Long Way Down - Haste the Day

Band: Haste the Day
Home Town: Carmel, IN
Why is it on here?:  They key to a good cover is to retain the original sound of the song while adding a little of your own sound- that's why this version of the Goo Goo Dolls' (who I hate by the way) classic is quite good.  Happy Memorial Day.  

Distopian Dream Girl - Built To Spill

Band: Built To Spill
Album: There's Nothing Wrong with Love
Released: September 13, 1994
Home Town: Boise, ID
Why is it on here?:  Great song.  Influential Band.  Should be a part of everyone's indie collection, because Chad Sones said so.  

Title and Registration - Death Cab for Cutie

Band: Death Cab for Cutie
Album: Transantlanticism
Released: October 7, 2003
Home Town: Bellingham, WA
Why is it on here?: These guys were one of the first instances that I remember of a band with an indie sound going mainstream.  Does that mean they are not indie anymore?  Is indie a sound?  Does indie only describe bands on indie labels?  Does anyone else get annoyed with the little boy keeps calling Indiana Jones, Indy?  Who cares really, the song is good and one of my favorite by the band.  The video reminds me of that board game Operation...zzzzap. 

A Good Start - Maria Tayor

Band: Maria Taylor
Album: Lynn Teeter Flower
Released: March 6, 2007
Home Town: Birmingham, AL
Why is it on here?:  She's got a great voice and she sorta looks like Tina Fey - two strikes and you're in.  

Thank You - The Redwalls

Band:  The Redwalls
Album: De Novo
Released: June 21, 2005
Home Town: Deerfield, IL
Why is it on here?:  I like this song a lot, it reminds me 70s era Bowie.  Hope you like it.

Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear - Underoath

Band: Underoath
Album: Lost in the Sound of Separation
Released: April 30th, 2008
Home Town: Ocala, FL
Why is it on here?:  This song starts off slow but has a great build and an intense ending.  Just what I needed today.  The video is truly a work of art.  See it by clicking here.  HERE. 

Where Is My Mind - Nada Surf (Pixies Cover)

Band: Nada Surf
Home Town: Brooklyn, NY
Why is it on here?:  Cover week continues....

I Can Talk - Two Door Cinema Club

Band: Two Door Cinema Club
Album: Tourist History
Released: February 28, 2010
Home Town: Bangor, Northern Ireland, UK
Why is it on here?:  I would call this electropop, somewhat along the same lines as Phoenix but maybe a little bit quicker tempo.  Vocally reminds me of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab/Postal Service) toward the beginning.  I like it.  

All I Want - Emery

Band: Emery
Album: Punk Goes 90's
Released: May 9, 2006
Home Town: Rock Hill, SC
Why is it on here?:  I've been in the mood lately of posting covers.  This is a killer version of "All I Want", originally done by Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1991.  There are a couple of other good tracks on the Punk Goes 90's compilation but this one is by far my favorite. 

Los Angeles I'm Yours - The Decemberists

Band: The Decemberists
Album: Her Majesty the Decemberists
Released: September 9, 2003
Home Town: Portland, OR
Why is it on here?: The Decemberists have a sound that almost instantly transports you back to the shanty towns of the early 1900s.  Colin Meloy (lead singer) writes stories in the form of songs.  This one specifically is about the city of Los Angeles - you can figure out the meaning on your own.  I will likely post more of their work in the future.  Maybe a Decemberists week sometime - maybe in the month of.....June.

Thirty-Three - The New Amsterdams (Pumpkins Cover)

Band: The New Amsterdams
Album: Myspace Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins
Released: 2007
Home Town: Lawrence, KS
Why is it on here?: This is one of my favorite songs off "Melancholy...." This is a great version of the song by The New Amsterdams - a marginally successful side project of Matt Pryor (lead singer of the Get Up Kids).  Very mellow and perfect for a Sunday afternoon. 


No video for the song - enjoy it on Grooveshark.com.  It takes a second to load but its worth it, trust me.

Sideways - Lets Go Sailing

Band: Let's Go Sailing
Album: The Chaos In Order
Released: March 27, 2007
Home Town: Los Angeles, CA
Why is it on here?:  Cool song, good beat. Interesting fact: The bass player in this band is also the bass player in Silversun Pickups. 

