Findlay Brown
Love Will Find You

Aided by producer Bernard Butler, the Suede guitarist who lately has worked with the vintage-minded English singer Duffy, Findlay Brown’s latest album, Love Will Find You, achieves transporting music presented as ten songs all of which long to be free-standing aural events.  The stroke of the collection is that, from the freshly re-imagined Spector-esque beat of the title song to the poised Righteous Brothers operaticism of "I Had a Dream," the component pieces succeed as such. Brown owns a fluent, flexible pop tenor tending toward heaven but that retains an earthbound familiarity.  Songs like "Nobody Cared" and "Everybody Needs Love" makes easeful use of the grammar of love triumphant and / or distressed yet the net emotional effect of Brown’s careful, involved, yet unfussy performances on these thrillingly well-engineered tracks make the pieces dart off in myriad different directions sometimes unpredictable.   Love Will Find You features music where research and historical information and style — and the critical but ultimately limited allures of formalism itself — bleed into things far more momentous than any of those concerns, all working together to portray places where sung words turn into ecstatic, often difficult states quite beyond themselves. Stunning.

The Soft Pack
The Soft Pack

Like all great stories, San Diego’s The Soft Pack’s begins with two friends called Matt and Matty. Matty McLoughlin played guitar obsessively, Matt Lamkin also played guitar but fancied himself as a singer/wordsmith too. Armed with conviction and a fraternal dedication, the band returned to their adopted home of Los Angeles in the summer of 2009 to write songs for their self-titled debut. Highlights include the perfect one-two punch of the first two singles, “Answer To Yourself” and the rallying call, “C’mon,” The Vaselines-inspired “Down On Loving,” live favorite “Parasites,” “Tides Of Time,” “Flammable” and the hypnotic sway of “Mexico” — a song directly paying its respects to The King (Matt was listening to Elvis’ Blue Hawaii album). But perhaps the most arresting song onboard The Soft Pack arrives with “Pull Out” loads: A song, among many on this fine debut, that young boys in bedrooms will play on repeat when dreaming of forming their own perfect punk-rock-garage-rock band. Check it out!

Toro Y Moi
Causers of This

Toro Y Moi is 23-year-old Columbia, South Carolina native and resident Chaz Bundick. After earning a BFA in Graphic Design at The University of South Carolina, Chaz decided to push his music further now that he has more time on his hands. His mom came from the Phillipines to the United States, where she met her future husband (who’s African American) in college. They lived in New York City taking in all the wonderful cultural influences the city’s rising underground scene had to offer at the time (the late 70s/early 80s). As a result, Causers Of This is not only heavily influenced by his parent’s vinyl and tape collection, but contemporary influences like Animal Collective, Sonic Youth, J Dilla, and Daft Punk.  The songs are born from a plethora of different genres, from freak-folk to R&B to French House. Toro Y Moi’s methods are constantly changing and evolving — which makes the only thing more thrilling than listening to Causers Of This will be where he takes Toro Y Moi next. Listen.

Danny Barnes
Pizza Box

Widely regarded as one of the most innovative and genre-bending artists of his craft, Danny Barnes’ musical interests are both varied and adventurous, and he incorporates that versatility into a progressive approach to an instrument that is musically polarizing and steeped in tradition. Although he demonstrates an appreciation for the history of the bluegrass, country, and folk music from which the banjo’s reputation was born, his inventive take is what truly separates him from his contemporaries — using the banjo as his “weapon of choice” to play non-traditional music like rock, fusion, and jazz with electronic percussion and loop elements. With Pizza Box, Barnes spins tales of American life like a latter-day John Steinbeck, wielding banjo and pen with equal effect, and the character of his voice as the perfect mouthpiece to truly bring these songs and stories to life. Pizza Box comes stuffed with sharp hooks and addictive vocal and instrumental melodies, but it’s Barnes skill as a storyteller that shines strong. He tells tales with the wry wit and humor of Garrison Keilor, the lyrical eccentricities and intellect of Randy Newman, performed with the southern twang and swagger of Levon Helm. Barnes combines and blends all of these elements into a style that is uniquely his own.

Motion City Soundtrack
My Dinosaur Life

Motion City Soundtrack’s latest album, My Dinosaur Life,is a collection of 12 songs that push the limits of power-pop and challenge the ideals of the boombox generation. For example, the album’s first single, “Disappear,” is reminiscent of ’90s-era angst rock (a la The Pixies and The Replacements), with its muffled guitars and cautionary vocals. “Pulp Fiction,” which was written during a break in songwriting when vocalist / guitarist Justin Pierre vacationed in Japan, is a piano-driven rock overture that frames the rousing adventures of a stranger in a strange land, all while name-checking everything (and everyone) from Miami Vice to Seabury Quinn. Finally, “A Lifeless Ordinary” is a perky yet pensive romp that ponders themes of escapism and displacement… Which, really, is the essence of My Dinosaur Life and its study of musical contradictions. Besides, without the chaos, there wouldn’t be the calm… And without the pain, there wouldn’t be the pop.

