Discovery

Who: Discovery

Hail From: New York, NY

Label: XL Records

Active from: 2009 to current

Sounds like: Indie Whiteboys do R. Kelley style R&B


Discovery is the side project of Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend and Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot. Neither of which are bands I'm a fan of. Vampire Weekend has that same California sunshine guitar riff from Sublime and Ra Ra Riot, just doesn't do it for me. I was very presently surprised when I gave this album a shot. Its a great fusion R&B bass lines, electronic synthesizers and vocals, indie sensibilities and camped up R&B lyrical content. Check out the handy dandy embedded player I found on their website.

Discovery - Orange Shirt

Discovery - Carby

The Drums cometh from Elkland

Who: The Drums

Hail From: Brooklyn, NY

Label: Twentyseven

Active from: 2008 to current


Ok, right now the The Drums are getting lots of Buzz on the Blogosphere. And I get it, so far what I've heard is fun. Sorta a gayish indie rock take on the Beach Boys, but I could be saying that cuz the song is Called "Let's Go Surfin." As I watched the video, I thought I recognized something about the singer.....Other then he looks like Johnny Lawrence of Karate Kid. Then it hit me....This is the freaky side to side dance guy from Elkland who I saw open for Erasure three years ago. Check out the video for The Drums and then check out Johnathan Pierce in his previous band Elkland. Ah, the interwebs, how I love thee. When checking out Elkland make sure to take note of his oh so masculine dance. You get a real good view around 1:46 to 1:56:

The Drums - Let's Go Srufin


Elkland - Apart

Amanda Blank

Who: Amanda Blank

Hail From: Philadelphia, PA

Label: Downtown Records

Active from: 2005 to current

Sounds like: Minimal Dance Rap (sometimes reminiscent of Princess Superstar and Peaches, but not always)

Amanda Blank began her career collaborating with aritst such as Spank Rock, MIA, Santogold, Diplo and N.A.S.A. She gained notoriety on Spank Rock’s “Blow” and on the track “I’m a Lady” that is featured on Diplo’s 75 minute mixtape “Top Ranking.” This song was a collaboration with Diplo and Santogold. It is a reworked partial cover of LL Cool J's "I Need Love." It gained such popularity over the internet that they put together a full track from it titled “A Love Song” on her freshly released LP, “I Love You.” She opened for Santogold recently and I caught her show here at Stubb’s. She puts on a great show, she has a great stage presence, is very charismatic and energetic.

Amanda Blank - A Love Song

Might Like You Better - Amanda Blank

Miike Snow

Who: Miike Snow

Hail From: Stockholm, Sweden

Label: Downtown Records

Active from: 2007 to current

Sounds like: TV on the Radio meets Passion Pit

Consisting of one singer and two producers, Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, Miike Snow is bound to sound very polished. Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg are better know as Swedish production team Bloodshy & Avant. They've worked with tons of big pop stars such as Britney Spears and Madonna. Surprisingly this album does not sound mainstream at all. It is still pop, but chilled down a degree and still retains a more independent mentality. Probably due to Andrew Wyatt’s, formally of The A.M., song writing. The name was taken from Japanese film director Takashi Miike. This and the fact that their album cover makes me think of Jagermeister is reason enough to check them out.

Miike Snow - A Horse Is Not A Home