Independent Music Blog cool Indie music coverage

The folks from Chicago based indie band Arwin sent me their CD titled “Bright Outside” to review. Arwin is relatively new indie-pop band that looks to The Beatles and Radiohead for inspiriation. Their sound, however, is more comparable to Rilo Kiley and Nada Surf. I think that hints of early Death Cab for Cutie can also be found in their songs.

For their CD, it’s their first self released EP called Bright Outside (link to listen below), and it’s pretty decent for a first release. It’s nothing unpleasant by any means. I think Bright Outside is their best song on the EP, as it offers good orchestral sounds with pretty good vocals. Valerie, Bert, and Ernie is also pretty good, although it seems to be a bit slow and dragging at points. But overall, I am fairly impressed with those two songs offered on Bright Outside.

The EP also features “Meant to Be” which is a “driving sing-along,” that shows a perkier side of Arwin. Fortunately it doesn’t sound too punk, which is a plus to me.

All of these songs can be heard at the band’s myspace page. Overall, the EP is a little above average. I look forward to following their progress because I think their next offering could be a lot better.

The folks at Shoddy Records contacted me about a review of The Swede. I checked out some of their music online, and must have liked them because I agreed to review them if they sent me a copy of their CD.

Si when I popped the Swede CD into iTunes to start the review, I immediately remembered why I asked for a copy of their music. I can safely say that it is good. Describing their music, however, is a bit more difficult. It falls somewhere between rock and singer/songwriter, and matches perfectly with the rainy Saturday afternoon that lingers outside my window.

The Swede sounds most like a Coldplay and Kunek mixture, but it has a more subdued sound that Coldplay does not possess.

Shoddy Records describes their offereing best with “it retains a solid feel throughout, opting not to overstuff itself with filler, or instrumental red herrings.” I can stand by that statement, because very rarely do their songs get too heavy. They’ve got a great thing going.
As for songs on the record, my favorites include The First Song on this Record and No Loud Crash. You can listen to The First Song on this Record, The Director, and A Harmless Tune online at the Shoddy Records website.

The Swede have only begun, and I think they have the characteristics needed to make some waves in the Indie music scene if they keep up the good work and a get a few breaks here and there.

Yep, eight new uncut albums by Ryan adams available for stream here from Ryan-Adams.com. That is a lot of new albums you may be thinking, and you are absolutely correct.

I am fond of Ryan Adams’ Love is Hell and Gold, and pretty much the rest of his collection, but I wasn’t too impressed with his new streaming albums. They are uncut, garage band style, which is okay sometimes, but I couldn’t get into Adams’ new releases.

I didn’t listen to all eight albums. Instead, I listened to more like eight songs. I find his produced albums and songs much more appeasing to my senses. Maybe other Ryan Adams fans will be able to find his new released more intriguing. Check em out.