Bouncing Souls
Ghosts Of The Boardwalk

You can count the number of bands who’ve stayed together for 20 years on two hands, and you can use just one to count those who’ve consistently released quality material for two decades. This year, The Bouncing Souls enter that esteemed category, and in keeping with their D.I.Y. roots, they’ve done it without major labels, corporate radio, MTV, or teen magazine pinups. When married couples celebrate twenty years together, they’re usually showered with anniversary gifts. The Bouncing Souls celebrated their milestone by reversing that tradition and giving back to the fans, releasing one original song per month throughout 2009. These songs are now collected in a celebratory (and convenient) fashion with Ghosts of the Boardwalk. Doing it for the sake of the music, the fans, and their own inspiration for twenty years, the group – and their White Castle – are going pedal to the metal on a full tank of gas. According to their frontman, Greg Attonito, "The shared driving force is part of the mechanics that keeps the beast truckin’ down the next highway. We were – and still are – a few passionate, rebellious, creative, idealistic, party loving punks looking for a good time, for something to believe in, and for something meaningful to live for." Woot!

DJ Yoda & Heritage Orchestra
Gabriel Prokofiev’s Concerto for Turntable and Orchestra

Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra was born out of a passion for two seemingly different strands of music: hip-hop and classical. Throughout the rich history of Western classical music, however, there has always been a cross-pollination of sound between art music and folk/dance idioms, be it in the Partitas and Suites of J.S. Bach or Bartok’s in-depth study of folk song. In fact there was not a distinction between art and popular music up until the 19th century. Therefore drawing on the rhythms, colors and energy of hip hop, the 21st century’s most prolific sound, and more specifically its instrument of choice, the turntable, acknowledges and build on this tradition, addition an urban timbre to a structure that has evolved over the last 300 years. British turntabalist DJ Yoda is closely affiliated with Antidote Records, a cutting-edge hip-hop label based in London, and is the recipient of numerous scratch-DJ accolades. He’s also a relative of Prokofiev, and that pedigree, believe it or not, shines through. You need to hear this.

Grand Valley State New Music Ensemble
Terry Riley’s IN C Remixed

In C Remixed is the latest project from the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble, the corn-fed young group from western Michigan that brought you Innova’s 2007 bestseller, Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians. That release vaulted to #1 on the iTunes and Amazon classical charts and spent eleven weeks on the Billboard charts. WNYC’s John Schaefer called it “the story of the year in classical music. In C, composer Terry Riley’s classic work from 1964 is widely regarded as the Rosetta Stone of minimalist music — opening up a new world where classical and rock music could finally meet. Insistent, propulsive, and vastly appealing, In C is based on a series of 53 interlocking phrases, repeated any number of times, that merge to form a kaleidoscopic, ever-changing tapestry of sound. Prepare to be amazed.

NOW ensemble
NEW AMSTERDAM

NOW Ensemble is a dynamic young group of performers and composers dedicated to making new chamber music for the 21st century. With our unique instrumentation of flute, clarinet, electric guitar, double bass, and piano, NOW Ensemble brings a fresh sound and a new perspective to the classical tradition, infused with a blend of musical influences that reflects the diverse backgrounds and listening experiences of its members. They play in concert halls and art museums, rock clubs and jazz venues, for large audiences and for intimate gatherings, acoustic and plugged in. Above all, they strive for performances that are as lively and engaging as they are rigorous and technically sophisticated. This collection represents the wealth of new composers and talent in New York City. It’s not indie rock and it’s not your Grandma’s classical music. It’s something brand new — and worthy of your attention!

Build
Build

Build is led by composer/violinist Matt McBane. California native Matt McBane has brought his cool (as in "Miles Davis" cool) brand of indie classical music to New York City. Build has developed a body of work and a performance style that freely and intuitively draws on chamber music, art rock, minimalism, electronic music, modal jazz, American fiddle music, and experimentalism (to name a few). Build is an all-instrumental ensemble featuring McBane on violin, Andrea Lee on cello, Mike Cassedy on keyboards, Ben Campbell on bass, and Adam Gold on drums. Build’s latest, self-titled album was recorded at Godelstring Studios in Brooklyn, and features five of McBane’s compositions written specifically for the ensemble – including the 15 minute epic “Drivin’” and the beautifully catchy “In the Backyard.” Check it out.

Dommin
Love is Gone

Dommin is the sound of the brokenhearted," explains Kristofer Dommin, frontman for the Los Angeles quartet that puts a very fresh spin on a very familiar pain. Dommin are inviting everyone to join them in the dark introspection that goes hand in hand with heartbreak. On Love Is Gone, Dommin delves into complex relationships, damaged psyches and much more.  At the center of their haunting, gothic-tinged rock is the enigmatic Kristofer Dommin, who croons about poisonous love, exorcising agony through a wall of distortion and a jagged sonic sieve. Kristofer, also the band’s guitarist and principal songwriter, sums up the band’s message best, "It’s about finding love, losing love and personal reflection – universal themes that transcend genre distinctions. The emotional element is more defining than how much keyboards, guitars or drums we have in a song." It is also Kristofer’s unique and compelling voice that drives the power and passion of every word he sings.

Taking Dawn
Time To Burn

The members of Taking Dawn grew up surrounded by the glitz and glam, the bright lights and big city of constant vice. This Las Vegas upbringing helped shaped the band into what it is today: a rock ‘n roll time bomb just waiting to explode on an unsuspecting public with Time to Burn.  While Taking Dawn are by no means a throwback to 80s glam metal, the band is certainly inspired by the era gone by and have chosen to take the foundation of that sound and scene and update it in a thoroughly modern way: by shredding, soloing and creating melody in their music.  "I don’t get people who don’t like Bon Jovi and Skid Row and other classic bands," says vocalist / guitarist, Chris Babbitt.  "We want to bring it to the kids, for them to understand it in a modern context. We don’t want to imitate. We want to do our own thing. We want the balls and the attitude.”