastern Sweden.

The duo have hit on a winning formula and with Eggegrund they sensibly mine that seam for all it's worth. Frosty electronic lullabies gently melted by Elin's cooing vocals as gentle as a whisper in a wood.

Fronted by the electro-strings fed Bless The Waves, the EP closes on Isbjörnskatten, which retells a famous Swedish fairytale of the same title, about a cat who wants to be an icebear. It is the first song that the duo have written in their native Swedish.

It's time to you made tracks for Deer Tracks.

Go Try

MP3 - The Deer Tracks - Bless The Waves
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Despotz Records so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
MP3 - The Deer Tracks - Yes This Is My Broken Shield
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Deer Tracks Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Deer Tracks - Myspace // Last.FM

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The Deer Tracks
127Sexfyra

Velvetian Goldmine

Velvetians

From: BlackRiver/VioleNTSt., Perugia, Italy

Velvetians, formerly known as Vellutata Sincronica, are a plazzy glam rock band born in Perugia (Italy) who make a gloriously chaotic racket that sounds like Bowie in a tumble drier with Roxy Music or as one fan said like the Smiths having sex with the New York Dolls but with better clothes and better looking.

The trio have a glamtastic album, appropriately titled 'Plastic Glam' out in March. The glam revival restarts here.

Go Try

MP3 - Velvetians - Gamla Glam
MP3 - Velvetians - It Hurts You
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of A Giant Leap Promotion so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Velvetians - Myspace // Last.FM

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Velvetians
Don't Leave Your Lips Outside

Flip Like A Ninja

The Ninja Stars
From: Denmark

The NiNjA StARS are a Danish Duo formed by Why Write's Jacob Faurholt (Write Here, Write Now) and Kasper R. Schultz who has helped out Honner & Mudder with a little singing and percussion. The duo have just released their debut EP, 'The Spirograph Heroes' which was arranged, recorded and produced in 2 days and sounds all the better for the spontaneity. It's completely off the wall and sounds like the Residents and Devo after 48 hours locked in a room with nothing but a tea tray and a synthesizer for company.

Go Try

MP3 - The Ninja Stars - Kick Out My Teeth
MP3 - Ninja Stars - Spirograph Heroes
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of The Ninja Stars so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Ninja Stars - Myspace

Death At Ones Elbow

Funeral Club
From: Bakersfield, California, United States

Those of you who have been following the Devil's blog since it started all those years ago, you few, you happy few, you band of brothers (and sisters) may remember me raving over The Grizzly Owls amazing 'What's A Girl To Do' (Life's A Hoot With...) which still sounds brilliant despite the passage of time. Well The Grizzly Owls have flown the nest and morphed into the perfectly monickered Funeral Club. And you know what they've managed to improve on perfection.

Jenny & Joseph Andreotti have recruited a few compadres and beefed up the sound for Funeral Club. The first track 'The Arrival Of The First Woman' is possibly the best thing you'll hear all year and is another contender for The Devil's Best of 2010 and the snow hasn't yet melted!

'The Arrival Of The First Woman' sounds like the Cowboy Junkies being mugged in a dark alley by Nick Cave. It's more menacing than a hoodie with a handgun and is a perfect way to announce Funeral Club's arrival on the scene.

Dig out your black suit and tie it's time for the Funeral Club

Go Visit

Funeral Club - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Funeral Club
The Arrival Of The First Woman







For those of you who missed out on the Grizzly Owls and want to see how far they've travelled then digest these little gems...

MP3 - The Grizzly Owls - What's A Girl To Do
MP3 - The Grizzly Owls - Rifles & Hemlines
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of Fanatic Promotion so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
MP3 - The Grizzly Owls - Save My Soul Conquistador
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of The Grizzly Owls so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Kandid Camera

Kandid McFly
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Kandid McFly (no relation to Marty!) kicks it old school with 'Stage Fright' a crack of hip hop smoother than a silk lined condom with production cleaner than a freshly polished whistle. Check it out below courtesy of the Devil.

Go Try

MP3 - Kandid McFly - Stage Fright
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Kandid McFly so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

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Kandid McFly - Myspace

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Kandid McFly
A Day In The Life Of Kandid McFly

Typically Tropical

Tropical Depression
From: San Diego, California
United States

Jordan Thomas and Joe Campesino have played in a variety of bands together before forming their current indie electronic, dream pop two-piece Tropical Depression. None of their previous incarnations have fused post punk and bittersweet pop melodies quite as successfully as Tropical Depression.

