Pet Lions - Soft Right

Pet Lions is and indie rock band from Chicago.  Their EP, Soft Right, is full of fun upbeat music.  Their sound is extremely similar to The Strokes.  The only difference is that the EP is a little more on the pop side.  Although they sound heavily influenced by the band, they don't sound like they're copying them.  Upon first listen, I loved the opening song, "Roman History".  The synth bleeps in the chorus add so much to the song, very catchy.  The next song, "Propeller Plane", is a bit slower.  The vocals of Karl Østby are much more versatile in this song.  The entire album is very consistent.  "I Will Track You Down" is a standout song, and quite interesting, along with the opening track.  The songs vary from each other and keep your attention, something every album should do.  I would check out this EP if you love indie pop and rock, especially The Strokes, as I mentioned before.  The EP is really impressive.  The entire five song album is available to download, for free, on Pet Lions' website here.

Portugal. The Man - The Dead Dog

On March 2nd 2010, Portugal, The Man will release their fifth studio album, American Ghetto.  The opening song of this alternative rock album is "The Dead Dog".  I have to say, this is my first time listening to the band.  The song's a great first impression for me.  It has a solid beat with great guitar work on top of it.  The vocals of John Baldwin Gourley are also unique and grab your attention.  I believe the chorus has a descending chord progression, which separates it from the verses.  This pattern prevents the song from running on without any variety.  "The Dead Dog" is very refreshing in its genre.  I feel that the drum beat makes it sound bold and new.  Without it, the song would be completely different, and probably not as intriguing.  I would check out the song if you like Beck, The Bravery, and other similar alternative rock bands.  You can download the song, for free, on the band's website here.  I would definitely try it out.  What's to lose?

A Common Year - Between Cities

Every once in a while, in a sea of music, you stumble across a band that stands out from the others.  This band has something that's a little different or unique.  A Common Year is a rock band from Indianapolis that just recently released their debut full length album, Between Cities.  I have to say, for a fresh name in the music industry, the album is really good.  Upon first listen, I heard several possible influences.  I feel that their sound is similar to Jimmy Eat World, Sunny Day Real Estate, and maybe even Taking Back Sunday.

The album starts off with "Distance".  It's a great track to get the album going, one of the strongest of the group.  One great thing about the record is that the songs don't just blend together.  Each track is its own and keeps the listeners attention.  Towards the end of the album there are a few acoustic songs.  These bring the speed down and add a new mood to the set.  "Solstice" really stands out.

One reason why Taking Back Sunday is a good comparison for the band is because of the dual vocals.  The back and forth lines of the multi-tasking guitarists, Casey Baksa and Coleman Bright, add a twist that not too many bands have.  This is a great element that the band should use often.

In the end, Between Cities sounds very complete.  There really isn't a missing piece that the package is lacking.  If you like rock music with some emo roots, along the lines of Jimmy Eat World, then check out the album.  You can download the entire album for free, no strings attached courtesy of the band, here.

Butch Walker - Trash Day

Whether you know it or not, you've probably heard some of Butch Walker's music.  Butch Walker is not only a musician but also a producer.  He's produced albums by names as big as P!nk, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry, Weezer, and more.  While he produced records by these artists, his music is a bit different.  "Trash Day" is the opening song on his fifth album, I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart.  I would consider the song pop-rock.  It has a constant use of an acoustic guitar and, what I believe to be, an organ.  The song's pretty solid, but it isn't spectacular.  I've definitely heard better from him, such as the material from his previous album, Sycamore Meadows, which I really enjoyed.  I would check out his new album, which just came out this week, if you liked his previous releases.  Don't expect a straight up pop record, because his production and recording careers are miles apart.

Ty Segall - Standing At The Station

Just as a warning, this song is the complete opposite of today mainstream radio playlists.  It has zero polish, no editing.  "Standing At The Station" is almost as rough as you can get.  The garage rocker's song is crazy.  I must say, it's a little too raw for my usual taste.  It sounds like it was recorded live, in one take.  The vocal levels are very low, so it gives off an unbalanced sound.  Besides garage rock, I would also say the track has some punk sounds to it.  It also has similarities to the punk genre because of its short length.  If you are interested, the song is on Ty Segall's album, Lemons, which was released last year.  If you aren't used to this type of music, you might just consider it to be "noise".  On the other hand, if you like the raw energy of garage rock and punk music, then this song just might be for you.