Indie Music Filter: Volume 2 >>

I love making mix cds. or playlists.

I made one over the holidays as my ‘best of ’06′ double disc. My cd burner worked more hours than Rudolf did near the end of december, pumping out 50 copies (100 discs total). I’m going to skip a little bit of the work this time.

I’ve made a new mix of music I’ve been listening to over the last little while. You’ll hear some Voxtrot, Snowden, Cloud Cult, David Vandervelde, and a bunch others. The main goal in mind? To get you listening to these amazing artists.

Download Volume 2 here. *Its a big file (77Mgs) so it will take some time to download.

**One thing I should mention, all the tracks on this disc fall into a couple different categories. They either agreed to post their mp3 on my site, or their music has been made available on the net by a part of their team (homepage, myspace page, label page, publicity company, etc.). If you’d like off the disc, send me an e-mail.

Pela >>

Click here to sample some new music from Pela. I read somewhere on one of their sites that they are premiering a new track each week on this e-card leading up to the release of thier first full length CD Anytown Graffiti. The first track (Waiting On The Stairs) is a great shoegaze shuffle that builds to a soft ending. Lost To The Lonesome is the track thats been playing quite a bit on my computer the last couple of days.

The first time I heard it was the Cassettes Won’t Listen remix that you can download here. I initially thought it was Bloc Party.

I’m really impressed with?what I’ve heard so far of this band. I expect their record to be released in the next couple of months through Great Society (imprint of Worlds Fair). The band currently resides in Brooklyn, NY but members come from the ‘hinterlands of New York city and California’. Previous work experiences include busking in the subways, selling necties at Times Square, carpentry, or playing polka at Croatian weddings. Now focus seems to be on touring this band, playing a bunch of US dates into April (along with a couple stabs at SXSW).

Also, take a look at this video I found on youtube of the band performing a track called Cavalry (also on the to be released disc). That chorus really rings right, not a huge fan of the noise at the end. More tracks can be found on their myspace page.

Objects Of My Affection >>

Take a look at this great video, Objects Of My Affection by Swedish pop trio Peter, Bjorn and John. You’ve probably heard their whistle track Young Folks, if not, head over to their myspace page.

Zunior.com. The little digital music store >>

Did anyone notice this thing show up on my page recently?? He’s a friendly widget who likes to give people great Canadian digital music by sending you to Zunior.? Take a look.

Zunior – the little digital music store is a Canadian online record label and music store, started by Dave Ullrich, formerly of The Inbreds. Zunior is a sort of iTunes for independent artists, but better facilitates artist independence and freedom.? –from Wikipedia.

You can pretty much find any Canadian indie band you are looking for there, or discover new artists through Zuniors podcast.? And for people who love the physical product, you can also download pdfs of the artists cover artwork.? Keep your eye on the widget kids…?

Zunior.com.? The artists make more, the users pay less.

The Pigeon Detectives >>

Marc, thanks for getting me to look again at the Pigeon Detectives. Great band from Leeds (UK) with some pretty infectious songs. Makes me think Kinks. The band is signed to Dance To The Radio, the same label that made tons drool over iForward, Russia!. Some real good steps in the right direction….

Are we ready to call Leeds the new Montreal?

Check out thier myspace page, they’ve got a couple songs and videos posted there.

I can’t get enough of I Found Out. You’ll have to look for that one. Here’s the video. **Look for this track to be on disc 1 of my Indie Music Filter Volume 2 mix cd. Probably going to be ready to go in the next week or so.

Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears >>

I have never before found five different bios on an artist page. That is until I came across the homepage for Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears. I like this one the best:

The suburbs of Chicago moved from Bryan Scary when the ‘massive’ (Playgirl, December 2007) rock star came to New York City, following in the great tradition of other such legends as Bob Dylan and John Lennon. His first words after getting off the plane were, “Is that all?” He attended the prestigious New York University, where he turned down an offer to “hang out” with the Olson Twins. While at school, he taught himself to play the piano, the guitar, the bass, the drums, the flute, and the cello, but he’d prefer you think of him as “just a pianist.” (Hottest Stars of ’07, 2007).

For fans of ELO and late-period Beatles (I hear some Ringo songs primarily), I recommend you take a listen to a couple of their tracks. You can hear a bunch on their myspace page.

Or better yet?? Download some here.

The Blood Club and Ceiling On The Wall. Its really catchy indie pop, maybe it will add some sunshine to your day??

The band is set to release their full length disc tomorrow on Black and Greene Records.

Brampton Indie Arts Festival >>

I’m a little late on getting the word out on this one, but If you’re looking for the best lineup in and around Toronto this weekend, check out the Brampton Indie Arts Festival.

Feb. 14th-17th, Rose Theatre (Brampton). In its eight year the festival has put together the best lineup yet with names like Final Fantasy, Meligrove Band, Ohbijou, Jon Rae & The River, Patrick Watson, The Acorn, Uncut, Diableros, The Postage Stamps. Check the schedule here.

Looks like they also be putting together a compilation cd in the coming year courtesy of Sunday League Records.

Currently Listening To >>

Heard this over at Gorilla Vs. Bear. Can’t stop spinning it here….
Voxtrot vs. Massive Attack ‘Massive Mothers‘