With deliciously detached vocals weaving in and out of a series of sensual, sonically ambitious soundscapes the San Diego duo sound like they've been collecting shavings from the cutting room floor of 4AD. It won't make you dance, it won't make you sing but it just might make you dream.

Batten down the hatches Tropical Depression are heading your way.

Go Try

MP3 - Tropical Depression - Walls
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Banter Media so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

Go Visit

Tropical Depression - Myspace

Shark Attack

Shark Speed
From: Envy(NV), Utawe(UT), Utah, United States

Utah indie band Shark Speed are so math rock they're positively geometrical, if pythagoras formed a band they'd sound like Shark Speed, probably!

Shark Speed manage to be progressive, intricate and jazzy without straying into the self indulgent noodling that can infect their fellow math rockers like a virulent strain of musical Diarrhoea.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water here come Shark Speed!

Go Try

MP3 - Shark Speed - Cast Off Dance Off
MP3 - Shark Speed - I'm A Machine
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Shark Speed's Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

Go Visit

Shark Speed - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Shark Speed
I'm A Machine

Happy Valentines Day From The Devil

If you didn't realise that today is Valentine's Day and you've forgotten to get your cherie amour a gift or a card never fear the Devil's here with some artists with names that are connected with the annual love fest that is Valentine's Day and some romantic videos.

Show your romantic side to your loved one send this post onto them. They'll love it.

Go Try

MP3 - Electric Valentine - The Opposite Of Name Dropping
MP3 - Electric Valentine - Chasing The Sun
MP3 - Northern Valentine - Dimanche
MP3 - Niko Valentine - Karma
MP3 - Niko Valentine - Under Piano
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from the artist's Last.FM sites and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

Go Visit

Electric Valentine - Myspace // Last.FM
Northern Valentine - Myspace // Last.FM // Website
Niko Valentine - Last.FM

Go View

My Bloody Valentine
Lovelee Sweet Darlene




The Crowns
Valentine



Blab Happy
Valentine



Delays
Valentine

Horseplay

Horse Shoes
From: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Shelflife Records, the label of Devil's favourites A Smile & A Ribbon (featured a few short weeks ago, Don't Scrap Your Fey Ways) have a whole roster of bands that hark back to the glory days of Sarah Records.

One of the Devil's other favourite Shelflife bands Horse Shoes who were born to be adored. They are the resurrection and they are the light and could just be what the world is waiting for. Yes you've guessed it they sound like the early incarnation of the Stone Roses if they'd been injected at birth with Field Mice DNA.

There is a refreshing innocence to Horse Shoes that runs counter to an increasingly cynical and hard nosed world. With a record collection that, in addition to The Stone Roses and The Field Mice, includes The Clientele, Beachwood Sparks, The Tyde and Talulah Gosh they sound like they are making music to please themselves. Making the type of music that they love rather than the focus group pop that litters the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

In a perfect world Simon Cowell would be burned at the stake and the songs of Horse Shoes would be hummed by Milkmen. One day, my friend, that dream will become reality.

Go Try

MP3 - Horse Shoes - The Imperial School
MP3 - Horse Shoes - Changing Winds
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Horse Shoes Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

Go Visit

Horse Shoes - Myspace // Last.FM

If you like these you'll love Horse Shoes ...

MP3 - Beachwood Sparks - Confusion Is Nothing New
MP3 - Beachwood Sparks - Drinkswater
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from Sub Pop the website site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright
MP3 - The Tyde - Pound For Pound
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from The Tyde Last.FM site and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

The Field Mice
Sensitive

South By South West

Southerly
Genre: Portland, Oregon, United States

Portland, Oregon is widely known for its wealth of dark-pop songwriters, and Southerly (first featured on the Devil's blog way back in May 2007 Southerly ) is one of its very best.

The nom-de-tune of Krist Krueger, Southerly has announced the release of a lush, layered new work titled Champion Of The Noisy Negativists on February 19th, 2010 as a follow up to 2007's Storyteller And The Gossip Columnist.

To kick off the EP release, Southerly launches a tour throughout Europe with Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band beginning February 18th. A hometown sendoff is slated for Tuesday, February 16th at Kelly's Olympian in Portland with four bands sharing various Southerly members

Picking up where the last album left off, listeners can hear the natural progression toward what ultimately became Champion: a swooning, eerie, beautiful, morose and uplifting soundscape that serves as an undeniable reminder of the tension, release, intensity and intrinsic harmony that all of us experience and celebrate in life. Unlike the previous disc, Champion is a largely instrumental affair, using vocals as additional layers, rather than the music's guide.

