spOOOnful.com » Indie Rock

Real Estate

stacyamos — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:00:05 +0000

Artist: Real Estate

Hails From: Brooklyn, NY

Musical Style: Indie, Pop, Surf

For Fans Of: Yo La Tengo, Velvet Underground, Animal Collective

Why You Should Check them out:

It goes without saying that any band even remotely influenced by the surf rock genre can’t help but conjure up images of sunny trips to the beach, and for the Brooklyn quartet Real Estate such associations fit their bright, water themed songs perfectly. Drenched in reverb and carefree atmospherics, Real Estate may not follow too closely behind many of the old school surf greats, but they’ve definitely got the summer feeling right.

Background Check:

Playing together since high school, New Jersey natives Martin Courtney, Matthew Mondanile,
Etienne Duguay, and Alex Bleeker played in a number of projects before Real Estate fully materialized in the summer of 2008. With a tour alongside fellow lo-fi pop artists Girls later that year in support of their debut 7″ Suburban Beverage, Real Estate gathered momentum culminating in their 2009 self-titled full-length. It was these ten tracks that awarded Real Estate widespread attention, situating the band on countless best of ‘09 lists and earning them a place among the top 50 albums of 2009 by Pitchfork Media.

And while seaside pop has been making the headlines recently with the like of Best Coast and Surfer Blood, Real Estate’s songs are set apart with their fluid and dream-like quality at once buoyant and carefree and yet somber enough to tread in dark waters. While jangly leads segue into slide guitar backgrounds, it’s the echoing vocals from singer Martin Courtney that offer a comforting subtly to the quartet’s surf backed dynamics, further pronounced on their five song followup Reality, released in November ‘09. With summer now in full swing, what better way to enjoy the long sunny days than with the bright and breezy harmonics of Brooklyn’s Real Estate–with a full catalog of songs sure to tide you over until their highly anticipated next release.

–Anne Ostrowski

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

myspace
wikipedia

on tour:

jambase

Similar Artists:

Yeasayer

stacyamos — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:00:40 +0000

Artist: Yeasayer

Hails from: Brooklyn, NY

Musical Style: Indie, Rock, Experimental

For Fans of: Grizzly Bear, TV on the Radio, Talking Heads

Ambling Alp

Why you should check them out:

Brooklyn’s eccelctic music scene has been the source of some of the most dynamic underground sounds coming out today, which must be why Yeasyer feels so right at home. The wildly inventive trio makes sophisticated pop music with a worldly influence and uncompromising originality.

Background Check:

Believe it or not, Yeasayer members Chris Keating and Anand Wilder got their start in A Capella. Back in high school, the two were members of Sic Transit, a barbershop quartet, before heading off to different colleges. After meeting up in Brooklyn, splitting their share of vocals, synths and guitars and joining up with Wilder’s cousin, bassist Ira Wolf Tuton, they formed the basis of Yeasayer. The group debuted in 2007 with their buzz worthy LP, All Our Cymbals.

The album was filled with uniquely psychedelic folk rock dabbling in electronics and tribal induced percussion. Over the course of festival appearances and tours backing up the likes of MGMT and Beck, Yeasayer honed their ever increasingly world sound. 2010 saw the release of their much anticipated sophomore album, Odd Blood (Secretly Canadian).

Expanding their earlier efforts, Odd Blood is a darkly danceable showcase of trippy acid rock, 80’s electro pop and a decidedly Middle Eastern groove. Recorded in Woodstock, New York, at the home of longtime Peter Gabriel drummer Jerry Marotta, the trio took advantage of their surroundings by employing vintage synths and instruments from around the world. Odd Blood is at once a genre bending experimental shift for Yeasayer, and one of this year’s most accessible and enjoyable albums thus far.

Where you can find them in Cyberspace:

MySpace

Yeasayer.net

On Tour:

JamBase

Similar Artists:

Local Natives

stacyamos — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:00:23 +0000

Artist: Local Natives

Hails From: Los Angeles, CA

Musical Style: Indie, Pop, Rock

For Fans of: Fleet Foxes, Animal Collective, Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear

Sun Hands

Why you should check them out:

Finger tapping guitar lines and overlaying falsettos aplenty, L.A. based Local Natives set themselves apart from the sea of current day contemporaries in the technique and care they put into orchestrating their own style of dynamic and effervescent pop rock.

Background Check:

Walking away with a contract from the UK label Infectious Records after an all out, nine set stint at last year’s SXSW, these guys were honing their musicianship together for over three years before officially uniting under the name Local Natives. Named for the L.A. house in which they all shared, their recent full length, Gorilla Manor, is a testament to the collaborative effort of the group.
Offering songs afloat in vibrant choruses and seductive three part harmonies, Local Natives draw from an array of both current day and ’80s era influences, customizing their own style of spirited pop medleys and paying homage to The Talking Heads with a cover of “Warning Sign” on their latest.

Currently signed to ultimate DIY label, French Kiss Records, Local Natives’ talents extend well beyond their rhythmic low end and layered hooks, relying initially on self-booked tours and a penchant for designing all of their own album artwork. With an upcoming spot on this year’s Coachella and a nationwide tour alongside fellow label mates, Suckers, Local Natives have been keeping up the energetic pace that their music so appropriately defines.

Where you can find them in Cyberspace:

MySpace

thelocalnatives.com

On Tour:

JamBase