Tonight I Have to Leave It - Shout Out Louds

Band: Shout Out Louds
Album: Our Ill Wills
Released: September 11, 2007
Home Town: Stockholm, Sweden

Why is it on here?:  If I was listening to this with my eyes closed I would think its The Cure.  Wait a minute, you don't see music, you hear it.  Anyhow, this is a cool song that reminds me a lot of The Cure.  

Pistol - Dustin Kensrue

Artist: Dustin Kensrue
Album: Please Come Home
Released: January 23, 2007
Home Town: Irvine, CA
Why is it on here?:  I dedicate this post to JoLee, whom I love so much.  


"You're the girl of my dreams
And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true
Time to lay down my fears,
Honey, I feel so safe around you."

Dimmer - BIshop Allen

Band: Bishop Allen
Album: Grr....
Released: March 10, 2009
Home Town: Brooklyn, NY
Why is it on here?:  This song was a recommendation from my friend Chad (member of former SODI band "The Cut Off").  Its a catchy little pop song that Chad describes as "A completely silly, but fun, catchy song.  Not a lot of substance but doesn’t get old." Nothing wrong with that.  

The Cutter - Echo and the Bunnymen

Band: Echo and the Bunnymen
Album: Porcupine
Released: February 4, 1983
Home Town: Liverpool, England
Why is it on here?:  I felt like something different today, this is one of my favorite Echo songs. This probably not really indie but raise your hand if you've heard it before.....thats what I thought.  

Orange Shirt - Discovery

Album: LP
Released: July 7, 2009
Home Town: New York, NY
Why is it on here?:  Side project from the lead singer of Ra Ra Riot and the keyboardist from Vampire Weekend.  It has a pretty interesting sound - very electronic with a good beat.  I wouldn't say its better than the members main bands but its worth a listen.

Your Rocky Spine - Great Lake Swimmers

Band: Great Lake Swimmers
Album: Ongiara
Released: May 8, 2007
Home Town: Toronto, ON, Canada
Why is it on here?: Just a good folk song. 

Mr. Your'e On Fire Mr. - Liars

Bands: Liars
Album: They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top
Released: October 30, 2001
Home Town: Brookyln, NY
Why is it on here?:  Nowadays, Liars would be called experimental rock or art rock or just plain weird really. This song from their first album, has more of a dance-punk sound....still weird though.

Head First - Goldfrapp

Band: Goldfrapp
Album: Head First
Released: March 22, 2009
Home Town: London, UK
Why is it on here?:  This song is awesome.  Goldfrapp must have hopped in a Delorean, gotten up to 88mph and hopped back to 1985 to record this one.  Seriously, this could have been the title track to an 80s movie that was never made.  I can just picture Cory Haim now (RIP)  riding through town on a motorcycle as the credits roll while this song is playing.  

Apple Pie Bed - Lawrence Arabia

Band: Lawrence Arabia
Album: Chant Darling
Released: 2009
Home Town: New Zealand
Why is it on here?:  Heard this jam a few times in the past couple days, I've been humming it the whole time....and also craving apple pie....and a nap.  This obviously isn't the real video, they do have a real video for it but its appropriateness is questionable.
 

You Wont Know - Brand New

Band: Brand New
Album: The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me
Released: November 20, 2006
Home Town: Long Island, NY
Why is it on here?:  I needed some intensity today and Brand New always brings it.  This song follows the theme of the album - the juxtaposition of good and evil as Jesse Lacey the lead singer struggles internally with his personal feelings about Christianity and whether or not he belongs in heaven despite his sins.

Dont You Evah - Spoon

Band: Spoon
Album: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Released: July 7, 2007
Home Town: Austin, TX
Why is it on here?:  Spoon's songs all have a nice groove to them, you find yourself tapping your foot whether you mean to or not.  These guys are definitely on my "want to see live" list.  

Wide Eyes - Local Natives

Band: Local Natives
Album: Gorilla Manor
Released: February 16, 2010
Home Town: Los Angeles, CA
Why is it on here?:  This band has a great sound, reminds me a little of Arcade Fire with vocals like Band of Horses.  I heard this song on the college radio station on my way home from work and knew it was my song of the day.  

"In Search of 1988" - OZMA

Band: OZMA
Album: Rock and Roll: Part 3
Released: August 21, 2001
Home Town: Pasadena, CA
Why is it on here?:  Cool song, its like Weezer with passion.