Are you a champion of the noisy negativists?

Go Try

MP3 - Southerly - Trials
MP3 - Southerly - Soldiers
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of Us/Them group so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright
MP3 - Southerly - Close To The Crime
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from Arctic Rodeo Recordings and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

Go Visit

Southerly - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Southerly
Young Williams Snow

Run Rabbit Run

Frightened Rabbit
From: Selkirk, Scotland, United Kingdom

Frightened Rabbit precede their 3rd full length studio album, ‘The Winter Of Mixed Drinks’ with a brand new single ‘Nothing Like You’ on February 22nd, backed with another new song, ‘Learned Your Name’. Furiously upbeat, ‘Nothing Like You’ s acoustic bustle is reminiscent of The Cure’s classic, ‘Inbetween Days’ and mines the most uptempo aspects of Scott Hutchisons songwriting. The new album is due for release on 1st March.

‘Nothing Like You’ typifies a more fully realised Frightened Rabbit sound, and like ‘Swim Until You Can’t See Land’ (check it out on the Devil's blog Rabbit Droppings) boasts a stunning string arrangement from labelmate, Hauschka. Speaking to nme.com about the new album, lead singer Scott Hutchison explained ‘We've broadened our horizons sonically and it feels like a natural move forward. Most importantly, it’s better than the last one. That's all I wanted, really.’

Go Try

MP3 - Frightened Rabbit - Fun Stuff
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of One Little Indian Records so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

Go Visit

Frightened Rabbit - Myspace // Last.FM

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According to the met office Britain's in for another cold snap next week so this Frightened Rabbit video is apt...

Frightened Rabbit
Keep Yourself Warm

Elephant Rocks

Death Of The Elephant
From: Essex, London, United Kingdom

Death Of The Elephant is a great name for a World Wide Fund for Nature campaign or a David Attenborough documentary but as a name for a back to basics punk band well I'm not so sure.

But don't be put off by the name this is a band who go for the throat. Guitars so sharp they could cut your throat while lead singer Dee screams and screeches like a riott grrrl at a beauty pageant. It's intense, raucous garage punk like a head on collision between X Ray Spex and Bikini Kill.

If this elephant is dying it's taking you and your hearing with it!

Go Try

MP3 - Death Of The Elephant - Junkfly
MP3 - Death Of The Elephant - Nosebleed
MP3 - Death Of The Elephant - Trypticon
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of Death Of The Elephant so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

Go Visit

Death Of The Elephant - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

Death Of The Elephant
I Love Blue Too

The Sting

The Sumner Brothers
From: Canada

'Country' music even when it's rebadged as Americana misses the target more often than it hits. Ok Americana swept away the dead dogs and divorce while keeping the desperation but, with the odd exception, it doesn't stir this Devil's soul.

Every now and then a 'country' artist is able to touch parts that other artists can't. Canadian roots rockers The Sumner Brothers (no relation to Sting you'll be pleased to know) are one of those artists. The brothers, yes for once they are, come highly recommended and are Samantha Parton of the The Be Good Tanyas' new favourite band.

Check out the brilliant 'Both Back', a cry of pain, of loss, of anger. It's a cry from the depths of the second stage of grief, the anger, the rage against the world at the loss of a loved one. 'I want him back I want them both back'. Such a simple sentence but it says more about loss than the outpourings of the grief industry ever could.

Go Try

MP3 - The Sumner Brothers - Both Back
MP3 - The Sumner Brothers - Say You'll Always Be Mine
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of The Sumner Brothers so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Sumner Brothers - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go Visit

Baby Face




The Sumner Brothers
When You Dig My Grave

Just Like That

Not this...
But them...

Fez
London
United Kingdom

London four piece Fez have already been recommended by the Devil's good friends over at MP3Hugger and they're always spot on. If you missed them they are uncomplicated straight up indie like your grandad used to love who make a decent racket on their secondhand ebay acquired equipment. It's shiny happy music.

Go Try

MP3 - Fez - Harmonix
MP3 - Fez - Lowlight
MP3 - Fez - Chemicals
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of Fez so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright

Go Visit

Fez - Myspace // Last.FM

Wagner Society

The Wagner Logic
From: Kasilof, Alaska, United States

The Wagner Logic, first featured on the Devil's blog back in April 2009 (Anchored Down In Anchorage), are releasing their self-titled sophomore follow-up to their 2007 debut release Easiest to Grab.

