Coma Cinema: Caroline, Please Kill Me

Coma Cinema is the stage name of Mat Cothran, South Carolina-native indie rock musician.

"Caroline,
I miss you more than I ever wanted
I don't know you but I know you are beautiful."

Big Scary: Twin Rivers

Fade in: start the scene. The setting is 2006. Melbourne. Duo Tom Iansek and Jo Syme, armed with just acoustic guitars and egg shakers, start playing songs together in the living room of Jo’s parents’ house. After a bit of a break, the two reconvened in 2008, this time, with an arsenal of instruments—electric guitars, drums, piano, mandolins and ukuleles—and a bolder, more expansive vision. What began as a few rainy-day acoustical ballads in their first incarnation soon grew into an all-encompassing, genre-defying sound. Before long, the newly named Big Scary were writing whatever they damn well pleased—fuzzed-out garage rock; piano-led pop; intricate, pastoral instrumentals—each piece imbued with an effortless pop sensibility and lightness of touch that would quickly see the duo attract a strong following.

These gifts translated onto the stage where, from the outset, Big Scary proved themselves a remarkably fluid and compelling live act, capable of not only bringing their songs to life, but also of adapting their set to suit the moment.

Vega 4: Life is Beautiful

In the vein of recent posts, I thought I'd drop a song from One Tree Hill, too. Just because I can. 

We Were Promised Jetpacks: Act on Impulse

We Were Promised Jetpacks exudes awesome, via strings, keys and drumbeats. Though a little different from their normal repertoire, Act on Impulse delivers this awesome--ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTLAND. Edinburgh, to be exact. 

I'm From Barcelona: Battleships

Contrary to what you'd think from their name, the band actually hails from Jönköping, Sweden. This band and particularly this song, are the happiest sounding things in all of existence. And, when I use the term "band," I'm using that loosely, since this band is more of a collective than anything else, being composed of something around 30 members; however, this leads to a ridiculously ecelectic mix of sounds and instruments to back up Emanuel Lundgren, the band's founder, principal singer and songwriter.

"Everyone's got bellies full of butterflies,
I just wanted to see you, my honey.
We got everything you ever wanted here tonight,
I just wanted to see you, my honey.

Oberhofer: You + Me (Still Together In The Future)

Oberhofer is a New York City, NY based project of Brad Oberhofer. Brad has been asked on tour with a number of artists because of his aclectic sound and indie feel, such as Sleigh Bells, Neon Indian, and The Morning Benders.

Walk off the Earth (cover of Malvina Reynolds): Little Boxes

Walk off the Earth is a Canadian indie-rock band with an independent attitude, even though they're now signed onto a record label. Walk off the Earth has a reputation for doing some awesome low-budget videos, such as this cover, which includes an insane amount of boxes.

The song itself is a satire of the dysfunction of suburbia and the lack-luster life it produces, and they cover it in an interesting (if not apropo) fashion. 

Beirut: Goshen

Beirut is an American band influenced heavily from the European world. Goshen, though, is on the B-side to their album Rip Tide, released in 2011, which is the FIRST released recording without much (if any) external influence. The result is clean with moving lyrics and haunting melody.

Recent trends indicate that Beirut has lost following steadily over the last year. Change that!

"Where would you hide from such a glow?
You're not the girl I used to know."

Wildlife Control: Age Places

Wildlife Control is an American Indie-rock band based in Brooklyn, New York and Sacramento, California. This is an example of a band who was first an internet sensation, rather than rising to fame from pub to bar to venue. Much like the adage "Different Strokes for Different Folks," this band is marching to the rhythm of their own drum.

Ben Howard (cover of Carly Rae Jepsen): Call Me Maybe

This song just took on new meaning. Good job; call me maybe? I've hated the original version, but English singer-songwriter Ben Howard killed what I knew about the song. He took it, and turned the direction of travel. I love the song the way he does it. It gives the song the proper feel; dirty, sleezy, one-night stands, chancy, risky butterflies that are missing from the pop version.

J Roddy Walston and the Business: Caroline

J Roddy Walston and the Business is a Tennessee-based rock-and-roll band that specialize in melodic catchy tunes, driven by a strong (pounding) piano and a bit of Southern accompaniment (guitar and tambourine). The lyrics are infectious, and your toe can't help but tap.

Other Lives: For 12

Other Lives is an American indie-rock band hailing from Oklahoma. All five of the current members of Other Lives were part of the original band, Kunek, which was a genre-fusion. The fusion consisted of (at least) indie, ambient, post-rock and folk. The band continues to go forward with that same fusion, which is overall pleasant. 

Mother Mother: Bit by Bit

Mother Mother is a Canadian indie-rock band that has a unique sound. It's edgy and dissonant, while remaining poppy in sound. 

Lissie (cover of Metallica): Nothing Else Matters

Lissie is an American Indie-rock artist from Rock Island, Illinois. I'm a huge Metallica fan and this cover is everything the original offers, but in a different package. She does an excellent job covering the song, with respect to the original, mood and intonation. Her voice fits in the niche somethin' fierce. 

Happy Trendy: Sweaty Palms and Allergic to Cats

Happy Trendy is an Canadian (Dylan Khotin-Foote) who utilizes a mix between synths and indie-rock to produce something that's pleasantly weird. The lyrics aren't deep, but are pretty meaningful to any introvert.

Young The Giant: 12 Fingers

Young The Giant is an indie-rock group from Irvine, California. The idea for the group came out of left field, and their name and sound matches. They go against the norm of alternative rock, and they're about as chill as my freezer. They've received a serious amount of cred, in the form of multiple top tens on the Billboard Chart for Alternative Songs.

"Padded by locks the door knob singed
A rusty close to a doorknob hinge
Remembering the sounds we used to know"

Big Scary: Mix Tape

This song defines my life right now.

We Were Promised Jetpacks: Quiet Little Voices

SXSW Talent is so good.....In any which direction, call me; I will run for you. I'll come for you. I'll die for you. I'll come for you.

Byrds of Paradise: Broadcast News

Kenny Brown, Jared Jones, Alan Yuch, and Brenden Britz are Byrds of Paradise from Brooklyn, New York. They have released a 7-inch album “Rowena” on Wild World Records, as well as “Omega Man” on Don Giovanni Records and “Barefoot Generation” on UK label Sleep All Day Records. They are releasing a full length LP, entitled “Teenage Symphonies” on Don Giovanni Records which is out now!

Yuck: Get Away

My Ex is coming into town for one of my friend's wedding. I wish Yuck-Get Away made her go away. Update: I managed to get out of town for the weekend; I didn't see her at all.