Sign In Using Facebook
You are currently browsing the Amie Street Blog archives for March, 2007.
Buy Good Music, Fight Cystic Fibrosis
Amie Street is joining the Blubrry podcast community to help fight the incurable lung disease known as Cystic Fibrosis. Between now and May 15th the Blubrry Jam To Fight Cystic Fibrosis is raising money for the Boomer Esiason Foundation Exercise For Life Scholarship fund. This fund helps provide financial support to people living with this terrible disease.
Amie Street is doing our part by serving up music by a pair of New York City based artists who are involved with the campaign. So when you purchase tracks at $.50 each from rocker Brother Love and urban country artists HER & Kings County 100% of their royalties will go to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.
If you find yourself enjoying the music from these artists you can catch both bands in person at the Blubrry Jam Live Event on April 7th at the Canal Room in New York City. Proceeds from this event go to the Boomer Esiason Foundation as well. As an added bonus Brother Love will be releasing his brand new CD and handing out complimentary limited edition CDs to everyone who comes down for the party. You can find out more about the live event and get discounted advance tickets at http://blubrryjam.eventbrite.com/?discount=amiestreetcares. Fans who buy tickets using this special URL get $5 off the $18 pre-sale ticket price.
Thanks for your support. Now go enjoy some great music!
Buy tracks from Brother Love HERE!
Buy tracks from HER & Kings County HERE!
Perfect Pop from Princeton
This record was made with one microphone, one acoustic guitar, a cheap keyboard, three pairs of hands, three sets of vocal chords, and one small egg shaker. All of the music produced by this small arsenal of sound was compiled, edited, and recorded in two rather poorly decorated London flats by a set of twin brothers and their best friend.
The record? A Case of the Emperor's Clothes. The set of twins
and their best friend? Matt and Jesse Kivel and Ben Usen of the
perfectly lo-fi band Princeton. In case you
haven't heard it already, the album is quite fantastic, especially
the tracks
The Indifference Curve
(
) and
Blackbeard
(
).
We aren't the only ones head over heels for Princeton, lots love these young do-it-yourselfers:
"Princeton, two 20 year old twins and their best friend, is the kind of band I almost always fall for, the kind that makes well-crafted and instantly catchy indie pop that reminds me of what a band like The Zombies might be doing if they were just starting out today." [Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands 9/26/06]
"If you like shiny, sparkling harmonies glinting from the face of timeless melodies, you'd do well to focus your light upon this band. It'll be hard not to smile when they're smiling at you." [Sixeyes, 10/08/06]
"It takes more than cleverness to write a song about a pirate that doesn't sound like a Broadway musical, or to sing a travelogue of an Asian city that doesn't descend into kitsch. But Princeton does it well -- with organs, acoustic guitar, and sweet, youthfully knowing vocals. Just don't ask me which twin is singing." [3hive 10/20/06]
"I can't imagine what these guys would be able to do with a budget." [Free Indie.com 1/15/07]
"Charming and absolutely playful -- lend an ear to Princeton." [both sides of the mouth 10/17/06]
Now hear Princeton for yourself!
DC Concert Tonight; Instrumental Analysis Talks DC Music
[Editor's Note: This post is brought to you by the fantastic music site Instrumental Analysis. Check it out!]
As Amie Street prepares to travel to DC tonight (Saturday 3/24)for the finale of their first ever tour (the show is at The Rock and Roll Hotel and features Middle Distance Runner, The Dead Trees, The Epochs, and Crash Boom Bang), I felt that it would be a good time to discuss some of the great artists from the Baltimore/Washington metro that have their music on the site. Some of these artists have been covered in the past, but many of them have managed to slip under the radar. In the end, this post should show you why a lot of people are starting to praise the regional music scene for being one of the best in the country.
Caleb Stine and the Brakemen is an indie country band from Baltimore. While I am not usually a fan of the genre, I find their music very listenable and highly recommend checking them out.