Self-produced in the dark basement of a small cabin in a town best known for salmon fishing and dog sledding, the songs offer dark and dysfunctional tales of heartache, regret, and loss. Melodic, psychedelic, and inventive lo-fi guitars blended with whispery, multi-layered vocals and pop-sensible melodies combine to create a unique sound that has to be heard to be believed.

Go Try

MP3 - The Wagner Logic - Waiting For Snow
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Banter Media so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
MP3 - The Wagner Logic - Ambulance
MP3 - The Wagner Logic - Lots Of Sugar
MP3 - The Wagner Logic - What Began To Splinter
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are linked direct from The Warner Logic Lst.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

The Warner Logic - Myspace // Last.FM

Go View

The Warner Logic
Nothing Left Here

Galland Drunk

Jordan Galland
From: New York, United States

Jordan Galland, formerly of Dopo Yume and first featured on the Devil's blog last July (Jordan The Comeback) has his new album 'Search Party' due for release in April 2010 via Slush Puppy Music.

The multi talented and clearly workaholic Galland, who the Devil described as a more focused Pete Doherty in a beret smoking a gauloise, is not only about to release Search Party, but also his debut feature film, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead.

Don't you just hate these multi-talented workaholics making us mere mortals look like lazy good for nothings? I can't even keep up with the emails in my inbox let alone find time to knock off an album and a feature film in my spare time. And he's cooler than an Igloo's ice box. God some guys have all the luck.

Go Try

MP3 - Jordan Galland - Search Party
MP3 - Jordan Galland - Footballers & Strippers
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of offcentralPR so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Jordan Galland - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

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Jordan Galland
Search Party

Riding The Crimson Wave

Zola Jesus
From: Madison, Wisconsin
United States

As we enter the Teenies the music industry is thrashing around desperately searching for the next great musical movement, the next youthquake that will shake the music industry to it's foundations and sweep all before it.

If I was a betting man, and I'm not, I wouldn't be putting any money on Crimsonwave making it as the musical movement of the decade. Which is a real pity because the world won't know what it's missing.

The genre was created, or at least first coined by Nika Danilova, otherwise known as Zola Jesus, to describe a movement of left field "wierdo women from the Midwest" producing music to please themselves in their bedrooms. It was was chosen for it's association with menstrual blood and, according to Danilova, it unfortunately stuck.

Whether her sound is Crimsonwave, or lo-fi Goth, or whatever pigeonhole you want to try to put her in Zola Jesus is bloody brilliant! Check out 'Clay Bodies' which is the ugly twin sister of The Shangri-Las and The Jesus & Mary Chain and will no doubt give the more sensitive souls among the Devil's readers nightmares for weeks to come. It's a modern goth album that'll single-handedly resurrect the kohl and black nail varnish markets.

Get set for the resurrection of Zola Jesus.

Go Try

MP3 - Zola Jesus - Clay Bodies
MP3 - Zola Jesus - Devil Take You
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are all linked direct from the Zola Jesus Last.FM site and are all therefore freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
MP3 - Zola Jesus - Dog
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Zola Jesus website and is therefore freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Zola Jesus - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

Go View

Zola Jesus
Clay Bodies

Afternoon Delight

Out Of The Afternoon
From: South East London, United Kingdom

Thanks to Tom Robinson (Freshnet) for alerting the Devil to the delights of Out Of The Afternoon. Taking their name from a Roy Haynes album, the London quartet could be the cool, less whimsical brothers of The Young Knives. They're sharper than a brain surgeon's scalpel with a clutch of clattering pop classics in the making.

There are four brilliant tracks on their myspace site lead by the awesome 'The Water Cycle' which is a real statement of intent. A complicated little number with tempo changes and shifts in melody the like of which you won't hear anywhere else. It's cleverer than a train full of Mastermind winners and shows that Out Of The Afternoon have set their sights far beyond the narrow horizons of the indie landfill.

Of the other tracks 'I Won't Forget You' has a nu psych sound that reminds the Devil of The Times classic 'I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape' (check out the intros of both songs). 'Best Foot Forward' is rollicking good fun that wouldn't sound out of place on Voices of Animals & Men while 'The Piccadilly Of The South' sounds like it's just been unearthed at an archeological dig at the site of the UFO club.

Out Of The Afternoon? More like out of this world.


Go Try

MP3 - Out Of The Afternoon - This Ship Is Going Under
MP3 - Out Of The Afternoon - I Won't Forget You
MP3 - Out Of The Afternoon - See You Back Sally
If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are all linked direct from the Out Of The Afternoon Last.FM site and are all therefore freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Out Of The Afternoon - Myspace // Last.FM