Cedars are DC's kings of atmosphere. They are also one of my favorite indie rock bands in the city.
Black Book
(
) --
This Century
(
)
Crash Boom Bang is an indie pop group and they will be opening Saturday’s finale of the Amie Street tour in DC.
Death by Sexy is a 2-piece (sometimes 3) indie rock band from DC that puts on one of the fiercest performances in town. If you are looking for something a little different and a little louder, check this band out.
Blow My Mind
(
) --
I'm Going to Make You Cry
(
)
Faster Faster Harder Harder is an indie rock band from Baltimore. They are also some of the best instrumentalists in the region.
Middle Distance Runner needs no introduction. They are currently the "it" band in DC and that is starting to spread across the northeast as well. Take a listen to a couple of their lesser known songs that are amongst their best work.
School of Beats is DC hip hop. While I never pretend to be any sort of hip hop expert, they have some really laid back rhymes with some nice backing tracks. Definitely show them some love, because they make some of the best hip hop that I have heard in a long time.
Blaxploitation feat. Malik 16
(
) --
I Feel Good feat. Laelo Hood & Heiress
(
)
Telograph is an indie rock band from DC. Anybody who has read any of my posts in the past knows how much I admire this band. Take the time to become acquainted with their music now, before it is all over your local radio. They're that good.
We Won't Settle Down
(
) --
Beneath Your Feet
(
)
The Payola Reserve is an indie rock band from Baltimore. I stumbled upon them late last summer and have given their album a lot of play since. They write very honest songs that tell you exactly how they feel about the subject at hand.
Lay In Wait
(
) --
Music Is Not Music
(
)
The Seldon Plan makes some of the best laid back indie rock in the region. If you enjoy bands like Death Cab, you should find some enjoyment here.
Making Circles
(
) --
Holding Patterns Are Slow
(
)
The Vita Ruins are the latest DC indie band to add their music to the site. Their music has a way of pulsating and that is a very good thing.
My Last Days On Earth
(
) --
Alien
(
)
These United States are appropriately from DC. As I have said before, they may be the best band from the northeast right now. Instead of hyping them for the millionth time, listen to some of their tracks and decide for yourself.
The Business
(
) --
We Go Down to That Corner LIVE
(
)
Waterlog is another hip hop group with DC roots. Again, I am nowhere close to being an expert on the genre. All I can say is that I think their music is good and that is saying something.
The Onion (Open Doors Version)
(
) --
Blowing Trees to Dead Music
(
)
Coconut Records: A Jason Schwartzman Project
Amie Street is excited to introduce Coconut Records, a project from Jason Schwartzman, and the debut album Nighttiming! O-R we? Yes, we are.
All songs on Nighttiming were written, performed and
sung by Jason, formerly of Phantom Planet and star of Wes
Anderson's film Rushmore. The new project, Coconut
Records, is Jason's first musical outing since he left Phantom
Planet in 2003, which is best known for their hit "California", the
theme song for The O.C. The first single from Nighttiming,
West Coast
(
) was
used in the series finale of The O.C.
Nighttiming was produced by Michael Einziger of the band Incubus at his home studio in Malibu, CA and was mixed by Brendan O'Brien, who produced and mixed records for Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Incubus and Matthew Sweet.
The album is being released on Young Baby Records and comes to Amie Street courtesy of Audio Bee.
Instrumental Analysis: Telograph, The April Skies and These United States
[Editor's Note: This post is brought to you by the fantastic music site Instrumental Analysis. Check it out!]
I've been kind of missing in action lately. During my absence, Amie Street has been kicking it into high gear. A lot of really good music has found its way on to the site in the past several weeks. There are 3 bands that I want to talk about in particular.
Telograph is a band from Washington, DC. They recently added Little Bits of Plastic to the site. I can't recommend that EP enough. Ever since I received an advance copy of it late last fall, it has been a regular in my rotation. It's almost like they picked everything that has been good about music in the past 20 years, mixed it up and made it their own sound. They took elements of music by the likes of Radiohead, U2, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Cure and Jeff Buckley and turned them into an amazing sound of their own. Apparently, I am not the only one noticing. In the next few weeks, they will be opening for O.A.R. on an arena tour, playing several shows in the DC area and making their SXSW debut. Get on board with these guys now, before it's too late.
One band that recently added their catalogue to Amie Street that the majority of the world has never heard of is Hershey, PA band The April Skies. This band has been out there entertaining with their brand of Europop, since the late 80's. In the 90's they played places like CBGB's, The Chameleon Club and the 9:30 Club and shared the stage with bands like Ride and Lush. After taking several years off, the band regrouped and returned a few years ago with The Breathe EP. In the past 2 years they have released Flood and How It All Played Out and have been wowing audiences with their amazing live shows. They are currently more viable than they have ever been and show no signs of slowing down soon. Recently, many of the big players in the booming DC and Brooklyn scenes have started to take notice and have begun sharing the stage with these guys. Citing influences like The Cure, The Ocean Blue, REM, U2, The Stone Roses, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Smiths and The Jesus & Mary Chain, they are ready to take over the northeast with their catchy hook laden pop songs. As warmer weather approaches, they are preparing to play just about everywhere in the region and may even hit the west coast. Another new album is also in the planning stages. When they come to your town, go see them. Their albums may be good, but their live shows are where they really shine.
Here Comes The Rush
(
)
and
Beautiful Girl
(
)
from The Breathe EP
322
(
)
and
A Game
(
)
from Flood
My Love Is In This House
(
) and
Unstoppable
(
) from
How It All Played Out
Finally, I want to talk about These United States. They are from DC and are quite possibly the best band in the northeast right now. Take elements of indie rock, country and folk. Throw them all into a blender. Toss in great lyrics, amazing musicianship and Jesse Elliott's haunting voice and you have These United States. Their recorded songs are amazing and their live shows are even better. They embark on a U.S. tour later this week and will pretty much be everywhere between now and tax day, including several shows at SXSW. Go see them when they come to your town. You will not be disappointed.
“AmieStreet.com Presents” Tour
Middle Distance Runner, The Dead Trees, and The Epochs have all seen personal success on Amie Street and are touring on the first AmieStreet.com Presents Tour to visit Boston, Manhattan, Brooklyn and D.C. over a week long period beginning March 19.
The tour starts in Boston on Monday, March 19th at Great Scott, then to Manhattan on Wednesday, March 21st at Pianos, followed by Brooklyn on Thursday, March 22nd at Galapagos, and ends in DC on Saturday, March 24th at The Rock and Roll Hotel.
Middle Distance Runner is supporting their 2006 EP release, Plane in Flames, which The Washington Post says, has an, "atmospheric pop vibe." Their track "Naturally" is one of the all-time best-selling songs on AmieStreet.com.
The Dead Trees, who just completed recording their first full-length release with Ed Valauskas (the Gentlemen), have been said to, "Show a maturity in both songwriting and instrumental prowess," according to The Boston Herald. This will be their first official "tour" as the Boston-based band takes their much-lauded "buzz" on the road. In the coming weeks, The Dead Trees will also play some Southern dates with Albert Hammond Jr. (The Strokes) and The Mooney Suzuki.
The Epochs, who are currently recording a new release in Washington D.C. , will be performing tracks from their self-titled debut album. They too have seen much success on Amie Street.com that most recently lead them to open at Bowery Ballroom for State Radio (Nettwerk), also on AmieStreet.com. The shows will also feature local guest artists such as Crash Boom Bang in Washington - check out their track
Let it out
(
) - and The Jaguar Club in
Brooklyn - check out their track
The Sirens
(
).
See you there!
Stay in touch
Fine print
Copyright © 2006-2009 Amie Street, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
© 1992 - 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Music Guide, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.
